AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services
Drivers passing by on Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard on Easter morning of 2014 must have been astonished to see masses of children gathered around a flower-covered cross on the lawn of Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church.
Eleven years have gone by but, hopefully, drivers passing by this Easter Sunday of 2025 will see a similar scene. The children who appear in the photos below are now in their teens or early twenties, but a younger generation will have an opportunity to place flowers on the very same Flower Cross and attend a Family Easter Service.
Woods’ Associate Pastor, the Rev. Nancy Lincoln-Reynolds, brought the reappearance of the Flower Cross to our attention. We met with her for details in the Terry Schoener Prayer Chapel where an alcove contains a cross of a different kind. (The room was created to honor the memory of the Rev. Dr. Terry Schoener who served as pastor of Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church for 27 years before retiring in 2006.)
“We’re inviting the community to come to our Family Easter Service and bring flowers to place on the cross which will be prepared as before and placed in a similar location on Woods’ front lawn,” she said.
According to Rev. Lincoln-Reynolds, this year’s Easter worship service for families is being organized by Director of Children’s Ministry Kat Green. Her inspiration to resurrect the Flower Cross on Easter, the Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, is somehow very fitting at this particular moment in history.
“The Family Worship Service taking place this Easter Sunday, April 20th, will be a bit different from the one held in 2014 as it will be held in the church’s Fellowship Hall but will also be filled with the traditional elements of prayer, scripture, movement and music,” Lincoln-Reynolds added. “It will begin at 9:30 am and the procession to the Flower Cross on the lawn will occur following the service.”
The Flower Cross made its first appearance on the Woods Church lawn a little over a decade ago. Children who participated in that original event placed blossoms on the cross following a special Easter worship service for families at Holy Grounds Youth Center (now Boone Station Hall) next door. For the first time in decades, the former church was used for a religious serviced led by Woods’ youth pastor, the Rev. Nicholas Cheek.
Light streaming through the stained-glass windows of the 1920’s era chapel lent a warmth and intimacy to the space befitting a service planned with children in mind. The Easter observance featured traditional elements of prayer, scripture readings and meditations but was also lively with music and movement. Even the youngest children participated by singing and dancing to joyful hymns.
A lovely ballet was performed by Katie Lohff as Sarah Kent sang the hymn “Glorious Day”.
Poetry followed as well as a performance of “Jesus Messiah” by teens Megan Killpatrick, McKenna Lee, Rebecca Hyde and Lauren Loff.
“This is very reminiscent of what church would have been like back in the early days…home churches with entire families worshipping together,” said Rev. Cheek who was clearly pleased with the well-attended event.
Following the Easter celebration, the children selected blooms from buckets of carnations, tulips, daisies and lilies and began a procession toward the living flower cross. Looking ever so sweet in their Easter dresses, young Emma Wilson and sisters Ashley and Abigail Mears were the first children to arrive on the lawn in front of Woods Church and add Gerbera daisies to blooms placed by adults at an earlier service.
The cross was the idea of the late Elizabeth Wyble, a longtime congregation member, designer and garden expert. She’d wanted to create a living cross with fresh flowers that would remain in place through Easter season through Pentecost.
Wyble designed the 7-foot cross to be visible from Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard. On the Thursday before Easter, congregation volunteers installed the frame, covered it with floral foam wrapped with chicken wire and black plastic, added greenery and watered it.
Though the first flowers were placed by adults, it needed the youngster’s contributions to fully bloom.
Wyble’s lovely and meaningful creation was a great success. Families flocked to the Flower Cross.
In a matter of moments, the cross was filled with blooms and families began posing in front of the unique symbol of Easter as can be seen in the opening photo.
Lincoln-Reynolds noted that a listing of all this week’s Easter Services at Woods Church can be seen by visiting Facebook.
Back to the present moment, the Associate Pastor bubbled over with enthusiasm about the latest happenings at Woods Memorial Presbyterian Church. She was especially excited about having held the first of many Community Conversations conducted by Senior Pastor, the Rev. J.C. Austin. The objective of the event was to gather community residents, regardless of differences of opinion, political allegiance or religious affiliation to talk about some of the chaos being experienced in our changing world and how to create something good from it.
She was also pleased about the growth of the Woods Counseling & Care Center which she established in a building that formerly housed the YWCA. Jerry and Elizabeth Wyble undertook the renovation, interior decoration and landscaping of the building and were also the benefactors of a labyrinth on the grounds. Lincoln-Reynolds proudly noted that the Center now has six therapists on staff and is about to add a rabbi.
Severna Park Farmer’s Market opens this Saturday
The Severna Park Farmer’s Market returns to the Park and Ride on the corner of Ritchie Highway and Jones Station Road this Saturday, April 19th from 8 am till noon. The Easter weekend market will see the return of Ellie Heath’s Three Blue Bunnies for the 7th year and 19 additional vendors. Among them are longtime favorites Joyce’s Flowers & Herbs, Pat’s Produce and Gourds, Morris Hill Farm, The Ville’s Dills, and The Zahradka Family Farm.
World Tai Chi Day to be celebrated at Severna Park Community Center, April 26th
Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi will once again be celebrating the annual “World Tai Chi Day” at the Severna Park Community Center on Saturday, April 26, from 10am to 11:30am. There will be demos of Tai Chi & Qigong and mini workshops. Learn more about better balance, reduced stress, improved joint health, & other benefits.
The World Tai Chi celebration will be held beneath the trees on the lawn between the Severna Park Community Center and Boone Station Hall or, if it rains, in the community center’s Andy Borland Gymnasium.
Park Hardware Native Plant Sale also happens on Saturday, April 26th
Park Hardware is holding is second annual Spring Native Plant Sale on Saturday, April 26th, starting at 8 am. The sale is the perfect opportunity to stock up on beautiful native perennial plants from Providence of Maryland, a leading nonprofit dedicated to empowering adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Experts from the Anne Arundel County Bay-Wise Program will be on hand to share tips on creating a thriving, eco-friendly garden. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, they’ll help you become a better steward of nature in your own backyard.
Spring Girl’s Night Out at Homestead Gardens Severna Park on May 1st
Homestead Gardens Severna Park is holding its annual Spring Girl’s Night Out party on Thursday, May 1st from 5 to 8 pm. Bring your favorite gal pals for an evening of sipping, shopping, and sampling courtesy of the finest food and beverage purveyors in the community. Experience a delightful night of food, shopping, and fun…and, as a bonus, get 25% off your purchase.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
