Keeping in Touch -- July 1

Good afternoon James Bay United Church,

A big day in our city and all across the country with pop up celebrations here, there and everywhere.
The other day when I was helping to spread some mulch on our church gardens along with Spring (one of our janitors from Syria), he was practicing “O Canada.” And then came the joke of the day as we both were past ready to quit the heavy lifting. Spring says “I get out of Syria alive. I wait and I wait and I wait. And finally I get to come to Canada ... and here, I die!” Okay, so Bev wasn’t working us quite that hard, but Spring is one of many newcomers (recent and not so recent) that I know who are grateful beyond words for their life in Canada.

At our worship team meeting earlier in the week we took some time to think further about next steps in creating a welcome place for young children and their parents, care-givers when we gather for worship on Sunday mornings. Thanks to everyone who offered your thoughts into the mix. These considerations and suggestions are being taken up by Cheryl Macpherson and Bev Tracey of the Worship Team, who will be looking for 2 more people to help us undertake some concrete moves. If you have a particular passion for this aspect of widening of our welcome, and are ready to get to work on it ASAP, please drop me a note today or tomorrow. Thank you!

Next Sunday July 9 opens up another opportunity to express our welcome through our participation in the Pride Parade and taking part in hosting at a information / conversation booth at Macdonald Park in the afternoon. There are a number of United Churches and other faith communities involved as well. This year, the parade begins at 11 am ... an hour earlier than in previous years. With that in mind, our service that day will begin at 10:15 (not just the announcements and pre-service gathering time but we’ll light the candle at 10:15!) and wrap up a little earlier. As in other years, there are various ways to be involved ... walking in the parade for some or part of the route between Pandora @ Government Streets and Macdonald Park in James Bay; planting yourself along the route to support the walkers; taking a turn hosting at the United Church booth in the park. We are still looking for volunteers to take a shift at the booth. Please let me know if you’re able to lend a hand there.

Looking ahead to Sunday July 30th ... our service that day will be shaped around the hymns that hold particular power and meaning for us ... the tunes and lyrics that have laid down their tracks in us, that inspire, strengthen, console, that move us to tears, express our wonder and gratitude. Toward that end you are invited to “name that tune” and come prepared to offer a brief word about why it’s an important one for you. For those of you at the service tomorrow, you’ll receive a quick and easy form to fill out. There’ll a drop box available for you in which to leave it. Otherwise you can make use of the attached document to submit your request. In previous years this has proved to be a wonderfully rich offering ... it’s the Sunday people talk about more than any other! So I encourage you to think about what is that touchstone hymn for you these days, and to offer that into the mix.

I look forward to being with you in worship tomorrow.
Grace and Peace, and Happy Canada Day!
Karen