Grace First Celebrates Becoming An “Earth Care Congregation”

by | Mar 17, 2020 | News

Grace First Presbyterian Church of Long Beach recently became Los Ranchos’ second certified Earth Care Congregation of PC(USA)’s Presbyterian Hunger Program. The first was St. Mark of Newport Beach. This honor speaks to the great commitment that this congregation has made to care for God’s earth.

To become an Earth Care Congregation, Grace First affirmed an Earth Care Pledge to integrate environmental practices and thinking into their worship, education, facilities, and outreach.

Rev. Jonas Hayes at the 2019 Interfaith Blessing of the Animals service, which is an outdoor worship service.

Beginning in 2010, the Earth Care Congregation certification is designed to recognize churches that make the commitment to take seriously God’s charge to “till and keep” the garden.

The goal of this program is to inspire churches to care for God’s earth in a holistic way through integrating earth care into all aspects of their church life. The Earth Care Congregation certification honors churches that make that commitment and encourages others to follow their example.

“It is exciting that Grace First is one of the 264 churches that chose to dedicate themselves to intentional care of God’s earth this year. In a time of much uncertainty and worry about the future, this congregation’s activities and commitment brings hope to their community. Grace First will inspire others to respond intentionally to God’s call to care for the earth,” says Jessica Maudlin, Associate for Sustainable Living and Earth Care Concerns for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

For more information about Grace First’s earth care program contact Rev. Jonas Hayes at [email protected].

For more information on the Earth Care Congregations program visit www.pcusa.org/earthcarecongregations.