Green Chalice Update #6
- kateekostecki
- Nov 3
- 4 min read
Hello everyone! This is (1) a check-in on the glass communion cups and (2) an update on our next change (Spoiler; it's the Coffee Program!)
It's been two weeks since we initiated our first change; glass communion cups have been a BIG hit! Not one has broken and there haven't been any negative comments!
I was worship leader the first Sunday we put them into action and I felt like communion was taken much more seriously. Instead of picking up a light, plastic mini cup full of grape juice, the congregation got to feel the glass and it's weight as they took communion.
This change really stood out to me as one of the young children in the congregation went to grab a communion cup. He clearly expected a plastic cup but upon realizing it was glass he quickly and carefully used two hands instead of just one to drink it.
It was a small moment, and he has since started using one hand again but it really stood out to me as "spiritual movement". I don't want to get too "pastoral" but so often communion is overlooked and the ritual's purpose is lost. The pastor invites us up the outside aisle, we wait for the person in front of us to go, we move slowly to the table, it's your turn and you quickly take communion how you've always taken it and sit back down so the service can continue. Communion should be an intentional act. It should be taken with two hands and done carefully to remember community, sacrifice and the promise we must keep as Christians to love one another.
The Green Team met today, woohoo! The main focus was on the Coffee Program, our second change to becoming a Green Chalice Congregation!
We first read;
1 For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
9 What do people really get for all their hard work? 10 I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. 12 So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. 13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 New Living Translation
Then we got into the "nitty-gritty" of the Coffee Program. It was decided we would stick with coffee, tea and hot cacao (chocolate bars are also available be we didn't think the congregation would be interested enough in them). How much and which kinds are still up for debate.
After the meeting I met with Pastor Mat (an avid church coffee drinker) and he said the church goes through about a pound to a pound and a half of coffee per month. As for what kinds the congregation would like, I plan to take a poll this Sunday to figure that out.
Once we have preferences I can make a rough budget for how much/how often we'd be buying goods and that can be added into the official 2026 Church Budget!
If we buy enough goods for ourselves AND extra to sell at garage sells, Sunday gatherings or other events, this shouldn't take any money away from other parts of the budget.
If you are interested in learning more about the coffee program or you yourself want to buy some fair trade coffee, tea, hot cacao or chocolate bars, visit the link below!
We finished with a quick check-in on how everyone was feeling, questions/comments people had about past, current or future changes. Overall, everyone has been super positive and supportive! This is the only comment/concern on the glass communion cups so far;
"For the past couple weeks, the glass communion cups have been placed in a basket after being used so, to avoid breaking any, we should start placing the glasses back into the tray."
I want to quickly say thank you to the Green Team and the whole congregation for being such good sports and participating!
Peace and Blessings,
Kate
Title page picture: I took this photo this summer at the Salmon River campground just outside of Stanley, ID. We got very lucky because the day we planned to leave was the day it was closing for the season due to salmon spawning. Now, obviously the campground is not directly on the river, but the USFS doesn't trust campers enough not to go down to the river, even if they know salmon are spawning. The whole campground has to be shut down because some people think salmon are just some silly fish and salmon shouldn't keep people from the river. In truth, salmon are a important native species in multiple states (including Montana and Idaho). They are connected to river health, eagles, bears, many other fish species and even a lot of humans. This isn't a super uplifting topic and it can be hard to identify human faults (especially if we ourselves struggle with them) but it's necessary to break down our human faults in order to better take care of the planet, other people and ourselves. When our personal wants outweigh others needs, no one wins.
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