Olivet Christian Church Disciples of Christ Sustainable Living Committee: Alternative Holiday Gifts

Saturday, November 12, 2016

Alternative Holiday Gifts

“This certifies you to 1 story read aloud (your choice)”

“This certifies you to 1 hour of indoor play (your choice)”

“This certifies you to 1 general clean-up of room”

I recently came across a little booklet of ‘gift certificates’ handmade by my daughter when she was very young. They were stapled between two pieces of red construction paper – the cover read “Merry Christmas LAURA!”

Together we enjoyed using those certificates and she learned at an early age that gifts aren’t limited to ‘stuff’ – gifts of time, skills and service are very important too.

As you begin to make plans to honor family and friends during the seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas, consider a variety of alternative gifts:

Gifts of time, skills or service …

Time … make special time for a relative or friend…have lunch together, visit a park, museum, art gallery, go to a concert or sports event, work on a project together

Skills … gift of lessons – art, cooking, music, needlework, woodworking, sports or camping program fees

Service … work on a community project with friends; help someone with yard work or household projects

Make donations in honor of friends & family to organizations which are meaningful to them.

Heifer International and Church World Service offer online gift catalogs which provide good ways to involve children in gift giving. As part of your Christmas gift to grandchildren or other little ones, allow them a certain amount of funds and let them choose which animals of other tools to provide for a family in need.

Heifer Project International … www.heifer.org

“Heifer Sampler”…. Flock of chicks, $20; Gift of honeybees, $30, Trio of rabbits, $60

Church World Service Best Gift Catalog …. www.cwsbestgift.org

“CWS Sampler” … Blanket, $10; Seeds & Tools, $25; 1 meter of a Shallow Borehole Well, $30

Fair Trade items – shop the Fair Trade Bazaar that will be sponsored by our Outreach committee on Sunday, November 20 with gift items from Community United Methodist Church’s Fair Trade store: jewelry, scarves, ornaments & other seasonal decorations, coffee, chocolate & more.

Handcrafted gifts – jams, jellies, pickles, relishes, baked goods, needlecraft items, wood crafted items, art work, pottery and more…whether handcrafted by you or another artisan

Enjoy giving alternative gifts for any occasion.

…Sustainable Living Steering Committee

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Olivet and the Disciples Green Chalice Ministry

Olivet has been actively engaged in caring for creation as a part of our ministry for the last several years. Many environmental and energy saving features were incorporated both in our current church building, constructed in the 1990’s, and in the more recent Music & Education addition.

The Green Chalice ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is designed to support and recognize Disciples congregations, like Olivet, who are working to become better stewards of creation. Green Chalice encourages us to review and expand our current environmental stewardship efforts in regard to our building and grounds, environmental practices, education and justice.

Becoming a Green Chalice congregation is a journey – it begins with commitment and education and continues as we work toward certification and achievement. In April 2015, the Olivet Board approved a proposal from the Sustainable Living Steering Committee, with concurrence of the Property Committee, that Olivet officially participate in the Green Chalice ministry, with the goal of becoming a Certified Green Chalice Congregation.

Commitment to the Green Chalice ministry begins with the formation of a congregational Creation Care Team, affirmation of the congregation’s intent to care for creation, and the making of three changes that help a congregation walk more gently on the earth.

~Olivet’s Sustainable Living Steering Committee serves as our Creation Care Team and offers several kinds of educational opportunities—outside speakers, tours, field trips and hands-on project—and encourages members and friends to participate in a wide variety of community environmental programs.

~On April 17, 2016, Earth Stewardship Sunday, the congregation will be invited to affirm our commitment to creation care here at home and also through participation in the Green Chalice Ministry, using The Alverna Covenant authored by the Disciples Task Force on Ecology at the Alverna Center, 1981.

~Olivet works toward walking more gently on the earth in a variety of ways. Programmable thermostats are installed throughout the building to reduce energy consumption. Mulching is used to help control weeds, reduce herbicide use and reduce water consumption. Recycling is encouraged and use of disposables has been reduced. For example, use of lovely cloth napkins made by members is just one way we reduce disposables and brighten our fellowship events. With help from the Property Committee, an energy assessment was conducted at the church building in May 2015 to help us recognize what positive steps had already been taken and where we could continue to make improvements.

As a Green Chalice congregation we are both encouraged and challenged to continue the journey of making positive changes that reduce adverse environmental impact and increase our ability to be good stewards of God’s creation.

Olivet Christian Church Disciples of Christ Sustainable Living Committee

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Saturday, November 12, 2016

Alternative Holiday Gifts

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