story by Jamilyn Cole | photos by Greg Campbell
Focus: I’m thrilled that we’re getting a chance to chat and to introduce you to the readers of Focus Magazine!
Pastor Monica: Thank you so very much for profiling Epiphany Lutheran Church! Hello to all the Focus readers out there!
Tell us more about the community garden, that’s not something that every church has! Why is this an important ministry? What happens to that 1400+ pounds of vegetables?
This is a way for us to give back to our community, and to demonstrate who we are as God’s people, by sharing what we’ve been given. Five years and 1400+ lbs of vegetables later, we’ve partnered with the Collierville Food Pantry to assist persons in our community who can’t afford fresh produce. All of the vegetables are donated: nothing goes into the mouths of Epiphany members! Our garden volunteers deliver produce fresh from the garden to the Collierville Food Pantry and Page Robbins Adult Day Center on a weekly basis.
Who works on the garden? How can we help support the community garden?
We have a team of garden ‘gurus’ who give their time and green thumbs to making this ministry a success. Most are Epiphany members, but we also have volunteers who belong to other area churches, or are unaffiliated. We would love for members of the community to give their time, talents or a donation to the garden: you don’t have to be a member of Epiphany to participate in feeding people.
One easy way to support the garden is to vote for our video entry for a Gannett Publishing ACT Wellness grant, we plan to use the grant to expand the garden and build a greenhouse to feed more people. Vote at http://act.usatoday. com/submit-an-idea/#/ gallery/60271805
If Focus readers are looking for a faith community, why would you encourage them to visit Epiphany?
First and foremost, Epiphany is a Christian congregation that actively welcomes all persons, regardless of how they identify themselves to the world. And it’s not only that we welcome all people: we accept them, without judgment or asking them to change to “be like us.” Jesus accepts all people, just the way they are, because everyone is created to be a unique, beloved child of God, and we put that into practice. Our diverse congregation includes persons who identify with a wide range of ethnic, racial, age and sexual characteristics. Our Director of Music/Artist in Residence, Jason Bell, is a fantastic musician, who with his partner Drew Spencer share their musical gifts, their ideas and their perspectives to the Epiphany faith community, to help us grow in faith and love toward each other.
The other thing that I think is so special about Epiphany is our ongoing support of outreach ministries. One of our members operates an addiction recovery program in the Klondike community, and Epiphany folks assist her with donated clothing, household items, and computer repairs. There are many service opportunities for those who can’t work in the Community Garden: making ‘seed tapes’ for planting; crocheting dishcloths for visitor bags; writing and sending greeting cards; and collecting canned food for the Collierville Food Pantry. These are just a few of the service and outreach projects we participate in!
What’s coming up for you and Epiphany Lutheran Church in the near future?
May 6th is our first annual Shrimp Boil & Worship service at the Garden, from 4-7pm.
Summer is of course our ‘busy’ season for the Community Garden; there are never enough volunteers to weed, water, fertilize, mow and harvest. We’ll be offering a monthly outdoor ‘worship at the Garden’ service with Holy Communion on the first Saturday of the month, 5pm, followed by fellowship.
This fall, we will host our annual Blessing of the Pets event on October 4th, St Francis of Assisi day, plus our “Brats & Hymns” cookout, to mark the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation.
Our calendar is jam-packed with activities and events, so it’s easiest to visit our website calendar, at www.epiphanylu. org. You can also send me a confidential prayer request, request a pastoral visit or conversation, or invite me to speak about our Garden, if that’s something your faith community is interested in starting.
