Several volunteers at the Church of the Resurrection in Muncy have become stewards of the Earth in response to Pope Francis’ 2015 Environmental Encyclical. They began a “Care for Creation” mission by planting a forest on the Church grounds. Native trees, shrubs, bushes and herbs are being established in the front section, an ecosystem for “critters,” while other areas include blueberry patches and raised beds for vegetables. A bench has been placed under a red maple tree, where perennials are also being planted in a section of the forest reserved for a prayer labyrinth. Both the bench and tree have been sponsored by the Wall family in honor of Claire Wall. Another bench sits outside the labyrinth beside a pin oak tree.

In May, 2015, Pope Francis’ “Environmental Encyclical,” “Laudato Si’ was published, in which he encouraged parishioners to become stewards of our Earth that has been so exploited by humans.

According to Irmgard Seidi-Adams, “It took a while to come up with plans of how to implement our version of taking care of creation. Eventually, we came up with the concept of an ‘urban forest.’ During a Penn State extension training course, we learned of Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) grant opportunities. We qualified in the Meadow to Forest category.”

The “Care for Creation” committee formed in 2016. The blueberry patch was planted with 15 highbush blueberry bushes in 2020. In 2021, raised beds were added at the perimeter of the blueberry patch to grow vegetables for Sonlight House food distributions. In April of 2021, 17 trees were donated by Dominick Annuli. Several other trees were purchased as memorial and for/by various parishioners.

“In June of 2022, 108 tree and shrub seedlings were donated and planted by the DCNR, and in May of 2023, with help from DCNR employees, we planted an additional 56 trees secured through the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and another 44 trees and shrubs from DCNR,” Irmgard says. The trees are protected from wildlife by tubes while they are young.

Members of the Care for Creation Committee include Sherry Wertman, Irmgard Seidl-Adams, Nan Rusczyk, Lynn Pryor, Fran Sherwood, Kathey Sechler, and Kristin Fleck.

For years to come, these ambitious projects of the Church of the Resurrection will provide the gifts of beauty, food, oxygen and steps toward rebalancing the ecosystem, all actions that are needed to give back to the Earth and reverse some of the environmental damage that has occurred.