"We care for Earth's lifeboat."

— Children's version of the seventh principle of the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations.

Picture fluttering butterflies, native flowers swaying in the breeze and birds splashing in decorative rain barrels beyond the wrought iron fence at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Lancaster.

The students in the fifth- and sixth-grade faith development class at the church, 538 W. Chestnut St., plan to bring that picture to life in front of the sanctuary in May.

It's just one of a dozen environmentally friendly projects the church intends to complete in the next two years to earn Green Sanctuary accreditation from the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations in Boston.

Other proposed projects include installing solar panels on the church roof, working to end hydrofracking in the state and helping with local stream restoration.

The city church, with about 535 members and 175 worshipers attending on a typical Sunday, kicked off the project in a service followed by other activities on Feb. 12.

Each worshiper signed on by making a thumb-print leaf with water-based, nontoxic ink on the branches of a tree drawn on recycled paper, committee chair Jen Porter and committee member Rachel Moore said.

Moore also is one of the teachers for the fifth- and sixth-grade class. On Feb. 5, seven students in the class served a "First Sunday Feast" to about 120 guests at the church, raising $433 for their garden, which is estimated to cost $1,500.

They also have received a $500 grant from the Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group.

"They are very enthusiastic," Moore said. "They're getting really excited now that the money is coming in."

Local horticulturist Wendy Brister, of Harvey's Gardens Perennials in Wrightsville, is helping the students with the native garden at no charge.

Some of the native flowers the children plan to plant in the garden  are smooth hydrangea, Virginia bluebells, Labrador violets and turtlehead "hot lips." Porter said the flowers are better for the environment because they require less water and no fertilizer.

The 13-member Green Sanctuary committee also unveiled a banner for the project at the kickoff. It features the UUAC Green Sanctuary symbol and was made with biodegradable vinyl by Conestoga DPI, in Manheim.

Also, members found posted throughout the church small green signs with tips for being environmentally friendly, such has hanging wash to dry, not letting the water run while brushing your teeth and eating a meatless meal now and then.

A bulletin board displays the 12 projects, with roots for proposed projects and roots and trees for completed projects. So far, two have been completed:  a butterfly release and a magazine communion.

Green Sanctuary committee member Richard Stringer raised the butterflies released last May. Another release is planned this year to celebrate Easter and Earth Day.

For the magazine communion, members brought their old magazines to church to be recycled.

"They filled a pickup truck," Porter said.

On Feb. 26, representatives from four local CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture), including Buy Local/Buy Fresh, will be introduced at the worship service and available after the service to speak to and sign up members.

After receiving accreditation in two years, the congregation plans to continue with more Green Sanctuary projects, including classes open to the community.

"What we're really hoping is to get to be known around Lancaster as the Green Church and that people will want to help us," Moore said. "We want to make a statement."

"We're living our principles," Porter said.

"We are sincere," Moore added.