Elliot VanHoy
Doreen Cunningham
Edie Lewis
Through education, action, and justice, the Creation Care team focuses on the importance of environmental stewardship in Christian life. Programs advance positive change on issues ranging from environmental justice to racism to poverty by providing education and action towards justice.
Caring for Creation: A Faithful Call to Action
From March through May 2025, local faith communities are coming together to embrace creation care—a spiritual call to protect and restore God’s creation. Inspired by Jesus’ teachings, which are deeply rooted in nature, we recognize that our role as stewards of the earth is both a responsibility and a sacred privilege. This three-month initiative will educate, empower, and inspire action, demonstrating how simple, faithful steps can help restore biodiversity and strengthen…
TREX Plastic Films Recycling
Ongoing: Collection of Recyclable Plastic Film Materials We are collecting recyclable plastic film materials: Amazon bubble wrap bags, plastic grocery bags, bread bags, produce bags, cereal bags, dry cleaning bags, bubble wrap, ziplock, and salt bags. Provide them...
New Trex Bench in the Arboretum thanks to Creation Care
Thanks to our Creation Care team, St. David's participated in the Trex NexTrex Recycling Challenge and collected 1,000 lbs of plastic film in under 1 year to “earn” a free bench. Mainline Unitarian (MLUC), Christ Church, and St. Martin’s (who recently joined our...
Back to the Garden: A Season of Creation
Throughout April, join together to learn and celebrate a season of creation. There are several ways to get involved, from reading and reflecting upon scripture, to learning from Indigenous cultures. From to listening to guest speakers (Sunday morning Adult & Youth Forum throughout April will focus on being good stewards of our beautiful 39 acre campus), to worshipping in our beautiful outdoor chapel in the arboretum. From making a resurrection garden as a family…
Actions to Do Now
Remove or Recycle Single-Use Plastics
The Creation Care Committee invites you consider eliminating all single-use plastic such as cutlery, cups, paper cups, or straws. In addition, the committee is working with TREX to recycle plastic film materials. You may deliver them to the labeled box in St. David’s Chapel narthex. This project is undertaken in collaboration with Main Line Unitarian Church and Christ Church, Villanova.
Compost
Consider composting in your own home or use a Mother Compost. By composting, you are not only creating something that helps keeps plants healthy, but you are keeping compostable waste like food scraps out of landfills.
Your Own Garden
Preserve Pennsylvania’s biodiversity and consider using Native Plants in your home garden. Common grasses and flowers to use could be found online by clicking here.
Education: Local Environment
Ready for 100% Renewable Energy? Our local townships have passed initiatives to move to 100% clean and renewable energy by 2035. Learn more and consider supporting your townships transition planning efforts by clicking either here for Radnor Township or here for Tredyffrin Township.
On the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day, Karl Schoettle, parishioner at St. David’s, gave this presentation, titled “Climate Understanding and Response.” The presentation is a summary of the known science of climate change with ideas for mitigation and behavior. This is intended for people who might appreciate a summary, for anyone who does not totally understand climate change, and for people who may not realize that our climate is changing.
Karl wrote this with the hope that greater understanding will lead to more proactive, collective action.
Episcopal Covenant to Care of Creation: Putting it Into Practice
In Jesus, God so loved the whole world. We follow Jesus, so we love the world God loves. Concerned about the global climate emergency, drawing from a range of approaches for our diverse contexts, we commit to form and restore loving, liberating, life-giving relationships with all of creation.
For God’s sake, we will grow our love for the Earth and all life through preaching, teaching, storytelling, and prayer.
Liberating Advocacy
For God’s sake, standing alongside marginalized, vulnerable peoples, we will advocate and act to repair creation and seek the liberation and flourishing of all people.
Life-Giving Conservation
For God’s sake, we will adopt practical ways of reducing our climate impact and living more humbly and gently on Earth as individuals, households, congregations, institutions, and dioceses.
Much more excellent information is found here: