If you had been walking down Exhibition Road, Kensington on the last Saturday in June, perhaps to visit one of London’s museums or attractions, you would have seen a smiling group of young adults and senior missionaries happily digging in the planting beds which front the Hyde Park Chapel and Visitors Centre.
Members of the Britannia YSA Ward (congregation) in the London England Hyde Park Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were happy to give service on a Saturday to refresh and renew the road plantings and perform weed roundup on the mews side of the church building.
For various reasons including the three London lockdowns caused by the pandemic and the long closure of the Hyde Park Chapel Visitors Centre, little gardening had taken place and the streetscape was much in need of renewal. Following a full return to in-person services and the reopening of the Visitors’ Centre to the public, it was felt that some attention was needed. With the support of Chris Stephenson, President of the London Hyde Park Stake, a landscaping plan was approved, and a search begun to acquire the needed shrubs and flowers.
When Britannia YSA Ward Bishop Julio Nagliati learned of the plan, he felt it would be a wonderful service project for his Ward members remarking that, “Accepting service and giving service back lightens our own load, and, in turn, lifts those who serve. Everyone will be blessed.”
On Saturday, the work of removing the old planting and replacing them with new ones went smoothly, eight ward members and two Senior Missionary couples made themselves available to lend a hand. As the pile of discarded plants in front of the building grew, two Kensington neighbors stopped to ask about the unwanted nursery stock. They were happy to haul them away with one neighbour remarking, “This is my lucky day, after a disappointing week, I’m excited to be able to take these plants and nurse them back to health!” Even the weather, originally forecast to be rainy, cooperated with the sun coming out to brighten the Hyde Park building landscaping project. Britannia Ward members were happy to serve with a smile, exhibiting a spirit of serving and giving of their weekend time to make the wonderful building where they worship a more welcoming place for all.On Saturday, the work of removing the old planting and replacing them with new ones went smoothly, eight ward members and two Senior Missionary couples made themselves available to lend a hand.
As the pile of discarded plants in front of the building grew, two Kensington neighbors stopped to ask about the unwanted nursery stock. They were happy to haul them away with one neighbour remarking, “This is my lucky day, after a disappointing week, I’m excited to be able to take these plants and nurse them back to health!” Even the weather, originally forecast to be rainy, cooperated with the sun coming out to brighten the Hyde Park building landscaping project. Britannia Ward members were happy to serve with a smile, exhibiting a spirit of serving and giving of their weekend time to make the wonderful building where they worship a more welcoming place for all.