Monthly Highlight
Doug Smurthwaite and Another Installer (Smurthwaite Heating), Nikki Devereux and Jim Eles (Stouffville United Church Project Coordinators).
Stouffville United Church celebrates 170 years… and funding
Big things are happening at Stouffville United Church (Whitchurch-Stouffville, ON), including being a recipient of a Faithful Footprints grant to improve many features of its church. Stouffville United was featured in a story at Stouffville Review, which highlights how the recent renovations help the life of the church extends well beyond its youthful 170 years.
Read more on their project below
Work Completed
Alderwood United Church (Toronto, ON)
Received a grant to replace its 1952 single-pane windows in its gymnasium, kitchen and washroom with temperature control windows.
East Plains United Church (Burlington, ON)
Received a grant to replace its 55+ year boiler with more energy efficient twin boilers and an on-demand water heater.
Hope United Church (Toronto, ON)
Received a grant to restore windows by stabilizing and repairing existing window frames and installing thermal-pane inserts into the same historical wooden windows frames; as well as restore its two-story window and installing three venting windows.
Jubilee United Church (Toronto, ON)
Received a grant to replace 400 indoor fluorescent fixtures, halogen and incandescent bulbs as well as outdoor halogen lights; and replace 6 exterior veneer covered wooden doors with new doors with push bar hardware and automatic open/close mechanisms.
Portland United Church (Portland, ON)
Received a grant to weatherstrip all external doors and recaulk doors and windows; convert all fluorescent tubes to LED; replace a propane space heater in its Friendship room with a ductless heat pump; and install a solar array.
St. Andrew's United Church (North Vancouver, BC)
Received a grant to replace lighting to LEDs in its church and Christian Education building.
Stouffville United Church (Whitchurch-Stouffville, ON)
Received a grant to replace sanctuary pendant lights with LEDs that are dimmable and interactive with an audio visual system; replace natural gas furnace with an all-electric heat pump system - with a multi-position air handler that uses its current venting system; and replace two hot water tanks with a 60 USG electric water heater.
Energy Results
Huntingdon United Church (Huntingdon, QC)
Received a grant to update its electrical entrance from 200 amps to 400 amps; replace oil furnace with two 24 000 BTU heat pumps in the lower level and an electric boiler; install two 20 KW electric forced air furnaces, one on each level to supplement the heat pumps and drain the hot water system; install an electric heater in the furnace room; insulate its chimney with fiberglass insulation; caulk the front windows on the lower level; repair and install weather stripping on its front doors; insulate and seal back window; upgrade bathroom exhaust fan; replace incandescent light bulbs with LEDs, including its backyard light; insulate furnace room and storage area under from entrance with spray foam insulation; replace kitchen stove, refrigerator and freezer with more efficient models. A year following their projects, Huntingdon United reduced its source EUI by 26.6%, total GHG emissions by 99.4%, direct GHG Emissions intensity by 100.0%, energy costs by 46.7%, and energy cost intensity by 46.6%.
St Paul's United Church (Riverview, NB)
Received a grant to replace windows and upgrade its lighting from T-4 to T-8 florescent fixtures, and replace other lights with LED bulbs; as well as upgrade thermostats to 7 day programmable system. A year following their projects, St. Paul's United reduced its weather-normalized source EUI by 16.1%, total GHG emissions by 28.1%, total GHG emissions intensity by 25.7%,electricity usage by 24.2%,and natural gas usage by 6.6%.
Inspiration
St. Andrew's United Church and Heritage Hall receives National Trust’s Launch Pad Coaching Grant
Faithful Footprints participant, St. Andrew's United Church (Kaslo, BC) was recently announced as one of the two National Trust for Canada’s Launch Pad Coaching Grant recipients. Through the generous support of donors, the National Trust’s Launch Pad Coaching Grants give community organizations up to 14 hours of direct coaching time with a team of seasoned professionals. Together, they find solutions to unlock the potential of historic places. St. Andrew's United will participate in a group coaching grant to help boost their fundraising efforts and work toward a sustainable future.
Act/Fast: Spiritual Practices for a Climate in Crisis
Lent begins in less than a month on February 14! Moderator Carmen Lansdowne has her copy of the new Lenten devotional Act/Fast: Spiritual Practices for a Climate in Crisis. Do you? Consider reading this thoughtful devotional with contributions from climate advocates around the world. Look at fasting for Lent from a different perspective by deepening your commitment to taking action for a climate in crisis. It also includes a study guide to help you dive deeper as individuals or within a group.
Opportunities
Being an Ecological Leader: A Conversation with Mary Evelyn Tucker
February 6, 2024 | 12:00-1:00 PM ET
Join an inspiring conversation with Dr. Mary Evelyn Tucker, Confucian scholar and global leader in religious responses to ecological issues. She is the co-founder of the Forum on Religion and Ecology and the Journey of the Universe projects, as well as involvement with The Earth Charter initiatives. We will learn about Mary Evelyn’s story and how it connects to the universe’s story, as she invites us to understand and embody our deep interconnectedness in a new way.
Daring Justice: Uniting in Dialogue and Reflection
Six Sessions | February 15 - April 25, 2024
Come and find hope, nourishment and community, in the work of justice-making, for the sake of God’s beloved world. Meeting six Thursday afternoons spread over three months, this course with Jane Dawson, offers you an opportunity to become grounded and nurtured in the work of justice-making. Sessions weave presentations, self-reflection, group dialogue, and contemplative practices in an interactive learning format. Deepen your relationship with God, strengthen your theological and scriptural grounding, and experience a sense of community and encouragement.
Give it up for the Earth! 2024
February 14 - March 28
Citizens for Public Justice's Give it up for the Earth! is a national faith-in-action campaign that raises awareness about the climate crisis and mobilizes people across Canada to reduce personal and household greenhouse gas emissions, engage in acts of solidarity, and collect signatures as a demonstration of support for increased federal climate action. Give it up for the Earth! 2024 includes three action items:
A pledge to reduce your personal and household greenhouse gas emissions.
A Commitment to embrace eco-spirituality through climate action and by building relationships with the Indigenous communities on whose traditional territories we live, work, and play.
Sending a letter to the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, urging him to set more ambitious climate action targets and expressing support for a just transition towards a low-carbon economy.
Act/Fast 2024 Lenten Study on CHURCHx
Tuesdays, 1:00 PM ET | February 20 to March 26, 2024
In this six-week series, join Rev. Stephen Fetter and people from across the country to explore one of the devotional readings from the Act/Fast, the new Devotional Study book from United Church Publishing House. Listen to each devotion’s author read the passage aloud, to hear nuances that can only be communicated by the spoken voice. We’ll push deeper than the words on the page – both with the author, and with each other – and explore how each devotion invites us into deeper spirituality and more daring discipleship.
The Mod's Book Squad Featuring Act/Fast on March 5, 2024
March 5, 2024 | 3:30 - 5:00 PM ET
Join special guest, Christine Boyle, City of Vancouver councilor and advisor to The Faithful Footprints program. at United in Learning's upcoming The Mod’s Book Squad, where they will be featuring the new Lenten devotional Act/Fast: Spiritual Practices for a Climate in Crisis.
Sustainable Practices for Faith Buildings
Two-day workshop from March 19 & 20, 2024
Are you an Energy Benchmarking Program participant? Better Buildings Ottawa and Greening Sacred Spaces Ottawa will be offering an exciting workshop for faith building owners and operators to learn how they can make their faith building more energy efficient. Facilitated by Michel Parent and Stephen Dixon, who each bring over 30 years of experience in the building industry, these two full day workshops will include building tours and an ‘energy treasure hunt’. Interested in participating or would like to volunteer your faith building to accommodate the workshop for one of the two day? Fill out the survey below, or reach out to Emily at greeningsacredspacesottawa@gmail.com.
Registration for Faithful Footprints Retrofit Tours 2024 is opening soon!
Registration is opening soon for this year's group of Faithful Footprints Retrofit Tours. These tours are in-person events hosted by past and current Faithful Footprints program participants. The tours provide an opportunity for communities of faith to celebrate the building upgrades they have achieved thanks to the support of The United Church of Canada's one-of-a-kind retrofit grant program and a chance for others to get a closer look at the renovations. Stay tuned for more information on how your community of faith can get involved.
Ready, set, plant! The Foundation's Spring granting round is now open!
Applications are due April 15th.
The United Church of Canada's Foundation’s Seeds of Hope grants support unique and innovative ventures that are ready to make an impact in our United Church and beyond. Let's get your project funded! The Joint Grants Committee welcomes applications for new, unique projects:
Providing innovative seniors’ ministry
Celebrating and encouraging children and youth
Addressing environmental and social justice issues
Looking at new ways to provide ministry and support during transition periods
Facilitating experiencing faith and spirituality