June 2026
“Faith Like a Summer Garden”
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.
So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
(1 Corinthians 3:6-7)
Every spring, I am still unsure when it is the right time to start gardening, even though I have lived in Wisconsin since 2019. I often ask several people if it is time yet. People say, “If the cornfields begin to be worked, it is time for gardening.” Finally, I saw the cornfields around my parsonage begin to be worked, and I also began working in my garden—pulling out weeds, preparing the soil, and planting seeds.
Nowadays, I often find myself spending time in my garden. Because I planted seeds a few weeks ago, I go out each morning and evening to water them and check for new growth. At first, it can feel a little disappointing—day after day, nothing seems to appear above the soil. But I am learning something important through this slow process: growth is happening even when I cannot see it.
Time feels very different in the garden. In daily life, everything seems to move quickly. But in the garden, time feels slow, almost quiet. It teaches me patience. It reminds me that life is not only about what is visible, but also about what is happening beneath the surface.
The Apostle Paul writes, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6). This verse speaks deeply to me, especially in this season of ministry.
Our Parish began Vacation Bible School in 2023. This summer will be the fourth year we gather children to hear the Word of God, to sing, to learn, and to experience God’s love in community. We are thankful for all the children who have come, for all the volunteers who have served, and for all the moments of joy we have shared together. With God’s grace, we will hold our fourth Vacation Bible School.
As we prepare for this year’s VBS, I invite you to join this ministry in whatever way you are able. Some may serve as volunteers, some may support through donations, and others may hold this ministry in prayer. Even your presence, encouragement, and faithful support make a difference. Together, let us continue planting seeds of faith in the lives of our children, trusting that God will bring the growth in His time.
And yet, if I am honest, there are times it may feel like the fruits are not yet fully visible. We wonder what lasting impact we have made. We wonder how deeply these seeds of faith are taking root in young hearts.
Still, like my garden, I believe God is at work beneath the surface. This June, as we prepare for Vacation Bible School to start on July 15, we enter an important season of planting. We are recruiting volunteers, training leaders, collecting donations, and preparing materials. These may seem like simple tasks, but they are part of God’s sacred work of planting seeds of faith in the next generation.
Not every seed grows quickly. Not every fruit appears in its season. But God is faithful in the growth we cannot yet see. So we continue to plant. We continue to water. We continue to serve with love and hope. And we trust that in God’s time, the seeds we plant today will become a harvest of faith tomorrow.
Blessings,
Pastor Jenny