Creation Care


The Creation Care Ministry at the Church of the Holy Comforter is called to:


  • Restore habitat to provide homes, shelter, food, and water for our fellow creatures whose lives and very existence depend on the church’s grounds
  • Provide education and resources to help the congregation replicate healthy habitats in their own gardens
  • Establish a pleasing, meditative, and restorative landscape
  • Sustain a sylvan sanctuary in which people can experience the presence of the Divine.


National and Virginia Invasive Species Awareness Week runs February 23–27, 2026.

In observance, your Creation Care Committee wants to share why controlling invasive plants is critical to protecting our local environment. 


What is an Invasive Species?

An "invasive" plant is a non-native species (originally from another region) that causes damage to our local environment, economy, or human health. While some native plants can be "aggressive" growers, they belong here and support local wildlife. Conversely, invasives are non-native plants that disrupt the ecosystem.


Don't be Fooled by "Naturalized"

A "naturalized" plant is a non-native species that has managed to spread without human help. However, "naturalized" does not mean safe or helpful. These plants fail to support local wildlife—birds, insects, and mammals—in the way native plants do.


Why Invasives are Pernicious

Because they are free from the pathogens and predators that kept them under control in their native range, invasive plants often leaf out earlier, eventually crowding out and displacing native vegetation, creating a "monoculture" (a single species) that cannot support fauna that did not evolve to recognize it as food and usually are not able to metabolize it if they tried to eat it.


  • Invasive species are a leading driver of biodiversity loss, playing a key role in 60% of global plant and animal extinctions.
  • Rapidly growing plants like English Ivy, Burning Bush, and Chinese Privet can destroy local habitats in just a few seasons.


Take Action with Us!

The Creation Care Ministry is actively working to remove invasive plants from Holy Comforter’s grounds, replacing them with native species that support a healthy local ecosystem. We invite you to help us heal and preserve this fragile Earth:


  • Learn more at Plant NoVa Natives and Blue Ridge PRISM for identification and control tips.
  • 3rd Saturday Workday at Holy Comforter - Join us on the third Saturday of the month between 9 a.m. and noon, as we take care of our trees and other plants that take care of us. Learn more below.

3rd Saturday Habitat Restoration


Join us on the 3rd Saturday of every month as we work to restore our forest, and to make our campus more environmentally responsible. We gather at the lower end of the parking lot at 9:00 a.m., and work until noon, doing different activities each month, depending on the season. Cancelled if the weather is unpleasant. For more information, please contact Margaret Bain or Kerry Gilpin.


Nature's Symphony

Breathtaking colors of our planet
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3rd Saturday Workday:


Join us on the 3rd Saturday of every month as we work to restore our forest, and to make our campus more environmentally responsible. We gather at the lower end of the parking lot at 9:00 a.m., and work until noon, doing different activities each month, depending on the season. Cancelled if the weather is unpleasant. For more information, please contact Margaret Bainor Kerry Gilpin.

St. Brigid's Chapel 


On Saturday, April 18, we celebrated the historic consecration of St. Brigid’s Chapel. We extend a huge thank you to Bishop Ted Gulick for officiating this special ceremony, and to our Creation Care ministry for fostering this new sanctuary of peace and prayer. Nestled within our woods, St. Brigid’s Chapel is now open for all to experience.

The Welcome Garden 


This project, a living reflection of Holy Comforter's spirit, was brought to life by a generous donor, a gifted designer, and dedicated laborers.

Please click an image to scroll:

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If you have questions about the Creation Care Ministrty and/or any of our current offerings, please contact Margaret Bain or Kerry Gilpin.