Social Justice Actions
North Chapel: A History of Social Action
Carbon Neutral Task Force
Here, Alex Reisterer is finishing the last space needing insulation on the ground floor of the church.
North Chapels Carbon Neutral Project is still underway.
Since 2014 members of our Congregation have pledged to make our Church Carbon Neutral by 2020. In 2014 and 15 we planted the Permaculture garden and installed 5 nut trees and 6 berry bushes in the backyard to help create some carbon offsets. Each time there has been construction on the attached structures to the Sanctuary we have done our best to insulate the walls and upgrade the windows.
In 2020 we received a grant for $17,000. $10,000. of that grant was to be matched by our Church Community. We were able to match the grant, giving us extra funds to finish all that was on our list to help make us carbon neutral. All 39 lights in the Sanctuary were replaced with LED lights and the walls of the attached structures to the Sanctuary were fully insulated. The two remaining tasks to do on our list are putting another layer of insulation on the ceiling of the Sanctuary, and installing 6 ceiling fans in the Sanctuary. We hope to have this done in the next few months.
Our Permaculture Garden
The North Chapel established a permaculture garden in the space between the church office and the parsonage in 2014. It is thriving today thanks to the committed volunteers.
Strengthening Families and Building Community
North Chapel: A Timeline
1998: Nurtured the birth of Change the World Kids and continue to support their operations.
2005: Co-led Woodstock’s Affordable Housing Initiative that led to the creation of Safford Commons.
2007: For a decade, supported six children in a Cambodian orphanage run by the monks of Life and Hope Association.
2007: Began a church-based environmental activity that grew to become Sustainable Woodstock.
2011-18: Provided direct Hurricane Relief and Support following Irene, (Woodstock 2011), Sandy (New York 2012), Harvey (Texas 2017) and Maria (Puerto Rico 2017).
2018: Initiated Strengthening Families, Building Community as a series of local programs.
2018, 2019: Attended statewide rallies and worked toward safer communities with GunSense VT and Extinction Rebellion.
2020: Following the death of George Floyd, North Chapel members and friends created the display on our front lawn and lead local and regional demonstrations, vigils, and events.
GunSense rally on the front lawn of the State Capital. 2018
Anne Macksoud, Stephen Leslie, and Anne Dean get ready to partake in a rally at the State House organised by Extinction Rebellion. 2019
Memorializing Black lives in front of North Chapel. 2020
Change the World Kids demonstrate on the Green in Woodstock. 2020
Government and Spiritual leaders on the Green in Woodstock, 2020.
A team stands atop the debris left from the house behind them in the wake of Hurricane Sandy on Staten Island. Winter 2012
GunSense rally on the front lawn of the State Capital. 2018
Stephen Leslie and his horse draw attention from Extinction Rebellion rally participants.
Judith Taylor at a rally and vigil on the Woodstock Green in the wake of the death of George Floyd. 2020.
Praying for change.
We had the opportunity to show our solidarity and our unity at Vail Field. The community came together to lay out a “Heart of Flowers” organized by Jay Kelly. 2020.
“The Heart of Flowers”
Poem By Wendy Ann Smith
A Queen Ann’s lace border unfurls
as the foliage heart fills a field.
This symbol is richly outlined by
fearlessly blooming flowers:
poppies of remembrance
rhododendrons of courage
awareness from the Bleeding Hearts
for the black lives taken;
Togetherness exudes from peonies,
contemplations by lilies of the field
and the compassionate daisies.
All are colorfully seeking peace
in their search for love and healing.
