Powered by Grace, Fueled by the Sun

Our church, First Congregational UCC in La Crosse, is at the base of Granddad’s Bluff, in the Driftless Region of Wisconsin. We believe the creation of God is sacred and beautiful. We work for a just world and understand that environmental justice intersects with racial justice. A carved stone in our sanctuary, reminds us that it is our calling to “let us not love in words or speech but in deeds and in the truth.”1 John 3:18. Not only should our actions reflect our values and beliefs; they should also be reflected in our site of worship.



In 2021, the carbon footprint calculation for our Church showed that natural gas and electricity are the two major sources of carbon emissions. We then enrolled in Xcel’s Renewable Connect program. The following year, the Congregation overwhelming voted to send a Resolution Urging Planning for and Implementing Electrification to the 34th General Synod.

Representatives of Creation Care, Finance, and Buildings and Grounds ministries formed an alternative energy task force to explore additional options for reducing our carbon footprint in 2023.

On June 22, 2025, we approved the addition of solar panels to our roof and a capital campaign to fund the project.

The following brochures give further details of our project and journey to reducing our church’s carbon footprint. These handouts were shared with our members to help them understand our solar project. See the brochures here. 

A capital campaign, Powered by Grace, Fueled by the Sun, was scheduled for 2 months in the summer of 2025. It proved compelling. Lead gifts started the campaign solidly at $71,000. Member testimonials and across church collaboration strengthened the campaign.

Members were enthusiastic about building a future of hope and giving in honor or memory of loved ones. There were donations from nonmembers and even those who had originally not been in favor of the project. Within two months, we had secured enough in grants (Solar for Good at $16,000 and a $1000 Kairos Grant) and pledges to put us at our goal of $250,000.

Unfortunately, another professional check of the roof discovered that while the integrity of the roof was solid, the roof surface was in much worse condition than warranties would have anticipated. You can read the complete story here.

Reminder: Every day is Earth Day

Honor our Planet on Earth Day and Every Day! 

The Wisconsin Conference Creation Care Team reminds you that even though Earth Day was Wednesday, April 22, we don’t need to limit our activities to just that day. 

We have a long list of ideas for personal, church, local, and even global activities to consider.

Here’s a link to our suggested list, but feel free to come up with your own ideas. We have also created a bulletin insert so that you can share this challenge with your congregation.

Here’s what we’d like you to do! 

• Choose an activity as a congregation or Green Team to do anytime this spring. 
• Carry out your planned activity. 
• Let us know what you did! Reports can be sent to our Kairos editor Susan Webb.

Here are some more opportunities:

• Join our Conference-wide donation for one of Heifer International’s “Caring for the Earth” gifts. Wouldn’t it be great for Wisconsin UCC churches to join together to power a village this year! Send donations to the Wisconsin Foundation UCC. 
• Support the Creation Care Team’s grants and programs by registering for a 5K virtual Walk/Run in September. Registrations are open now.

Thanks in advance for joining other churches across the state to honor creation.

Faith in Place Action Week

The Faith in Place Action Week (April 18-23) invites people of faith and conscience across Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin to act for our shared home.

The environmental crisis is a spiritual crisis rooted in disconnection from one another, our traditions, and the Earth. From April 18 to 23, Green Teams, community groups, and Houses of Worship will take steps to repair those relationships through education, advocacy, service, and celebration.

Every action, large or small, contributes to a growing multifaith movement for environmental justice, resilience, and hope. Together, we are cultivating a network of care and action strong enough to meet the challenges of our time. Learn more here.

Earth Summit

To ground and inspire us as people of faith in difficult times, the Jim Antal Keynote Lecture will be delivered by the Rev. Dr. Kenneth Samuel, a renowned advocate and organizer for justice in the Atlanta, Georgia area. This two-and half-hour summit will additionally feature a panel discussion of leading voices on issues of energy justice. The summit will take place on Saturday, April 25, at noon Central time. Gather church members to watch together or connect on your own. Register now!

A Personal Ministry: Helping UCC Churches Reduce Electric Costs and Improve Light Quality

Steve Jones, currently a member of First Congregational Church of Naperville, helps UCC churches (including Tower Hill) with lighting issues as part of his personal ministry.

He is a lifelong Congregationalist who has made it his personal ministry to help churches reduce electrical costs and improve light quality through changing and upgrading lighting. His education and background are in electrical and industrial engineering, occupational safety, and ergonomics.

He currently lives and works in Naperville, IL, where he is a Global Ergonomist for a large local company. Starting with his home church in Naugatuck, Connecticut, he has re-lamped every church he has attended over the last 25 years, and now a few more by invitation.

He has just completed his 20th church and Tower Hill upgrade and is willing to help any church that needs his pro bono advice or labor. Contact Steve.

The Great Lakes Collaborative Retreat

For more information and to register click here.

50 States of Sustainability from PBS Wisconsin and on YouTube trailer

See more here, and here.

How To Lose The War On Renewable Energy, Bigly

by Tina Casey

The renewable energy firm Reactivate will build solar power plants on 50 landfills owned by the nation's largest waste management firm, WM (cropped, via prnewswire).

US energy policy took a sharp turn against renewable energy beginning on January 20, 2025. Almost exactly one year later, signs that the policy has failed have already emerged. In the power generation sector, wind and solar (especially solar) have continued to dominate new capacity additions by a wide margin. However, the raw numbers only tell part of the story. New partnerships and alliances are also beginning to factor into the ability of renewables to withstand temporary shifts in federal energy policy, with the latest example being a new 50-project solar initiative hosted by the largest waste management firm in the US, WM. Read more here.

Earth Day Stanza for Tallis' Canon

by John Helt

The Tallis Canon

For all your creatures on this earth,

We celebrate their ways and worth.

Heal skies and seas, our lakes and streams

With sun and wind to fuel our dreams.