The United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz broke ground on a new church with a new vision this Saturday in Live Oak. The planned 20,000-square-foot building will be the first “green” church in the county.
The United Methodist Church of Santa Cruz broke ground on a new church with a new vision this Saturday in Live Oak. The planned 20,000-square-foot building will be the first “green” church in the county. James Campbell, the project’s manager, described how the church is combining “several sustainable features in one project.” It will include solar, thermal and ground source heating, a cistern to collect rainwater for irrigation and toilets, and even a rooftop vegetable garden to teach children about sustainability. “[Environmental] stewardship is a core value of our faith,” says Pastor Michael Harrell. “This building, both in its design and in how we intend to utilize it, will be a profound witness to these values.”
Tending to the needy and the sick is also a core value of the congregation’s faith, which is why they have also decided to set aside 300 square feet for a free medical clinic to tend to the working poor and uninsured. The church will also serve as a Red Cross disaster recovery center, with the ability to help as many as 250 victims of natural disasters like earthquakes or fires.
The new United Methodist Church is located at 2091 17th Avenue. Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
