WEYBRIDGE — At its annual spring conference on Sunday, April 24, Vermont Interfaith Power & Light (VTIPL) recognized the Weybridge Congregational Church as the recipient of VTIPL’s inaugural Green Congregation of the Year award.

Richard Butz, a VTIPL Board member, made the presentation, which consisted of a commemorative plaque and an award of $500 to be applied to “green projects or programs” in the congregation or community. Accepting the award were David Andrews, Nancy Spears and Daniel Wright, members of the Weybridge Congregational Church.

In making the award, Butz identified this as the first of an annual VTIPL award, which VTIPL plans to make based on self-nominations or applications starting in January of each year. Butz also identified some of the actions that the Weybridge Congregational Church undertook to warrant this award include:

• Founding a church “Green Team” in 2013

• Weatherizing the church

• Sharing Creation Care moments at the beginning of each worship service

• Celebrating Earth Day with a special worship service each year

• Having sermons on Creation Care regularly throughout the year

• Divesting the church’s investments from fossil fuels

• Receiving UCC Creation Justice Church certification in 2019

• Introducing and subscribing to the Interfaith Climate Action Network (ICAN) Solar 2 community solar project; participating in the Bristol Solar Community Project in 2020-2021