Grow through gardening week 1: Why does the Bible start with a garden?

Input included a scene from Over the Hedge where the animals meet "the hedge", a history of gardens in ancient times, guessing Opawa gardens, an interview with a flower grower, and a Biblical reflection on Genesis 2.

In table groups, people were then invited to consider:
As you listened tonight: Who is God? Caring overseer who wants to know what’s going on, like a gardener, the ultimate gardener/creator, a gardener that plants people into life, delighting in creating things for use as well as pleasure, a grower, the creator and plantet, the greatest gardener, the creator of the gardens

As you listened tonight: What is God doing in the world? Reigning, cultivating, people, pruning people, fertilizing, weeding, watching over us and hears who we are, watering, tending, shining sun, bringing joy, planting people, wanting to connect with us, ie "talking in the garden." You need to know what you are planting so the plant can fulfill its purpose. Opening doors. Planting His seeds of trust – pruning – fertilizing – testing – experimenting and His seeds of life, gardening.

HAs you listened tonight: How is God achieving this? Helping us to grow. Holidays, friends – different abilities – through creation itself – with great care and dedication. Allows us to grow amongst the weeds, providing an environment where we and things can grow. Romans 8; You need to know the plant to know optimum conditions for planting. Through people listening and acting. Getting people to think about ecology – growing their own food – becoming more self-sufficent – less farms – more food – spring clean – given out vege plants. Planting, pruning, weeding

As you listened tonight: Who are we? a garden fork – aerate the soil, loosen soil, so weeds can be pulled out, sulphate of potash – fertilizer – encouragement of growth. Also gardeners –the finest mudcake – future gardeners. Me a mudcake? A fertile soil or barren field. Matt Currie. We are (I am) gardener/s. A seed (flower, a weed, a thorn.

As you listened tonight: Where am I going? Visiting others’ gardens. Growing and changing. To bloom – to grow into best we can be (1st Cor 15). To Jesus. Hopefully towards growth. Gardeners plant in nice neat rows but life isn’t like that. To school and cookie time. Am going to: get supplies – weed – water – sow. Growing up.

As you listened tonight: How am I supposed to get there? Being sensitive by knowing where were needed. Planted. Don’t fight the gardener. By following Jesus. Thru being tendered, being careful about the inputs in my life. Until it flowers you don’t know if it stays true to type or if it has mutated. In my turbocharged pocket rocket. Nutrients, water, sun, photosynthesis and by being pruned.

As you listened tonight: how then should we live out our lives?? As a vine – being willing to be pruned, tended to nourished, watered and supported – willing to change direction if need be. Fruitfully. Gardening for living – we are not doing it! Difference between a grower and a gardener. Humbly, respectfully, happily, loving others. By allowing God the planter, pruner, weeder, to plant seeds, get rid of weeds, supply our needs so we can do good deeds. Grow through gardening.