Over 15 years ago, then UUA President Rev. William Sinkford implored we UUs, “Earth is our home. We are part of this world, and its destiny is our own. Life on this planet will be gravely affected unless we embrace new practices, ethics, and values to guide our lives on a warming planet. As Unitarian Universalists, how can our faith inform our actions to remedy and mitigate global warming/climate change?”

From February to April 2023, High Plains Church will take up this challenge and offer services and programs, as well as educational and social action opportunities on environmental issues. We will have recycling collection opportunities for particularly difficult items, like styrofoam, plastics not covered by single-stream recycling, and pop-top rings for Ronald McDonald.

We invite you and your interested friends to join us for any or all of the activities below.  All forums and services will be held in the HPCUU Sanctuary on the Unity Campus, 1945 Mesa Road (80904).

Activities and Social Action:

Recycle Your Styrofoam & Pull Tabs at HPCUU 

February through April

John Atkinson and the Environmental Team will accept your Styrofoam and pull tabs from cans for recycling at all of the Environmental Worship Services and Forums.

Styrofoam accepted:  clean packaging, packing peanuts, go-boxes, and grocery trays.

Pull tabs from cans:  There is a small box in the Fellowship Hall for the benefit of the Ronald McDonald House.

Environmental Presentation at the Conservation and Environmental Center

Feb. 17^th, 3:30-5:30 pm

February, March, and April have been chosen to focus on Environmental Issues.  After extreme weather and numerous dangerous storms our “Beautiful Blue Boat” has been experiencing, there is no doubt we should be focusing on awareness and activities that will help us become better stewards of our environment.

The HPCUU Environmental Team is kicking off our efforts with a visit to our city’s fabulous resource, the Colorado Springs Conservation and Environmental Center (CEC).  Brigit Landin, Conservation Specialist, will do an educational presentation on Environmental Stewardship and Home Efficiency, demonstrating big and small ways we can all make a difference.  Topics will include:

• Ways we can make our homes more efficient;
• Tips for conserving water, electricity, gas, and other energy resources;
• New technology for making your appliances and fixtures more environmentally friendly;
• Ways we can make our yards and landscape more resource-friendly; and
• Learn about the benefits of electric vehicles.

All are welcome.  Please Join Us

Friday, 17 February 2023, from 3:30 to 5 PM at the CEC, 2855 Mesa Road

An Invitation from All Souls for a Meet-Up 

Feb. 17th, 5:30PM

Instead of our February “Friday at 5” meet-up at a local brew pub, we have a kind Meet-Up invitation from our friends at ASUUC. They would like to get to know us better over drinks and snacks in their Fellowship Hall at 5:30 PM. Here’s a chance to meet your fellow UUs and see their beautiful historic building on the corner of Dale and Tejon.

Please note that this meet-up is just 30 minutes after the Environmental presentation at the Conservation and Environmental Center (CEC), which we strongly hope you will also attend.  It’s an easy drive: South on Mesa Road, past Unity, to Uintah, and turn left at the stop light on Uintah.  Proceed to All Souls UU Church at the corner of Dale and Tejon.

Environmental Book Discussion

April 8th, 2-4 pm

Everyone is invited to participate in the Environmental Book Discussion in the Unity Fellowship Hall (HPCUU, 1945 Mesa Road (80904). Refreshments will be served.

Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants/Robin Wall Kimmerer (2013).  (Amazon $9.99 Kindle, $13.25 paperback)

Kimmerer is a widely acclaimed best-selling author.  In December 2022, our UU Ministers discussed the book, and Colorado College hosted Kimmerer (Botany professor, McArthur Genius Award winner, and member of the Potowatamie Bear Clan) for a packed and well-received environmental lecture.

Pick up your copy, and Happy Reading.

Sue Neufeld, Facilitator, HPCUU Environmental Justice Team

Help with Plastic Recycing 

The local AAUW (American Association of University Women) chapter, which includes several HPCUU members, has a goal of collecting 500 pounds of recyclable plastic before May 31, 2023, in order to get a TREX bench for a nonprofit (through the NEXTREX program).  Jean Muller will collect your plastic donations on worship Sundays in February, March, and April.  All recyclables must be clean and dry, free of labels, food, and organic residue.  The plastic they want will stretch when you pull it, and colored plastic is fine.  If it tears like paper, is shiny, or makes a crinkly/crunchy sound in your hand, it is not acceptable for this program.