| The Garden as Sacred Space |
Mon, 09 January 2012 14:12  |
 jwpratt
Messages: 15
Registered: January 2012
Location: Wake Forest, NC |
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It was a delight to write this article for Ministry & Liturgy. My initial title was "The Garden as Sacred Liturgical Space" because I believe that much of our worship ritual lends itself to outdoor settings, particulaly a prayer garden setting. With an undergraduate degree in Landscape Architecture I was fortunate to be able to design several prayer gardens prior to my entering pastoral ministry and completing a theological studies degree. My thesis focused on prayer gardens in various world's religions. I hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and I do welcome your comments.
[Updated on: Mon, 09 January 2012 14:13]
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| Re: The Garden as Sacred Space |
Wed, 11 January 2012 00:00  |
bethchristal
Messages: 1
Registered: January 2012
Location: Buda |
Junior Member |
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It was good reading about your Garden as Sacred Space...It would be more delightful if you could post some your work on prayer gardens...
[Updated on: Tue, 31 January 2012 11:28] by Moderator
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| Re: The Garden as Sacred Space |
Wed, 11 January 2012 11:46 |
Anne
Messages: 3816
Registered: April 2004 |
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Both hospitals in my area have interfaith "peace" gardens located not far from the chapel. I found God, peace and relaxation during a time of stress when a relative was seriously ill. The gardens, of course, are closed during the harsh New England winters.
Have you ever incorporated a labyrinth into a garden area? I have only seen one and it was temporary.
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| Re: The Garden as Sacred Space |
Wed, 11 January 2012 13:12 |
jwpratt
Messages: 15
Registered: January 2012
Location: Wake Forest, NC |
Junior Member |
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Anne - no, I haven't had the opportunity to employ a labyrinth in a garden design as yet. A local church (Baptist) here in North Carolina has just installed one and I'm anxious to see the completed project. I'm glad to hear you found comfort at the hospital gardens. I'm also looking into researching gardens at hospice facilities. Blessings!
[Updated on: Wed, 11 January 2012 13:14]
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| Re: The Garden as Sacred Space |
Sat, 14 January 2012 17:03 |
jwpratt
Messages: 15
Registered: January 2012
Location: Wake Forest, NC |
Junior Member |
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Anne, thank you for the info on John the Gardener, and what a joy to receive it on his special day. Great info.
[Updated on: Sat, 14 January 2012 17:03]
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| Re: The Garden as Sacred Space |
Thu, 19 January 2012 10:51 |
jwpratt
Messages: 15
Registered: January 2012
Location: Wake Forest, NC |
Junior Member |
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My Heart Is Like A Garden
Kris Kearns has a song titled, "My Heart is Like A Garden." This song title got me thinking about the image of a garden. Gardens are full of crops, weeds, and insects. Life is also a mixed bag of productivity, and requires doing battle with those forces that want to limit productivity. If you stop weeding, the weeds will get a jump on you and soon take over. Just visualize one of our roadsides covered with the Kudzu vine. If you stop watering, the sun will soon dry everything up. If you do not harvest at the right moment, the moment is soon gone and with it the produce of your labors. God wants to give us the attention we need to go forward in life and in ministry. The Holy Spirit is at work among us and is showing us where we need to focus our attention so that we can work with God to cultivate our lives and produce a more abundant harvest.
First, the Holy Spirit is showing us where we are producing. "Look," says the Spirit, "at the crop that is ripe. Harvest in yourself the crop that has been made ready." Are you in touch with your fruitful side these days? I am fully convinced that the Holy Spirit of God works on the principle of building on our strengths. Celebrating your fruitful side creates a thankful heart. And gratitude is the fertilizer that makes life sprout and blossom.
Weeds and insects cannot be ignored either. The second way in which the Spirit is at work in our lives is by showing us the roots of bitterness we are planting and growing. Some of us may be embittered that we never get the recognition we want. We are developing a weed bed of resentment to others who always seem to be in the limelight. Others of us have no problem with resentment, but may be bitter towards life itself. We are hurting and our life is seasoned with the bitter herbs of disappointment, discouragement or dejection. The Spirit is working in s to uproot these weeds that threaten to overtake the entire garden. Taking care of the weeds means to pull them out of the soil roots and all. For us, this translates into letting go of resentments, bitterness and pain. Just as all gardeners know that weeding is an endless task, we must also not give up too soon on uprooting these threats to the productivity of our lives. Our hearts are truly like a garden; may they blossom and grow as the Holy Spirit cultivates our hearts for God.
The LORD will guide you continually,
And satisfy your soul in drought,
And strengthen your bones;
You shall be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail.
Isaiah 58:11
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| Re: The Garden as Sacred Space |
Tue, 31 January 2012 02:54 |
Augsburg Boy
Messages: 2061
Registered: May 2006
Location: Boston |
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Thanks for the article, and the thoughtful quotes. It gives me some ideas for this Spring. 
For some of us in New England, and especially Boston, who DO NOT run the Marathon each Patriot's Day (April 16th this year ), we use the holiday to start planting around the church.
Coupled with the following Sunday, Apr 22, besides being Easter III, it is Earth Day, I think we shall try to get more people involved this year in cleaning up and planting our urban congregation in anticipation for the really warm days!
Thanks for the inspiration. Oh yeah, I simply downloaded that edition and got Part 1 of the article.
Randy
"The Lord so loved the world that He did not send a committee."
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| Re: The Garden as Sacred Space |
Tue, 31 January 2012 04:00 |
jwpratt
Messages: 15
Registered: January 2012
Location: Wake Forest, NC |
Junior Member |
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Augsburg Boy - so glad you enjoyed the article. It was like trying to cram a book into a feature article, however. Keep me posted on how your plans work out. Wayne
[Updated on: Tue, 31 January 2012 04:01]
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| Re: The Garden as Sacred Space |
Tue, 07 February 2012 04:28 |
jwpratt
Messages: 15
Registered: January 2012
Location: Wake Forest, NC |
Junior Member |
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jessicalans - you are so right. a fruit tree is a wonderful example of the new life that is born in the garden after a time of dormance. they are a great metaphor describing life after death. JWP
[Updated on: Tue, 07 February 2012 04:29]
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| Re: The Garden as Sacred Space |
Wed, 15 February 2012 15:11 |
Anne
Messages: 3816
Registered: April 2004 |
Senior Member |
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Wishing you much success with this book! I'm sure people of many faiths will benefit.
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| Re: The Garden as Sacred Space |
Sun, 19 February 2012 04:45 |
jwpratt
Messages: 15
Registered: January 2012
Location: Wake Forest, NC |
Junior Member |
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Wanted to share a prayer-poem from my first book, "Sanctuary: Prayers from the Garden."
Labyrinth
Around and around the labyrinth winds
each turn filled with mystery and reverence
its path leading to a pivotal center -- paradise -
a center that gives memory to the soul.
Lead me, O God, through the labyrinth of this garden
and through the labyrinth of life - to its center -
to discover wisdom and knowledge;
to discover strength and encourgement;
to discover refreshment and purification;
to discover honest love and caring;
to discover a new heaven and earth.
Let me walk the paths in each new direction, Lord,
North, South, East, and West -
so the journey would form a cross
and then retun me to the center
where I may truly discover the Christ.
[Updated on: Sun, 19 February 2012 04:46]
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