A place to bring you into God's presence:
The story of the Memorial Garden
By Judith Smullen
With memories from Harriet Hursh (a member of the Memorial Garden Committee)
We have all seen those cemeteries - some tiny, some huge - the resting places for generations of worshipers at a nearby church. In more recent times, as people became more mobile, those church-connected cemeteries have given way to large ones, often nowhere near a specific place of worship, even if associated with a denomination, like Holy Savior for local Catholics.
In the early 90s, a group of congregants here at First Pres felt a call to create some form of interment space as a memorial near our church for members and their immediate families. The original suggestion by Will Smiles was simply for tree plantings that would create a quiet space on the church grounds for remembering loved ones.
But the idea grew and, in Presbyterian fashion, a Committee was formed to explore options. After the construction of the Kirk Center and re-arrangement of parking areas, a Master Use Plan in 1995, reviewed and approved by Session and the Congregation, included land allocation for a Memorial Garden.
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The Memorial Garden Committee, co-chaired by Hans Anspach (Head of Forestry for the City of Bethlehem) and Jim McEvoy, began visiting other churches to observe how they had developed their concept, concluding that the Memorial Garden created by the Paoli Presbyterian Church west of Philadelphia best fit the committee’s primary criteria: that the Garden be beautiful and offer flexibility in interment of cremains. |
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With that concept in hand, and a video presentation (helped by Dave Boltz) for the Trustees, the Session, and the Congregation, Session agreed with the Memorial Garden concept in early January 1997.
Of course, that was only a start!
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One concern was that at that time many people were still hesitant about cremation. Harriet Hursh (second from right, at the Garden dedication with her family) gave a presentation to the congregation, explaining the process and noting that the PCUSA approved of cremation, asking only that any arrangements be simple, that they bear witness to the hope of resurrection, and that they keep the Christian community central.
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The Committee had many issues to confront: size and siting; design and estimated costs; selection of contractors; construction; regulation; administration; maintenance; and, of course, financing.
It is remarkable to note, as Pastor Emeritus Keith Brown emphasizes, that none of the financing for the first phase came from the church’s annual budget. Rather, the monies were raised by people committing to interment for themselves and loved ones by purchasing reservations in the wall or garden, or by memorial gifts in the form of garden material, benches, etc.
Initially, many dedicated volunteers cared for the Garden, but now, as part of the endowment of First Pres, the Memorial Garden Fund provides for its maintenance and beautification (gifts to the Fund are always welcomed and encouraged!).
With the incredible generosity of individual congregants, K-groups, and new member groups, construction began, and, on April 25, 1999, the Memorial Garden was dedicated.
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The vision of the project’s originators has been beautifully realized with the construction of the wall and the brick pathways, the placement of the Celtic cross (right), the planting of trees and shrubs, the location of benches for rest and contemplation, the construction of a second wall - and, of course, the memorial bricks themselves. There is also a plaque in memory of loved ones interred elsewhere.
A place of serenity and comfort, the Garden is both for those whose loved ones rest within it and for anyone wishing to enjoy “the beauty of God’s creation and celebrate the miracle of life in all its glory, including death and resurrection” (Memorial Garden pamphlet, 2013).
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Now that spring is arriving, if you haven’t done so, a visit to the Garden will connect you to the Saints who have come before us in this beloved church, offer you an opportunity for rest and contemplation, and bring you into God’s presence.
For further information and any inquiries about available spaces, please contact Cristy Mette (cmette@fpc-bethlehem.org or leave a message at 610-867-5865 ).
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FOR NEXT SUNDAY
For Sunday, April 18: We will offer one Combined Worship service, featuring elements of both our Contemporary and Traditional services. It will be held at 11 a.m. outside (weather permitting), on the east side of the building. Please let us know that you plan to join us.
NEW! “Parking Lot Worship”: You are invited to park your vehicle in our east lot and tune your radio to 88.3FM, to listen to the service.
As always, you can also live stream it on our Facebook page or on our website’s main page.
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