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.