Because
You
GIve
PLOWING AND MOWING:
CAring For A THIN PLACE
At a recent discussion on Celtic spirituality, Jennifer pointed out that St. Mary’s grounds might very well be an example of a “thin place” that characterizes Celtic spirituality: a place where it is easy to sense God, a place that invites contemplation, a place that is peace.
And indeed, St. Mary’s grounds are just such a place. Parishioners, visitors, and members of the wider community come here to find peace, reflect, and experience the beauty of God's creation.
But tending that space takes resources — time, work, and money.
Within St. Mary’s walls, we have just over 18 acres of land that we use and maintain. Our buildings take up about four-tenths of an acre; the roads and parking lots account for just over 2 acres; and the remaining grounds are almost 16 acres.
Maintaining those 16 acres is a year-round job, whether it's the dead of winter with roads and parking lots covered in snow, or the height of summer when 15 acres of grass need to be cut every week.
This year began with the infamous Blizzard of 2026, which dumped 36 inches of snow on St. Mary's.
Our grounds’ budget for 2026
included $5000 for storm-related expenses. Needless to say, when the vestry passed the budget in December 2025, we didn’t anticipate needing to plow almost 2 ¾ acres of pavement out from under three feet of snow.
And we didn’t. We plowed only what was necessary to keep St. Mary's open and running — about 2 acres of roads and parking lots.
The cost? A staggering $15,000.
That’s right. One storm cost three times what we’d budgeted for the whole year for storms! Fortunately, when one parishioner heard about the cost of the plowing, he stepped forward with $5000 to help offset the costs.
As the seasons changed, we turned our attention to tending the grass and trees. From May through September, acres of grass have to be cut, and we maintain the equivalent of 32 half-acre lots — mowing the grass every week and pruning bushes and trimming trees as needed.
The cost so far this year? $37,500.

In total, we have spent over $52,000 on the grounds to date.
Yet what those dollars preserve is something that can't be measured in dollars: a place of beauty, peace, and spiritual renewal for everyone who comes here.
We are stewards of these grounds, caring for them for this generation and those to come. During our time here, we reap the benefits of that stewardship: outdoor worship, funerals, quiet walks, and the opportunity to enjoy God’s creation in such a beautiful place and to share it with others.
Keeping St. Mary's grounds beautiful takes time, hard work, equipment, and, yes, money. The next time you experience that beauty, remember that it is your generosity that makes it all possible.
Because you give, St. Mary's is and will be sacred space for all to feel God’s presence.
