Service Hours: 9:00 AM Sunday Morning

EARTH CARE

Earth Care is committed to establishing practices that will positively impact our interaction with the environment and its inhabitants. Taking care of what we have now helps to promote nurturing behaviors for the overall health of our planet.

About Earth Care

Why should we as a congregation care for the Earth?
We are utterly dependent on earth at every moment of our lives, for everything—air, water, food, materials, and energy. In Genesis after the creation of the Garden, God charges us to be caretakers of the earth by defending and healing creation while working to assure justice for all of creation and the human beings who live in it.  God's power, creativity, and more are displayed through the creation of the earth, the heavens, and each plant and creature. God is revealed to us in scripture, yes, but also in the created world! We can see God's handiwork all around us and we should take care of it.
 
What is Second Presbyterian doing to care for the Earth?
The Earth Care team is exploring ways our congregation can participate in more sustainable practices in our Worship, for our facilities, in our education of children through adults and our outreach to others. They will help us be deliberate with our actions and not casual bystanders. We recognize there are actions we can take as a church as well as individuals.

Local Earth Care Events

Learn more about events held this month below!
Some events may have a fee.
Recycling Program Prep Work Day
Various Dates in April and May
Various Times
Work day location varies
(Sponsoredby Ecology Action Center)
Free Registration Required: Register Here
Tree Prep or Tree Planting Workdays
Various Dates in April and May
Various Times
Work day location varies
(Sponsored by Ecology Action Center)
Free Registration Required: Register Here
Sugar Creek Stewards Workday
May 4, 2024
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
(sponsored by the Normal Public Library)
Community Activity Center 1110 Douglas Normal
Free registration required.

Waterpalooza - Ripple, An Inspiring Clean Water Showcase
May 4, 2024
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Fairview Park, 801 N. Main St, Normal
(Sponsored by Town of Normal and Ecology Action Center)
Free event: Learn more here
Photos and Forbes: Learn how to take good nature photos and learn about wildflowers, with Tracy DeWeese and Bill Handel
May 4, 2024
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Dominy Memorial Library, 201 S. 3rd Fairbury then to Fugate Woods Fairbury
(Sponsored by U of Illinois Extension)
Free registration required: Contact Darci Webber at dlwebber@illinois.edu for the link
Bird Walk at Hedge Apple Woods
May 5, 2024
8:00 a.m.
Hedge Apple Woods in Ewing Park II 1001 Ethell Parkway Bloomington
(sponsored by Grand Prairie Bird Alliance)
Free event! Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars.

Hike with a Naturalist Hayes Woods
May 5, 2024
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Hayes Woods, Secor, IL
(Sponsored by Parklands Foundation)
Call (309) 454-3169 for more info: Learn more here
Caterpillar Counts Citizen Scientist Training
May 6, 2024
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
1020 S Morris Ave Bloomington
(sponsored by Miller Park Zoo)
Must be 10 years or older. To register for this program, email Silvia Schuh at sschuh@cityblm.org. Learn more here.

Caterpillar Counts Citizen Scientist Training
May 8, 2024
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
1020 S Morris Ave Bloomington
(sponsored by Miller Park Zoo)
Must be 10 years or older. To register for this program, email Silvia Schuh at sschuh@cityblm.org. Learn more here

Easy Roses - Bill Inks AB Hatchery
May 9, 2024
10:00 a.m.
Community Activity Center 1110 Douglas Normal
(sponsored by the BN Garden Club)
$5 for non-members. Email BNGC2021@gmail.com to register.
Climate Action Lobby Day
May 9, 2024
9:00 a.m.
Springfield, IL
(sponsored by Faith In Place)
Register here for more information.

Learn about Wind Turbines
May 9, 2024
12:10 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
200 N Main St. Bloomington
(sponsored McLean County Museum of History)
For more information call 309-827-0428 or click the link here.

Rain Barrell Workshop
May 9, 2024
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Ecology Action Center, 202 W College Ave Normal
(sponsored by Ecology Action Center)
$55.00 for non-members - Registration required!

Pollinator Gardens
May 11, 2024
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
9122 Bucks Rd Heyworth
(sponsored by Wild Harvest)
Free, no registration required

Vermicomposting
May 11, 2024
4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Ecology Action Center 202 W College Ave Normal
(sponsored by Ecology Action Center)
$35.00 registration required

Bird Walk - Fraker Farm
May 12, 2024
8:30 a.m.
Fraker Farm, 226 County Road 375N, Carlock
(sponsored by Grand Prairie Bird Alliance)
Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars.

Flower Bugs by Angella Morehouse
May 13, 2024
7:00 p.m.
Mennonite Church of Normal, 805 S. Cottage, Normal
(Sponsored by Wild Ones - Illinois Prairie)
Free event, Zoom link available closer to event: Learn more here
Bird Walk - Hedge Apple Woods
May 18, 2024
8:00 a.m.
Hedge Apple Woods in Ewing Park II 1001 Ethell Parkway Bloomington
(sponsored by Grand Prairie Bird Alliance)
Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars.
Storm Drain Stenciling
May 18, 2024
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Ecology Action Center 202 W College Ave Normal
(sponsored by Ecology Action Center)
Free - Register to get location details

Native Plant Sale
May 18, 024
8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (or until sold out)
White Oak Township Community Building, Carlock
(Sponsored by Wild Ones - Illinois Prairie)
Click here for driving and parking instructions
(Plants were sold out by 10:00 a.m. in prior years)
Grand Prairie Bird Alliance Annual Meeting & Bird Walk
May 19, 2024
1:00 p.m.
Illinois Art Station 101 E Vernon Normal
(sponsored by the Grand Prairie Bird Alliance)
Participants do not need to be a member to attend. Parking is available long Linden St. around the corner from the building. Learn more here!

Rain Barrell Workshop
May 20, 2024
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Ecology Action Center 202 W College Ave Normal
(sponsored by Ecology Action Action)
$55 registration required

Backyard Composting
May 21, 2024
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Ecology Action Center 202 W College Ave Normal
(sponsored by Ecology Action Center)
$35 registration required

Pollinator Gardens
May 25, 2024
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
9122 Bucks Rd Heyworth
(sponsored by Wild Harvest)
No registration required

Tree and Landscaping Seminar
May 25, 2024
10:00 a.m.
ConAllers Shelter - Across from Connie Link on the Constitution Trail
(sponsored by the Town of Normal Parks and Rec)
Free if pre-registered

ISU Horticulture Center Plant Sale
May 25, 2024
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Ropp Agriculture Building, Main St. and Willow, Normal
(Sponsored by ISU Horticulture Center)
Bird Walk - Hedge Apple Woods
May 25, 2024
8:00 a.m.
Hedge Apple Woods in Ewing Park II 1001 Ethell Parkway Bloomington
(sponsored by the Grand Prairie Bird Alliance)
Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars.

Butterfly Release
June 1, 2024
10:30 a.m.
9122 Bucks Rd Heyworth
(sponsored by Wild Harvest)
$15 ticket required at the link provided.

Emergence Convergence - Cicadas
June 1, 2024
10: 00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Allerton Park 515 Old Timer Road, Monticello, IL
(sponsored by Illinois Natural History Survey Insect Collection)
Free - no registration required
Storm Drain Stenciling
June 5, 2024
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Ecology Action Center 202 W College Ave Normal
(sponsored by Ecology Action Center)
Free registration required to receive location details.

Bee Hive Tour
June 7, 2024
10:00 a.m.
9122 Bucks Rd Heyworth
(sponsored by Wild Harvest)
$69.00 ticket at link provided

Storm Drain Stenciling
June 8, 2024
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Ecology Action Center 202 W College Ave Normal
(sponsored by Ecology Action Center)
Free registration required to receive location.

Backyard Composting
June 8, 2024
2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Ecology Action Center 202 W College Ave Normal
(sponsored by Ecology Action Center)
$35.00 registration required

Vermicomposting
June 8, 2024
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Ecology Action Center 202 W College Ave Normal
(sponsored by Ecology Action Center)
$35.00 registration required


The Natural Play Park at Colene Hoose School
June 13, 2024
10:00 a.m.
Community Activity Center 1110 Douglas Normal
(sponsored by BN Garden Club)
$5 for non-members. Email BNCG2021@gmail.com.
Hike with a Naturalist - Kenyon-Baller Preserve
June 15, 2024
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
See location at the link below
(sponsored by the Parklands Foundation)
$5.00 registration required.

What You Should Know About Herbicide Drift
July 8, 2024
7:00 p.m.
Mennonite Church of Normal, 805 S Cottage Normal
(sponsored by Wild Ones - Illinois)
Free - no registration required 

Green Fund Grant

The funding helped provide resources needed to help fulfill the vision of the garden.

Besides all the faithful volunteers who have planted, weeded, watered, and constructed the gazebo,  many thanks to the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation for the grant from the Green fund! It was put to good use!

About the Illinois Prairie Green Endowment
(Environment)

For more information, please visit the Illinois Prairie Community Green Endowment, please click below.

WORSHIP

TIP: Recycle your bulletins. As a church we have recycling bins and use a recycling vendor for paper and containers.

EDUCATION

TIP: Our church leadership works closely with people to educate them in different ways they can be proactive in their 'green' efforts.

OUTREACH

TIP: Our church Group Sale is a huge reuse activity as is the Glad Tidings clothing ministry, both are a blessing to our community.

FACILITY

TIP: We are reducing consumption of electricity by installing LED lights and motion sensing in all bathrooms to turn on/off the lights. 

Our Nature Partners

Alter Metal Recycling

Bloomington-Normal Garden Club

Central Illinois Beekeepers Association

Ecology Action Center

Faith in Place

FriendsFirst Garden

Hedge Apple Woods at Ewing Park

Illinois Prairie Wild Ones

Illinois State University Office of Sustainability

JWP Audubon Bird Watching & Garden

Master Gardeners

Master Natrualists

McLean County Soil and Water Conservation District

ParkLands Foundation

Second Pres Group Sale

St. Luke Union Church

Scout Troops 9903 and 3905