The Green Team

The Green Team (formerly The Environmental Ministry Team) is dedicated to environmental issues within our church, the wider community and the world, acting on ways to be good stewards of the environment through education, recycling and energy efficiency. We invite everyone who has a passion for caring for God’s creation to come and learn about the work we’re doing to make Glen Ellyn a more sustainable, resilient, and compassionate community. These include efforts to focus on renewable energy and to nurture locally grown produce; if you like to garden, you’ll love what we have in store!

The Eden Project

The Green Team is working on a project to plant at least 30 raised bed gardens across DuPage County, primarily on the property of FCCGE church members. The produce will be directed to local food pantries and individuals in need. We believe this will accomplish several important sustainability goals:

Provide nutritious sustenance for the hungry in our community
Teach participants the skills to grow their own food
Reduce local carbon output by limiting the need for widely transported, store-bought produce that relies on industrial agriculture and extensive supply chains
Strengthen our partnership with Gardenworks, a local mission partner that provides materials and training for folks to cultivate their own gardens

Contact: Nancy Bell or Tom Rausch.

Green Team Caring for Our Feathered Friends

“And God said ‘…let birds fly above the

earth across the vault of the sky.’”~ Genesis

What does our church and the St. Louis arch have in common? We both are going dark the month of September to assist birds in their annual migration south. The arch goes dark in September and May to avoid disorienting birds, and we are turning off our bright tower lights at 10 PM all month for the same reason. We plan to do the same in May. Our Green Team and Property and Grounds team worked together to make this happen. We chose 10 PM for security reasons and because it is consistent with historical migration patterns in our area.

FCCGE's Hope Garden

In Bloom Now!!

Our Open and Affirming group and Green Team have collaborated and planted a Hope Garden to recognize Mental Health Awareness Week (May 12, 2025 – May 18, 2025). The Hope Garden concept stems from a youth-driven movement called The Yellow Tulip Project (YTP) to “smash the stigma surrounding mental illness” by planting gardens of yellow tulips. The garden, on the west side of our building, has been planted with yellow tulips which is currently in bloom!

Green Team Hike

April 27th, 1 pm

Our next Green Team Hike will be Sunday April 27 at Lincoln Marsh, which should be in full springtime bloom. Meet at 1:00 at the parking lot at Pierce and Harrison Ave in Wheaton. St. Mark’s Episcopal church’s Green Team is invited to join us, and the Kannegiessers, who live on the marsh, will be hosting refreshments afterwards.

Climate Action Camp

Tower Hill Camp

June 16 – 20, 2025

All faith leaders & families, students & teachers, activists & seekers are encouraged to come together to begin, continue, or go deeper to be the Land Defenders & Water Protectors God needs at this time. During our time together, all ages will explore the climate crisis through the lens of water, especially Lake Michigan & its watershed. We will spend time diving deeper into the issues & learning how we can be agents of change. We will also spend time playing & swimming at the beach, enjoying bonfires, star-gazing & eating S’mores. There are camp scholarships available for all ages. Contact Catherine Curtis, Director of Christian Education to inquire.