We have now arrived at the longest season of the church year. Often it is called Pentecost, some churches call it ordinary time, others summer. The color is green; the theme is growth – in mission, maturity, understanding, faith, love, etc.
Often artists use a green growing thing to illustrate the season. This year it seems like an appropriate and good thing to celebrate the St. Mark Community Garden – so the green growing things will be potatoes and peas and soon Laurel’s artichoke and then in September wheat (I am the bread of life). Later when Pastors Eric and Beth are installed I’ll add symbols of ministry and then some fall stuff like leaves and maybe corn.
All is to say that God’s good gifts surround us in the lush good growing earth, the common every day gifts of trees, gardens, flowers, and fruits of the earth. And the neighbors who share our harvest and plant green seeds of hope, love, and nourishment with their neighbors.
Grace, peace and all that good stuff,
David I. Nelson