The colors of high summer’s blooming are fading, and the Monarchs will be headed south in a few weeks. But the beautiful evidence of a season of fruitfulness is still with us. How fortunate we have been to bear witness to it again. Northern Illinois Food Bank You can currently support the Northern Illinois Food […]
You may remember that back on June 9 when Lars was confirmed he had gladiolus bulbs for everyone. They were a thank you to the congregation for our accompaniment with him during his confirmation year and also a reminder of the growth that confirmation represents. Marlo and Wilma planted some of the leftover bulbs in […]
Morning glories in a succession of one-day blooms remind us of the enoughness and beauty of each day. They are in rich array right now on the chain link fence separating parsonage and cemetery. August Intergenerational Labyrinth Walk – August 25 Many spiritual practices are not word-based. The labyrinth is one of them. It is […]
Toward the end of an early morning walk, I found myself drawn to a small boat in a harbor full of large and beautiful vessels. The picture that formed around it brought to mind these words of William Butler Yeats: “We can make our minds so like still water that beings gather around us that […]
Whether it is a single bloom or one of many, a young bloom or one getting close to just the seeds and no more petals, purple cone flowers offer consistent beauty on the prairie throughout the growing season. A Heartfelt Thanks A heartfelt thanks is extended to the Robs, who back in the depths of […]
Labor of Love Join Us to Walk This Sunday – Intergenerational Labyrinth Walk Our next Intergenerational labyrinth walk is this Sunday, July 21, at 9 am. The walk will have a healing emphasis. People of all ages, those who have walked before and those who have not, are invited to join us in this very […]
The Monarch Waystation: The Gravel Garden: During the growing season there is considerable outdoor work around Mayfield. Diana and Sue, with periodic volunteers, head up the weekly gardening in the Waystation. Marlo and Wilma are persistent in their determination to create beauty in the gravely earth at the south end of the parking lot. Peggy […]
There is quite a bit of famous public art in Chicago including works by Chagall, Miro, and Picasso. The work above is not famous but it seems so appropriate for this July 4th holiday time. It is painted on the Melrose side of Nettelhorst School (Chicago Public Schools) in the East Lakeview neighborhood of the city. […]
The purple cone flower is one of the most iconic prairie blooms. Wander into the Monarch Waystation and see what else is in bloom too. There are name plates throughout that let you know what you are looking at. And take a moment to sit on our sturdy and beautiful new recycled benches. Thank you […]
BEFORE: AFTER: A year and a half after we collected our first plastic caps, hundreds of pounds of plastic have been converted into three plastic benches for the Monarch Waystation. They will be so beautiful and functional in the years ahead. One of them will be featured in the Children’s Moment on Sunday. Thank you […]