So pleased to see the amazing team behind the All Saint’s Church food bank and community garden getting a shout-out from Elizabeth Roy, Mayor of the Town of Whitby, in recognition of Community Builders who make Whitby proud. Here’s what Mayor Roy had to say:

See the full article in the Mayor’s Monthly Newsletter at http://whitby.ca/en/news/mayor-s-monthly-newsletter-august-2024.aspx#Were-proud-of-these-Whitby-Community-Builders

Thanks to all who contribute efforts & donations to the foodbank and garden not only to help those in need, but to make our ministries a place the whole of Whitby can be proud of!

by Father Geoff Lloyd

October 10, 2024

Paulinus, First Bishop of York

I first came across Paulinus when I was ordained at Rochester Cathedral in Kent in the UK. I discovered his name among the list of Bishops in the Cathedral with his mask and name etched in brass. I found it comforting to know that I was as much a part of the Cathedral history across the centuries with people like Paulinus.

He was born in Italy in the latter part of the sixth century and was among the second group of monks sent by Pope Gregory to assist Augustine in his work. He went with the party that accompanied Ethelburga to Northumbria, in the very far north of England, where she was to marry the king, Edwin, who subsequently took his wife’s Christian faith as his own.

Paulinus built the first church in York in about the year 627 and was its first bishop. He travelled all over the north of England, building churches and baptizing new Christians. He had to flee for his life, however, when Edwin was killed in battle by the pagan king, Penda of Mercia, and made his retreat to Rochester where he was made Bishop.

He died on this day in Rochester in the year 644.

Prayer
God our Saviour, who sent Paulinus to preach and to baptize, and so build up your Church: grant that, inspired by his example, we may tell the world of your truth, that with him we may receive the reward you prepare for all your faithful servants; through Jesus Christ your Son Our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

See Mayor Roy’s recognition of the foodbank and garden as a “community builder” that she and Whitby can be proud of!
CLICK HERE

See below for the images of activity in the garden in the 2023 season.
Photo credit: volunteer and photographer, Kyle Mann.

A bounty of tomatoes for the foodbank.

A new crop this year is kohlrabi.

The cucumbers are just getting started.

2nd crop of radishes benefitting from the rain.

Three Sisters garden of corn, beans & squash.

Thank you to our volunteers

Kyle Mann, gardener/photograher

See how our garden has grown with the past news and images …

Approaching the Final Harvest Video (September 8, 2021):

Other News:

We were so pleased that the All Saints Community Garden was featured in the Summer, 2021 issue of Dig This, a publication of the Durham Integrated Growers.

Garden Facts:

• Growing Surface Area = 400 Square Feet
• Soil and Compost delivered and transferred = 16 cubic yards
• Volunteer hours to prepare beds and complete planting = 65 hours
• Number of different types of vegetables and herbs planted = 20
• Number of tomato varieties = 6
• Monetary value of raised boxes = $1550
• Surface area of landscape fabric = 300 square feet

Garden Spring Video (updated June 12):

Blessing of the Garden:

Eternal Father, maker of heaven and earth, we bless you and give you glory for all the gifts you have given us. Receive all we offer you this day. Bless these seeds, and make them fruitful. Look upon our work this season, and grant that the seeds we plant will produce plentiful crops, providing food and work for many. In your love, give us favorable weather throughout this growing season. Make us truly grateful for all our gifts, and willing to share our goods and talents with others, especially those without adequate food. All praise and glory are yours, almighty Father, through your Son Jesus Christ, In the unity of the Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Gospel stories may skip over much of the time between his birth and adult life, but even Jesus was a teenager once. He knew what it was like to have outgrown childish things but not yet be fully grown. It’s a period where you need guidance and support to become who you’re truly meant to be. That’s what we try to provide in our Youth Group, which has been meeting on a monthly basis for about two years since it began on Zoom during the pandemic.

We spend a lot of our time talking, and eating, just like Jesus and his disciples did. We also deepen our faith by reading Gospels and bringing some of its themes to life through games and activities that get everyone moving. We aren’t afraid to act silly occasionally. We laugh — a lot.

And of course we pray, and try to remind our teens that even in a world when they might occasionally feel alone, God is there listening and working through them.

There are about a dozen of us and we’re always open to new members aged 12 or older, and we’re excited to continue integrating our teens with other ministries and the parish community as a whole. For more information, let the office know you’re interested in connecting with leader,  Shane or Blake. .