Summer

It feels as if it’s really summer!

Oh I know it was officially summer last week sometime, but really this week real summer begins. For example, the first few days of this week were really, really HOT. It’s the end of Pride month with parades and festivals (which are always hot). School is finally finished. Exams are done, over, in the rear-view mirror with fun times ahead. For some it was even a graduation. Next week is Canada Day. Break out the maple leaves and the red t-shirts; get that barbecue ready or whatever food does it for you,

Vacations plans are being finalized. I’ve got grandkids en route for a much anticipated visit as I write this. And another with their plane ticket ready. I’m hearing every day of planned camping trips, an island escape, two weeks with girlfriends.

And some of you are going to reunion! Loaves and Fishes begin this weekend. But if L&F is here, can Healing and Freeing be far behind? Or Erie Beach, or Noronto? Almost all of us have some reunion memory. Some have years of memories just waiting to add some more.

We all look forward to hearing from you on the other side. Go out into your summer, make memories. Be blessed and come back refreshed and ready to share your stories.

(If you have a minute and you’re so inclined you can drop into the Foyer. We’ll be here every week. Probably not too serious or deep subject matter though – after all, it’s SUMMER .)

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The Self-preaching Sermon

I’m not sure I can adequately tell you what I want to tell you this week; but I can’t seem to think of another topic, so I shall try.

We had a very special gathering last Sunday. I have been thinking about it all week. Of course it was fathers day, and that was part of it. We had a room full of children and grandchildren who are part of our extended family, and who were there to honour their father/grandfather. As it happened their “baby brother” was in charge. It was the first time he had agreed to take charge and organize the service. Imagine his feeling as this whole troop of his siblings began filling up the empty seats around the circle.

Now I’ve told you before that our services tend not to be traditional. Our hymn sandwich every Sunday days are behind us. We don’t have a lot of formal “sermons” but every so often, a sermon shows up. Somehow, I think the Holy Spirit just decides to step in. It’s what I have come to think of as a self-preaching sermon.

We were welcomed to our familiar circle by our presider and introduced to the theme for the day—God’s Peace.

We lit the peace candle and had some words about the great need for peace in today’s world. One person couldn’t let the moment end and spoke further about what we, a little group of Christians in a little Ontario town could do to bring peace to our big troubled world. He spoke about the need to step up, to speak up, to do the things we know we can do. Another took up the thread and reminded us that real Christians cannot let the distorted idea of Jesus become the prevalent story. Jesus is about Peace and about looking after the suffering and we need to also be about making peace and ending suffering.

Remember that big circle of children and grandchildren? They began to share too. The sermon grew and evolved. We agree that we cannot remain silent when words spoken in our presence distort Jesus‘ message, or actions do not care for the marginalized and the suffering. We need to speak and act for Jesus.

One of the daughters told of her work place, an extended care home, where every day she watches as caring people take care of their charges. Others shared similar stories. It is good to know that these peacemakers bring compassion and concern where it is needed. We can pray for this army of caretakers and caregivers at work everywhere there is suffering. We can send them resources, or support, or prayers wherever they are working.

Brother in charge then read the scripture he had chosen, which summed up the sermon perfectly, the sermon the circle had preached to itself. I’ve got to think his prayerful preparation helped make it possible. I know I’ve been thinking about it all week. Now we don’t always have this kind of service, but every so often the Holy Spirit steps in with such a sermon.

The offering for the day was dedicated to World Accord and the jar was filled to overflowing. One small thing we can do to bring peace to the world.

Summer Plans

Our leadership team met this week to nail down our summer plans. It has become our habit (we’ve had exactly one summer of experience) to give ourselves a long rest and time to recover and build up energy for a serious season of business ahead. Here’s what to expect:

We launched our summer season with a picnic in the Marden pavilion. Our Fathers Day gathering will be inside our Marden room and next week we meet at Sharon’s house to reflect, discuss, review the whole World Conference experience. Sharon, as our official delegate, will host and lead the conversation.
Then our schedule loosens up considerably. Some of us will be attending reunions; some will be enjoying home and family, and gardens and company. There are community festivals, and day trips. Some will be preparing for surgery or recovering from treatments or illnesses. Some will be welcoming new grandbabies. Of course there are always soccer games and tournaments.

We have a Summer Communion gathering planned at our Marden room at the end of July. And we expect to get together, some of us, for midweek discussions. We are determined not to lose track of each other. Our regular weekly e-mails and Foyer conversations will continue so you all can follow our meanderings through the warm days of summer.

We’ll get together at the Rowe farm in August for some socializing and rejoin for regular congregation gatherings in September. Communion service to start our fall season is on September 7.

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Watching World Conference

I’ve been watching for you. Eyes peeled to see familiar faces in the crowds. Lots of opportunities as had been promised. I know some of you are also watching from home or some of those remote sites. We’ll have so many notes to compare when we get back together.

I’ve got lots of ideas for Foyer conversations. Look for them in future posts. But for now I’ll just let them pile up because you can’t decide too soon what it all means. So many images, prophecies and poetry. Some of them even expressed in words.

I don’t ever remember a World Conference with so many personnel changes at once. Do you? We are indeed in for a new future. Are you ready?

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