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.

2025 Eco-Justice Actions / Events

Plastic Free July 2025

For one month your Eco-Justice Council asks you to eliminate (or minimize) your use of single-use plastics. Individual actions are powerful and can influence others: REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE.

Commit to these 3 changes NOW to make a real impact:

  1. Choose to Refuse single-use bottled water — use refillable water bottles always.
  2. Choose to Refuse plastic straws!
  3. Choose to NOT USE plastic wrap — store leftovers in reusable containers.

Take the Plastic Free July Challenge and access resources for change.

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Our 2025 Forums

(Link to learn about our 2023 forums)

Jim O’Brien, with the support of eco-justice council members, continues to lead the planning of informational forums for the St. Peter’s community and beyond. We welcome suggestions for forum topics at communications@stpeterscheshire.org.

Solutions to the Food Waste Crisis in CT
Wednesday, May 15 at 7 pm
Presenter: Sherill Baldwin of CT DEEP
Link to view presentation

Offering a broad perspective on this important issue, Sherill described the scope of the crisis and then outlined innovative municipal pilots and what schools and businesses cn do to reduce, reuse and recycle the organic portion of our municipal solid waste. She offered steps you can take to participate in food waste prevention and food recovery solutions.

EV’s. Plug-In’s Hybrids . . .Oh My
Sunday, March 17 at 11 am
Link to view PowerPoint

Four St. Peter’s parishioners, Peter Festa, Scott Gadwa, Eric Preudhomme, and Michaela Hauser-Wagner, shared their experiences researching, buying, and driving their vehicles. Each told a unique story, and attendees benefitted from the variety of approaches and solutions they offered.

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Earth Day/Week/Month 2025

Earth Sunday — April 21, The Fourth Sunday after Easter

  • 8 am Rite I Morning Prayer — Beryl Lyons officiating
  • 10 am Rite II Morning Prayer — Michaela Hauser-Wagner officiating at a Children’s Service, with our young people participating in prayers and readings.
  • 11 am Eco-Justice Forum: Cultivating Connections Between Our Faith, Our Food and the Climate, featuring brief film shorts, discussion, and introduction of St. Peter’s Eco-Justice Council’s 2024 growing project: Cheshire Youth Pizza Garden. On Earth Sunday, we will close out our morning festivities with cheese and veggie pizzas for all to share.

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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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Link to review our 2024 actions.

The Active Hope Action Team

The Active Hope Action Team invites you to participate with us in resetting and strengthening HOPE at this moment in our challenging world. Together we will review and discuss six sessions created by Krista Tippett and her On Being team

Please join us alternate Thursdays  in the St. Peter’s library at 7 p.m. to discuss an episode and listen together to the next one. To learn more link to the Hope Portal introduction. Our discussions will continue on alternate Thursday evenings. All are welcome. Preparation is NOT required. Please join us when you can. Email Marj Chapman (mfittsc15@gmail.com) if you have questions.

The Active Hope Action Team welcomes new team members. Join us and share our commitment to making a difference.

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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.

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

10:00 am Rite II Worship

 

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

203.272.4041
office@stpeterscheshire.org

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