by Murrel Bland
The clergyman practices what he preaches.
Simply stated, that describes the practices of the Rev. Evan Ash, an assisting priest at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Kansas City, Kansas. Father Evan heads up the Creation Care effort for the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas. Creation Care is an initiative of the national Episcopal Church.
Father Evan has some practical suggestions people can do to be better stewards of the environment.
• Buy things in paper instead of plastic packaging.
• Buy locally grown foods; this takes less transportation and thus less pollution.
• Take your own bags to the store, thus reducing the use of paper and plastic bags.
• Reduce travel time; use gasoline with ethanol.
• Buy clothes made of natural fabrics such as cotton and linen; this reduces the use of synthetics.
• Use distilled water made at home instead of buying it in plastic bottles.
• Set your thermostat at 78 degrees to reduce use.
• Buy high efficiency replacement heating and cooling units and appliances.
• Use solar-power attic fans.
• Take the advice of the National Wildlife Federation to support a backyard that is friendly toward wildlife.
• Plant shade trees to save on energy costs.
• Use a book of daily devotions to remind us of our connection to God.
As part of his effort to support the Creation Care effort, Father Evan will lead an outdoor service at 10 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at Lavender Hill Farm, 112 N. 63rd St., in the Muncie community of Kansas City, Kansas. The farm is just south of 63rd Street and Riverview Avenue. The public is invited and refreshments will be served after the service. Dress will be casual.
The farm is owned and operated by Joe Steineger III and his wife Jenny. Joe is a third generation Wyandotte County farmer; the Steinegers are longtime members of St. Paul’s parish.
For more information about Creation Care check out the following links https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/creation-care/ or https://episcopal-ks.org/care-of-creation/.
For more information, telephone Father Evan Ash at 913-244-0772.
Murrel Bland is the former editor of the Wyandotte West.