Trinity United in Shelburne, Nova Scotia, had already implemented a green strategy that created big fuel savings in its sanctuary when it decided to introduce some “smaller” ideas, too. It opted not to buy a Christmas tree for its “Lights for Loved Ones” fundraiser, and instead, used a memorial blue spruce that had been planted several years earlier and grown enough to serve the same purpose.

 

That initiative saved the fuel required to cut and transport a big tree, but also inspired members to change the kind of lights they used for the fundraiser, which invites people to buy lights in memory or celebration of a loved one, and to hang those lights on a large outdoor Advent-Christmas tree. After the congregation switched from incandescent to LED tree lights, its power costs dropped from $25 to $0.35.

 

When Trinity United in Oakville, Ontario, started its White Gift Program 30 years ago, it set out to provide Christmas hampers with food and gifts to families that needed help at Christmas, but soon discovered some families needed help at other times, too. Trinity now provides food or grocery store gift cards to 22 households for Easter, back to school, and Thanksgiving, and up to 40 households at Christmas time.

 

This year, Trinity also partnered with the Oakville Children’s Music Theatre to host a special Sunday afternoon presentation of the musical Oliver! The admission price was a food or money donation to the White Gift Program, and the show’s director says the event helped the children connect the classic Dickens story with the circumstances of families living in poverty today.

 

For more information on these and other inspirational stories, read Mandate at www.united-church.ca/sales/magazines/mandate.