We've moved from summer to fall to late fall. The contents of the produce boxes has begun the slow shift to winter crops. This week there was more lettuce and less basil. More turnips and less tomatoes. The crops growing in our urban sanctuary reflect that same change. A lot more green, and more growth happening underground rather than on vines.  There is a transformation that happens through that natural world. God's creation which at times seems magical. When I live in Mich

The rain this past week was welcome even if it kept us from gathering in the garden. We are grateful for the change in weather reminding us of the seasons of our year. Last week Peter reported that hen egg production at the feed and be fed farm space is down due to the shorter days and cooler weather. Plants and animals all take their cues from the change in season. Light and weather patterns remind them that ti's time to behave differently. For us in the church, shorter days

A living parable of life at the Garden Church, is the composting that takes place at an ongoing pace near the back fence. The smells of rotting of fruit and plant materials, the flies, are also creating magic in the form of new soil. And this process of breaking materials down to create something new also brings in the local community. On Friday I will see Alex, Liz, and often Christine diligently going about their incredible work of creating something new out of what otherwi

This past weekend many in our community has a first day of the month unlike any other, their was no replenishment of funds on their EBT cards. These cards are part of the CalFresh (Nationally known as SNAP) food assistance program. Needless to say anxiety around food insecurity has been very high since Saturday. At church on Sunday we heard from several people who were concerned by not knowing if and when they would receive their benefits. Thankfully we had just received a ge

The red brick wall in the garden is once again filled with names in chalk. They are the names of those who have gone to be with the Lord. On Sunday they were prayed for one by one carefully by Dr. Linda O'Brien-Rothe and Sandra Field. This week and for the next year we as a church community will pray for all who have died including a member of our own community Maria who passed from this life to more life on New Year's Day. The annual Día de Los Muertos (or day of the dead) i

Most years in late October our regular Sunday routine is pre-empted by a large gathering (by large I mean 10,000 people!) in downtown San Pedro. Our city blocks are overtaken by community members celebrating the annual Day of the Dead or Día de Los Muertos . It's an international holiday which is traditionally celbrated in the days following Halloween around All Saint's Day, but in LA tends to span several weekends in late October. Traditionally the holiday is for prayer and

With the rain this week, cooler temperatures and the shorter days, it is finally feeling like fall here in Southern California. With our government still shutdown, a Kaiser Permanente strike, and all the other things happening in our communities and around the world, there is no doubt that we are all experiencing challenging times. Our fall sermon series theme is Faith Over Fear and part of our faith journey is to simply recognize when we are feeling fear and to try to let go

This weekend is a special one in San Pedro. At Angeles Gate Cultural Center there is the 19th annual Many Winter's Gathering of Elders....

Fall is underway which looks like less daylight, and butternut squash busting off the vines. This fall has also brought the uncertainty...

We are in the midst of the Fall Sermon Series: Faith Over Fear but we took a break last Sunday to appreciate the Sun on the Autumnal...

Summer has begun slipping into Fall. We have just begun to have some cooler mornings, and the bright sunshine is tempered by costal...

In recent weeks the summer weather has been heating up. While it hasn't been our hottest summer we did finally hit morning temperatures...

The summer heat has turned up in the garden. We are keeping an eye on the temperatures to make sure our volunteers are safe on hot days....

I don't remember when I was introduced to the concept that some people are "makers/" But the term has stuck with me. I think it was a...

Summertime in the garden is always full. From tomato vines heavy with fruit to lively 1st Thursdays. This past 1st Thursday we had a...

This Sunday we are welcoming our Student Pastor Tirah Keal to the pulpit! Tirah Echols Keal is a 5th generation Swedenborgian minister’s...

This Sunday we are blessed to welcome back Honorably Retired Garden Church Pastor Rev. Dr. Jonathan Mitchell.  Rev. Jonathan grew up...

When in The Garden, do you notice the many baskets on the table by the blue wall? Many people use them for holding all sorts of things....

The bounty of produce from the garden continues to be inspiring along with all the busy volunteers helping to make everything run...