Moving Forward

" So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building. "

1 Corinthians 3: 7-9

The vegetable garden continues to thrive.  There is an abundance of new tomatoes growing along with some peppers. The kale has taken root. This will be our final harvest for this year. We have harvested over 40lbs of vegetables so far. These vegetables have blessed our friends at the Loudoun Free Clinic, the shelter and Grace to Go in October.

Moving forward.

After many months of prayer, meetings, discussions, drawings, estimates and discernment, work on the Restoring Eden Contemplative Garden space is underway. God has a plan and he has placed that plan, that dream, on the hearts of the Restoring Eden Board for all who walk through the doors of St. David's.  Everyone is welcome.

On Saturday the crew was out there digging the path for the handicap accessible walkway and patio.  The flower garden and areas are marked and work will continue over the next week. A community bulb planting day will be planned in a few weeks and a garden maintenance committee formed.

I thanked God for this holy space as I stood in the sunshine holding some dirt in my hand. The gentle breeze reminded me of the breath of God breathing life into the beginning of creation.  God continues to breathe life into this project in so many ways with the love, grace and hard work of many.

First Harvest: Being Good Stewards of Creation

 

On Sunday September 9th two baskets of vegetables were presented during the offertory in thanksgiving for the blessing of the Restoring Eden Project's first harvest.

Praise God from whom all blessing flow.

Praise Him all creatures here below.

Praise Him, Ye, Heavenly host.

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

 

Our first harvest is blessed with abundance. We were able to provide 18lbs of fresh vegetables to the Loudoun Free Clinic for distribution to those in need.

 

This awe-inspiring harvest is indeed a gift from God. We rejoice in creation and praise God from whom all blessings flow.  The tomatoes are hanging in tempting juicy red clusters from the vine, the yellow squash look scrumptious , the purple eggplant are thriving and the peppers are plump and vibrant green...making it easy to find our resident toad who lives among the vegetables.

 

 

What comes out of the garden will be shared with the communities at Loudoun Interfaith Relief, the Loudoun Free Clinic, the local shelters and those in need who come through our doors here at St. David's. This first harvest is joyous and is teaching us about the ways of God.

 

We continue to learn that God provides enough for our own needs AND an abundance to give away and share...being blessed to be a blessing to others...being blessed to be good stewards of this gift.   It reminds me of the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand with the loaves and fishes.
 

 ^"Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift

each of you has received." 1 Peter 4:10

We can't hold onto our vegetables too long, they would spoil. God provides what is needed for now ...this first harvest. 18 pounds of vegetables may not see like much. They provided what was needed that day at the clinic. This reminds me of the manna with which God fed the Israelites in the desert. If they gathered too much and tried to hoard it, it would spoil. God blessed them with enough for that moment.

God's blessing is in the midst of the garden.

Namaste'
Maureen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



VA National Guard at St. David's

On Saturday June 2, 2012 members of the VA National Guard came to St. David's to build raised vegetable beds, till the soil, lay mulch and assemble the rain barrel. The soldiers, gave of their time as part of a day of thanksgiving and appreciation to the Loudoun County Community. St. David's and the Restoring Eden Board is so thankful for their help in getting our project underway.   Be sure to scroll down and see the progress in the post:
Inch by Inch /Row by Row           

^"We know that all things work together for good for those who love God,

who are called according to his purpose."

                                                                                              Romans 8:28

Inch by Inch, Row by Row

Inch by inch, row by row ,
Gonna make this garden grow
All it takes is a rake and a hoe,
And a piece of fertile ground
Inch by inch, row by row,
Please bless these seeds I sow
Please warm them from below,
'Till the rain comes tumbling down.

 Pulling weeds and picking stones                                                       

       Man is made of dreams and bones
       Feel the need to grow my own,

       'Cause the time is close at hand.
       Grain for grain, sun and rain,

       Find my way in nature's chain
       Tune my body and my brain, To the music from the land.

Inch by inch, row by row ,
Gonna make this garden grow
All it takes is a rake and a hoe,
And a piece of fertile ground
Inch by inch, row by row,
Please bless these seeds I sow
Please warm them from below,
'Till the rain comes tumbling down.



  Plant your rows straight and long,                             
  Temper them with a prayer and song                        
  Mother Earth will make you strong,
  If you give her love and care.                         
  An old crow watching
  From his perch in yonder tree 
  And in my garden I'm as free,
  as that feathered thief up there.

     Inch by inch, row by row ,
Gonna make this garden grow
All it takes is a rake and a hoe,

 And a piece of fertile ground
Inch by inch, row by row,

Please bless these seeds I sow
Please warm them from below,

'Till the rain comes tumbling down.

               The Garden Song by David Mallett

The Beginning

God bless the earth and all that lives within it,

God bless the earth and all that lives upon it,

God bless the earth and all that live above it,,

God bless the soil on which we live and work and make community,

In your mercy may it bring forth goodness,

May it nourish and renew the whole community who share it.

                                                                                       Ray Simpson

May 26th.  Today we begin.

Today the land for the vegetable garden is being prepared. The Restoring Eden Board has been praying, meeting, discussing options and the best placement for our vegetable garden and contemplative/gathering space. Today the ground is leveled, tilled, nourished, and top soil is added to create a firm foundation for the garden.

As time goes on, we will be exploring as a community, the wonderful ways that God and God’s story are revealed through the rhythms of planting, growing and harvesting. There are so many lessons that the garden will teach us about God. We read about the death and resurrection of Jesus in the Bible and we will experience it every time we plant a seed and watch it burst into life. We read about the miracle of the fish and the loaves and we will experience a miracle every time we harvest God’s abundance.  This is what today begins: the beginning of a  vegetable garden  that will bear fruit for the homeless and needy in our community.... loving our neighbor as Jesus loves us.

"And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least
of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." Matthew 25: 40

My hope is that this beginning will nourish and renew you, letting the seed of God enter into your soil and lead you to bear the fruit he has purposely planted within you. I pray that the Restoring Eden Project will help you find your own sacred space tending to the interior need of your soul so you can be blessed and in return bless others. May your journey be both physical and spiritual through our garden. May your journey be spiritual through this blog. Both, bringing you closer to God. 

Remember, it is in our desire to find and please God that we indeed to so.

                                                                                  Peace and blessings until we meet again.

What is the Restoring Eden Project?

“Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. The LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing
to the eye and good for food.” 

~ Genesis 2:8-9

What is the Restoring Eden project?

Imagine walking through the double doors of the Narthex onto a patio with freshly blooming flowers and the colorful sight of budding vegetables; space where you can sit and pray by yourself and with others; a place where you and your family and your ministry group can congregate surrounded by God’s creation and discern the movement of the Holy Spirit in your worship, gathering and planning.

Who will use this space?  Who will the gardens benefit?

This new space will provide an opportunity for alternative and contemplative worship; educational use by our Sunday School, Preschool and Adult Forums; and fellowship opportunities with gathering and meeting space for all generations and ministries. 

There will be a flower garden crafted by our own master gardeners and maintained for use by our flower guild for our sanctuary.  There will be fresh cuttings for our Lay Eucharistic Ministers (LEMs) to take to those who are homebound at this time and for our welcoming team to share with new visitors.

There will be a vegetable garden to glean fresh produce for our partnership with Loudoun Interfaith Relief and for use by our Grace to Go and Cooks for Christ teams when preparing meals for the hungry.

Who is directing the project?
The Restoring Eden Project is blessed with a diverse Board of Directors including
St. David's trustees.  The board represents all aspects of our community.

How can I get involved?
Volunteers are needed to dig, build, water, maintain the garden and fundraise. Please send all inquiries to office @sdlife.org  

As you read this blog and follow the progress of this project, please hold the
Restoring Eden Project in prayer as this vision, guided by the Holy Spirit, becomes a reality.

Peace and blessings until we meet again.