Memorial Garden
William Hazlet wrote, "We do not see nature with our eyes, but with our understandings and with our hearts." As our hearts beat to the ever-changing emotions swirling within each of us, nature so often can provide the solace, the peace, or the affirmation that we seek. Seeing with our understanding and hearts truly captures an element central to the ministry of the Memorial Garden.
More than a decade ago, the Memorial Garden became an important ministry in life at West Side. The original vision was for a beautiful welcoming garden, encouraging ministry in death as well as being a living tribute to celebrate life, enhancing the appearance of our church property, and providing a hospitable place for all to gather or to find solitary peace. The vision was achieved and is foundational to the ongoing ministry.
The Memorial Garden is a final resting place for the interment of cremated remains of past and present West Side members and their families, as well as friends of West Side. For all who have ever been a part of the West Side family, it is an invitation to come home.
The landscaping enhances the sense of sacred space and represents so much more than beauty and color. The symbolisms of the Garden provide physical expression to our faith, proclaiming that life and death are related in a continual process of growth. Peace is often found in nature, the very essence of God's creation, and it is fitting to return to nature for the peace and solace we seek at times of death.
Recent improvements to the Memorial Garden combined both required maintenance and the addition of a landscaped bed to define and offer a sense of protection for the area. The Memorial Garden Committee is grateful for generous memorial gifts which provided the beautiful enhancements included in our recent work. We further once again pay tribute to the foresight of the original committee, which established our account structure, and feel blessed to have the funding to complete all the work without placing any burden on the church's finances.
Interment
The worship of God, communion, baptisms, marriages, and memorial services are celebrations of Christian life at West Side. The Memorial Garden, carefully planned and executed, extends West Side's ministry by providing a sacred, beautiful, and enduring space for the burial of cremated remains in the arms of the church.
The Memorial Garden is a place for reflection, meditation, remembrance and prayer for bereaved famly and friends, as well as a contemplative setting for all to enjoy. Restoration of the Garden to its former beauty before the fire will take time and effort, but the committee is at work on plans to delineate and landscape the area, so that, once again, the Garden will be a place of peace and comfort.
The Memorial Garden is a place for reflection, meditation, remembrance and prayer for bereaved famly and friends, as well as a contemplative setting for all to enjoy. Restoration of the Garden to its former beauty before the fire will take time and effort, but the committee is at work on plans to delineate and landscape the area, so that, once again, the Garden will be a place of peace and comfort.
Bequests and gifts in honor or in celebration of special events or loved ones, as well as gifts in loving memory of someone, may be made to help restore and enhance our garden sanctuary, and should be made payable to The Memorial Garden Perpetual Care Account, and mailed to West Side's financial secretary. For information on major gifting opportunities, please contact Sara Johnson.
A pastor can discuss both memorial services and the use of the Memorial Garden. A Memorial Garden coordinator can provide details regarding subscription information, fees, rules, and guidelines. Please call the church office at 201-652-1966, ext. 11, for contact information.
Current members of the Memorial Garden Committee are Sara Johnson, chair; Emily Aumiller, Larry Hoffman, Ed Kopf, Jim McGilvray, Irene Montella, Diana Perog, Donna Quimby, Barbara Spiegel, Lincoln Stulik, and Meriam Voigt.
