|
Have you noticed the beautiful flowers and shrubbery in front of the East Falls Presbyterian Church on Vaux Street, this summer? A few years ago the church announced that it was developing and planning what has been called its “Renaissance Garden.” The original purpose of the garden was to reflect the re-birth of the spirit and ministry of the 152 year old church. Well, look at it now. It is in full bloom. The people of the church want their friends and neighbors to accept the garden as a symbol of several basic beliefs that they want to share with everyone. The hope of the church is that this eye catching flower display carries the church’s dreams of beauty, health and peace to its beloved community of East Falls. Look around and you will see an East Falls that is a neighborhood full of natural beauty. East Falls Presbyterian is greatly excited to join with and to applaud those many neighbors who have worked over the years to make our community, our homes, our parks and our institutions a reflection of the beauty of the earth that God created. The church hopes that its efforts add to the enjoyment of its many neighbors and friends. Beyond the really colorful flowers is a strong belief that beautifying includes insuring that our environment is protected and well preserved for the future. Therefore, East Falls Presbyterian, hoping to lead by example, is continuing to strengthen its “green” efforts. This year the church has asked that all un-needed paper (previously read notices, publications and church bulletins, etc.) be dropped, each week, in collection boxes in the church narthex. They will be recycled. Several blue recycle bins are being used to make sure the church participates in the single-stream recycling program recently announced in The Fallser. A new efficient heating system has cut the church’s use of natural gas. The church continues to take steps to divert water runoff into ground absorption instead of running down the street and into the river. In fact, the very same wall that has enabled the growth of the beautiful garden prevents water from eroding the soil and heading down Midvale Ave with the stormwater. The people who make up East Falls Presbyterian Church are trying to convey these ideas to the community, using its Renaissance Garden as a symbol. Our neighborhood is a reflection of all of us. The beauty of the flowers reminds us all that we can make living better by planting flowers, keeping up with our properties to the best of our individual abilities, and tending to our surroundings. Beyond that, we need to make our futures better by protecting our environment. The little things that each of us can do add up to a large improvement in preserving our precious earth. Finally, the way we live and interact with each other should reflect the beauty and peace that God’s good earth gives to us. Diverse flowers of all types, colors, shapes and sizes blend in a way that work together. Even the thorns and weeds of distrust and fear cannot interrupt that perfect harmony. Enjoy the garden and reflect on what it can say to us.
|
