On June 23, Christ Church, Deer Park celebrated National Indigenous Day of Prayer, followed by the blessing of its new pollinator garden. The garden was planned and planted by parishioners with the support of Donna Lang, Toronto coordinator for Faith & the Common Good. This is the 20th faith community pollinator garden Ms. Lang has helped to create in Toronto through Faith & the Common Good.
Immediately after the 10:30 service, clergy and parishioners processed out to the garden plot while singing “All Things Bright and Beautiful.” Parishioner Brad Lennon spoke about how the pollinator garden project took shape. Elin Goulden, diocesan Social Justice & Advocacy consultant, gave a brief reflection on Job 12:7-10, in which we are urged to learn from the animals, the birds, the plants of the earth and the fish of the sea. Indigenous teachers and elders also speak of the importance of learning from Creation. By listening to Creation, we have begun to recover an understanding of the importance of pollinator species and the native plants that support them.
The blessing continued with the symbolic planting of a New England aster by Donna Lang and prayers led the Rev. Dr. Stephen Drakeford, interim priest-in-charge. At the conclusion of the prayers, the garden and those present were blessed and sprinkled with water by cedar boughs. Some native plant seedlings were also available in small pots for parishioners to take away and plant in their own gardens.
It was a joy and honour to stand with him