Our congregation's first community service project was
helping to restore the prairies, wetlands, and woods of the Nygren Wetlands
Preserve, located in the Rockton, IL area. With impetus provided from a number of
our church members' prior involvement with the Natural Land Institute, we have
assisted the NLI to restore this 720-acre farmstead at the convergence of the
Pecatonica and Rock Rivers.
This project of ecological restoration is consistent with our commitment to
honor the interdependent web of life ... as well as serving our mission to
promote responsible use of the earth's resources. Besides learning how to restore
our land, we have had great fun together joking, singing to the plants, and building
community.
We have also dedicated a garden plot on the Church property to produce food for the
Caritas Food Pantry in Beloit, Wisconsin. The garden uses rain barrels and soaker hoses to conserve water
and is chemical free. Over 600 pounds of vegetables were produced in 201l. Several members
of our congregation volunteer working at the food pantry and in the clothing rooms at
Caritas.
We also participate in CROPWALK which supplies aid to impoverished peoples around the
world and in THE GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP which removes trash from the environment.
Each December we participate in the Rockton Christmas Walk by hosting a JUST GOODS sale at
the Church. The items sold are fair trade goods ensuring that the producers receive a fair
compensation for their work.
We have also taken many steps toward being a "Green Sanctuary". To learn more of
what this means, click on the following link:
Green Sanctuary
