6 Arou6nd Our Diocese

Seminarian Tea

By Hannah Miller

Ramona Church Creates

Organic Garden for Comunity

By Theresa Tynan and Hannah Miller

The Seminarian Tea at St. Dunstan’s raised

funds to support our seminarians. Hosted by the Episcopal Church Women, the tea was entirely organized by volunteers who donated their best china and linens.

This spring’s Seminarian Tea raised approximately $1,300 and was hosted by the Episcopal Church Women at St. Dunstan’s in San Diego. Thirteen women brought their best china and crystal to set thirteen individual tables for the tea, which raises money for diocesan

“They really put their heart and soul into it.”

seminarians. “It’s really lovely when you see it all laid out,” said Pat Morrison, chairwoman of the tea. The Rev. Canon Jenny Vervynck presented slides and information about our seminarians. Volunteers from St. Dunstan’s congregation spent days baking and cleaning in preparation for this annual event. “They really put their heart and soul into it,” said Mrs. Morrison. X

Refugee Network Honored for

Literacy Work

By John McLevie

Theresa Tynan is a mortgage banker who attends St. Mary’s in Ramona. She heard a story on National Public Radio about turning one’s backyard into a grocery store. Acting on the inspiration from the radio program, she shared the idea with the congregation and bishop’s committee. Together the people of St. Mary’s decided to create a community garden on some vacant land adjacent to the church’s facilities. The people of St. Mary’s found the funds to make the necessary land improvements, and turn the vision into reality.

St. Mary’s named the garden “The Labyrinth: a Garden for Ramona,” a title which indicates the spiritual and practical combination enlivened by the garden.

“We hope to provide a safe area for those wanting to build relationships.”

The business plan states, “in addition to providing Ramona residents with a place to grow organic fruits and vegetables we will provide classes on composting, how to set-up drip or micro irrigation, and how to use organic fertilizer to grow strong healthy plants. We would also like to encourage the gardeners to share some of their garden grown food at a Fall Harvest Festival. We propose to incorporate a Labyrinth into the Garden in order to integrate an element of quiet refl ection into the project as well.”

Completely organic, the garden operates under a “no-waste” rule. This means that all excess food grown in the garden must be donated to those who are less fortunate. The garden is open from dawn until dusk and boasts a worm farm, a compost pile and a master gardener who gives free classes on gardening.

“The Labyrinth: A Garden For Ramona

will provide a visible and tangible

years ago. Refugee children were, and are, placed in classrooms by age and usually understand little the teacher says and cannot read their textbooks. Mrs. Moores, an English teacher by occupation, arranged for paid and volunteer tutors to work with the children to improve their comprehension.

During the past year, the Refugee Network has replicated Mrs.

Academic Success is Great!

Sudanese refugee students who work with the Refugee Network at The Learning Center in North Park. The Network recently received a prestigious award for its literacy work with refugees. The Network is looking for volunteers and supporters to continueits life-changing ministry.

In May the Reading Association honored our diocesan Refugee Network by awarding it the “Celebrate Literacy Award.” The award recognizes organizations that make signifi cant literacy contributions. Mrs. Molly Moores and her sister-in-law, Becky Moores, developed a literacy and math tutoring program for Sudanese students four

Moores’ program with refugee children from Myanmar. Mrs. Marilyn Nahas, parishioner at St. Paul’s Cathedral, directed the tutoring program.

Our tutoring program, taught at St. Mark's City Heights, has 48 students and another 30 on a waiting list. These students come straight from refugee camps where they were escaping genocide.

The Refugee Network needs support to continue this transformational work. Please contact John McLevie to get involved or for more information: jmclevie@aol.com, 760-492-4813. X

The Rev. Paige

Blair is the new rector at St. Peter’s, Del Mar.

Bless These Crops:

The congregation of St. Mary’s mills about as they prepare to bless “The Labyrinth: A Garden for Ramona” during Bishop Mathes’ visitation in May.

Background Photo: The garden populated by members of the San Diego Master Gardeners Association; the association provided a $795 grant for fencing materials.

avenue for Saint Mary’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church and San Diego Master Gardener Carin Bunney to give back to the community of Ramona in a way that encourages people to help themselves. The Garden will support our efforts to help provide for those in need while providing educational opportunities on how to grow and sustain an organic garden. We hope through our efforts to provide a safe area for those wanting to build relationships.”

Located on two acres of land adjacent to the sanctuary, the garden is made up of about 100 plots. Each plot measures ten-by-fi fteen feet, comes with seeds and water and costs $65 for one year.

A sponsorship program allowed St. Mary’s to give plots to those who cannot afford the annual fee.

If you’re interested in learning more, contact Theresa Tynan: ramonacommunitygarden@ gmail.com, 760-787-0111. X

New Clergy

St. Peter’s, Del Mar welcomes their new rector, the Rev. Paige Blair. She hails from St. George’s, York Harbor, Maine, where she was the rector for almost nine years. With the people of that congregation, she launched the U2charist, which has become an international phenomenon.

“I was drawn to St. Peter's because of their passion for discipleship, their love of prayer and their love of active ministry to their neighbors near and far,” said the Rev. Blair. “The ministry to the local homeless, developed during their inteirm period, was what made me fall head over heels for them!”

Passionate about baptismal ministry in daily life, the Rev. Blair says, “It's such a joy to be present with people as they discern their gifts.” X Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8