A congregation of the United Church of Canada
Growing Season
“There’s a giant mound of dirt on my driveway.”
There’s a giant mound of dirt on my driveway. It’s very exciting, because it means that it’s vegetable planting season. We’ve already enjoyed our first meal of asparagus from plants that we planted three years ago and are finally yielding their fruit (or vegetable, I guess). Delicious!
Of course, that mound of dirt also means a bunch of other things – like hard work! Before we can truck the dirt to the garden we spent last week weeding it. Not fun. Lots of bending over and pulling. Then there will be the physical labour of shovelling the dirt into the yard cart, towing it back to the garden (using our fancy riding mower), shovelling it again onto the ground (load after load), then will come the rototilling, and somewhere in there…the manure!
The preparation process is long, and filled with sweaty days that don’t seem to do very much to advance the project but in reality do a lot. Sometimes the work comes fast and furious, and other times there are just little bits and pieces to do. And then, in due course, we get to do the planting and watering, and eventually we start to enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of our labours.
Faith United is in the midst of face-to-face visioning conversations, and written surveys. It’s all part of a process to describe the context and ministry of this church in order to seek out your next minister. My retirement announcement dumped a giant mound of dirt on your driveway. Since then it’s been weeding and preparing, and this week you’re finally getting to shovel the dirt! (And maybe some manure? Haha!) Some of this work is joyous, and some of it can feel like heavy lifting, but it all works together to eventually produce new fruit, and new ministry.
Like vegetables, the process doesn’t happen overnight. It takes months of labouring, tending, and nurturing. Producing a good product takes time (but hopefully not asparagus time). As I left the church on Sunday, 45ish folks were gathering for deep conversations about hopes, and dreams, and visions for Faith’s future. The energy in the room was very positive. I knew that a good conversation was about to ensue. That’s because Faith is a great church, with much to celebrate, and much to look forward to. An online conversation happened last night, and tomorrow (Thursday) there is a final opportunity for an in-person visioning conversation at 1:00 pm. It’s all part of the process, and you are working it very well. I think it’s going to be a great growing season this year. Happy shovelling!