For the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it. 1 Corinthians 10:26
Let the heavens be glad and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar
and all that fills it; let the field exult and everything in it! Then shall
all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Psalm 96:11-12
The TLLC Care of Creation team participated in this year’s God’s Work Our Hands weekend by doing trail work one day and planting native pollinator-friendly plants the next.
Fourteen people gathered on Saturday morning to clean up the hiking trails behind the church. These trails wind among trees where birds, lizards, bees, butterflies, and other creatures make their home and provide a place for our members and neighbors to enjoy the amazing beauty of our natural world. While these trails are quite extraordinary, they do require maintenance to keep them cleared and clean.
The tasks on Saturday included clearing fallen trees and limbs from the trail, cutting them for firewood for Wednesday night services, picking up litter from the trails and creek bed, and marking turns in the trail with stones. As the group gathered, the team made a surprise discovery. One of the workers was a neighbor who saw the sign posted about the workday and wanted to help. He has used the trail for years to hike and exercise his dogs. The Care of Creation team had wondered who had been clearing fallen trees at times other than the designated work days. The mystery was finally solved – this man from the community with his chain saw in hand has quietly been supporting the upkeep of our trail. A true “Garden Angel”.
The workers headed into the woods with chain saws, saws, tree loppers, gloves, and litter bags. Blessed with beautiful weather to work – cooler morning temperatures and a little cloud cover – the team worked steadily to accomplish the day’s mission.
When the work was done, gathering for some cold drinks, the group reflected on their experiences. Caring for God’s creation reminded us of the expansiveness of God’s goodness and love. In the quiet of nature, we honor our Creator who sourced this majestic beauty. We find ourselves immersed in love that must be shared with each other, our community, and all that are part of this wide earth.
On Sunday morning, eight people gathered at Sabrina’s Hope Garden by the small playground to plant pollinator-friendly native plants and begin creating a “touch and feel” garden for the young children in our CDC. We learned that “pollinators are vital in the procreation of nearly 80% of the flowering plants on the planet” and “bring us nearly one of every three bites of food we eat! Yet worldwide there is disturbing evidence that pollinating animals have suffered from disease, parasites, pesticides, loss of habitat, and competition from non-native plant and animal species” (pollinator.org)
Our garden, located in the middle of the back parking lot, will continue to develop and will eventually be a teaching garden for our members, CDC families, and neighbors.