Creation Care - Mennonite Church of Normal

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Mennonite Church of Normal
805 S Cottage Ave
Normal, IL 61761
United States

Phone:

(309) 452-6622
(309) 533-0820

Fax: (309) 452-0478

E-mail: church@normalmennonite.org
Pastor(s):
   Tim E. Schrag
   Jane T. Roeschley
   Matthew D. Hickman

We gather together somewhere ,
“And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare."
NLT Jeremiah 29:7

surrounded by neighbors;“The LORD owns the earth and all it contains, the world and all who live in it.” NET Psalm 24:1

called to care for all of creation.For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God...NRS Romans 8:19

surrounded by neighbors ;
“The LORD owns the earth and all it contains, the world and all who live in it.”
NET Psalm 24:1

called to care for all of creation .
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God...
NRS Romans 8:19

Mennonite Creation Care Network has asked congregations to “call out people with a passion and gifts for guiding the church with acts of grace and wisdom in stewardship tasks.” In response, Mennonite Church of Normal now has a Creation Care Advisory Group to aid the pastors, staff and committee chairs as we strive to integrate creation stewardship more fully into the congregation’s worship and mission. This ad hoc group is staffed by Pastor Matt Hickman, and welcomes additional members.

This spring, work will begin on a rain garden in the

storm water swale in the southwest corner of the lawn

at Mennonite Church of Normal. The swale is already

designed to capture runoff from parking areas, allowing

it to slowly percolate into the soil rather than flood

storm sewers. The deep-rooted, perennial native grasses

and wildflowers that will comprise MCN’s first rain gar-

den boost the effectiveness of the swale, taking up addi-

tional water and releasing it slowly into the air, as well

as filtering pollutants.

The rain garden planting will increase biodiversity on

our property, and expand habitat for birds and butter-

flies. Apart from the intrinsic beauty of the plants, they

will provide some reduction of dust and noise for the

Residential Community. Potential opportunities for mis-

sional connections with the neighborhood and broader

community include its use as an outdoor learning area

for Head Start and as a demonstration site for rain gar-

den workshops like those offered by the Ecology Action

Center.

Sod will be removed this spring and weeds shallowly

cultivated throughout the summer. The prairie grass

and wildflower seeds will be planted in the fall to take

advantage of the natural effects of winter frost, both sof-

tening the seed coat and settling the seeds into the soil.

The most labor is required in the first three years, after

which maintenance reduces to once-a-year mowing.

CONGREGATIONAL CREATION CARE PROJECT: NATIVE PRAIRIE RAIN GARDEN

This spring, work began on a native prairie rain garden in the storm water swale in the southwest corner of the lawn at Mennonite Church of Normal. The swale is already designed to capture runoff from parking areas, allowing it to slowly percolate into the soil rather than flood storm sewers. The deep-rooted, perennial native grasses and wildflowers that will comprise MCN’s first rain garden boost the effectiveness of the swale, taking up additional water and releasing it slowly into the air, as well as filtering pollutants.

The rain garden planting will increase biodiversity on our property, and expand habitat for birds and butterflies. Apart from the intrinsic beauty of the plants, they will provide some reduction of dust and noise for the Residential Community. Potential opportunities for missional connections with the neighborhood and broader community include its use as an outdoor learning area for Head Start and as a demonstration site for rain garden workshops like those offered by the Ecology Action Center .

Rain Garden at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, IN

Sod will be removed this spring and weeds shallowly cultivated throughout the summer. The prairie grass and wildflower seeds will be planted in the fall among a cover crop of oats to take advantage of the natural effects of winter frost; both softening the seed coat and settling the seeds into the soil. The most labor is required in the first three years, after which maintenance reduces to once-a-year mowing. The plants spend the first two years putting down roots and show fuller top-growth in the third year.