Congregations across the country observed Earth Day by celebrating the goodness of God’s creation and recognizing that stewardship begins in the sacred spaces of church buildings and grounds.

Riverside-Salem United Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ in Grand Island New York is in the process of building a sustainable building with straw bale insulation.

First Universalist Church, in Minneapolis, Minn., started a comprehensive recycling program which reduced the congregation’s trash by 65 percent to 75 percent.

Warner Memorial Presbyterian Church in Kensington, Md., installed programmable thermostats and weather-stripping, purchased copy paper with recycled content, switched to an energy conservative copier, eliminated the use of plastic foam serving ware and ensured that 50 percent of the funds they spend on electricity supports windpower electricity.

On April 18, St. Mark Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, Calif., celebrated Earth Day. Between worship services the congregation offered activities, green lifestyle displays and a tour of their certified Audubon International Signature sanctuary and grounds.

Westminster Church of the Brethren in Westminster, Md., made a joyful noise on Earth Day Sunday with hymns taken from “Stewards of the Bay.”

St. Mark United Methodist Church in Seneca, S.C., has a special class on the environment with tips on being good stewards of God’s creation and encourages members to bring their own dishes and silverware to church meetings.

To aid congregations in honoring creation, the National Council of Churches developed an Earth Day Sunday resource titled “Sacred Spaces and an Abundant Life: Worship Spaces as Stewardship.”

This story is provided by Worldwide Faith News.