At a recent Concord UMC "Grapevine" event, 'Taste and See', I was given the opportunity to speak a
little bit about how God is using food
to bring people together in our community…and in particular, in the Garden of
Concord. It was with
thankfulness and praise that I was able to share with those present the history
of the garden’s original planting to include God’s continued leading through
the love and support as shared by our church family, along with the many
faithful stewards He has sent to work and take care of His creation. It was with joy and affirmation to talk about
what we are really “growing” over there in that field in the East on the land
of Concord UMC.
The Garden of
Concord, as an extension ministry of our church is a means to following Jesus’s
commandment to love our neighbors and to share His good news (and food) in the
process. It has never been about a way
to get people in to church on Sundays.
It is about witnessing and working with multi-generations, races, and
faiths by growing in our garden while offering and experiencing Christ’s love
in abundance. It is about working in
unity as a community. It is about caring
and learning how to grow healthy food and something about ourselves and others
in the process. It is about the planting
and watering of seeds while watching God make them grow into a plentiful
harvest of food and faith. It is a means
to garden creation like God does.
Outside the walls
of a church building, for many, the time spent growing good food and
friendships during weekly work hours just may be their only meaningful exposure
to God. For others, it is a way to work
out their salvation in sharing the love of God along with stewardship of His creation
to include His planet and His people; to be the agents of God’s continuing care
in the world.
I am affirmed
nightly of God’s presence in the garden when I hear comments from members and
visitors such as:
-“I am
learning so much! I feel God's amazing love while at the garden!!
-“What
would be ‘work’ if done alone is transformed by the community of others!”
-“I am so thankful to be able to give back by working in the garden and
be helping others.”
-“I love the garden. It came into my life at the right time. I am right
where I am supposed to be.”
-From a 7 year old, “This place is way better than how I thought it was
going to be!”
-And from a mom, “Praise God. It is a miracle! I have tried getting my son to eat vegetables
for years and now he can’t wait till garden nights to dig up and eat some
more!”
-And just this past week a visitor shared, “I feel so very special in
this place. I just can’t describe
it. It makes me happy inside.”
The garden sustains primarily on
individual garden memberships while offering free memberships (in thanks to
several “garden angels”) to “family members” at S.A.F.E. Through our bi-weekly donations to SAFE
(almost 2,000 lbs since their opening), we share a sampling of our garden
harvests (washed, individually bagged with tips and recipes) and encourage our
neighbors in need to “Taste and see that the Lord is good” by growing with us
even if it is just for an afternoon. We
hope to plant and empower a desire in their hearts to want to learn more about
how to eat and grow healthy food while also helping others in need in
our community and share God’s love with many!
We have been blessed with several folks from SAFE working in the garden
along with a few that have joined as members with their presence at most every
garden workday.
So where do we
grow from here? God continually feeds my
desire to want to share His love with many by expanding our production in order
to provide more to the ever increasing needs of the hungry in our community
both spiritually and physically. I
remain in prayer for His providing our needs according to His will and purpose
for the Garden of Concord, to include his plantings and people, and have complete
faith in the knowing that it WILL be good!
-Donna Poe
Garden
Coordinator
