Establishing “sacred space to nurture body, mind and spirit” wasn’t a priority for the Rev. Jeff and Becky Potter as they surveyed the dense forest beyond the rectory’s garden gate. It was 2016 and they had just arrived at the new church plant of St. Stephen, Maple.

Neglected for over a decade, the forest included dead trees that needed to be felled for safety reasons, and overgrowth that needed to be removed. The wildflowers could stay – snowdrops and blue Siberian squill, likely planted years earlier by the then incumbent and an avid gardener, the Rev. Dr. Ramsay Armitage.

During a clean-up day months later, the volunteers had a revelation. “We were all standing back there, and we started to realize just how much potential was held in that space” recalls Becky.

Plans unfolded. Karen Shea, the church’s pastor of outreach and a garden expert, created the master design. She laid surveyor flags where natural pathways and areas for worship, contemplation and a workable garden were envisioned. She was careful to respect natural areas and the animals, insects and birds that had come to depend on the space.

Tieg Dawe, the sexton, built perimeter fencing and summoned heavy equipment to clear swaths, which were then covered with landscape fabric and topped with specialty mulch to support those with mobility issues. A carpenter by trade, Tieg designed and constructed a raised platform with overhead pergola, slant-backed benches, a gabled pavilion sheltering one of two 18-foot tables and planter boxes.

Once complete, we were anxious to share our beautiful new garden, and word spread that there was fun to be had at the Saturday morning program, welcoming local children and parents, rain or shine. From planting vegetables to building bat barns and garden crafts, there was something for everyone. Neighbours often dropped by, coffee cup in hand, to check out the action and learn about bee-keeping, storybook illustration and earthworm husbandry.

Another blessing, weather permitting, was praising God in the garden, thanks to a portable keyboard and sound system powered by lengths of extension cord. As often as possible, we held weekly church dinners in the garden too, because food always tasted better there.

Summertime found us inviting community members into our space for annual fairs and music concerts. Gracing our worship stage was local, world-renowned Celtic guitarist Tony McManus. There was nothing like being serenaded on a balmy evening in the open air under the stars.

If it’s true that “you reap what you sow,” then it’s not at all surprising that St. Stephen’s has been literally showered with blessings from our hallowed garden space. Naturally, all this came to a screeching halt last spring, when restrictions sadly shut our community garden gates to any type or size of parish or public gatherings. And so it remains.

The invaluable handful of committed volunteers have continued diligently tending, watering and weeding since then. It’s amazing how quickly nature attempts to reclaim itself and take back the established garden space for its own when unused for long periods. And wildlife abounds!

Perhaps it’s time to turn some patch of ground laying fallow into your very own church community garden. Masters of their respective crafts, Karen and Tieg are available to offer sage advice and can be reached at St. Stephen’s.

The Rev. Jeff and Becky Potter now minister in the Diocese of Niagara.

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Logistically, the worship space within the quaint, albeit tiny, 125-year-old building was deemed unsuitable for any in-person worship back in September, so the doors remained bolted, leaving only a Zoom option for weekly devotion and fellowship.

But, in November, a small team of creative and energetic “elves” was assembled – bound and determined to spread as much good Christian cheer, inside and outside, as was humanly possible, given COVID-19 circumstances.

Physically distanced (and appropriately masked!), they set to decorating every nook and cranny of the silent and locked church sanctuary, first in Advent blue and then again for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in brilliant reds. They also decorated the “Lady Chapel,” the welcoming interim backdrop for the weekly online livestream, which was set up in the cozy front parlor of the rectory next door to the church.

The spirit of the season was captured in photographs of familiar spots inside the beloved sanctuary – including the bowed leaded glass windows in the entranceway, weathered window-sills and the well-worn manger scene, lovingly arranged on burlap in front of the altar. These still images were then integrated into online Sunday services, shown during hymns and periods of reflection, to help everyone place themselves virtually in its enchanting midst and to spark joyous recollections of holidays past.

When the full-blown re-enactment of the annual pageant wasn’t possible on Christmas Eve, Karen Shea, the Pastor of Outreach, resorted to the next best thing, directing a group of St. Stephen’s youth to verbally recreate the story of Jesus’ birth, while live on camera and in full costume.

Committed to serve the community with open hearts and minds, St. Stephen’s outreach ministry has continued 24/7 since the beginning of the pandemic – a reminder to neighbours of a vibrant and ongoing presence. That, too, was given more than a bit of festive attention! The ever-popular outdoor freestanding food pantry lent itself perfectly to be transformed into a whimsical red-nosed Rudolph, the community dresser (containing suitable winter clothing for all ages) was garlanded and two festive mitten trees were added to the mix!

The piece de resistance? A simple, serene wooden creche scene, designed and erected on the church’s front lawn by Tieg Dawe, sexton and woodworker extraordinaire – a gentle reminder of the hope that Christ’s birth brought to a broken world.

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