Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
16420 S. Westland Drive, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877
301.869.1780
Green ministry is a vibrant part of Christian life and practice at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Gaithersburg, MD. The church has been engaged in green ministry for two years, offering environmental service and educational events that stress two main points. First, Creation is a gift from God, and showing our appreciation for this gift is part of our ministry as Christians. Second, improving environmental quality is a means through which Christians can demonstrate love for their neighbors.
This summer, Good Shepherd explored ways that Christians can carry this ministry into their daily lives. Just like building homes for those in need or volunteering at a soup kitchen, Good Shepherd members and friends learned that striving to live greener lives is a way we can put our Christian faith into practice, while creating opportunities for reflection and witness.
Senior Pastor Dave Sonnenberg offered a sermon series in June and July that highlighted the connections between scripture, traditional Christian practice, and working to improve the environment. In a sermon entitled, “Immigrants”, he described how Christians are beginning to adopt environmentalism to make a better life for their children and for future generations. He encouraged believers to see God in such simple things as our water and food. He explained that seeing the connection between God and our blessings is a first step toward being good stewards, adding, “You and I know that when we begin to truly appreciate something, we start to take better care of it.” Pastor Dave connected this appreciation and motivation to be good stewards to Christ’s admonition to serve others in John 13. Environmentalism, Pastor Dave concluded, “is an opportunity for us to make a difference in this world.”
During this green ministry series, Good Shepherd experimented with a special format for summer Sunday school. Between worship services, and in conjunction with the fellowship hour, members of all ages could take part in an inter-generational green ministry discussion. Each session was also hands-on, involving some kind of a take-away to help put green-thinking into green-practice. Participants made reusable shopping bags and butterfly feeders, and learned how to save energy at home by installing socket insulators and other energy-saving measures. In some cases, green tips or takeaways were connected to specific passages from the Bible, creating everyday reminders of the source of our gifts. Each of these simple steps offers Christians a chance to take better care of Creation, and witness to others.
Finally, Good Shepherd’s Property Committee has begun greening the church’s operations. Bathrooms now include conservation signage to remind people to turn off lights and not to waste paper towels. Plans to update the church’s landscaping will mean more native plants, the addition of nesting boxes for birds, and the installation compost bins, with the eventual goal of getting the church grounds certified as a National Wildlife Federation Backyard Habitat. The Property Committee is also exploring the use of an energy audit to save water and energy. Conserving water and energy will not only help to realize our Christian duty to be good stewards of Creation, but will also mean that Good Shepherd has more money for its other ministry areas.
Good Shepherd’s green ministry has grown in its first two years, and is beginning to accelerate as more and more members and friends take an interest and share their gifts. For more information on past, current, or planned activities, email da5id.da5is at gmail dot com.
