Covenant for Care of Creation
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Newcastle, Maine

1. Preamble: Because we want to share our strong love of God and God’s Creation, we will undertake activities in the 2024-2025 Creation Year like those proposed below. In July 2025 we will reevaluate the events specified in this current Covenant and revitalize our activities accordingly.

2. Loving: We will share our stories of love and concern for the Earth and link with others who care about protecting the sacred web of life. We will:
a) In collaboration with other churches, conduct an outdoor service during Season of Creation;
b) Co-sponsor a workshop with Fred Small with Midcoast UU Fellowship and Second Congregational Church;
c) Lead congregants on a labyrinth walk at the Edgecomb Congregational Church;
d) Have a Blessing of the Animals on the Sunday closest to October 4th;
e) Host a book discussion on Not the End of the World by Hannah Ritchie;
f) Support liturgy for Season of Creation, turning to liturgy from the national Episcopal Church;
g) Encourage parishioners to go to church another way and share their stories of how they did it and why;
h) Support and participate in a parish cohort participating in “Love God, Love God’s World”.

3. Liberating: We will stand with those most vulnerable to the harmful effects of environmental degradation and climate change — women, children, poor people, and communities of color, refugees, migrants. Because we want to stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers, especially those being harmed by environmental degradation and climate change, we will:
a) Be involved in the Maine Council of Churches workshops around civil disobedience connected to climate change;
b) Be involved in and support Community Cares Day organized by CHIP;
c) Conduct research and provide a time for discussion around the St. Andrew’s Land Acknowledgment once it is finalized;
d) Request an outlay from the Outreach account in the amount of $2,000 to support the Ecumenical Council for Homeless Prevention;
e) Assist Stepping Stone Housing with a short-term cleanup at one of its facilities after former tenants move out, using a volunteer team from St. Andrew’s.

4. Life-Giving: We will change our habits and choices in order to live more simply, humbly and gently on the Earth. Because we want to change ourselves so that our flourishing is woven together with the flourishing of the Earth, we will:
a) Organize meat-free meals starting with one at the beginning of Season of Creation;
b) Continue with the CLYNK program to provide an easy way to engage parishioners in creation care;
c) Participate and play an organizing role in an Adopt-A-Highway program in our area;
d) Host an alternative craft/gift exchange prior to Christmas;
e) Undertake a thorough energy audit of the St. Andrew’s property performed by a contractor who has experience performing energy audits on churches and investigate installing a roof-top solar array at St. Andrew’s, along with energy efficiency investments;
f) Apply for available energy efficiency grants from state and federal authorities for adding insulation and weatherstripping and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.