And the church offers gardening space to people of the community. The garden chapel of Christ Church of Oak Brook, Illinois, offers a special worship environment for its 5,000 members. The church was originally constructed around a courtyard. During a 1970s renovation, the congregation decided to enclose the courtyard and top it with a skylight roof. The chapel contains many plants and a fountain and seats about 250 people for Sunday evening services.
Church members tend the garden plants.
When a large plant dies, a florist is called in to suggest a replacement. Alex Morgan, executive pastor, notes the effect of the greens. They also offer a sense of growth and of the church as part of the living world. A botanical program can be as simple as placing a vase of flowers on a church altar or as extensive as growing a garden by the church to encourage quiet meditation. If you want to see more of God's natural world in your church, start small and watch what happens.