Mission and Functions:

In 2005, the Board of Trustees authorized the establishment of the Green Sanctuary Committee to oversee the congregation’s intention to seek recognition as a Green Sanctuary from the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth.

Green Sanctuary News for Sept. ‘10

Despite the many distractions of summer, our committee members continue to be engaged in community activities intended to raise the level of awareness regarding actions that can be taken

to lower carbon footprints and promote a healthier universe.  Norma Athearn and Herb Cole, as Green Sneakers volunteers, have been making home visits offering individuals advice on how to make their homes more energy efficient. They took further training to enable them to do free energy walk-thrus and advise homeowners as to where they might realize significant energy savings. Jean Matlack continues to spearhead legislative action. On 8/22/10 Norma and David Wiggin collected signatures at coffee hour to send to our legislators to urge their ratification of the START treaty (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty). David attended a five hour hearing in Augusta on Bisphenol-A aka BPA (a chemical widely found in plastics that is linked to cancer and endocrine disruption). The testimony was overwhelmingly in favor of restricting its use in Maine and many experts from the world of science testified against its use.

Joern Steinhort will be convening a meeting in September of those interested in working on the Energy Task Force on collectively reducing our individual carbon footprints. Contact him if you’d like to participate.

Kim Gallagher has agreed to coordinate church activities on 10/10/10 around the theme of the Interdependent Web of Life.

Jean Matlack and Tom Hopps have been invited to present their highly successful Pachamama Alliance Symposium at the Northern New England UUA conference in Concord, NH on Nov. 5th. The conference continues through the 6th with the theme of encouraging networking among UU churches regarding environmental issues.  Registration information will be forthcoming for those who would like to attend.

The Green Sanctuary Committee next meets on Sept. 12 at 8:30 am in the Robbins room. All welcome to attend.

Green Tip: To reduce the use of plastic, buy foods in bulk when possible and make your own cloth bag containers that can be washed and reused.

                                                                                                Diane H. Schetky, Chair

Guardian of the Future Award

The Green Sanctuary Committee has nominated Jean Matlack for the UUA’s Guardian of the Future Award in recognition  of her commitment to her earth ministry and the leadership she has shown in awakening and inspiring the rest of us to becomes stewards of the earth.

Our Green Sanctuary certification was celebrated in the Sunday service on January 31st. with reflections, singing and rejoicing. Shown below are Green Sanctuary Committee members Lucie Bauer, Jean Matlack, Diane Schetky, and minister Mark Glovin with the new Green Sancutary Certificate. 

Included in the service was this litany:

 Our Commitment To Living In  Harmony With The Earth

 Our shared journey towards reverence, gratitude, and care for the living Earth led in 2003 to the formation of an Earth Care Team.

And we were called to do more.

We set out to lower our carbon footprint, bought electricity from renewable sources, conducted a professional energy audit of our building and began to make the recommended changes, sold CFL lightbulbs and distributed earth friendly toilet paper in the back of the sanctuary, and in 2004 pledged to reduce our collective carbon dioxide emissions by more than 80,000 pounds.

And we were called to do more.

We joined with the Maine Council of Churches, the Sierra Club, the Maine Earth Institute, the Midcoast Peace and Justice Group, and other allies to sponsor films and programs, to educate ourselves and our community, and to work together to strengthen our ability to create change and build environmentally friendly neighborhoods.

And we were called to do more.

Led by Mimi, in 2004 we gave birth to Missa Gaia earth mass concert, joined our voices in community in celebration of the blue green hills of our planet Earth, and raised $10,000 for Tanglewood.  We ecstatically celebrated Earth Day 2008 with the Cosmic Mass and honored Earth Day 2009 with the Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposium.

And we were called to do more.

In 2005, our youth went on a service trip to New Orleans to help rebuild homes destroyed in Hurricane Katrina.  Four years later they went again.  They returned to share their experiences with us in unforgettable worship services.  Our children built an Earth Loom into which they weave Earth Prayers each spring and fall.  Their banner for the planet graces the front entrance to the church during growing season.  Teaching respect for the earth is integral to our Religious Explorations from Spirit Play through Intergenerational Services.

And we were called to do more.

In 2006 we dedicated ourselves to becoming a Green Sanctuary and planted the seeds that have grown into our thriving ministry of food.  We became the first church in Maine to form a Community Supported Agriculture partnership with a local farm.  Our partnership with Hatchet Cove Farm grew rapidly and made it possible for Bill and Reba to buy the land on which they farm and for us to forge a close relationship with the people who grow our food. Sharing our experience, we have inspired other churches across Maine to form CSA partnerships.

And we were called to do more.

In 2006 we inaugurated our fall congregational retreat in the woods at Tanglewood. Our connections with each other and with the earth deepened in this beautiful place.  We danced, we drummed, we shared food together, we listened, we learned, young and old together. Green Circle was born.  Taking Heart in Hard Times soon followed.

And we were called to do more.

We took action in the Community: Step It Up 2007, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the 350 Climate Action, Cool Communities, the No Idling Campaign, our car pooling efforts, the EnviroCart, the Green E-mail Action Alert.  We checked tire pressures and pumped up tires in the parking lot

And we were called to do more.

We started a pilot Community Supported Fishery partnership with the Midcoast Fishermen’s Association in the 2007/2008 winter shrimp season.  This was the first CSF in Maine and one of the first in the country.  We learned to peel shrimp and then to fillet fish.  Through The Original Maine Shrimp Cookbook we are now coming to know many new ways to prepare shrimp. We continue to work together to build food communities and to rebuild the historical resilience of our towns.

And we were called to do more.

In 2007 we were blessed by stardust.  The Green Man appeared.  Gratitude and reverence for the interdependent web of all existence flowed through our worship together, giving wings to our songs and becoming the ground note on which we stand.  Green consciousness graces the heart of who we are together.

We are committed to bringing forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on this planet as the guiding principle of our times.

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And we are still called to do more. The church had scheduled another energy audit. Members will be asked to contribute ideas on how we may further reduce our carbon footprints both individually and collectively.

CSA-CSF Fair.  On Feb. 28th we will be hosting a Food Fair sponsored by the MCC and MOGFA at the church from 1-4 pm. This will be an opportunity for CSA and CSF vendors to meet with consumers and for fair goers to learn more about what they have to offer in the coming season. There will be educational materials and food samples available. At 4 pm there will be a free showing of the documentary “A Sea Change” in the sanctuary. The film follows the quest of a retired teaching trying to learn more about changes in our oceans related to climate change. The film deal with his discovery that excess carbon dioxide is dissolving in the oceans causing them to become more acidic with potentially dire consequences for shellfish. Along with this, it portrays his touching relationship with his grandson and concerns for his future.

We have sold 335 copies of The Original Maine Shrimp Cookbook. The remaining copies may be purchased at the CSF-CSA Fair or from Diane Schetky. They are also available in Rockport at Farmer’s Fare, The State of Maine Cheese Co, Graffam’s Seafood and, in Rockland, at Archipelago.

The Original Maine Shrimp Cookbook

Our beautiful cookbook is now available for purchase at  the church during coffee hour or by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it The cookbook is a collaborative effort between members of our church, who submitted and tested recipes, The Midcoast Fishermen's Association (MFA) and The Island Institute. We created the book in order to promote buying locally and sustainable fishing as is practiced by the MFA.

Recipes were solicited from the community at large, as well, including fishermen and their families and local chefs. We received about 130 recipes, all of which were tested and 50 of which were chosen for the cookbook. The book is a celebration of Maine shrimp and its incredible versatility. It also includes essays and photos by Peter Ralston.

The church is purchasing copies wholesale and selling them retail for $16.95 with proceeds going to the church.  Plan to buy one for yourself and many  more copies for your friends and family. They will thank you as will the church.