Green Team
Recycle Your Paper
Recycle your paper at Epworth! Drop off in the green ATIBITI bin at the north end of our parking lot.
The Epworth Green Team’s purpose is to guide and lead Epworth United Methodist Church and its members to examine their environmental practices and to learn to live more consistently with the church’s positions on the natural world. We also reach out to the community by hosting classes and special events.
For more information on these programs or the Epworth Green Team, call Epworth at 251-1481.
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2013 Interfaith Eco-Film Series
Join us and be inspired by these free films on the second Friday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Epworth UMC, 6450 Allisonville Road. All are welcome to attend these free movies. Popcorn and soft drinks are provided.
January 11 - You've Been Trumped
In this David and Goliath story for the 21st century, a group of proud Scottish homeowners take on a celebrity tycoon. At stake is one of Britain's very last stretches of wilderness. American billionaire Donald Trump has bought up hundreds of acres on the northeast coast of Scotland. However, he needs to buy out a few more locals to make the deal come true. In a land swimming with golf courses, Trump is going to build two more - alongside a 450-room hotel and 1,500 luxury homes. The trouble is, the land he has purchased occupies one of Europe's most environmentally sensitive stretches of coast, described by one leading scientist as Scotland's Amazon rain forest. And the handful of local residents don't want it destroyed. “The underlying message is that if you are rich and powerful enough, you can run roughshod over tradition and private property rights and buy your place at the table,” says film critic Roger Ebert. (95 minutes) www.youvebeentrumped.com
February 8 – Urban Roots
URBAN ROOTS portrays the seeds of change taking root in Detroit amid the boarded-up shops, empty lots and defunct factories. With the most vacant lots in the country, Detroit residents are reclaiming their spirits by growing food. A small group of dedicated Detroiters have started an urban environmental movement with the potential to transform a city after its collapse. Winner of the Inspiring Lives Award at the 2012 San Francisco Green Film Festival. “This film feels timely and needed in our nature starved electronic world! I loved the sharing, educating and giving that these urban farmers are doing for their communities. ‘Urban Roots’ inspired me to plant more seeds in my backyard,” said actress Amber Valletta. (93 minutes) www.urbanrootsamerica.com
March 8 - The Atomic States of America
In 2010, the United States approved the first new nuclear power plant in 32 years, heralding a "Nuclear Renaissance." But that was before the Fukushima accident in Japan renewed a fierce public debate over the safety and viability of nuclear power. Through The Atomic States of America, two filmmakers journey to nuclear reactor communities around the country to explore the history and impact to date of nuclear power, and to investigate the truths and myths about nuclear energy. From the gates of Three Mile Island, to the cooling ponds of Braidwood, IL, the film introduces people who have been on the front lines of this issue for decades: community advocates, investigative journalists, renowned physicists, nuclear engineers, Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspectors, and former government leaders. According to the Sundance Film Festival, this film is "potent, emotionally powerful, and highly revealing, ... does an outstanding job of opening our eyes to the reality of nuclear power.” (90 minutes) http://specialtystudios.semkhor.com/page.asp?s=specialtystudios&content_id=33502
April 12 - Back to the Garden: Flower Power Comes Full Circle
In 1988, filmmaker Kevin Tomlinson filmed and interviewed a group of back-to-the-land “hippies”—living off-grid, insulated and isolated from mainstream culture. In 2006, he tracked down his subjects again to find out what had become of their families’ utopian plans and dreams. The film captures a time-lapse view of these back-to-the-landers told with moving personal stories of non-conforming tribal families—with lots of freedom but little cash, of unflinching political activism in the midst of small-town, rural America, and hippie kids who today ask whether free love was really free. “A vindication of flower power idealism. It reminds us of the enduring values of simplicity and self-reliance. A flat-out wonderful film!” says travel writer Rick Steves, PBS TV/radio host. http://www.backtothegardenfilm.com/index.html
If you have questions about these films, email epworthgreenteam(at)gmail.com.
Green Team Challenge: Task of the Month
How much difference can you make in one year? The Epworth Green Team challenged the congregation to make a positive difference in the environment. The Green Team has started a "Task of the Month" energy conservation program which identifies one small task you can do each month, which will collectively make a huge impact on our environment. Every small effort combines into a huge difference!
Month 1: Change Your Lightbulbs
Change your most frequently used lightbulbs to CFLs (Compact fluorescent lightbulbs).
Download our flyer to learn more.
Month 2: Install a Programmable Thermostat
Install a programmable thermostat and set it to heat or cool your space only when needed.
Get more information on the Energy Star website
Month 3: Insulate Your Water Pipes
Reduce wasted energy by insulating your pipes.
Download our flyer to learn more.
Month 4: Insulate Your Water Heater
Install an insulating blanket on your water heater and set the thermostat to 120 degrees. (Savings of $15/yr.)
Download our flyer to learn more.
Month 5: Cut Phantom Electricity
Reduce phantom electricity loads to save money on your electric bills.
Download the Task of the Month flyer to learn more.
Month 6: Lower Your Thermostat (Winter)
Set your thermostat at least 2 degrees cooler in the winter.
Download our flyer to learn more.
Month 7: Add Attic Insulation
Add insulation to attic areas to appropriate levels.
Download our flyer to learn more.
Month 8: Seal Large Air Leaks
Task: Stop air leaks with caulking, foam and weather-stripping.
Download our flyer to learn more.
Month 9: Weatherize Windows & Doors
Task: Stop air leaks around windows and doors with caulking and weather-stripping.
Month 10: Wash Clothes in Cold Water & Air Dry Laundry
Download our flyer to learn more.
Month 11: Install a Low-Flow Showerhead and Faucet Aerators
Download our flyer to learn more.
Check these out!
Want to learn more about caring for our earth? Here's a few of the latest DVDs you can find in our library at Epworth.
Sustainable Table: A Documentary About Your Food by Mischa Hedges.
What’s on your plate? Where does it come from? What effects does it have on the environment, your body and the economy? What can you do to help?
The End of Suburbia: Oil Depletion and the Collapse of the American Dream.
Suburbia, and all it promises has become the American dream. But serious questions are emerging about the sustainability of this way of life. With brutal honesty and a touch of irony, this film explores the American way of life and its prospects as the planet approaches a critical era. Are today’s suburbs destined to become the slums of tomorrow? What can be done NOW to avoid the end of suburbia???
Trashed: This is the Story of Garbage…American Style.
Garbage. This is an issues influenced by every American, most of whom never consider the consequences of it or its implications to our biosphere. At times humorous, but deeply poignant, Trashed examines the American waste stream fast approaching a half a billion tons a year. It is an informative and though-provoking film everyone interested in the future should see.
Affluenza with NPR’s Scott Simon.
Medical alert! An outbreak of Affluenza has been reported in your area.
Symptoms: Swollen expectations, Hypercommercialism, Shopping Fever, a Rash of Bankruptcies, Fractured Families, Chronic Stress, and Resource Exhaustion.
Treatment: See Affluenza for instant relief. A funny and powerful program examining the social malady of overconsumption and materialism.
Effective Stewardship: Wisdom on the Environment.
This 20 minute film suggests that Christians may care deeply about the environment and nevertheless support proposals that do more harm than good. As the lesson’s six experts make clear, we are called not simply to care for God’s creation but to care for it effectively.
A Thousand Suns: Food, Ecology, and Religion in the 21st Century.
This film tells the story of the people of the Gamo Highlands of the African Rift Valley, one of the most densely populated rural regions of Africa. Surprisingly, its people have been farming sustainably for 10,000 years. This 30 minute film explores the modern world’s untenable sense of separation and superiority over nature and how we can learn from the interconnected worldview of the Gamo people to achieve long-term sustainability.