Berean Baptist Church

January's Creation Care Theme:  Heat

Scripture

Da 3:19-21 Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace.

ABC Statement

As Christians we have special concerns about energy use and resources. Responsible stewardship is a biblical injunction and a moral obligation and we

are charged with the stewardship of the earth, not only for ourselves, but also for future generations. Because we are aware of the limitations of fossil fuels, and while they are still relatively abundant, it is essential that we consider our stewardship of the earth's resources for present and future generations. The use of energy in

our society, must be balanced with the needs of persons in the rest of the world and the options presently seen for the generation of energy currently and

in the future. The choices we make concerning energy will greatly affect the future of all people on this planet.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            From the American Baptist Policy Statement on Energy

Fact

42 percent of an average family's energy bills is spent to keep homes at a comfortable temperature.  A two-degree adjustment to your thermostat setting (lower in winter, higher in summer) can lower energy bills by four percent and prevent 500 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere each year. 

From Stewardship of Creation: a Thirty Day Discipline

Commitment:

Immediate - knock it down a few degrees.  By reducing the temperature just a few degrees or raising it while using air conditioning, you can save a great deal of energy and money.  Wear a sweater and grab a blanket and you can save even more.  Turn off the air conditioning while you are away ad in the middle of the night.  Keep the heat at the lowest state to prevent broken water pipes during low active times.

Long term- Check out where you are losing heat or coolness.  If you have leaking windows or doors, insulate them or create a plan to replace current windows with energy efficient windows.  Close off some parts of your house during winder or summer.  Consider contributing to an energy fund in your community to help lower-income neighbors pay the high cost of energy and energy efficient home improvements. 

BBC's commitment - We have installed programmable thermostats at Berean.  We have installed new windows in Granger Hall and the Church basement.  We have made improvements to the church heating system.  We have an oil fund that helps local families in need of heating assistance. 

Daily Prayer: 

Loving God, you surround us with the warmth of your love and the refreshing breeze in the summer.  Give to us wisdom in our homes and hearths, that as we care for our own bodies and households, we also care for the earth. Amen. 

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Last modified: 04/13/11