Brecksville United Methodist Church

Creation Care

Brecksville United Methodist Church strives to be a church that shows care for God’s Creation.

Putting our Faith Into Action 

Paper recycling bins have been in our lot for years, keeping tons of paper and cardboard out of the landfill. We do not choose these bins in order to make money, we choose to house them for their impact on keeping paper from being thrown away. All money we earn from paper recycling has been donated to Hunger Ministries. 

Recycling within the church. Just about everywhere that there is a trash can within the church, there is a recycling can as well. Each Monday morning, as our trash is being collected, our Facilities Manager sorts through each can to be certain bottles and cans were not disposed of improperly. 

Brecksville UMC has been a ā€œNo Styrofoam Zoneā€ since 2015. Even our outside groups need to agree to purchasing paper products when they sign our rental agreement. 

The Bike Ministry has repaired and delivered over one thousand bicycles to adults in need of this sort of transportation and to children who are able to enjoy the fun and freedom a bicycle offers. We have also kept more than a thousand damaged bicycles out of the landfills by scrapping the metal for recycling. 

Choosing Reusable Over Disposable. Ceramic mugs are used for our coffee hour and ceramic plates, bowls and non disposable flatware are used when we Joyfully Gather as a church community. If we are offsite, we insist on using compostable plates, cups and flatware. 

We celebrate Godā€™s creation every chance we get.

We have hosted Vacation Bible School in the Park since 2021. What better way is there to connect with and experience our good and generous loving Creator, then to be out in Godā€™s beautiful creation. 

Throughout the late spring, summer and early fall we take the opportunity to worship outdoors, under the trees and with the singing birds on our front lawn. What a way to begin your week!! 

During the 10:30 service all throughout the summer we hold our Summer Sprouts, our childrenā€™s Sunday morning program, outdoors. We focus on the intricacies and miracles of the natural world. 

Every Sunday volunteers travel to Strongsville to pick up food that would otherwise be discarded from the restaurants along Rt 82. Volunteers from our Frozen Food Ministry then meet on Tuesday to cook and package the food for community meals in Cleveland and containers that are delivered to shut-ins and the unhoused. 

Plastic sleeping mats are weaved using plastic grocery store bags. Many volunteers work to make this ministry happen, not only keeping plastic grocery bags out of the landfill but creating an added layer of protection for those who sleep on the street. 

Feeding the hungry and repurposing plastic bags. 35,000 meals were packed at our 2025 Rise Against Hunger Work-Ship Day. The meals were sent to our neighbors in the Philippines. A member of our sewing group, Sew4Good, saw the empty bulk rice bags and had an idea. The group created these beautiful rice bag totes which will be sent to the Cleveland Food Bank. 

Electronic options. Our bulletins and Good Word newsletter are available as an online option, saving paper and mailing.

Some other things we do include:

  • Education through Weekly “God In Nature” Video spots with Jenny Gee on Facebook Live!
  • A community bike patio for parking & repairs.
  • Recycling old cell phones and eye glasses.
  • Energy efficient choices in the building (LED light bulbs, etc.)

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