Creation Care Task Force
Did you know that the very first section of the UMC Social Principles is all about caring for the natural world? At the Florida Conference level, we take this Biblical mandate and United Methodist Doctrine doctrine seriously, and it was the motivation behind our recent Buckets of Hope challenge.
Come and be a part of living out our calling to care for God's creation by making a difference on our task force! Come meet Thursday, August 7th at 4:30PM in the Multipurpose Room or join in via Zoom. (RSVP for the link.)
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​​​Find out about community initiatives and activities where you can support God's creation below.
Plastic Film & Bag Recycling at Memorial
Did you know we’ve been collecting bags and other soft plastic items since September? You can find the bin for recycling plastic film at the entrance to Maxwell Hall. The pictured flyer shows all of the items we can accept. Currently, we are collecting toward a free composite bench for St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, and in August we will start collecting toward a bench for Memorial. To help with this effort, we can use four volunteers who are willing once per month to collect, photograph, weigh and deliver the plastic to Kohl’s.
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Creation Care is an important initiative of the United Methodist Church In fact, the entire first section of the Social Principles is entitled “Community of All Creation,” and every fall our Charge Conference form asks who from each church is the contact for Creation Care.
And certainly, the biblical mandate is a strong one. In fact, in Genesis 2 humans were created specifically to cultivate the land.
In keeping with this tradition, we are planning a re-launch of Memorial's Creation Care Ministry. Collecting plastic film for recycling is just one of many activities we can do. Other possibilities include campus sustainability initiatives, hosting guest speakers on conservation topics, ongoing classes, service projects such as beach clean-ups, or spirituality in nature outings. Our first reorganization meeting is scheduled for Thursday, 8/14 at 4:30 PM in the Multi-Purpose Room. If you are interested in Creation Care at Memorial UMC, please sign up at volunteersignup.org/PYEWF.
To help with plastic collection or for additional questions or information about creation care, contact Sarah Flint at earthsteward@harmonyhq.com or 904-206-3023.
Recycling Information
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Nassau County Recycling Information
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City of Fernandina Beach Recycling Info
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​​Fernandina Beach contracts services with Waste Management Statelinefl@wm.com
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“Recycling 101” from the Waste Management Website:
Residential recycling is all about the fundamentals. Find out which common materials are recyclable, and which aren't, plus learn 3 simple rules to help you recycle the right way, every day.
Three Basic Rules
Knowing these rules and putting them into practice will help you recycle more efficiently and ensure more materials find a second life.
Rule 1: Recycle bottles, cans, paper and cardboard
Rule 2: Keep food and liquid out of your recycling
Rule 3: No loose plastic bags and no bagged recyclables
Saving Aluminum Can Tabs for Ronald McDonald House
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Announcing a recycling "2-fer" ! We are collecting aluminum can pull tabs to recycle. They are contributed to Ronald McDonald house which raises money to cover their utilities with the tabs! When you contribute pull tabs, you are recycling AND supporting Ronald McDonald house!
There is a jar for aluminum can pull tabs on the shelf just inside the door of the Partin Center.
Florida's Right to Clean Water Amendment
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The United Methodist Church Supports Clean Water Amendments
Part of our call to social justice as United Methodists is to work to ensure that people all over the world have clean water and that our access to safe water is protected. You can read more about this call and commitment here: Clean Water • GBCS (umcjustice.org) and our call to protecting waterways and water resources here: Social Principles: The Natural World (umc.org)
Clean water is vital to our future as Floridians and toward the health of our state's environment. Right now, there is something that we can do about this issue on the state level. The Florida Conference Creation Care Team has endorsed the work toward a recent Florida Right to Clean Water Amendment which empowers Floridians to better hold the State accountable when it comes to Florida waters.
Any who are interested in doing something positive to help ensure clean water and protected waterways for the people and wildlife of Florida are invited to fill out a petition form (found in the worship spaces or Partin Center) supporting the amendment and return it through the offering plate or to our creation care team at Memorial
You can also avoid the paper and fill one of these petitions out online at (and learn more about it) at: floridarighttocleanwater.org
​​10 Hints to save energy and resources at home & work:
1. Be bright with light: Make it a habit to turn off lights/appliances when you leave a room, use timers or motion sensors to turn off lights automatically. Use Energy Star light bulbs and appliances
2. Wait to run washers: Make it a habit to do laundry or dishes when the load is full. Use cold water for laundry to reduce the microplastics produced by washing in hot water
3. Be computer efficient: Make it a habit to turn off your computer (and power strips) Screensavers don't save energy!
4. Print smarter: Make it a habit to print double sided and go paperless when possible
5. Keep your personal environment safe: Make it a habit to use non toxic cleaning products, add plants (which help absorb indoor pollution) to your home and work spaces
6. Be smart about temperatures: Make it a habit to use a thermostat timer to keep comfortable when needed, and save energy other times
7. Reduce, reuse, recycle! Make it a habit to limit consumption, repurposing saves money
8. Watch how you eat: Make it a habit to use reusable dishes, flatware, glasses. Bring your own reusable utensil kit, and bring your own take-home containers when eating out.
9. Linit kitchen waste: Make it a habit to compost kitchen scraps. Plant a garden or fruit tree
10. Weatherize: Make it a habit to keep home well insulated, get an energy audit to see what needs repair or replacement
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