SunCatchers of ECC UCC

All about SunCatchers  

Climate change is happening all over the earth. Most of its effects threaten life as we know it, and time is short for effective response. Elon Community Church recognizes human stewardship for God's Creation. We are multiplying our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint. We hope our actions will inspire others to do the same.

Phase I of Elon Community Church’s solar installation in 2013 currently provides 5.4 percent of the church’s electrical power. We are thankful and encouraged. We feel compelled to do more. We launch Phase II with the image of Catching the Sun. It’s already there! The Creator put it there! We are invited to use it.

We are doing this because our Christian faith demands it: love God's Creation; love your neighbor. 

We offer like-minded friends – secular and of all spiritual practices- to join us in caring better for Creation, right now. We are adding to the momentum with which people are waking up to climate realities and to our collective and individual roles in what is happening to our earthly home.

Phase II will add 60 solar panels to the 20 we have on the roof of the Community Life Center, bringing the solar share to nearly one-third of our electrical use. The 20 panels are saving some money and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 200,000 pounds over a course of 25 years. That is tiny in terms of overall carbon emissions. 

The good news is that more nonprofits, homes, and businesses are installing sustainable energy sources as the costs go down. This helps the economy, health, and the natural infrastructure on which people, businesses, and all other creatures depend. Adding 60 panels will reduce carbon dioxide emissions from our church’s use of electricity by more than a million pounds over 25 years, not to mention reducing other health-damaging toxins. (The gasoline-powered car emissions equivalent is that we are negating the emissions of one car now, but Phase II will be like taking six cars off the road.) That’s a better picture! In addition, the money-saving estimate is $1,755 during the first year and $69,136 over 25 years. Money saved can go to better uses than to utility bills.

A fearful response to climate change is natural; the crisis evades our full comprehension, and it evokes despondency, denial, and attempts at avoidance. Naturally enough, humans are like the scared disciples during the storm that Jesus calmed. Is God asleep? Doesn’t he care?

In undertaking this campaign, we are pondering Jesus' words to his first century followers, “Why are you so afraid?”

Our Lord is still in the boat with us. You can be too.  

Personal words from more  SunCatchers:

"To be good stewards of the earth . . . is our charge from the Bible, and I take it seriously." -- Connie

George and Carole Troxler say:

With us are FIVE of the reasons we are helping to buy solar panels for Elon Community Church. They breathe air and use water, as does their food supply. More broadly, our children and grandchildren will be increasingly affected by national and international economic distress and political unrest that climate change already is causing. Now is the time to make a difference. People are waking up, and we are happy to be part of the action.

Next, Chris and Whitney Gregory

 tell why their family is supporting the solar panel project at Elon Community Church:

“One of the things we love most about Elon Community Church is the commitment to environmental stewardship. When we were looking for a church, we noticed the 20 current solar panels, and commented how it was both uncommon and awesome to see these on a church. Now that we're members, we appreciate the opportunity to continue to support the church's active engagement in preserving the environment we have been given.”

If you’d like to join the Gregorys in supporting this project, you can hit the DONATE button on this page or go to the church site: https://tinyurl.com/eccsolar 

Select “Solar Panel Fund” under To, and follow the prompts. Thank you!

Children and grandchildren! 

David Andes and Karen Lewis relate:

"We have many reasons to support the solar panel project at our church, but the very most important one to us is our children and our brand-new granddaughter, Benner. We want to do everything we possibly can to take care of this earth so that it will be a good place for them – and for your children and grandchildren – to live and thrive."