Gone Fishin'

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Enjoy your summer!
Remember to visit me at my personal page if you miss me! Ha Ha Ha!

Sunday School Picnic -- June 14th

Hope everyone is hyped for the big picnic...and the "very first Church Picnic" play performed by all our kids and written by congregant, Wayne Bryant. A perfect close to the Sunday School year. We'll be dressed a tad bit more informally than in this photo...but you can bet there will be watermelon!

By the way, this blog will close down soon as I leave for summer R&R which means gardening, reading, and just spending time with my honey.

See you at the end of August for Vacation Bible School
August 17th through 21st.
Have a great summer.
God's peace.

Thomas Berry dies at 94

It is a sad day for me...for Thomas Berry who calls himself not a theologian , but a geologian (an Earth scholar) has left us to carry on his "great work." May we be worthy...

Pentecost -- birthday or anniversary?

While we often hear that this upcoming Sunday called Pentecost is the birthday of the church, there is much evidence to the contrary. For one it was a Jewish holy day, long before it was assimilated into the Christian mindset and for another thing those first celebrants were Jewish and probably had no intention or inclination to found another new faith tradition. Jesus, himself, seemed to be trying to induce those of the Jewish sects (yes Judaism was and is as diverse as Christianity was and is) to be imbued with God's spirit and not to get stuck perseverating about doctrines and dogmas.

Still there is from all accounts something very momentous that happened that day of wind and fire. The Spirit got through; they felt it -- better than that they acted on it and we had hope for a while that all peoples of earth would be able to unite in their joint search for truth and meaning, that is, for right relationship with God.

Now this is not to say that God was or is or can be defined by what we read in the Bible. There is much wisdom in the Bible, but if you try to define things like God who is ineffable and indescribable, then you will definitely run into a lot of trouble. Mostly what I learned in seminary is that much of the metaphor and seeming contradiction is there intentionally because the wise people who tried to capture relationship with God were forcing us to realize that what was written down was metaphor, allegory, instructive, wisdom -- but not literal fact or history as we would now know it.

History for the ancients -- and up until fairly recently -- was a very different kettle of fish. And when you can grasp that God is out of time and space, then you can see how futile it is (and always will be) to try to pin God to something so subjective as "history." Even when we take accounts from bystanders at an event like an "accident" we will hear quite different stories. This is not to say that anyone is intentionally lying, just that what they saw was through their own eyes and hence will be biased by their own histories, perceptions, and prejudices. (Yes, we all have them and that is not bad, it just is.)

So, when I speak about Pentecost, it may be quite different than what you have come to expect. I try to let God speak through me and not get in the way...but I am human and I have my own "take" on justice, mercy, humility, spirit and so on...

If you find what I say resonates with you, or if you find that what I say gets your hackles up -- you're right. We can agree, or agree to disagree, but we are still in the same boat. We are Christian...whatever stripe or colour.

And we can all live at peace with broken open hearts and satisfied minds...

Here comes summer...

Today, the weather was summer-like, but that will change. However, just wanted to share that our VBS (vacation bible school) is in full registration mode. Forms will be available at a special table this Sunday and henceforth in the Church Office. Also we are hoping to recruit volunteer helpers. There's lots of variety in this year's program...so think about it.

Our play is in place for the Sunday School Picnic on June 14th too. Wayne Bryant will soon be auditioning and rehearsing the children to perform a little play he wrote on the "Boy with the Fishes".

So be prepared to enjoy lots of intergenerational fun from June through August! Whoo hoo summer bring 'er on!

A real holiday weekend...

On Friday night/Saturday early, early morning, I had a little health scare. No details...just suffice to say that I realized that I needed to take a vacation from stress and worry...which meant I actually rested a lot on Saturday (Jeff's good advice. I did a wee bit of art, read a tiny bit, knitted one repeat (4 rounds) of socks and generally stayed on the couch. Then Sunday I took the day off (gasp!) You heard right I did not attend any church on Sunday. I can't believe it myself...but you know what...it was a great day. More -- in larger doses -- of what I did on Saturday, but I also made supper and it was good too. Then today it was warmer, well the wind had died down and that made a big difference. So more of the same and a little (very little) gardening thrown in. I am starting to feel like my old energetic self and also feeling very hopeful and positive...something that has eluded me for a bit...Won't go into details about that either. Just say, I am doing the "morning pages" again and getting in touch with both me and God. Not a bad thing, that.

A new loop!

Today I was invited to take the pulpit at the Chesley-Dobbinton Charge in Bruce County. The countryside around there is truly beautiful, sort of like the great folks we met today at each congregation. The children at St. John's in Chesley made me feel like skooching them they were such sweeties. And Owen knows how much Nana likes to skooch!

Pulpit supply has a way of introducing you to people that you would like to see and know more of. Spend more time with. Our camera was recalled so I don't have any pictures today, but there are some coming soon. So keep a look out--as the saying goes. Be posting more later, just wanted to say hey and keep you in the loop ...

Went to Southampton after to pick up Jeff's two prints -- one of which was in the recent Gallery show there. The lovely one that I liked didn't sell...sad to say, but good for me as it is one of my faves. No figuring people's taste (or imho lack thereof) so it was a loop of sorts...Owen Sound, Dobbinton, Chesley, back through Dobbinton to Southampton and back to Owen Sound. The trip back was especially enhanced by the lovely sunshine.

Glad to see it today...look out tonight...frost warnings~ So no gardening today, except for a few dandelions that were sacrificed in the name of order. Sorry to the "Dandiest of Dandelions" Someday, if these folks (that is My Sweet Patootie)are ever in your neighbourhood...check them out! Great energy, great music!