Grow 2B

A Message from ​The Rev. Laura Masterson

Two painted plastic barrels, one depicting a sunset over the ocean and the other a green hillside with flowers, at a Grow2B organization event in Buford, Georgia.
A man smiling and standing outdoors with a wheelbarrow filled with dirt and twigs, wearing a bright pink t-shirt, gloves, and jeans, in a park or open field area.
A person holding a small turtle with yellow and black markings on its head and a gray shell, outdoors with greenery in the background.
A small wooden fence constructed from repurposed pallets on a grassy area with fallen leaves, surrounded by trees and bushes in the background.
A garden with freshly planted rows of soil, enclosed by a chain-link fence, with a greenhouse on the left and dense green trees in the background under a sunny sky.
Various zucchinis, two patty pan squashes, and a cucumber arranged on a concrete block outdoors near a chain-link fence and dry leaves.
Four women wearing white beekeeping suits and hats with veils standing outdoors in front of a greenhouse and trees on a sunny day.
Close-up of a variegated hellebore flower with pale pink petals and dark pink speckles, surrounded by green leaves.
Young plants growing in small pots labeled with plant names, placed on a tray in a greenhouse with sunlight coming through the window.
A green metal rack holding stacked empty orange clay flower pots outdoors on a sunny day.
Group of children inside a greenhouse, listening to a woman giving a presentation.
People planting a tree or shrub in a large fabric grow bag outdoors, with gardening tools and gloves. A person's arm with gloves is visible, and others are bending over working in the soil.
People planting trees in a wooded area during the daytime, with some bent down working and others standing, under a clear sky.
Group of children digging and examining the ground in a forested outdoor setting, with a woman supervising.
Fresh radishes with green leaves on a stainless steel table in a kitchen or market setting.
A row of blooming sunflower plants with yellow flowers in a garden, surrounded by green foliage and a greenhouse in the background.

Our Memorial Garden

Both burial and cremation are permitted in the Episcopal Church.Episcopalians approach interment (the burial or placement of cremated remains) with a theology rooted in resurrection, dignity, and hope. At every burial liturgy, we proclaim words from the Easter faith: “In sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ…” This language comes directly from the Book of Common Prayer (pp. 491ff.), which shapes Episcopal belief and practice.

We affirm the creed’s promise:

“We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.”

Interment, then, is not simply disposal of remains. It is a physical act that witnesses to spiritual hope. Episcopal theology holds that the body is created good by God and marked as Christ’s own in Baptism.

The funeral liturgy centers on God’s promises — not simply remembrance, but resurrection.

This is why many Episcopal churches maintain memorial gardens or columbaria — they become tangible signs that death does not sever us from Christ or from one another.

The Episcopal funeral is sometimes surprising to newcomers. It is:

White (Easter) rather than black.

Filled with Alleluias (outside of Lent).

Focused more on Christ’s victory than on despair.

Grief is honored. Tears are real.

But despair does not have the final word.

For questions or to request information on volunteer opportunities or something else, please contact comms@smmbuford.org.

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