I was struck by this sign above a doorway on Portland Street one day last week on my walk back from the library! Tucked between two storefronts, I would have never noticed it if I had been driving. There is no better way to be in a neighbourhood than on foot, in fact, along with going to pick up a book at the library, I was dropping my favourite hikers off at the shoe repair place to have them resoled. I never thought I’d be the person who would actually wear out a pair of hikers.
Star Word! Have you gotten your star word yet? This is the last week they will be out on the communion table. Feel free to pick one up for yourself or a friend.
In worship this week, we continue with our Atomic Church series; the reading is Mark 4: 1-34; Jesus is teaching from a boat, using parables, which are confusing. There is the sower and the seeds, the mustard seed, the not putting your lamp under a basket. I’ll probably pick up on the seeds theme, since we are exploring how small changes can make big differences!
Monday – I worked at home in the morning, working on the bulletin, Power Point, and creating graphics for the Lent Series: The Marks of Discipleship, then met Rev. Wendy Kean, Regional Representative to the Transition Team, for lunch in Halifax. I came to the church in the afternoon to deal with various administrative things, those never end!
Tuesday – First thing in the morning I had a quick Zoom call with the Regional Executive in my role as Chair of Future Directions, then co-led a retreat at Port Wallis United Church for some of the clergy from Nova Scotia; the theme was turning, and I may offer it to the congregation and community in the spring, the theme was Turning, perhaps the spring Equinox would be a good time! Of course, I had a multitude of emails to respond to when I got home at suppertime.
Wednesday – This morning I met with Cathy, worked on the workshop for February 4th, and did some reading for my sermon on Sunday. Tonight, Debra Keays-White and I are going to a United Churches for Dartmouth meeting to explore the possibility of our churches offering Dinner Church in some way.
Thursday – It’s the monthly meeting of the Association of United Church Clergy, so a Zoom call will take up a chunk of the morning, then a lunch time meeting with another member of the regional Future Direction’s Committee. One of the things this committee is often called upon to do is help congregations close, (it’s a little ironic for a Future Directions Committee) so we are working on some ‘ending well’ practices. I’ll come to the church in the afternoon and tidy up any loose ends.
Regional work took up more time than usual this week, this is not normal. 😉 My responsibilities to the wider church are 10% of my time, or 4 hours a week. Some weeks it’s none, some weeks it’s more.
St. James United Church Dartmouth 