Gardening Camp & Summer Fun! (photos)

"Gardening camp at New Life was a chance for children to engage with the God they already know in nature. They learned about the birds that share our sacred outdoor church space with us, they planted vegetable seeds and transplants and learned to tend them. The vegetables will be shared with our neighbors through local food pantries, so we had the opportunity to connect working with the earth to our Christian values and stories of sharing, growing, and pruning (we used the story of the child sharing their lunch to help feed the 5,000 for instance, and the stories of Zacchaeus and the Parable of the Sower, and Psalm 139). Adults shared their knowledge of birds and gardens and yoga, and natural crafts, and children shared their knowledge of the God they know in playing outside." -- Rev. Carmen Retzlaff

Click the right hand side of gallery to advance photos: 

New Life Lutheran Church is an innovative congregation in Dripping Springs, TX., worshipping outdoors in their Oak Tree and Tent Sanctuaries on 12 acres of protected Hill Country lands. This Evangelical Lutheran community seeks to deepen its relationship with God by serving their community, worshiping with nature, and valuing children. Pastor Carmen Retzlaff, a member of the AllCreation team, wrote a beautiful piece last month on the importance of Godly Play. Here are photos from some of their summer activities this year. See more on their Facebook page. 

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