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PROGRAMS & ACTIVITIES

Introduction
Social Action Programs
Social Action Events
African American Interests
Allies of the Wabanaki
Ethical Eating
Green Earth
Habitat for Humanity
Healthcare Issues
Peace Issues
Preble Street Soup Kitchen
Project Feed
Refugee Support
Social Action History
Welcoming Congregation
Spiritual Growth
Spiritual Enrichment Groups
Pagan Group
Zen Community
Adult Enrichment Programs
Music Programs
Community Groups
Mens Group
Ladies' Lunch Bunch
Young Adult Activities
A2U2 Food Coop
Special All-Church Events
Audrey B. Seale Service Program

Green Earth

Green Sanctuary

Green Sanctuary Program

Principle #7. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part

In 2000, the UU Seventh Principle Project launched a Green Sanctuary Program for congregations to attain Green Sanctuary accreditation, which included adult and RE earth-based worship and spiritual practice as well as the "greening” buildings and grounds. The first four congregations were accredited in 2002. Because of our work since 1993 on this issue, we were grandparented in as the first such congregation. As of June, 2009 there are 98 such UU congregations.

The Allen Avenue Plan for Re-accreditation has been accepted! Please see the links on the right for a full description of the Green Sanctuary program and an explanation of the re-accreditation process.

Got Your Bags?

Green Earth is working with the Natural Resources Council of Maine on their new initiative called Got Your Bags? The NRCM and the Merchants of Maine have created a plan to reduce the use of paper and plastic bags by 33% by 2013. Green Earth members are committed to help achieve this goal by involving all our church members in this effort. Each of us is called upon to change our way of life in order to assure that all lives on Earth can continue to exist. In conjunction with Earth Day 2010, Allen Avenue's Green Earth committee held a church-wide Got Your Bags Event. Click here to read a report of everything we accomplished! FMI, follow the link to the NRCM’s website.

As a Green Sanctuary we

use china cups and plates and cloth napkins instead of paper
subscribe to green electricity (wind, solar, geo-thermal)
reduce, recycle, reuse especially
installed a bike rack
use environmentally safe cleaning products
have presented numerous programs and services on earth related issues

hold letter writing campaigns and petition signings and participate in demonstrations
are working to convert Project FEED, a food pantry, from paper and plastic to cloth bags through our Share the Plate

Members of the church

use CLYNK bags for their refundable bottle and cans, the profits from which go to help finance the increased cost of the green electricity
recycle their printer cartridges through the church
have pledged to purchase as least $10 worth of their weekly groceries from Maine-based producers
are beginning a new interest group regarding Green Burials
use an audit kit to evaluate their own homes
are working on a Green Sanctuary re-accreditation

The audit kit, which can be borrowed for personal evaluations, includes

kill-a-watt energy monitor
mini-temp infrared draft sensor
refrigerator thermometer
wizard stick draft detector
informational pamphlets and booklets

Contact the Chair of the Green Earth

for more information.

Green Sanctuary Items

What is a Green Sanctuary?

A Green Sanctuary is a congregation that...

Has received official recognition for completing the Green Sanctuary Program.
Lives out its commitment to the Earth by creating sustainable lifestyles for its members as individuals and as a faith community.
Is committed towards creating a religious community that has a fundamental, bottom-line, commitment to living in harmony with the Earth.

Click here for a complete description of the Green Sanctuary Program.

Click here for a copy of the re-accreditation plan that Allen Avenue is now pursuing.

Looking for great opportunities to eat locally grown food? See the Ethical Eating page.

Interesting new papers

Click on each link to view some recent articles of interest written by our own Sally Breen and others

As the World Warms

Gulf of Mexico

Repower Maine!

More information about Green Sanctuary

Please see much more at www.uuministryforearth.org

More about Allen Avenue's experience with Green Sanctuary

These documents will give you more detail about our experience:

A2U2 Green Sanctuary Movement

A2U2's Green Sanctuary Accomplishments

Green Funerals in Maine

Green Earth supports green funerals, and recommends that interested individuals look into them for their family's needs. Final Choices is a church committee working to further our understanding of the many options. For more information, please see:

Funeral Consumers Alliance

Funeral Consumers Alliance of Maine

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