Happenings Lead Article, Tuesday, July 1, 2025
This past Saturday I found myself walking around the Church property and explaining to a rapt crowd the plans for the pet memorial garden and the rainbow bridge. Most people were amazed and very excited about the opportunity.
I talked about the walking path I envision for the church around the outside of the property, with the couple of meditation spots as well. Most of the folks gathered this past weekend had never been to St. Edward’s, and were impressed with the property and the solitude it has the potential to provide.
It was a moment where I was reminded that we have something special, and even though I haven’t carried out the “One Thing” plan to perfection, it is still a ministry that catches the attention of people who hear about it. It catches the imagination of folks and the uniqueness of the ministry to pets and their owners energizes the imagination.
So I thought I would revisit with you all, where we are at, and what it looks like will happen by October 5, when we will celebrate St. Francis and have our big Blessing of the Animals service.
First of all, Earl Zimmerman has begun work on the bridge. In a couple months, provided he agrees to it, we will have Earl and Nancy come and talk a little about the process of building the 14 foot bridge and all that went into it. Earl has stated the bridge will be done by the middle of September. I can’t tell you how excited I am about that.
Lauren Moffett has already done a significant amount of work on the Pet Memorial Garden itself. It looks great, although the rain this summer has helped many of the weeds come back with a vengeance, and we still need to use a leaf blower on the garden and possibly power wash the stones.
The path is going to be something that will take more time and probably will not be finished until next year. Although there is a chance we will have someone come in this summer and do some basic landscaping and fixing of the path so we can walk on it.
I chatted with Bryan Ripp last Sunday about how to lay footings for the bridge, and that will be our next big effort, to create a plan for the footings so when the bridge arrives it will have a good foundation to stand upon.
So, what can you do to help with this process? Here are a few things:
1) Weed the Pet Memorial Garden - If you have time to spend in the garden, feel free to weed and remove anything growing on the outside of the garden wall. This will be a process we will always have to pay attention to, so feel free at any time to do maintenance there.
2) Take Pictures - if you have a good digital camera and could take some before, now and after pictures, that would be great. We will need many pictures to post the progress of this work. Including getting some pictures of Earls ongoing work on the bridge!
3) Marketing Material Creation - I need help creating some marketing materials we can share with the community and other non profit organizations we will look to partner with. If you have some skill in marketing, or just an interest, and would be willing to help me have something completed by the end of July, please let me know.
3) Research - I need to have someone help find the folks who did the engraving on the previous bricks that are out there. If this is something you can help with, and then work with them to create and find out the cost and process, that would be great! Let me know if you are able to do that.
4) Footings - When the time comes we will need some help with putting in the footings for the bridge. Earl and others will gather to make a plan and that will be shared very soon.
5) Signage/Decoration - I would love to have someone take the lead on developing and creating signage for the bridge and garden. This would also include decorations that would help make the garden and bridge feel welcoming and hopeful for those who come to see it.
There are several other things that would be helpful, not listed here, and you may have some ideas as well. If you do, please let me know.
We also need help with moving the dirt and planting in the medians of the parking lot. Audra has put in an herculean effort to make some significant progress there, and could use a hand or two. SPeak with her if you have questions, and before you start moving dirt, but once she gives direction, I think we can have folks work the medians as they are able.
This ministry of ours will be vital to our future. This work will help us establish a connection to the community that will help us become a vital part of the lives of the people who live around us. I hope you will feel the same excitement I do and participate in this as fully as you are able.
Be well,
Aron
I talked about the walking path I envision for the church around the outside of the property, with the couple of meditation spots as well. Most of the folks gathered this past weekend had never been to St. Edward’s, and were impressed with the property and the solitude it has the potential to provide.
It was a moment where I was reminded that we have something special, and even though I haven’t carried out the “One Thing” plan to perfection, it is still a ministry that catches the attention of people who hear about it. It catches the imagination of folks and the uniqueness of the ministry to pets and their owners energizes the imagination.
So I thought I would revisit with you all, where we are at, and what it looks like will happen by October 5, when we will celebrate St. Francis and have our big Blessing of the Animals service.
First of all, Earl Zimmerman has begun work on the bridge. In a couple months, provided he agrees to it, we will have Earl and Nancy come and talk a little about the process of building the 14 foot bridge and all that went into it. Earl has stated the bridge will be done by the middle of September. I can’t tell you how excited I am about that.
Lauren Moffett has already done a significant amount of work on the Pet Memorial Garden itself. It looks great, although the rain this summer has helped many of the weeds come back with a vengeance, and we still need to use a leaf blower on the garden and possibly power wash the stones.
The path is going to be something that will take more time and probably will not be finished until next year. Although there is a chance we will have someone come in this summer and do some basic landscaping and fixing of the path so we can walk on it.
I chatted with Bryan Ripp last Sunday about how to lay footings for the bridge, and that will be our next big effort, to create a plan for the footings so when the bridge arrives it will have a good foundation to stand upon.
So, what can you do to help with this process? Here are a few things:
1) Weed the Pet Memorial Garden - If you have time to spend in the garden, feel free to weed and remove anything growing on the outside of the garden wall. This will be a process we will always have to pay attention to, so feel free at any time to do maintenance there.
2) Take Pictures - if you have a good digital camera and could take some before, now and after pictures, that would be great. We will need many pictures to post the progress of this work. Including getting some pictures of Earls ongoing work on the bridge!
3) Marketing Material Creation - I need help creating some marketing materials we can share with the community and other non profit organizations we will look to partner with. If you have some skill in marketing, or just an interest, and would be willing to help me have something completed by the end of July, please let me know.
3) Research - I need to have someone help find the folks who did the engraving on the previous bricks that are out there. If this is something you can help with, and then work with them to create and find out the cost and process, that would be great! Let me know if you are able to do that.
4) Footings - When the time comes we will need some help with putting in the footings for the bridge. Earl and others will gather to make a plan and that will be shared very soon.
5) Signage/Decoration - I would love to have someone take the lead on developing and creating signage for the bridge and garden. This would also include decorations that would help make the garden and bridge feel welcoming and hopeful for those who come to see it.
There are several other things that would be helpful, not listed here, and you may have some ideas as well. If you do, please let me know.
We also need help with moving the dirt and planting in the medians of the parking lot. Audra has put in an herculean effort to make some significant progress there, and could use a hand or two. SPeak with her if you have questions, and before you start moving dirt, but once she gives direction, I think we can have folks work the medians as they are able.
This ministry of ours will be vital to our future. This work will help us establish a connection to the community that will help us become a vital part of the lives of the people who live around us. I hope you will feel the same excitement I do and participate in this as fully as you are able.
Be well,
Aron
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