by Lois Pallmeyer
The rain garden on the north side of our property has been absolutely bursting with monarch butterflies for the past few weeks. Two Sundays ago, they stopped me in my tracks as I was leaving church, and reminded me of how we are rooted in such amazing generosity when we come to worship.
Generations of faithful members of this congregation have lovingly given to build this church and to provide for its leaders and ministries. In the past few years, new gifts have allowed us to repair the building’s foundation and roof, and to rebuild the parking lot and grounds. A special grant from the Ramsey County Soil and Water Conservation District in 2016 allowed us to create these rain gardens with natural attractions for pollinators and butterflies. Along the way, faithful servants have given their time, their talent, and their faithful service to care for and maintain the goodness of our work together.
The result of all of this generosity is a lovely facility surrounded by a gracious and beautiful landscape, inviting me, and the monarchs, to enjoy God’s goodness. Of course all of this is ultimately a gift of God’s amazing grace, which roots not just the Liatrice and the Cardinal Flowers, but all of God’s people in generosity. What a gift!
Rooted in Generosity is the theme of this year’s Stewardship Campaign. It is one of the guiding principles adopted by Gloria Dei as we renew our commitment to being “Rooted in Christ through worship with meaning and relevance”.
