By James Wagner
Returning from Lui last Christmas, Fr. Dan Handschy, Rector of Church of the Advent, in Crestwood, described part of his experience there in words not found in the everyday Episcopal lexicon. Dan shared that he’d had a conversion experience.
For the Advent community, life began to change. Dan told the congregation that he expected that by the end of 2009 at least 30% of the congregation would be involved in hands-on ministry beyond the people and walls of Advent. Dan’s enthusiasm for mission has been so contagious that by mid-2009, the 30% goal was met and continues to grow. Members are volunteering at Feed My People and Ronald McDonald House, serving as listening guests at a nursing home, and a variety of other individual mission endeavors.
Early on, a group of Adventers decided that one form of mission could be a church garden. The produce would be sold and the money donated to Feed My People, which Advent has long supported. Fresh vegetables not sold would be donated to the clients of Feed My People.
The idea began to grow. A 15’ x 60’ plot was marked out, and $12 worth of seeds purchased. On Palm Sunday, Bishop George Wayne Smith blessed the ground and the gardeners went to work. The ground was tilled, the seeds were planted, and the garden began to grow.
On May 17, Rogation Sunday, the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Fr. Dan led a Rogation procession around the garden. Rogation is a tradition that began in Western Christendom in the fifth century and Rogation processions became common in the early summer when priests and the townfolk walked the perimeter of the parish to ask God for blessings on the harvest.
At first there were peppers, followed by sunflowers, squash and tomatoes. By the end of September, the original $12 worth of seeds has grown into approximately $500 in sales of vegetables and pickles made from the garden’s squash as well as over 510 pounds of fresh vegetables taken to Feed My People for distribution to their clients. Additionally, one of the garden’s sunflowers, with a visiting bumble bee, appears on Advent’s “Remembered in Prayer” cards that are sent to people who are prayed for at Sunday worship.
Church of the Advent’s garden experiment has grown not only vegetables, but raised the congregation’s awareness of new ways of doing mission to the larger community. While the garden’s bounty is slowing as fall begins, consideration is being given to doubling the size of next year’s garden. Perhaps a garden twice in size will result next year with Feed My People receiving $1,000 and half a ton of vegetables. And maybe 60% of the congregation will be involved in personal mission beyond the local church and congregation.
Our garden continues to grow.
James Wagner is a parishioner at the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Crestwood. Photos from Bill Sanders. More photos online at Advent’s website.
- Advent-Crestwood Episcopal Church of the Advent, 9373 Garber Road, Crestwood, MO 63126, ph 314-843-0123, www.advent-episcopal.org
- Metro III Map by convocation
Tags: Food Ministry, Garden, Green, Hunger, Mission
