This strong, warmed-from-within group gathered to plant and bless this sapling in Germantown on a blustery, damp day.
Germantown tree tenders next to their just-planted tree.
Following the work of planting, the group blessed the tree, and with those blessings recalled blessings by other trees they had known.
Each person spoke an appreciation of a tree they had known and loved, and the group responded, together:
Grow straight. Grow strong. Give shade. Share life.
Thank you, Tree Tenders of Germantown!
When your group plants, waters, weeds, or otherwise cares for a tree, we hope you’ll use this blessing led by Rev. Alison Cornish. Share some of your stories and photos with us, and help jog other people’s memories of trees they have known and loved.
Emmanuel Union Church will have a Blessing of the Tractors, a Celebration of Earth Day, and prayer for a Successful Growing Season. Come with or without a tractor to celebrate a long growing heritage in our rich valley… and feel free to bring a more human-sized garden tool for the blessing, too.
The blessing will be held at 12:00 noon Saturday, April 21st. at 5847 Germantown Ave.
(just south of the old Germantown HS and on the same side of the street)
*Germantown Interfaith Power & Light Tree Tenders is part of outreach efforts by the Philadelphia Chapter of Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light. Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light is a community of faith based organizations and individuals of faith responding to climate change as an urgent moral issue through advocacy, energy conservation, energy efficiency, and the use of clean, renewable energy. Semi-annual tree planting events by Germantown IPL Tree Tenders are intended to create awareness and action within Germantown faith groups.
At Janes Memorial United Methodist Church on Germantown Avenue and we will be having a blessing of the trees at 11:30 (we might start a little later, depending on the plantings), led by The Rev. Andrew Foster (Janes Memorial UMC) and the Rev. Cheryl Pyrch (Summit Presbyterian).
Actual planting starts earlier. See poster (click on image to enlarge) for times and contacts.
Would you like to participate? It’s a chance to celebrate and also give our best wishes to Pastor Foster, who will be moving at the end of May to become leader of the New England District of the UMC.
In mid November, The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Tree Tenders and volunteers will plant about 435 trees in Philadelphia and another 530 trees in Southeast Pennsylvania Germantown Interfaith Power & Light Tree Tenders will be planting 6 of those trees on Saturday, November 19th. At noon neighborhood clergy and leaders will lead a short “Blessing of the Trees” ceremony beginning outside the First United Methodist Church of Germantown (FUMCOG), 6001 Germantown Ave. Then all tree blessers and tree planters and their supporters are invited to a free lunch at FUMCOG. Please RSVP to Cheryl Pyrch, cpyrch@summitpres.net
These new trees count towards the Plant One Million campaign, the nation’s largest multi-state tree initiative that continues to replenish the tree population of 13 counties in the Greater Philadelphia Region. About 520,000 trees have been planted since Plant One Million began in 2011. The Philadelphia Chapter of PA Interfaith Power & Light has joined this effort to help mitigate climate change and build resiliency in our community. This is our first annual tree planting. Perhaps next year we can plant trees near you!
The region has lost millions of trees in recent decades to development. Replacing our tree canopy will benefit the whole region for decades to come. Trees improve air quality, reduce the heat-island effect, absorb storm runoff to reduce flooding and water pollution, increase property values, and enhance the quality of life in our communities.
