Mission of the Green Sanctuary Team
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To engage in the Green Sanctuary process as outlined by the UUA
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To work with the Faith Formation team on climate second hours and other climate education
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To connect the UUSF to broader UU initiatives (UU New Bedford, UUA, UU Mass Action)
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To work with social justice initiatives (local food, immigration, SCPV) on joint programming
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To alert the board and congregation to UUA opportunities like the Climate Revival
Approved 2025
Activities of the group
1
Green Sanctuary Status
We have submitted our Green Sanctuary application to the UUA in 2025 and were approved!
2
Climate Justice Revival Services, Second Hour, Potlucks & Book Club
We held two Climate Justice Revival services, one in the fall and one in the spring. Second hours held included: Relational Organizing with Diana Painter, Green Sanctuary Info Session, UUA Green Sanctuary Update, etc.
We hold a vegetarian potluck every other month at church to be in community and discuss ways we can carry out our Green Sanctuary mission. The Green Sanctuary book club meets on the alternating months. Everyone is welcome at potlucks and book club meetings!
3
Composting
The church has joined the curbside composting program in Fairhaven through Black Earth Composting and raised awareness about composting options at coffee hour. Congregants who live in apartments are invited to bring their compost to church on Sundays. Residents in Fairhaven and South Dartmouth are encouraged to sign up.
4
Borrow & Share Project
Congregants are encouraged to post items they are willing to share to the Google Form and borrow items using the Google Sheet in an effort to reduce waste and unnecessary consumption and increase our resilience. Links are posted in Slack under @borrow_and_share.
5
Sharing Our Social Justice Library
Adult bookshelf is in the auditorium; kid/teen/parenting bookshelf is in the Harrop upstairs lounge.
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Titles are on topics ranging from climate change, racial justice, UU principles, immigration, regeneration, etc. and are for all ages. Bookshelf is in the auditorium. Anyone can add a book or borrow a book.
6
Grounds Reimagining
We have plans for an outdoor classroom, an herb garden, spaces for meditation, relaxation, etc for the congregation and the community. We also participated in our first No Mow May with hopes that we can eliminate parts of the church lawn over time in favor of native plantings to support pollinators.
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Visioning sessions
We have held two brainstorming/visioning sessions, one at Second Hour and one at a Green Sanctuary potluck. Ideas for next year: further partnering with New Bedford groups like Southcoast Neighbors United (SCNU), the NB UU church and others; continuing to work on our outdoor campus; climate adaptation planning; and doing work on climate disaster preparedness.