"Oh, something must be up! Musings is out early! There must be some good news or an important announcement!" Yes, it's both of these.
MN Give to the Max Day is Thursday, November 13, just three weeks away. This is an opportunity for you to give on-line to your favorite charity. Surely Saint Benedict's Monastery is one of them? If you prefer not to give on-line, you can send a check before October 30, and we will add your donation to our pool of matching gifts.
This year Give to the Max will raise funds to expand our Common Ground Garden ministry. This is a ministry dear to our hearts. It was founded by Sister Phyllis Plantenberg 21 years ago. The Sisters continue to provide the land, water system, work space and other support, and hire production manager Kate Ritger. Her knowledge and love of the land keep the garden developing and growing. Kate, as one of our Oblates, integrates the Benedictine values in her work and education with students, children and subscribers.
The financial basis of the garden is that it's a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription farm.The number of subscribers is at max for its current capacity and it cannot grow without some major improvements.
Funds are needed for renovation of the lower level of the barn, where some of the work of the Garden takes place:
- Major electrical updates for the barn
- Provide coolers
- Renovate part of the barn to make spaces for work, education and community events
- Build a winter green house (dream phase)
Besides providing healthy, fresh, local produce to many people in Central Minnesota, the Common Ground Garden contributes to the wider community through subscribers, donations to food shelves and by working with student groups, local grade schools and girl scouts. On a broader scale, the Garden expands the local food system and helps build up the earth community through stewardship of the land. In addition, it provides an opportunity to live and share our Benedictine Gospel values, especially community, hospitality, sustainability, stewardship and the dignity of work.
Hanna Newman (Class of 2013), a CSB student worker, had this to say: "The Benedictine value of stewardship is the most prominent value I practiced at the garden. . . . And hospitality: when we invite others to our table or help one another, we are creating a relationship that will continue to grow and flourish, like a flower or a vegetable."
Give to the Max Day is a great opportunity to become partners in our ministry:
- You may send a check before October 31 to be pooled with the matching gifts. (This is a real incentive for others to give.)
- Give to the Max on November 13 on-line -- minimum is $10.00
- You can give early, starting November 1
- On Give to the Max Day donate any time from 12 a.m. (midnight) until 11:59 p.m.
- Incentives are given on that day: every hour, one donor will be drawn randomly and the charity will get $1,000
- Every hour one donor will be chosen from our non-profit division for $1,000
We invite you to join in the fun and excitement and encourage others in your workplace, your friends and relatives to help us meet our goal of $50,000 on the day and $32,000 in matching funds.
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November 1, Saturday, is All Saints' Day. On All Hallows' Eve, Friday, October 31, at 4:30 p.m., we begin our celebration of All Saints' Day with an opening prayer in the Gathering Place; we then process to the cemetery led by candle bearers and bell ringers. We gather at the crucifixion scene in the cemetery and continue with our prayer, singing the litany of the saints and remembering all our Sisters, relatives and friends who have died during this past year. We hear the reading of the Gospel and a short homily. Then Sisters and guests are free to walk through the cemetery to remember all of our loved ones. In quiet reverence all return to the chapel for the conclusion of evening prayer for the Feast of All Saints. You are invited to join us.
Throughout the month of November, the Book of Life has a prominent place in the Gathering Place. Everyone is invited to list the names of their deceased loved ones in this book. The monastic community and guests continue to include all of these people at our daily Eucharist and Liturgy of the Hours. You are invited to provide names, by e-mail (bkort@csbsju.edu) or mail, of those you want remembered. These names will be recorded in the Book of Life throughout the month.
During the coming month of November we give thanks for all the blessings in our life and pray for the grace to recognize God's love in the ordinary people and events of each day.
