Diane announced in church the Green Team’s exciting new venture to become a Green Sanctuary through GreenFaith, a non-profit whose “mission is to inspire, educate and mobilize people of diverse religious backgrounds for environmental leadership… We believe that protecting the earth is a religious value, and that environmental stewardship is a moral responsibility.” The first Maine church to pursue GreenFaith Certification, we will focus and expand our mission, access new resources, create collaborative opportunities, and continue to celebrate our natural resources through worship.
As we stated in our application,
Ours is a community whose roots run deep in its natural resources: coastal clam flats, family farms, streams, woods, and fields. For over 200 years, the Congregational Church has been a mainstay in Cumberland Center, supporting and connecting people, young and old. Our congregation includes farmers and gardeners, hikers and boaters, hunters and birders, artists and educators, business people and conservationists who value the environment and our community. A GreenFaith partnership will challenge us, enabling us to connect more deeply with other faith and environmental groups, fully embrace our roles as stewards, and preserve our natural heritage for future generations.
We hope this process will inspire others members of our congregation and surrounding communities to participate as we grow into better stewards of this beautiful place.