 St Alban’s Episcopal Church Bolivar, Missouri Monday, January 23, 2023 Some news – some pictures Reflections on the weekend The tarp has been moved – the native wildflowers and grasses planted! It was cold last Saturday, but thanks to some of you, including a couple of teenagers, that massive tarp was removed, revealing empty, vegetation-less ground, on which seeds of native wildflowers and grasses were planted. Straw was spread over them to prevent them becoming breakfast, lunch and dinner for hungry birds!It took some doing to move the tarp to the next area where it was secured with sandbags, to await similar removal, movement, and planting next winter. Transforming the “back 40” into a native prairie ringed by native trees is a multi-year project – but slowly, slowly, it is happening. We saw so many of those little trees budding and growing all summer and fall – They look like bare sticks again now, but in springtime, they will green up and continue to grow and new flowers and grasses will sprout, too – To care for creation is part of what we can do, and that can serve as a model for other congregations, too. The diversity of plant life, the increasing diversity of animal life than can be supported in this way does matter. And it will be more beautiful every year – providing a peaceful habitat not only for wildlife, but for humans needing some peace and quiet, space to read or pray or think.Thanks to Gale Roberts for the vision, imagination, experience and ability to make this happen.   Hurry ruins gardens, too, and new prairies, and the growth of trees – What we are building externally on the land, and internally within our congregation and our selves, requires patience, and the slow passage of time. Arabella Hecht served as acolyte for the first time yesterday, carrying the Gospel book in procession, holding it for me as I read the Gospel, setting the table, pointing the text during the Eucharistic prayer. She will soon get her alb and look as much part of the worship leadership as she actually is. I am very proud of her. It was also Lindsey Walker’s first Sunday to be able to stand up beside me on a step stool. Now that she’s become two, she doesn’t want to be held, anymore, but still wants to be close and to see what is happening. Any young people, boys or girls, who wish to participate in worship as acolytes, readers, crucifers, musicians, sacristans, or ushers, simply let Mother Cathy know.    |
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