Merry Lea reaches out to local congregations with greening resources

WOLF LAKE, Ind. – Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College has two things people of faith can always use. One is peace, quiet and the natural beauty of central Noble County's wetlands. The other is experience with shaping institutions toward greener, more sustainable practices. Both of these gifts are available to local pastors and other church-goers through upcoming opportunities at this 1,189-acre nature center.

A two-hour workshop titled "Greener Congregations: Taking the First Steps" will be offered Monday, March 30 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Merry Lea's Rieth Village, just south of Wolf Lake, Ind. Luke Gascho, Merry Lea's executive director, will lead participants as they consider the following possibilities:
                  • Including creation care in the mission statement of your church.
                  • Forming a creation care leadership group
                  • Defining the ecological setting of your church building
                  • Conducting an energy audit of your church
                  • Making a plan for reducing your ecological and carbon footprint
                  • Designing worship and meeting spaces to include creation care
                  • Practicing eco-justice in your community

Gascho is the author of a Christian education curriculum titled, "Creation Care: Keepers of the Earth" and is also chair of the Creation Care Council of the Mennonite Creation Care Network. Reading and conversation on leadership, environmental issues, creation care theology, strategic planning, systems thinking and church dynamics are a regular part of Gascho's life. Sustainable building is a special interest as well. Gascho will offer a similar workshop at Merry Lea's NatureFest on Saturday, May 16 at 1 p.m.

The location of the workshop is Merry Lea's Rieth Village, a biological field station that received the first platinum rating in Indiana from the U.S. Green Building Council. The facility itself is a "sustainability instructor," with green features ranging from extra thick walls to a cistern that enables the building to recycle rainwater harvested from the roof.

"Our Monday morning time slot was selected with local pastors in mind," said Jennifer Schrock, coordinator of public programs. "We thought pastors might like to combine the workshop with a day of retreat or hiking on their day off. Space for reflection and quiet will be available in the afternoon."

"This year, we're making a special effort to share our facilities with those who want to deepen their spiritual lives and their understanding of God the Creator," said Gascho. "For 30 years, our mission statement has described 're-creation' and spiritual renewal as part of our reason for being. We're acting on that statement by offering retreat opportunities at Rieth Village when students are not using it."

Pastors or others in need of a spiritual retreat can schedule a day of quiet at their convenience. On Mondays in April, two bonus opportunities are also available: a spring nature hike with a naturalist from 9 to 11 a.m. and/or an hour of spiritual direction at no additional charge.

"Spiritual direction is a confidential relationship where you receive help to recognize what God is doing in you and around you, receive God's loving initiatives and respond faithfully to God," said Dan Schrock of Goshen, Ind. He has 18 years of pastoral experience and has a part-time spiritual direction practice. He pastors at Berkey Avenue Mennonite Fellowship in Goshen and will be at Merry Lea Mondays in April.

The cost of the Greener Congregations workshop is $10. The cost of a retreat day is $15 for an eight-hour day or $30 for an overnight. Register by Thursday, March 26. E-mail jenniferhs@goshen.edu or call (260) 799-5869.

Merry Lea is located south of Wolf Lake in central Noble County, mid-way between Goshen and Fort Wayne. Visit www.goshen.edu/merrylea for directions and more information about Merry Lea.

Editors: For more information about this release, to arrange an interview or request a photo, contact Goshen College News Bureau Director Jodi H. Beyeler at (574) 535-7572 or jodihb@goshen.edu.

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Goshen College, established in 1894, is a Christian liberal arts college rooted in the Anabaptist-Mennonite tradition. The college's Christ-centered core values – passionate learning, global citizenship, compassionate peacemaking and servant-leadership – prepare students as leaders for the church and world. Recognized for its unique Study-Service Term program, Goshen has earned citations of excellence in Barron's Best Buys in Education, "Colleges of Distinction," "Making a Difference College Guide" and U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" edition, which named Goshen a "least debt college." Visit www.goshen.edu.