Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship is a congregational member of Mennonite Creation Care Network (MCCN).
MCCN encourages the Church to:
- Claim its biblical and theological foundation regarding the care of God’s Creation.
- Discover the ties that link all created beings to each other and to God.
- Confess the harm we have caused the natural world and our neighbors.
- Act faithfully to restore the earth.
Receive monthly E-Newsletters from MCCN.
Creation Care at Berkey
Did you know that since 2010 Berkey has done many things to care for creation in more responsible ways? Here’s a list:
Installed 26kw solar system: View solar production information.
To save energy:
- Insulated the floor under the sanctuary
- Added insulation over the office areas
- Purchased a more efficient refrigerator
- Removed less efficient bulbs and replaced them with more efficient bulbs
- Installed “smart” thermostats
- Installed timer switches in the restrooms
- Installed electronic ballasts for many fluorescent fixtures
Recycling:
- Installed a metal roof over the sanctuary (which can be recycled, unlike asphalt)
- Cardboard, cans, and bottles
- Compost coffee grounds
Using our land well:
- In 2009 we started a community garden. Currently there are 27 plots. Approximately 50 percent who have garden plots are occupied by non-Berkey attenders.
- In 2016 planted a wildflower garden.
- From 2013 to 2017 we raised and sold 500 pds. of potatoes per year raise money for Model School and MCC (2013-2017).
Education:
- Held a summer intergenerational class related to creation
- Taught the “Every Creature Singing” adult elective
- Taught a series on the stewardship of creation for the MYF
Worship:
- Used the “Creation Waits” worship series
Creation Care Congregational Survey: 2019
Berkey identified the following priorities for Creation Care:
- Continue to provide space for a community garden for attenders and Berkey neighbors
- Continue to provide play space for children
- Install additional solar panels to offset the burning of fossil fuels
- Plant additional trees that would eventually become a wooded area
- Create a memorial garden
- Create outdoor spaces for meditation and worship
- Install walking paths and trails
Congregational Action
August, 2021,the congregation approved a plan to raise money $150,000. for the creation of a columbarium, outdoor worship space, and a wooded area to go along with our community garden and our wildflower garden. (Image to right provided by Rafael Barahona.)
Tree Planting: April 15 &16, 2022 – (Good Friday and Saturday)
- Thanks to generous grant by JoinTrees of Mennonite Men 100 volunteers, ages 4 to 84 participated in the planting of 700 trees.
- To view a video of the planting click here.
- To view a list of trees planted and a profile of their personalities click here.
By January 2023, StoneRidge Landscaping had completed the majority of the work of installing the memorial garden, columbarium and outdoor worship space.
Creation of a Labyrinth and Walking Paths
- In June of 2023 Berkey members installed a labyrinth in the wildflower garden and created walking paths.
