EarthAware

Welcome to EarthAware, the environmental awareness and climate justice ministry at Morristown United Methodist Church.

This page is a resource for you as we all endeavor to tenderly care for God’s creation.

ID Illustration of birds

EarthAware Presentation October 15: "What’s Happening to our NJ Birds?"

EarthAware will bring Naturalist Rick Radis back to Morristown UMC for a talk about the impact of climate change on our NJ Birds.

The presentation will begin at 11:45am on Sunday, October 15. A light lunch will be served and the presentation is open to the public.

Our Mission & Committment

Our Mission: We seek to encourage earth friendly practices within our congregation and out into the greater community, building a connection between spiritual practice and environmental consciousness.

Our Commitments:

  • educate our congregation about the increasing destruction of our natural world and environment
  • act responsibly individually and collectively to do all in our power to lessen this environmental destruction
  • help restore the creation that God has entrusted to us
Who We Are

EarthAware leadership are individuals who have diverse interests that they bring to the group.

Mary Ann Scharf…Cares deeply about all of God’s creatures and arranges group field trips and programming like whale-watching boat trips and butterfly releases.

Leslie Raff…Partners with other organizations to make a big impact on our community and our world! Contact Leslie to be active and let your voice for change be heard!

Jack Scharf…Wants to provide quality educational programming that teaches that the environment issue is a theological issue, and we all have responsibility to individual and collective stewardship.

Recycling Guides

Recycling can be so confusing! What can go in to the bin, and what should be left out? We’ve got a few resources for you to help!

What and How to Recycle: Plastics, Bottles, Cardboard and More! (Thanks to Sarah for sharing this resource with us.)

Recycling Presentation by Julia Koch

If you are in Morris County, NJ, the Morris County Municipal Utilities Authority has detailed information on recycling in Morris County.

Being intentional about your clothing is one way you can limit your personal impact on the environment. Whenever possible, learn about the origin of your clothing – move away from “fast fashion” that doesn’t last and has a terrible impact on our environment. If you’re looking for options on what to do with your old clothing, our new friend Sarah has shared this resource with us: Green Guide to Selling, Donating and Recycling Old Clothing.

SHOP GREEN!

We’re excited to share this resource on Green Shopping. Many thanks to our new friend Amelia for compiling this Guide to Green Shopping and for sharing it with us.

101 Ways to Fight Global Climate Change

Compiled by Patrick Sisson, Megan Barber, and Alissa Walker for CURBED and recreated by permission, 101 WAYS TO FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE offers some ways each of us can fight climate change.

No Mow May

We know increasing hospitality for our pollinators is crucial to repairing our Earth. Did you know decreasing mowing can increase bee species diversity and abundance in lawns?

Join EarthAware for No Mow May to assist in creating and preserving habitat and forage for early season pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. No Mow May is a conservation initiative first popularized in the United Kingdom. This movement is gaining traction across North America. No Mow May doesn’t just help pollinators, it helps your lawn. By reducing the frequency of mowing and letting the grass grow longer, your lawn becomes more resilient to drought and won’t require as much watering.

To help share with to your neighbors and community what you are doing, and why your lawn is getting shaggy, EarthAware will be distributing yard signs starting the first Sunday in April (Palm Sunday – April 2). If you are interested in reserving one of these signs, please contact a member of EarthAware – Leslie Raff, Clive Coutts, Jack or Mary Ann Scharf.

Learn more about No Mow May at https://beecityusa.org/no-mow-may/

 

Whippany River Clean Up

We had a wonderful time helping our community at the Whippany River Clean-up!

Thank you to the Whippany River Watershed Action Committee and Bethel AME for hosting the event!
 
“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” 1 Peter 4:10

PREVIOUS PRESENTATIONS

On Sunday, September 25 2022, Morristown United Methodist Church welcomed Michael Richardson from the Rivers & Mountains GreenFaith Circle (NY) to lead an interactive conversation on how to move your personal finances away from funding fossil fuel extraction, production and distribution… and instead see your deposits, premiums and investments used to fund local businesses and farms, affordable housing, and development of regenerative clean energy.

 

Julia Koch shares with us practical tips on recycling. 

Stuart Ashton shares the mechanics and economics of Solar Conversion.