Minutes of SJC meetings and Event Reports

Report on the Impact of the STA Solar Panel Purchase

In the past year, the Parish provided a $14,000 match to parishioner contributions for purchase of solar panels in the City of Ames SunSmart array. Contributions exceeded the match amount and 185 solar packs were obtained. The City of Ames Energy Services Coordinator recently reported that our panels provide and estimated 18% of the Church's (excluding Parking Ramp) electricity usage. He thanks the Parish greatly for our investment. Read the details of his analysis here.

Season of Creation 2022 Prayer Service Report

October 2 Ecumenical Service:

Ames Church and Civic Community Leaders Call Us to

“LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF CREATION” THROUGH ECOLOGICAL CONVERSION

Season of Creation is an annual period of time recently set aside and supported by the World Council of Churches, the Catholic Church, and other faith communities. The theme for 2022 included setting aside a time for the purpose of focusing on praise, discerning voices of the Earth so often silenced, and then through interfaith and interdisciplinary dialogue pledging to act to improve the common good of all life within the scope of our abilities and new understandings.

On October 2, St. Cecilia Catholic Church hosted a “Seasons of Creation outdoor ecumenical prayer worship and education event that included talks by seven different religious communities of faith and other civic and educational institutions. About sixteen musicians and singers provided accompaniment that made a strong impact upon several of the people attending the event. The featured speaker, Dr. William Gutowski, described social and economic inequities that are resulting even now due to changes of climate conditions throughout the U.S. and world. Representative from the following faith communities helped facilitate: Bethesda Lutheran Church, First Christian Church; Oscar Romero House (Catholic Worker House); Collegiate Presbyterian church: St. Cecilia Catholic Church; St.Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church; St. John’s Episcopalian Church; Trinity Christian Reformed Church; United Church of Christ, Universalist Fellowship of Ames.

Attendees returned pledge cards stating what actions they would take to care for creation. The most frequently mentioned actions were these:

19 People said they would practice sustainability at home (for example keeping a water bottle, avoid buying products in plastic, recycling, food waste, etc.
16 Said they would research ways climate change and pollution is affecting the world; pray for those most hurt by changes
15 Participants at the event committed intentions to go on nature walks around church grounds, to parks, or lakes; praise the Creator for the beauty of creation; take along trash bags to pick up litter.
3 People offered to create a poster with their family or classroom to remind us not to let water run, to turn off lights when leaving a room, and to shut down electronics.
8 Attending the service said they would act with family and/or classroom to address issues relating to the environment, for example by writing government officials, asking them to take action to protect nature in our area.
16 Offerings were made to plant pollinator friendly flowers at home or on school grounds.