Spiritual Care Newsletter for

July

Devotion by Dorene Weinstein

I feel close to my grandmother in a garden and often wonder what she would think of

my efforts.

I don’t grow vegetables like she did. My garden is full of flowers. Lots of them.

I vowed to grow flowers after watching Gram buy seeds. There was lettuce, peas,

corn, cabbage, potatoes, beans, beets and the rest.

Gram would pause by the brightly colored flower packets and pull the packages off

Gramp would plow a section of land with the tractor. They would discuss in detail

how big this year’s plot would be compared to last year. It was always bigger.

The plot was a long way from the house, tucked between the gravel road and the

lane where their land came to a wide “V”.

Gram and I would walk down to the tidy rows in the cool of the morning carrying a

hoe, a beat-up bucket, a trowel and a piece of used cardboard. She wore a faded

house dress and scuffed black shoes with holes cut at the balls of the foot to ease

the pressure on her swollen bunions.

There we’d stay, bent over, pulling weeds until we were dripping with sweat and

grimy with dirt, our backs aching and tired with the sun high overhead in the

I was an easy grandchild. Spoke little, helped out, kept to myself, cleaned up after

myself.

My Gram and I were both quiet people. No conversation transpired between us

during the hours spent in the garden other than the occasional question from me

asking, “Is this a weed?”

She taught me a lot about gardening. Like if you can’t tell if it’s a weed or a desirable

plant, let it grow awhile, you’ll soon know.

Step carefully or you’ll ruin what you’ve been working hard to grow. Pull out invasive

weeds by the root.

Work hard early in the day while it’s still cool.

working in my garden. I remember her thick grey hair pulled into a knot at her neck,

her holey farm shoes and faded housedress.

When I’m at the garden store I remember her perusing the racks of flower seeds and

buy more seeds than necessary.

I remember her hands. Tan, coarse and veiny yet the skin, shiny and soft.

I'd say, “I want hands like yours, Gram," and she would laugh self-consciously and

say “why, for heaven’s sake? They’re all full of age spots and veiny.” Then she’d

give my shoulder a gentle squeeze.

“They’re so strong,” I’d say. But meant to say, they’re full of love and gentleness for

living things except my nine-year-old self was too embarrassed to say that to my

Group

By Dorene Weinstein

Helen Dice hunches over the

greeting card on the table in

front of her. Colorful

coordinating paper,

scissors and a jar of rubber

cement are spread out close

by.

She selects and discards a

Voila! A greeting card is

created.

The Recycled Card group

has been reconstructing

cards since 2001.

It all started when the

librarian asked if they would

be interested in making

cards. The money earned

would go to purchasing

you, graduation cards and

money holders,” says Dee

Rice, a member of the group

for 10 years.

It begins with gifted, free will

greeting cards, says Dice.

“Donated cards need to be

It can be a bit of job.

No sparkly or beribboned

cards make the cut, Dice

Next, they coordinate the

front with colored card stock,

choose a sticker or not and

decide on a new greeting.

“We use decorative scissors

to add a pretty edge,” Rice

explained.

The cards can be purchased

for $2 each at the OSL

Library.

through a stack of cards.

The group is looking for more

people to carry on the

tradition.

No experience is necessary,

veteran members will guide

you. Once you feel

comfortable with designing

cards you can take the

materials home, make cards

sorted through,” she says,

gesturing to several

cardboard boxes filled to

overflowing grouped at the

other end of the table.

It's a fun hobby, says Dice.

The comradery is enjoyable.

Best of all, “it gets the

creative juices flowing.”

Synod Assembly Wrap Up

Deb Ver Steeg from OSL won the beautiful quilt that was

raffled off at our Cameroon Project table.

The bishop is wearing one of the skirts we made from the

Examples of situations that Stephen Ministers are trained to serve:

· Grief

· Spiritual crisis

· Relocation or other life transition

If you are interested in becoming a Stephen Minister or would like to utilize a

Stephen Minister, please contact Pastor Tim or let the office staff know.

Make sure the church office has your correct address, email and phone

number. Let us know by calling 605-336-2942.

July Birthdays!