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EarthCare Online Update JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2007 "Caring for God's Creation" www.earthcareonline.org |
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"The earth is the LORD's, and the fullness thereof..." (Psalm 24:1, KJV) |
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For Reflection |
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EarthCare News |
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Calendar |
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Creation
Care at Home |
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Creation
Care at Church NCC Environmental Sermon Writing Contest |
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Creation Care in Our Community and World |
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For Kids |
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For EarthCare Online Update subscription information, please click here. |
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Living a Life of Compassion |
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Colossians 3:12 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. (MSG) Ezekiel 34:18-19 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet? (NIV) Matthew 22:37-39 ..."'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (NIV) |
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Tentative Dates for EarthCare's Spring Conference |
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EarthCare is currently planning its Spring Conference. The dates we are looking at are either March 24 OR April 14, 2007. As soon as we know for sure we will will send out a special news bulletin announcing the final details.
We hope you will be able to join us for a good time
of education, worship, and fellowship! |
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Creation Care and Nature Events |
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january 15 monday
january 20 Saturday
FEBRUARY 3-4
SATURDAY & SUNDAY
february 13 Tuesday
FEBRUARY 15
Thursday
FEBRUARY 15-17
THURSDAY THRU SATURDAY
FEBRUARY
17 Saturday
february 18-19
sunday & MONDAY
february 21 WEDNESDAY
february 24
SATURDAY / RAIN DATE - MARCH 17
february 24
SATURDAY
february 24 saturday
february 24 saturday
february 24 saturday
march 1 thursday
MARCH 9 friday
march 10
Saturday
MARCH 11 sunday
march
13 Tuesday
March 15-16 thursday & friday
MARCH 17 saturday
march 17
Saturday
MARCH 20 TUESDAY
MARCH 22
thursday
MARCH 31 saturday
april 1 sunday
april 8 sunday
APRIL 13-15
FRIDAY THRU SUNDAY
APRIL 21
saturday
april 22 sunday
april 27 friday
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Need to get rid of stuff ?... Charitable Organizations, Thrift Stores, and Freecycle Network |
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To recycle items that you no longer need, check with the following services: Charitable Organizations and Thrift Stores Check your local telephone directory or public library for a list of community charitable organizations, thrift stores, and consignment shops. Following are a few charitable thrift stores in the Chattanooga and Dalton areas:
Chattanooga
Community Kitchen
Goodwill
Habitat for Humanity
Ladies of
Charity
Providence
Thrift Store
Salvation Army
Samaritan Center Freecycle Network Freecycle is a an Internet-based network that provides individuals and non-profits an electronic forum to "recycle" unwanted items. Originally, the Network was started to promote waste reduction in Tucson's downtown and help save the desert from being taken over by landfills. Today it is nonprofit movement of people in several countries who are giving and receive belongings for free in their own towns. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer, and membership is free.
To join a Freecycle group in your community, visit the
Freecycle website at freecycle.org. |
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Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church cares for God's creation by holding an annual Computer Recycling Day |
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Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Peachtree City, Georgia hosted its 2nd annual Computer Recycling Day, September 16, 2006. The congregation initiated this community-wide event last year as an extension of the congregation’s covenant to care for God’s creation. The idea for this event came about following the church's computer network upgrade. After upgrading, they were left with a handful of outdated donated computers. They then contacted the electronics recycling business Creative Recycling Systems, Inc. (CRS), which had been newly established in nearby Palmetto, Georgia, and took their old church computers there for recycling. Creative Recycling is a Tampa based company that specializes in electronics recycling. The church began to offer computer recycling to its congregation members in cooperation with CRS, who set up a large box in the parking lot for members to drop off computers. The congregation’s response, filling the box up 3 times in a few weeks, was so positive they decided to sponsor a community-wide program. They set a date in conjunction with CRS to operate a manned drop off point for old computers and electronics in their church parking lot and placed an article in the local newspaper. In 2005 and 2006 ― 36,228 Pounds of Electronics Saved from Landfills This year’s effort resulted in more than twice the amount of computers than their first year’s highly successful effort. Their total for both years recycling days is a total of 36,228 lbs of outdated electronics kept out of landfills and components reused or recycled, including:
The Need for Computer Recycling According to The National Safety Council, more than 300 million personal computers will need to be recycled over the next four years. This rapid advancement in technology has created an alarming number of electronics being discarded, many of them containing hazardous substances like lead, mercury and cadmium. With many of the nation’s landfills already filled to capacity, and with the hazardous materials that electronic devices contain, simply dropping obsolete electronics in the trash is not a viable solution. In fact, improperly discarded electronics account for more than half of the heavy metals found in our landfills – and can seep out to contaminate our air, water and soil. More Information CRS disassembles the computers into components and plastics, glass, metals etc… are either reused or recycled. More information about the company can be found on their web site: http://www.crserecycling.com/index.html. If you would like more information about Christ our Shepherd’s program you may contact . ― by Bill Grabill |
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NCC Environmental Sermon Writing Contest |
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The Eco-Justice Program of the National Council of Churches (NCC) invites you to participate in their Environmental Sermon Writing Contest. They are looking for sermons that eloquently demonstrate the environmental issues that face God’s creation today, and present ideas that call us to action. The winner will receive a set of brand new Earth Bibles. This contest is open to all members and congregational leaders. The deadline for submission of sermons is March 1, 2007. |
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How to Dispose of Electronics ― To Protect Land, Water, and Air |
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Electronics, such as computers, cell phones, TVs, clocks, and batteries can contain hazardous materials such as lead and mercury. When disposed of with regular garbage, these hazardous substances can leach into water or may be incinerated and end up in the air. In order to protect the land, water, and air from hazardous materials, it is essential to dispose of electronics properly. Following are some ways in which individuals, churches, and businesses can reduce their electronic impact on the world:
For a list of donation programs, visit EPA's website.
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Making Recycled Paper |
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Have some fun saving trees. Make your own recycled paper!
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The LORD bless you and keep you; |
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ABOUT EARTHCARE ONLINE UPDATE EarthCare Online Update is a free email/web newsletter published by EarthCare, Inc. Published approximately six times a year, the newsletter focuses on Christians' call to care for the earth, news of EarthCare activities, and resources to assist with daily aspects of creation care. Please note that the views expressed in resources listed in the Update are not necessarily those of EarthCare. We attempt to include a variety of books, websites, etc. in order to facilitate readers' education and exploration of ideas regarding the care of God's creation. We trust that before readers embrace new beliefs or practices, they will examine them in context of the teachings of the Bible and God's personal call in their lives. SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE To subscribe or unsubscribe to EarthCare Online Update, or change your email address, please email us at . The Update is sent only to those who have registered for our email list. We do not rent, loan, or sell our list to anyone. Occasionally, compelling news items may warrant an additional News Bulletin between publication of issues of the Online Update. Subscribers typically receive no more than one Bulletin per month. Current and back issues of the Update and News Bulletins are available on EarthCare's website www.earthcareonline.org. ABOUT EARTHCARE EarthCare, Inc. is a non-profit Christian organization that exists to promote creation stewardship within the Christian community. For more information about EarthCare, caring for God's creation, and links to other creation care resources, please see our website www.earthcareonline.org. TO DONATE EarthCare Stewards are what we call the generous individuals and churches who contribute to the ministries of EarthCare. We invite you to become an EarthCare Steward and join with us in supporting creation care in the Christian community. The ministries of EarthCare are funded entirely by gifts from folks like you who want to make a difference. Most gifts we receive are small, but because we're all volunteers any amount that you give will have a big impact! Your gift will go directly to support EarthCare ministries (projects, conferences, website, email list, mailing services, and other EarthCare activities). All gifts are tax deductible. You may contribute by mailing a check or money order to the address below.
Thank you! |
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EarthCare, Inc. |