“I pray that … Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.”  (Ephesians 3:17)

December 31, 2016

Today’s lectionary text from the letter to the Ephesians reminds us that the love of God anchors and sustains us. It is the firm ground underneath our feet. It is the fertile soil in which we are rooted, allowing us to grow and flourish. Scripture is full of images from the agricultural world that describe God’s kingdom.

At Princeton Theological Seminary, agriculture is more than a metaphor—it is one of the ways that our community experiences the love of God. The Farminary Project is a new initiative at Princeton Seminary in which theological education takes place in the garden, in direct contact with God’s good earth. The Farminary recalls the roots of farming deep within the Christian tradition, while also providing a training ground for innovation that will equip our students to lead changing communities. The farm is a fertile training ground for pastoral ministry, for it cultivates capacities of patience and diligence, the ability to grow new things, and an understanding of life and death.

As students labor alongside one another in the garden, they see Scripture in fresh light and learn about issues of hunger, sustainability, and food production that affect the church and the world. Above all, they deepen the bonds of Christian friendship. As the project’s director, Nate Stucky (’15 PhD), explains: “The Farminary initiative is a place where love grows—love for God, for each other, for the broader community, and for creation.”  In the garden, these students are learning what it means to be rooted and grounded in love.   

M. Craig Barnes, President, Princeton Theological Seminary

Today’s Focus: Princeton Theological Seminary

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Sterling Morse, PMA
Margaret Mwale, PMA

Let us pray

Holy God, in love you created the world and all that is in it. You appointed humanity as stewards of creation and beacons of your light. Teach us to care for our neighbors and for the world that you love. We pray in Christ’s name. Amen.

Daily Lectionary

Morning Psalms 98; 149
First Reading Isaiah 26:1-6
Second Reading 2 Corinthians 5:16-6:2
Gospel Reading John 8:12-19
Evening Psalms 45; 96