Earth Ministry

“The power of God is present at all places, even in the tiniest tree leaf. He is wholly present in all creation, flower, cloud, and star. . . behind you and before you.”  — Martin Luther

Acknowledging God’s presence in our environment, we are called to the following mission:
  • To care for the earth as Christ cares for his own.
  • To recognize that all people deserve the right to clean water and a healthy environment.
  • To educate by presenting programs about Earthkeeping.
  • To inspire the wonder of creation in worship.
  • To provide practical ways of caring for the Earth through such activities as recycling, energy use, and use of resources.


The Earth ministry team meets monthly and plans programs and events to promote the care and conservation of creation. Past and future events include video series, Earth day programs, and conservation studies and projects. Other major projects include a church garden (“the Garden of Eatin’”) which is part of the larger Anderson Community Network Garden. The Garden connects us to other gardening groups in the community for the purpose of encouraging and sharing knowledge of gardening. In addition, the team has instituted programs at LCR to recycle paper and use environmentally friendly cleaning products.

Rule

Community Garden

Gardeners and those who love gardens are invited to a rogation service. The annual prayer service is typically found among churches within rural communities. LCR's community garden, the Garden of Eatin', offers a rationale for a resurgence of this traditional blessing of the land and prayers for bountiful crops in suburban Anderson Township.

The Garden of Eatin' boasts a Children's Garden plus three food plots dedicated to Inter Parish Ministry food pantry as well as 19 garden plots available for lease to residents of the surrounding community. The organic garden has proved popular enough that a waiting list was created by coordinators to keep track of hopeful participants.

Community garden enthusiasts at LCR lease plots annually for a minimal fee and volunteer their time to plant, tend, harvest and deliver food from the dedicated food pantry plots. Members of the LCR community also volunteer to enhance and maintain the garden area, which includes mulched paths, a refurbished bench, compost area and rain barrels for water collection. The Garden of Eatin' is a project of LCR's Earth Ministry Committee, which plans programs and events to promote the care and conservation of creation.

The 2010 Rogation Service was Tuesday, April 13. Pastor Zorn presided over the blessing of the earth, water and seeds. A seed "Swap and Trade" followed the service.

Rogation service Garden

Garden Garden

Links from the Earth Ministry Team

Rule

Reduce

Reuse

Recycle