Caring for Creation Team's Mission Statement:
​To promote understanding of the wonder of God’s creation
​and educate people on the ways to care for that creation.

Current Members:
Alex Bearden, Ralph Berg (Chair), Dale Erickson, Marilyn Erickson, Betty Funk, Karen Grivna, Catherine Harrison, Robert Harrison, Karen Hillerman, Zach Johnson, Les Kuivanen, Vern Rice, Diane Shallue, Jenny Wilde L’Heureux

With 10 acres of church property, part of our long-term vision is to make under-used areas exemplify a more naturally welcoming environment for people and all creatures. 2022 began with optimistic plans to install a “rain garden” on church property to capture contaminated parking lot runoff before it enters the Rice Creek drainage system. We began work in July on a perennial pollinator bed next to entrance drive. This will be an opportunity for volunteer gardeners/landscapers as the 2023 growing season begins. The CtK foundation granted $1000 to cover the materials cost. We have since learned of other potential public sources of aid for continuing environmental improvements.

In an effort to reduce paper waste, we have arranged for the return of ceramic cups for the Sunday morning coffee hour, with an agreement for the CPY staff to wash them the following Monday.

In April of 2022, team member and environmental science teacher Zach Johnson spoke at both the Sunday worship service and SALT class of our role and responsibility in the local and broader ecology. The following Sunday, guest speakers from Church of All Nations in Columbia Heights shared their experiences as they have modified their similar hillside property to include rain gardens, fruit orchards and vegetable gardens with enthusiastic work of volunteers. We plan similar sessions this coming April with Zach and with Alex Bearden, who also has academic background in our role as people of faith in the natural world. These sessions will serve as a invitation to all interested groups and individuals to join in our mission.