Climate Courage
Change – Mitigation – Hope
How we are responding to the 4 Elements of the UCC Climate Program:
Putting our house in order
The Council at MGUC has made a standing commitment to sustained climate courage and care for creation by working to create climate friendly worship space. Our decisions around the building regularly involved discussion about the environmental impacts of our choices. Recently we have installed film on the large windows to decrease UV rays and reduce pressure on our HVAC system, installed rain barrels, planted trees, replaced our roof and switched to energy efficient LED lighting.
Connecting with the Earth
MGUC has a community garden project in partnership with St. Cuthbert’s Anglican Church and Clearview Christian Reformed Church. Planted and harvested by volunteers, crops are rotated and proceeds from the garden are donated to local food banks.
We have two pollinator gardens and are looking to create a third “mini meadow” on the large grass island at the front of our church building. These gardens are filled with native wildflowers and provide a safe and nurturing environment for butterflies and other pollinators. We are partnering with the eco club at Oakville Trafalgar High School for youth to get gardening experience, a new learning opportunity and volunteer hours helping with the planting and care of the gardens.
Raising our Spirited Voices
MGUC supports the activism of our members and participants. Recently we have encouraged Mayor Burton and town council to sign the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge to create more spaces to nourish our pollinators. We encourage you to add your voice to ours!
We have also been active in demonstrations against the development of the Greenbelt and other environmental concerns. The next demonstration will be ….
Responding to Climate Impact
MGUC is an active and proud participant in Oakville Ready working to create resiliency hubs, expand community capacity, and strengthen residents’ understanding around how we can work together to support each other during extreme weather events.
Earth Day Clean up
Message from Oakville Community Centre for Peace, Ecology and Human Rights:
Thank you very much for supporting the annual Clean Up of Oakville nature sites. The Clean Up took place on Saturday, April 20 under cool but dry weather with 1,000+ Oakville environmentalists pitching-in to cleanup sixty-seven different nature sites throughout the Town.
The campaign is succeeding in promoting anti-littering. Many Site Coordinators reported that the parks and ravines were cleaner than in the past and fewer large pieces of garbage and trash were being pulled out of our green spaces for Earth Day. Volunteers included seniors, adults, students, children and members of various local organizations and that they greatly appreciated the opportunity to participate in a community-wide event that improves the Town’s natural environment and protects wildlife.
Thank you for being such a steadfast sponsor of the Earth Day Clean Up of Oakville Nature Sites.
Sincerely,
Stephen Dankowich, for the Oakville Community Centre for Peace, Ecology and Human Rights
FOREST BATHING – A LOVELY WALK AND TIME TO REFLECT IN THE WOODS
On April 21, 2024, several of us spent a wonderful time in Iroquois Shoreline Woods Park, just 15 minutes from the church, to reconnect with nature. We were led by Ruth Silver, an ANFT trained Forest Therapy Guide The weather cooperated and everyone in attendance enjoyed the activity. As a refresher, below is some more information about Forest Therapy.
Forest therapy is a practice that helps people to rediscover and rebuild their relationships with the natural world through guided immersions in forests or other outdoor places. More than just a walk in the woods, this is an opportunity to slow down, to be present, and to reconnect with nature through your senses, in any way that feels right for you.
A Forest Therapy Walk is all about the journey, not the distance covered; the forest trail terrain is flat and accessible to most abilities. Guided Forest Therapy was inspired by Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese practice of Forest Bathing. It was developed in the 1980’s as a response to a health crisis
caused by intense stress caused by the tech boom and rapid urbanization. More and more scientific evidence shows that this time spent in the forest “reduces stress hormone production, improves feelings of happiness and creativity, as well as lowers our heart rate and blood pressure, boosts the immune system and accelerates recovery from illness.” Practices that promote connecting with nature are integral
for our balance and wellbeing.
Thanks,
Hugh