Jay McDivitt, Waukesha, WI

 

Warm-up Question

What does “hope” mean to you? What makes you “hopeful”?

Hope in the Waiting

I’m looking for a “current event” to begin this week’s Faith Lens. I scroll through Google News. Wow. I think. This is a rough day in the life of the world.

On this day, the top stories are a plane crash that killed almost an entire Brazilian football (soccer) team. A fire is threatening to destroy Gatlinburg. Ohio State University is reeling from an attacker who wielded a car and a knife to injure 11 people before the police shot him dead.There’s also a bizarre story about a woman who stabbed her boyfriend after he let her drink her blood.

That’s today. Tomorrow’s newsfeed will probably look much the same (although hopefully with fewer “wannabe vampires”). Yesterday’s sure did. And here in the Northern Hemisphere, the days are getting shorter and shorter as the darkness grows.

I don’t know about you, but that makes me weary. I look for the good around me – and I find it, to be sure. I rejoice in my children’s giggles and listen to great music and connect with friends. But these days seem heavier than ever for some reason (many reasons), and it’s hard not to be overwhelmed by all the bad news. I could just turn it off – stop reading – and sometimes I do. Yet I believe it’s important to know what’s happening in the world, even if it’s often not very joyful.

Discussion Questions

• How about you? Do you see/hear more good news or bad news these days? How much do you pay attention to “current events”?
• What bad news have you heard lately? How does that make you feel?
• What good news have you heard lately? How does that make you feel?

Third Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 35:1-10

James 5:7-10

Matthew 11:2-11

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

Gospel Reflection

John is in prison.

John had made a name for himself pointing the way to God’s brand new day, to the coming of the Messiah, to the dawn of the Kingdom. In the midst of a scary world of Roman oppression and uncertain futures, John had preached the people into a frenzy of hope: “God will fix this! God is coming soon!”

And the people listened. They flocked to him. When Jesus showed up, John pointed to him and said, “There he is! See – I told you!” And the people listened again.

But now, John is in prison. He will soon lose his head (literally).

This isn’t exactly what he and those who had listened to him were expecting. Is this what we’ve been waiting for?  So they send a note to Jesus: “Are you…really…the One? Seriously? Or should we wait for another?”

And Jesus responds: “Look around. What do you see? Darkness, sure… but what else? Things are happening – good things, great things – the stuff God promised long ago. Keep your eyes open. Look around. Tell John what you see.”

Indeed, Jesus points them back to the reading from Isaiah. God’s promised future begins with healing and wholeness, lives being restored. Water in the desert. “Be strong! Do not fear!” This is happening. God is building a superhighway through the middle of the desert to bring you home.

But notice the image here: A highway in the desert. In my part of the country we often say we have two seasons – winter and road construction. Building a highway takes time. The day doesn’t start with the sun blazing in the top of the sky – it teases and hints its way over the horizon with lightening blue, a touch of pink, a slowly emerging glow of yellow.

And so it is with hope. Hope is a lot of waiting. But it is an active waiting. It’s not just sitting around, giving into despair or just closing our eyes and pretending everything is fine. It is an open-eyed searching in the darkness for the hints and signs of light and life. It is recognizing a life transformed, a relationship reconciled, a person being made whole.

In Spanish, the same word (esperar) means “to hope” and “to wait.” That’s what Advent is about: waiting in the darkness with eyes opened up to see the signs of hope. Look around: God is making good on God’s promises. And thanks be to God for that.

Discussion Questions

• How do you wait for something good to happen? What do you do? What do you feel? What happens when it takes longer than you thought it would?
• How do you think John felt in prison? What do you think he thought and felt when he heard Jesus’ response to his question? How would you respond?
• Sometimes it’s easier to wait for something – or to stay hopeful – when you’re with other people who are also waiting and hoping with you. How can you help other folks be hopeful these days? How can other folks help you?

Activity Suggestions

Either give one large piece of paper (11X17) to each person, or roll out a large banner for everyone to work on together. Write “ESPERAR” in the middle of the page or banner. Using magazines/newspapers and scissors/glue, markers/crayons, etc., depict what it means to wait and hope at the same time. One approach (just a suggestion) could be to start on one side of the paper with signs of darkness/fear/etc., and then move across the page with signs of light and hope. Take time to share what you did and talk about what you’re thinking/feeling.

Closing Prayer

O God for whom we wait, help us to be patient as we wait for the hope you bring. Keep our eyes open to see the good things you are already doing. Strengthen us to be strong for others, and to ask others for help while we wait. Bring your light and healing into every corner of creation. In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.

 

Today’s blog post is from Clayton Faulkner, Director of Worship, Music and Technology at Faith Lutheran Church in Bellaire, TX. 

If you’ve sung ELW #239-267 and are looking for some new worship music for Advent, try these on. These songs have been in rotation at Faith Lutheran in Bellaire, TX and work especially well for our band-led service.

Sing to the King, words and music by Billy Foote and based on an older hymn by Charles Silvester Horne. This song captures the eschatological themes of Advent well. The arrangement we use at Faith includes an additional original stanza that is left out of Foote’s version: “Souls will be saved from the burden of sin, doubt will not darken his witness within. Hell has no terrors, and death has no sting; love is victorious when Jesus is King.”

Immanuel, or as I like to call it, “From the Squalor of a Borrowed Stable” (taken from the first stanza). Words and music by Stuart Townend, who has had some controversy stemming from the new Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) hymnal. The four stanzas of this song give you a great narrative sweep of Christ’s birth, life, death, and return. We exclusively bring this song out every Advent. However, I do feel that the theology in this song needs a little tweaking to fit in our context. In the final stanza I change “hope of heaven or the fear of hell,” to “heav’n joins earth where God will dwell.”

Even So Come, words and music by Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram, and Jess Cates. This song has a driving 6/8 pulse that emphasizes the thematic elements of waiting, preparation, and longing. The bridge section lyrics, “God we wait, you’re coming soon” fit well alongside the words of John the Baptizer.

 

 

This Advent season is an opportunity to reflect on what faithful advocacy means. Join the ELCA Advocacy in our Advent Devotions Series. Please share with friends and family.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctVKBHJ2o90

This weeks devotional is given by Mark Carlson. He works at Lutheran Office of Public Policy.

The lectionary readings for this Sunday are:

1. Isaiah 11:1-10
2. Psalm Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
3. Romans 15:4-13
4. Matthew 3:1-12

Blessings

 

Stephanie Opsal, Farmington, NM

 

Warm-up Questions

• Are you good at determining right from wrong (in your actions or in others’ actions)?
• How do you make choices; what is your guide?

Prepare, Repent, and Bear Fruit

A psychological research study published in April of this year suggests that children, from a very young age, can recognize and respond to people exhibiting negative behaviors.  An experiment commonly labeled “bribing babies with graham crackers” reveals evidence that children, ages 1-8 have a tendency to avoid interactions with persons exhibiting certain behaviors.

Children often show acceptance of another person by their willingness to receive gifts from them.  In step one, children ages 5-8 were offered one sticker from one character and multiple stickers from a second character.  They had to choose from which person they would accept gifts.  Not surprisingly, the kids accepted stickers from the one offering more.  Step two presented the same situation, except character one was a kind person and character two was a bully who hit kids at school.  In this case, 80% of kids preferred to take one sticker from a nice person rather than 2-8 stickers from a mean person.

A similar activity involved one-year-old infants.  With two equal puppet characters offering graham crackers, babies also accepted the one who was offering more of the snacks.  However, when puppet #1 acted out, hurting a lamb stuffed animal, and puppet #2 helped a lamb stuffed animal, babies chose to receive fewer crackers from the good-hearted giver (puppet #2).  This research suggests that people can recognize right moral actions from wrong ones and choose to deal with people who act kindly and justly, even if it means a personal cost of fewer gifts.

How do young kids know right from wrong?  Have they learned already, or do they innately understand?  God said he has “written the law on their hearts…while their conscience also bears witness…” (Jeremiah 31:33, Romans 2:15, Hebrews 10:16).  As we see in the gospel reading, John the Baptist bears witness that God can see into immoral hearts, despite our efforts to hide our intentions.

Discussion Questions

• What do you think of this research?  Were you surprised to read this?  (Full article:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/04/25/the-disturbing-thing-you-learn-when-you-bribe-babies-with-graham-crackers/ )

• The research also suggests that subjects will “do business” with the less attractive giver if the reward for doing so is particularly high (16 stickers).  Does this suggest that everyone has a price?  At what point are you willing to “deal with the devil?”  What are your limits beyond which you will not go?
• Have you ever interacted with a person or situation that simply did not feel right? Do you think this had to do with your inner sense of right v. wrong?
• Do you avoid people with questionable character? Why?  Do you think you should?

Second Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 11:1-10

Romans 15:4-13

Matthew 3:1-12

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

 

Gospel Reflection

In today’s passage, Jesus had not yet appeared on the scene at the Jordan River, but John the Baptist was busy preparing the people for His arrival.  John lived a life very different from the culture.  He ate locusts and wild honey in the desert and wore clothes of camel’s hair.  More important, he lived humbly as a servant of God, while some religious leaders lived greedy, self-promoting lives.  This stark contrast drew people to his message.

John’s message proved counter-cultural.  He proclaimed the coming of the Lord and called leaders and common people alike to repent of their sins and be baptized.  Many call him the first true prophet in 400 years.  His focus on praising God alone and boldly speaking the truth caught people’s attention.  He did not seek “followers of John” but rather people prepared to follow the coming Christ.  John’s message challenged those who lived self-righteous lives which looked good but were rooted in wrong motivations.  God desires that our obedience arise out of love for Him, rather than out of a desire to complete a checklist of superficially pious actions.  John baptized people to signify a person’s public confession of sin and repentance, an outward sign of inner cleansing of the heart.

Unfortunately, not every people group who visited John wanted baptism for the right reasons.  Some believed they were righteous without any need to change their attitudes.  They did not see their imperfection and looked down on “sinners,” treating others poorly and acting to promote their own interests instead of God’s.  John called them out, warning them that God has the power to save or destroy, and the way a person lives and acts reflects their inward beliefs about God.

We are called to live aware of our need for Jesus and to “produce good fruit,”(3:8) from the heart in response to all He has done for us.  Verse 10 of Matthew 3 states: “…every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

The passage closes with a reminder than John’s baptism was to prepare people for Jesus’ coming.  Soon, the true Lord Jesus would baptize them also with the Holy Spirit., giving His life for others.

Discussion Questions

• Have you been baptized? What does baptism mean to you?
• Do you practice what you preach? Do your actions show what you believe?
• Why do you think John looked different than other religious leaders?
• Lutheran have confessed that we are all simultaneously saint and sinner, always imperfect but ever beloved by God.  How do you think John would have responded to that insight?

Activity Suggestions

• Matthew 3 describes how John looked and ate.  Use the Bible’s words to draw a picture of your interpretation of John the Baptist.  Next to it, draw a picture of a pastor or religious leader as you would generally picture him or her.  Compare pictures among yourselves and discuss why John may have looked and lived so differently from other priests or leaders.
• Act out the story of Matthew 3, including roles of John (the Baptizer), a humble person who wants to repent and be baptized, an arrogant Pharisee, and a popular Sadducee. Add your own ad lib commentary and emotions.

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus,  we praise you for showing evidence of your coming throughout the Bible and through people such as John the Baptist.  Guide us to live lives that line up with your teaching and reflect our inner devotion to you and gratitude for all you have done for us.  Thank you for coming to save us.  In your holy name, we pray. Amen.

 

Today’s blog post is from Megan Neubauer, Interim Program Associate for the ELCA Strategy on HIV and AIDS.

 

Each year, December 1^st marks World AIDS Day; a day to commemorate all of those who have and continue to be affected by HIV and AIDS. The day is a powerful one to remember, but also a day to look, with hope, toward the future. This year marks 35 years since the first reported case of what would come to be known as AIDS in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control. Since that time, we have learned much more about effective treatment and prevention. However, there is much progress to be made. HIV continues to affect many in our communities and throughout the world, including more than 1.2[i] million people in the United States alone, and approximately 36.7[ii] million worldwide.

In 2009 the Church Council passed the ELCA Strategy on HIV and AIDS. In it, we outlined the many ways that we must respond. Together we are called to reflection, and we are called to action. This year on World AIDS Day, let us join in prayer, worship and reflection for HIV and AIDS in our community. This church can be a resounding voice in speaking out against stigma and discrimination; Let us examine how we become or maintain a welcoming community for all affected. In remembering World AIDS Day in our worship, we continue to raise awareness. December 1^st is a day we join in prayer, reflection and remembrance, and we go forth renewed to continue the response.

World AIDS Day worship resources are now available at www.elca.org/hiv.

 

If your congregation will be commemorating World AIDS Day or wishes to integrate commemoration into your Sunday worship on Dec. 4th, prayers, a brief healing rite, hymn suggestions and more worship components are available here.

 

 

[i] Centers for Disease Control, 2016. HIV in the United States: At A Glance [10/5/2016]. http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/statistics/overview/ataglance.html

[ii] UNAIDS, 2016. Fact Sheet 2016[10/5/2016] www.unaids.org/en/resources/fact-sheet

 

 

Worship at the Center events give you the opportunity to explore topics and rites of worship in the church through worship, presentations and workshops. They are designed for pastors, musicians, worship teams and anyone else interested in vibrant worship in their communities.

Mark your calendars for:

Worship at the Center: Engaging Worship and Culture, Feb. 19-21, 2017, Santa Monica, California

and:

Worship at the Center: Exploring the Occasional Services, April 30-May 2, 2017, New Haven, Connecticut

Registration is $40 per person with a maximum of $100 per congregation.

More information is available on the ELCA Worship Facebook page under “Upcoming Events.” (https://www.facebook.com/elcaworship/)

 

This Advent season is an opportunity to reflect on what faithful advocacy means. Join the ELCA Advocacy in our Advent Devotions Series. Please share with friends and family.

This weeks devotional is given by Tammy Walhof. She works at Lutheran Advocacy – Minnesota.

The lectionary readings for this Sunday are:

1. Isaiah 2:1-5
2. Psalm 122
3. Romans 13:11-14
4. Matthew 24:36-44

Blessings

Scott A. Moore, Erfurt, Germany

 

Warm-up Question

What do you need to do in order to get ready for school (or a trip)?

Change is Coming

Once again we are in the weeks leading up to a transition of administrations. There are many situations a new, inexperienced White House staff will encounter in the weeks and months to come. Press releases, motorcades, and the State of the Union address are some of the easier ones. The President, Vice-President, and others in the White House need to be prepared for any and everything. The two last presidents had to deal with crises in their respective first years of office that no one could have known would happen.  For President Bush, it was 9/11 just nine months after taking office and for President Obama, there was a Swine flu outbreak and Somali pirates.

Preparing for pirates was not on anyone’s agenda, but the Obama administration was able to respond to the flu outbreak because President Bush’s team had prepared them with their experiences learned from dealing with the Avian flu a few years earlier. Aside from such catastrophes and all the various natural disasters that can happen, each administration needs to be adequately prepared for major cataclysmic events such as nuclear war. This is also something the White House teams will practice in the coming months so that should anything happen, the President and his team will be able to continue to provide the necessary leadership.

Discussion Questions

• What do you think is most difficult part about being the president in a time of crisis?
• When is information from the White House in such times of crisis “too much”?
• When have you looked to the leadership of someone in a time of crisis (president or otherwise)?
• What would you want to know in the event of major cataclysm: meteor crashing to earth, terrible unstoppable plague, nuclear war, … zombie apocalypse?

First Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 2:1-5

Romans 13:11-14

Matthew 24:36-44

(Text links are to Oremus Bible Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings

For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic Agnus Day.

 

Gospel Reflection

Happy New Church Year! The first Sunday in Advent (from Adventus=coming). It is a time of getting ready for the joy of Christmas. Longer and cooler nights for us in the Northern hemisphere mean a chance to get cozy and start thinking about the beautiful decorations, the sharing of good food and gifts, and what in the heck is this text doing here? Why on earth would we want spoil the mood before it really gets going with this? Jesus talking about all the destruction of the Great Flood is a serious downer. And, if Jesus thinks he will lift our spirits by sharing with us that the Son of Man coming again will take some and leave others standing, he is sorely mistaken. Okay, the hearers of this text have an advantage over those in the time of Noah. Whoosh, rain and floods and destruction were sent without any real warning. This time around there is a warning: be ready! The Son of Man is coming—like a thief in the night. Advent is a big yay for Jesus coming as a cute little baby, the big Word of God in a tiny bit of flesh; and it’s a big uh oh for Jesus coming again at some point in the future. We are on pins and needles if we think on it and sit with it.

So if we take Jesus’ promise in this text seriously, we need to be prepared. How do we do that? What does it mean for us to be awake and aware and ready for when Jesus comes? It has been about 2,000 years since these words of Jesus were shared. If it hasn’t happened now, should we really worry that it’s going to happen in our lifetimes? This text calls us to vigilance. It is exactly that kind of “it’s not going to happen anyway” thinking that this text wants to prevent. We can’t sleep—in the spiritual awareness kind of way. At the same time, we can’t get caught up in trying to predict the signs because this text (and others like it) tell us: like a thief in the night. We just don’t know. The angels in heaven don’t know. The Son doesn’t even know. We will never be able to predict it so we shouldn’t bother with that. Our energy is not to be spent on figuring out when Jesus is coming but figuring out how to be ready.

Discussion Questions

• How do you get ready for Jesus’ coming? And, how do you stay ready?
• What does it mean for you when you recite the words of the Creeds, “he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.”?
• “Advent” means coming.  How do you experience God coming each day?

Activity Suggestions

Fire Drill:

Walk through the fire drill plan for your location. Maybe even walk through to the other classrooms and ask them if they know their fire escape routes. Learning to be ready in every day situations can help raise awareness for the spiritual kind of readiness talked about in the Gospel reading for the day.

Closing Prayer

Reflect on the following poem and then join in the responsive prayer.  How does this poem change how you see God coming and our preparation for that coming?

Making the House Ready for the Lord


Dear Lord, I have swept and I have washed but

Still nothing is as shining as it should be

for you.  Under the sink, for example, is an

uproar of mice—it is the season of their

many children.  What shall I do?  And under the eaves

and through the walls the squirrels

have gnawed their ragged entrances—but it is the season

when they need shelter, so what shall I do?  And

the raccoon limps into the kitchen and opens the cupboard

while the dog snores, the cat hugs the pillow;

what shall I do?  Beautiful is the new snow falling

in the yard and the fox who is staring boldly

up the path, to the door.  And still I believe you will

come, Lord: you will, when I speak to the fox

the sparrow, the lost dog, the shivering sea-goose, know

that really I am speaking to you whenever I say,

as I do all morning and afternoon:  Come in, Come in.

–Mary Oliver–

Closing Prayer (from ELW Evening Prayer)

Leader:           The Spirit and the church cry out:

All:                  Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Leader:           All those who await his appearance pray:

All:                  Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Leader:           The whole creation pleads:

All:                  Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

 

As Advent approaches, Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has co-authored a devotional resource for your congregation with three other Lutheran and Anglican leaders.

Along with Bishop Eaton, the weekly devotions were contributed by the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, presiding bishop and primate, The Episcopal Church; the Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, primate, Anglican Church of Canada; and the Rev. Susan C. Johnson, national bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. The resource is, in part, a way to celebrate the full communion partnership between the contributing churches.

As the bishops write in a joint cover letter, “May our prayers united be a modest but hopeful sign of what our churches can do together as we bear witness to the One who first reconciled himself to us.”

The themes of each week’s reflections are: “Liberated by God’s Grace,” “Creation-Not for Sale,” “Salvation-Not for Sale,” and finally, “Human Beings-Not for Sale.”

The Advent devotions, formatted for easy printing with your congregation’s bulletin, are available in PDF here:

http://download.elca.org/ELCA%20Resource%20Repository/2016_Advent_devotions_all.pdf?_ga=1.80319888.683376320.1466460903

 

 

 

 

Community gardens are a great way to build community and provide nutritious food for your congregation and your neighbors. This week, ELCA World Hunger is grateful to welcome Ed Merrell as a guest blogger to offer his expert tips for community gardeners as we move into the fall and winter. Ed is an Independent Seeds Professional. He engages with seed-centric charity organizations and other agricultural groups. In this capacity, he applies his extensive seed industry skills and experience to provide relevant information and solutions.

His 35+ year career in the vegetable and flower seed industry included plant breeding to develop new and improved varieties, domestic and international seed production, quality assurance and seed testing, seed processing plant operation, and quality information systems. Ed is a member of Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Morgan Hill, Calif.

If you are planning a new garden or growing an existing garden, ELCA World Hunger’s Community Gardens How-To Guide is a great resource to help! It has practical advice and suggestions from community gardeners across the ELCA, along with resources for tying your congregation’s garden to your worship life through prayer and education.

Download ELCA World Hunger’s Community Gardens How-To Guide: goo.gl/Q2G3Yb;

Order a free printed copy: goo.gl/tsdr1q

For community gardens, autumn is a productive time. If your congregation already has a community garden, activities could include finishing the harvest and assessing the gardening year. Or, if your congregation is thinking about creating a community garden, it could be a good time to start planning.

1. Review the Past Season

Congregations with established community gardens can consider updating their garden map showing what crop was grown where and how productive each crop was. If you sowed seed, did it germinate well? Were pest problems observed such as soil-borne organisms like cutworms, flying insects, or animals? Were preventative actions taken and what were the results? Did any plant diseases occur? All the information you gather can be added to your previous community garden experience in that location and will help you plan for next year.

2. Tap Local Expertise

If you have not already connected to a source of local gardening expertise, consider contacting the County Cooperative Extension office or the Master Gardener organization.  These experts share firsthand knowledge of local growing conditions, vegetable varieties adapted to your area, fertilization and watering recommendations, and pests and how to control them.

3. Update Your Planting Plan

Use your garden maps from previous seasons to plan crop rotation and avoid planting the same vegetable in the same space. A 3-year rotation plan is often recommended. Crop rotation reduces the likelihood of diseases on next year’s plants and promotes healthy soil. If you have remnant seed of a variety that germinated well and yielded tasty produce, you may want to sow that same seed again next season. By storing the seed packets in a cool, dry place, you preserve the seed viability and improve the chances that the seed will germinate well next year.

4. Re-vision and Re-imagine

Successful community gardens start with a vision. As you plan for next season, ask these questions. Is the community garden fulfilling the vision statement that you wrote? Does it meet a community need? Is the congregation support sufficient in terms of volunteers and financial resources? The next few months are a good time to consider these questions and assess what worked well, what needs to be improve, and make plans for next year.

5. Get Started!

If your congregation is discerning whether to create a community garden, the ELCA World Hunger Community Gardens How-To Guide (download: goo.gl/Q2G3Yb; order printed copy: goo.gl/tsdr1q) is a great place to begin.  In autumn, planting time seems far away. But it’s never too early to start creating a community garden. As the guide describes, understanding your community’s needs and assets and the capacity of your congregation to create a vision for your garden will take time.  Are there some experienced gardeners willing to share their expertise? Can you make this an intergenerational activity? There are tasks for everyone from young children sowing bean seeds to adults building raised beds to seniors sharing their recipes for fresh produce. In addition, you will need some funding and some land for your garden.

6.  Keep Costs Down

Raised beds, an irrigation system, garden tools, etc. for your new community garden can cost money. To keep expenses under control, look for websites like Freecyle.org, Trashnothing.com, or other sites where people offer for free what they don’t need or ask for what they want. Craigslist.org has free offers too. Reduce, reuse, and recycle helps everyone and preserves God’s creation.

7. Find Good Quality Seeds and Young Plants

Selecting good quality seeds and young plants is critical to success. Seeds labeled “Packed for year 20__” or “Sell by mm/yy” should be sown during that year or before the sell-by date. Store seeds in cool, dry conditions to preserve viability. Young plants should be free of disease (discolored leaves or stems) and free of insects (worms, aphids, etc.)

8. Find Partners

Consider reaching out to other faith communities and ask if they would like to help your congregation start a community garden. The opportunity for people of faith to work side-by-side planning, growing and nurturing, and harvesting a community garden can build lasting relationships.

Gardening is enjoyable in every season!  Get started today!