England Journal: Day 3

The Garden:

Exploring a narrow back hallway behind the sanctuary, I opened the double doors to my left just before the church’s meeting room and kitchen. The doors stuck a bit with layers of paint and the damp morning weather. They opened up to a plethora of colors, flowers, and vines. Murals covered the fence inside church yard.

The community garden sat snuggly up against the outside wall of St. Oswald’s. A sanctuary for the neighborhood. A not-so-secret garden had been lovingly cultivated by a quirky mix and match family of souls. The weathered smiles that met me in the garden had more energy than I had felt in a while. Raised beds with roses, dahlia, and Torched lilies smiled at me from beds of green. Homemade trellises with climbing vines greeted me in bursts of colors against the grey sky. Veggies trailed along the ground, and a pea gravel path led wanderers around a corner to a frog pond nestled next to hand-painted benches and chairs. The wet chill in the air didn’t stop the tea from flowing or the conversations of a family who lives worlds apart. Unpretentious, and friendly, like a reunion, the saints chatted, young and old shared a biscuit tin and stories of life. Much like this group, a pile of mis-matched mugs were set on a table in the middle of a manicured square of raised beds. The spirit of fellowship was palpable. With a common goal of beauty in the Lord’s garden all work had ceased, a sabbath of tea time forced our American selves to rest in God’s goodness, and we were grateful.    

Each bush and section had layers of care. Care from the master gardener who designed and curated just the right plants. Care from the daily volunteers to fulfill the gardeners plan. Care from the community that comes to enjoy its beauty, stopping for a tea time amongst the flowers. And care from the missions groups that came to take on the larger projects with foreign resources and support. Layers of love, and hard work all for the same purpose and goal.

Christ is our Master Gardener, and by his grace we are also given layers of care. Some speak the hard truths we must hear, uprooting the weeds that destroy our faith. The community around us pauses for fellowship and encouragement in one another’s presence. The Lord layers more care from outside resources also. We will never know the span or depth of influence for the Gospel the Lord used to grow our gardens. He layers his blessings upon blessings, just like in St. Oswald’s community garden.

“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” Romans 12:4-8

TGP Questions:

Journal about your community, Thank God for blessing you with the community garden in your life.

What gifts has the Holy Spirit nurtured in you that you have shared with your community?

Are their layers in your community?

Thank the the Master Gardener for the variety of people, experiences and gifts he has cultivated in your community garden.

How have you used your gifts for the Church?

If you would like to know more about the ministry that leads our trips check out the Ministry Friends tab and click on the GEM icon.

If you would like to financially support my upcoming mission trip to Middlebrough, England, check out this link https://immanuelbaptist.managedmissions.com/Donations/Donate/83878