Care of Creation

Care of Creation Committee

The Care of Creation Committee is a group of parishioners who meet quarterly to review, support, and coordinate all Care of Creation ministries at Saint Stephen’s. The committee is chaired by the Vestry Liaison for Care of Creation, who in the current year is Leslie Black. 

The committee’s work includes oversight and encouragement of ministries such as Holy Hikes, the Soil Sisters, Saint Stephen’s Apiary, Billy’s Lot Ministry, the annual Canoecharist, and ongoing review of parish-wide environmental practices. Meetings are open to anyone interested in learning more or becoming involved. 

Parish Practices 

In addition to the work of the committee, Saint Stephen’s has adopted a number of parish-wide practices that reflect a deep commitment to Care of Creation. 

In 2019, Saint Stephen’s became the first church in Birmingham to harness solar energy, installing a 104 kW solar system that reduces our dependence on fossil fuels, extends the life of the roof, and serves as an outward and visible sign of our values. At the same time, the church completed a comprehensive lighting audit and replaced all lighting across our 80,000-square-foot campus with LED fixtures. Together, these initiatives save an estimated $30,000 annually—resources that can be redirected toward ministry and mission. 

The campus includes several recycling receptacles, including one located in the back parking lot off Crosshaven that is regularly used by the surrounding neighborhood. Each year after Christmas, Saint Stephen’s also hosts an electronic recycling event. 

At many parish events we intentionally use reusable, recyclable, and compostable dishes, utensils, and cups. Even the flowers from the altar are “recycled” each week, delivered to members on the prayer list to carry hope and beauty into their homes. 

Our Soil Sisters are also engaged in a long-term, ten-year effort to remove invasive species and restore native plants across the campus, helping the land better reflect the ecology of our region. 

Soil Sisters (and Brothers) Ministry

The Soil Sisters (and Brothers) are a dedicated group of volunteers who meet weekly during the spring and fall to remove invasive species, restore native plants, and care for the sacred grounds of Saint Stephen’s. Their work is both ecological and spiritual—an act of stewardship, prayer, and community. 

Their efforts have been recognized beyond the parish, including an article in Birmingham Now highlighting the removal of invasive species from our campus. For more information about the Soil Sisters, please contact Chris Boles.

Here is a link to the most recent Soil Sister’s scavenger hunt.

Saint Stephen’s Apiary 

Saint Stephen’s is home to five beehives, supporting up to 400,000 honeybees on the church grounds. Each summer, a team of volunteers harvests the honey, bottles it, and shares it with the congregation on Consecration Sunday. The hives are located within the gated area of Billy’s Lot and serve as a living reminder of the interdependence of creation. 

Billy’s Lot Ministry 

Billy’s Lot is named in honor of Mr. Billy Hodges, the former caretaker of Saint Stephen’s. Billy was known for his warm heart and his “wild” yard—an informal sanctuary that welcomed all kinds of wildlife, including chickens. 

After Billy’s death, the church purchased the property and transformed it into a Care of Creation playground. Today, Billy’s Lot includes a cutting garden, native plants, and the Saint Stephen’s Apiary. It is a place of remembrance, restoration, and joyful encounter with God’s creation. 

Holy Hikes

Each month from February through November, a group of trained volunteers leads a 2 to 3-mile hike that culminates in the celebration of Holy Eucharist. These Holy Hikes invite participants to experience worship, scripture, and sacrament in the beauty of the natural world. For more information, please contact the Rev. Katherine Harper. 

Please visit our Holy Hikes Facebook page.   

The Grounds of Saint Stephen’s 

“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, 
the world and those who live in it.” 
— Psalm 24:1 

Many people remark on the unique and prayerful beauty of the grounds at Saint Stephen’s. Designed to work in harmony with the natural landscape, the campus invites worshipers and visitors alike into a lived experience of death and resurrection throughout the seasons of the year. 

Native plants, bat boxes, birdhouses, a memorial garden, garden labyrinth, preschool teaching garden, and sacred outdoor spaces all work together to deepen our connection to God and to creation. Even the architecture—particularly the stained glass—draws the natural world into our worship, reminding us that creation itself participates in the praise of God. 

The grounds are not simply landscaped space; they are an outdoor classroom, a place of prayer, a sanctuary for wildlife, and a living expression of our baptismal call to “cherish the wondrous works of God.”