Giving Garden

It has been expressed to the staff and leadership that there are folks in the congregation who enjoyed volunteering with our food ministry during CoVid who wish that they had the opportunity to volunteer during the week on the campus of the church. As you know, we have many ways for that to happen but none of them are a response to hunger. With those thoughts in mind and the partnership with the Sustainability Alliance, the idea of a veggie garden kept bubbling up. I also knew that Mark Fowler and the youth were looking for a summer Sunday school project where our students could learn to use power tools that would help them attend the Spring Break mission each year. The idea for our “Giving Garden” was born with these things in mind. It checked the box of those who wished to volunteer during the week and those who are passionate about hunger alleviation. It was a great project for the kids to learn and it helps with sustainability. I also thought that it would be a great project for our Cub Scouts who often ask for little local projects to do.

I think that it is important to say that our volunteers who regularly help maintain the flower beds for the Tulsa church campus are NOT expected to take on the additional work of the Giving Garden. Debbie Bezan is our liaison between the Sustainability Alliance and has been guiding us with her knowledge of gardening. She also applied for a grant to help provide the resources to build the garden. I had no idea that a fall garden could be planted until she told me this was possible! We have also seen the Holy Spirit move in this project because we now have a ministry that desperately needs the fresh foods and have said that they would take all that we could provide. Best news, it is the Bixby Resource Center. So as we expand our ministry into the Bixby area, we will be making a difference in the lives of the people in that community with food.

Now it is time to ask if any of you would like to be on the “Giving Garden” team of volunteers. We need about six people who are willing to plant, maintain, harvest and clean the food to be delivered to the resource center. Of course, more volunteers and always welcome. I ask you to pray about serving in this significant way. Right now we have only created two planting beds so this is not an overwhelming prospect. Please let me or Debbie know if you are willing to work with us on this project of helping the most vulnerable have healthy food to eat.

THIS SUNDAY I invite you to wear blue in celebration of the Oklahoma City Thunder and their exceptional win of the NBA title. I hope to tie this unity of spirit to our sermon titled “We Need A Game Plan.” Then on August 10th, I invite you to wear a Faith event shirt. It could be something you attended, a way you volunteered or just wear blue again as our official church color. This is just for fun so no worries and no pressure if you don’t want to participate.

Have a great weekend! Love,