Eco-Justice Council

Our mission is to work together to build a just and sustainable ecological ethic that informs our actions every day, based on: cooperation, mindfulness, simplicity, temperance and respect for nature. Join us in strengthening our parish’s commitment to environmental consciousness and working with the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, other faith communities and business and government advocates.

2023 Eco-Justice Actions / Events

The Active Hope Action Team

Our informal book club that explored Joanna Macy’s Active Hope has evolved into The Active Hope Action Team that’s sponsoring an important project: Contain&Sustain. The Active Hope Action Team welcome new team members. Join us on alternate Thursday evenings at 7 pm in the parish library to share our commitment to making a difference.

NEW — Fight Food Waste Workshop — presented at Cheshire Library Dec. 12. Learn more here.

CONTAIN&SUSTAIN — Matching Grant Campaign

A Campaign to Minimize Single-Use Plastic and Food Waste

Link to PowerPoint to learn more and meet the core team.

Contain&Sustain was awarded The Jack Spaeth Creation Care Environmental Grant through ECCT and gained additional financial support from St. Peter’s ECW fund. In late July we launched a matching grant community crowdfunding campaign through Sustainable CT that ended Sept. 2. Link to our crowd-funding page. We reached our $3,000 donation goal and earned the 1.5 dollar-for-dollar match to equal $7,633.30!

These funds purchased 1700 compact, reusable silicone take-away food containers, which we are distributing FREE to community members. Our goal is to build awareness of food waste AND the waste caused by single-use plastic/styrofoam carry-out containers AND to change behavior to minimize their use in Cheshire.

We visited local restaurants to inform them of this project and urge their support in encouraging their patrons to bring and use take-away containers. Supporting restaurants will have a sticker on their window showing their support for CONTAIN&SUSTAIN.

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Our Forums

Under Jim O’Brien’s capable leadership, the council planned several successful informational forums, including What Can I Do? facilitated by Thomas Bonitz, parishioner and then a sophomore at UCONN. Link to learn more.. A Solar Panel Forum was held on June 12, featuring parishioners who have added solar panels to their homes, and shared their successes, challenges and learnings.

Recycling FACTS
Link to view complete forum on YouTube.

CT DEEP expert Emma MacDonald provided clarity on what should be placed in our recycling bins AND what shouldn’t and why.

 


Home Energy Solutions
Link to view complete forum on YouTube.

Terri Eickel from the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network offered important information about state and federal funding opportunities of energy efficiency in our homes – and places of worship.

Annual Actions

  • In April, we organize and partner on local Earth Day activities.
  • In May we promote No-Mow May, reminding folks that May flowers – dandelions, clover, violets and more – are essential to bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects.
  • In July, the council oversees a Plastics-Free July awareness campaign. 
  • Sept. 1 to Oct. 4 is The Season of Creation, celebrated by Christians around the world as a time for renewing, repairing and restoring our relationship to God, one another, and all of creation.
  • Look for our ongoing deposit-bottle/can recycling effort’s repository in the St. Peter’s kitchen.

St. Peter’s Garden Plot at Boulder Knoll Community Farm


Parishioner-volunteers help prepare, plant, weed, water and feed our vegetables. We share the garden’s bounty with our parish community and GWIM and are always looking for more help – no expertise required. Come dig with us.

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Collaboration with Community Partners
Cheshire Creation Care: St. Peter’s Eco-Justice Council is a founding member of this interfaith group committed to explore, discover, and restore life-affirming relationships with all of creation. Our member partners are: Cheshire United Methodist Church, First Congregational Church of Cheshire, and Temple Beth David of Cheshire.
Additional Community Partners:
Coalition for a Sustainable Cheshire
Cheshire Pollinator Pathway
Suburban Garden Club of Cheshire
Boulder Knoll Community Farm

Green Houses of Worship
The Council is working, with others at St. Peter’s, toward the certification of our parish as a “Green House of Worship.” This program is sponsored by the Interreligious Eco-Justice Network. We have completed Level 1 of the 3-tiered system. See the Green Houses of Worship requirements.

Sunday Services

8:00 am Rite I Worship in the Sanctuary

10:00 am Rite II Worship in the Sanctuary

 

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Keeping Everyone Healthy and Safe at St. Peter's
Wearing masks during worship services is optional for all. There is a designated mask-wearing quadrant in the sanctuary for those who want to continue to wear masks.
Masks are optional in all other areas of the building and campus, except the parish office where masks are required.

 

St. Peter's Episcopal Church
59 Main Street
Cheshire, CT 06410

203.272.4041
office@stpeterscheshire.org

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