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.


Earth Ministry Focuses on Energy in 2010

LCR ministries have worked hard this year helping to focus on ways the church can operate greener with more energy efficiency.  The Hospitality Ministry has made the kitchen service more ‘green’ with replacing Styrofoams with reusable serving pieces while getting a new Energy Star dishwasher.  The Property and Grounds Committee has replaced incandescent bulbs with CFLS.  The Earth Ministry Team has worked with all groups and have had study sessions to help people better understand how to make their own homes more energy efficient to lower their demand on energy.   On Earth Sunday a special class on solar energy was given along with visuals related to energy usage was set up in the narthex. 

Earth Sunday for Children

Also on Earth Sunday 2010 special programs were presented to the children.   One area was set up for an earth worm instruction board created for children by biology students on Northern Kentucky University.  Dr. Dick Durtsche, professor of biology there told the children about earth worms and their relation to the earth.   In another room a video was shown about life in the ocean.  Finally another area helped the children understand about growing seeds and gardening.

Gulf Oil Spill Response

In the summer after the spring of the Gulf Oil spill the Earth Ministry along with Pastor Zorn thought it appropriate to call for a ‘lamentation’ or a cry of sorrow for the Gulf Oil Spill.  It was decided that a public mural would be painted by members of the congregation to provide a visual prayer and a place of mourning for all.  Many members came to paint parts of the mural.  The whole process was documented  by a videographer and the images placed on You Tube under the title “When Sorrows Like the Sea Billows Roll.”  The final mural hung for several days facing the road for all to see.

The Candlelight Service

After the mural was painted a Candlelight Prayer Vigil was planned in Sunday, July 11 at 8:00 pm for the whole townships and its churches in order to hold up the tragedy to God in prayer.  The service was held the park across from the church.   A map of the Gulf coast was painted on a large upright map.  During the service participants were able to write the name of the person or place on the map they wanted remembered in prayer.  Dr.  Walter Bruggeman was the featured speaker. 

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