Sacred Soil Society
Care of our Church Grounds
The Sacred Soil Society was formed in late 2023 to provide an opportunity for parishioners to participate in the care and maintenance of the grounds of St James. We are set to begin 2025 well over “the curve” of what was needed to be accomplished to allow our campus to show forth the love we have for God’s gift of this place. The work is ongoing, however, as nature’s work is never done.
The SSS ended 2024 with 18 participants, all of whom were needed to fill the frequent workdays of 4-6 times/month. Two-hour stints scheduled on differing days and times and various tasks were accomplished each time. We lovingly pruned existing trees and shrubs, weeded, raked, mulched, groomed and cut back perennials, and relocated a significant number of plants to more favorable locations. We took care not to exhaust ourselves during the warmest months, but work was steady between March and mid-November.
Serving in this ministry does not require any special skills as we can teach one all that is needed to accomplish basic garden tasks. Participants can choose the day/times that work best for them; sometimes 3 work together, sometimes 7 or more. We understand that not everyone can do everything, so each of us does what we can as the tasks are made known. There is plenty to do to keep our grounds looking their best.
The SSS provides a unique opportunity to work alongside one another and to complete work needed with a sense of accomplishment. It’s fun and rewarding. If this sounds like service you might enjoy, or if you have questions, please drop me an email: pamelam1950@verizon.net We’d welcome your participation!

Fred Williams Meditation Garden
In Progress
We have almost reached the halfway mark for funding to develop this garden, thanks to so many of you who have generously contributed. We hope to begin the basic components this Fall as we work to improve the site, i.e. gathering and eliminating rocks and weeds (and more weeds), relocating a few perennials which remain and can be integrated into the garden or elsewhere on the SJ campus, and pruning some of the current trees, plants, etc.; soon a blank canvas will lay in wait for further development. The recent Eagle Scout project, developed by Sterett Prevost, provides a mulched walkway by which one can envision the permanent stone dust/slate pathway that will eventually take shape. If you haven’t visited this site, take time to do so. A small deck is scheduled for the next phase of this ES project will be built around mid-July. We received approval from the Town’s BAR earlier this week so that a zoning permit can now be acquired, and the ES project’s final stage scheduled. Gardens evolve, and this one is no different. As funds, resources (labor) and plans progress, we’ll keep you updated, so stand watch.....a future respite awaits us all! If you have questions or suggestions, please send them to Pamela McGraw, SSS Ministry Lead, at pamelam1950@verizon.net. You may make a contribution by placing a check in the offering plate, including a notation that it is a contribution to the FW Med Garden, use the QR code provided in the in the weekly bulletin and at the bulletin board in the Narthex, or click click HERE.
