Incarnation Lutheran Church in Shoreview has shown a commitment to Care of Creation in multiple ways in the past two years.  We have:

- Formed a Care of Creation team with 20+ members

- Held small group studies using the ELCA & Christian Century study guides

 “Awakening to God’s call to Earthkeeping”

 https://resources.elca.org/stewardship/awakening-gods-call-to-earthkeeping/

“Our Kairos Moment, Earth’s Climate Crisis”

 https://resources.elca.org/faith-and-society/earths-climate-crisis-study-guide/

“Responding to Climate Change” from The Christian Century

 https://www.christiancentury.org/free-guide-climate-change

- Made use of a free energy audit to learn ways we could be more effective in our usage

- Made use of a $10,000 grant from BizRecycling to improve recycling efforts in our building

- Hosted as a local site for the ecoAmerica Blessed Tomorrow National Faith and Climate forum each of the past two years

- Designated April 27, 2025 as Creation Care Sunday; special worship, music, and a congregational survey to ascertain interest in various projects and efforts

- Continued to include a “Creation Care Corner” in each of our church’s monthly e-newsletters

- Recruited members to take part in county-led efforts to reduce food waste and plastic waste

- Transitioned from styrofoam coffee cups to bpi compostable cups used during fellowship and adult education hours.

- Facilitated the donation of extra garden produce to the local food shelf

- Provided eco-displays and information at several Incarnation events, both on Sunday mornings and at special events like our annual Block Party,

- Composted all food waste and service items for the past two years at our annual Block Party to get to nearly zero waste

- Coordinated with the church library to provide a reading list and displays of available titles from our collection which relate to care of creation

- Coordinated with the local nonprofit “We All Need Food & Water” to host 2 puppet shows that teach and engage kids about climate issues.  https://weallneedfoodandwater.org/

- Held presentations at our Sunday adult forums from presenters from within the congregation involved in creation care as well as from groups like MNIPL and Sierra Club

- Revitalized a dormant pollinator/labyrinth space into a “Peace Garden”, using grant monies available through VLAWMO (Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization)

- Several Creation Care team members volunteered during our summer Vacation Bible School to talk to over 120+  kids about the importance of pollinators and make native pollinator “seed bombs” that they could then plant at home. 

- Worshipped late summer 2025 with emphasis on Care of Creation using Church Anew resources with foci on water, air, earth and flora/fauna

- Fall 2025 implementing a solar array on our parking lot, after three years of study, work with the city,

and education/fundraising from our congregation.  Celebration time looms.

- Upgrading several HVAC units to heat pumps scheduled in 2026

And, we know we have just begun!  We have more plans, including community events with speakers, more involvement with CSA’s, and much more yet to come.

Vernita Kennen and Mike Vant, members of Incarnation Lutheran Church, Shoreview, MN, and part of the SPAS Care of Creation work group