The land yields its harvest;
​God, our God, blesses us.
                                                                        -Psalm 67:6 NIV

        March 2020 was  a challenging time to begin our Jubilee Gardening Project.  Due to the novel corona virus pandemic in-person church services at St. Andrew were suspended. An Ohio stay-at-home order was in force to contain the virus and to protect our most vulnerable neighbors. The St. Andrew/Advent Choice Pantry continued, with curb-side ordering and pick-up, but some of our most stalwart volunteers could not
be with  us, despite precautions, because it wasn't safe for them.  We had to find a new way to worship together, at a distance, so we were scrambling to learn how to create online worship via Facebook and YouTube that would communicate hope, satisfy our souls and give glory to God.  Still the sacred ground of St. Andrew beckoned to us. The dream of growing food together on church property, long fallow, and sharing it with our neighbors through  our choice pantry was a God-inspired dream that just couldn't wait.
So, we forged ahead in, albeit, a small way, and  created a raised bed garden that will serve as a foundation for the bounty to come.
        This first gardening season we glory in the miracle of  new growth and in our new found ability to feed our neighbors, body and soul, through the sharing of nutritious food.  With God's help we will harvest the garden this season, together, and prepare the ground for a new planting next spring, with more beds, an expanded volunteer base, and broader implementation of our food sharing ministry goals (see our outreach page for an overview of this ministry).  We look for our neighbors and friends from inside and outside the parish to join us in this endeavor. Together we will  grow food sustainably and in harmony nature,  thus  acknowledging our interdependence upon one another and everything that is. God, our ancient gardener, speaks to us  here; words of hope and new life for all  to share through the labor of our hands and hearts
​and the grace of our Creator.
The incarnate Word is still with  us, is still speaking, is present always,
yet leaves no sign but everything that is.  
                                         -Wendell Berry

Jubilee Garden Update! 
Our 2024 Jubilee Garden is growing strong!  This year we planted potatoes, sweet potatoes, peppers, beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs! Produce was given away our Food Pantry neighbors and to supplement our holiday Monday meals through the St. James Lunch Program.