Summer Sundays in the Garden 

Unity's children's garden is beautiful right now! It looks a little different with two new beds: strawberries have moved into a new bed, and the previous strawberry bed is now mostly home to small (but eager) native plants that will feed or host pollinators and butterflies. While we cannot all be together in the garden at once, we invite children and families into the church garden for our summer Religious Education program. Typically for children ages 4-13 but the whole family is welcome to come out and help. 

Anna Newton is our naturalist, gardener, and program lead for our Summer in the Garden program. With help from Michelle Mecey, Meggie Exner, and other friends, Anna will light a chalice, share songs, bring a garden story, and share activities for families to do at home and in Unity's garden. 
  • We hope that you will gather as a family for Sunday's live stream worship service, then scroll down to information on Summer Sundays in the Garden that contains a link to the week's garden video.
  • If you would like your child to access Seesaw (an online classroom to share photos and journal posts with others in our garden group), please contact michelle@unityunitarian.org with an email address where each child can receive an invite to create their account. 
Garden Scheduling and Safety Protocols
  • To keep social distancing and coordinate families working the garden, all parents of kids ages 4-13 can receive an invitation to schedule time slots. A program volunteer will be there to lead your work. 
  • Additional time slots may be scheduled for helping with the pollinator garden, weeding, harvesting, and other activities as needed over the summer.
  • Please bring your own gloves and tools as able. Some tools will be made available, but bringing your own will help to minimize need to sanitize between uses.
  • We ask everyone to wear a mask and observe social distancing (at least six feet spacing from others).
  • The church building is closed, so please plan accordingly. During most garden times the building will be available for bathroom and first aid (a note on the sign up sheet will indicate if the building is unavailable).
  • A handwashing station is available near the water spigot; wipes and hand sanitizer are in the bin of garden materials.
  • Please contact Michelle with questions/comments (email or text/call at her number in the church ShelbyNext database)
We hope that these garden opportunities will help our children and families stay connected to cherished summer rituals and sacred practices that shape our community life. 

2020 Sundays in the Garden Videos

May 24
May 31
June 7
June 14
June 21
​June 28
July 5
​July 12
​July 19
July 26
August 2
August 9
August 16
August 23
August 20