Friday is PIE Day! We want to be Public, Intentional and Explicit about our support and affirmation of LGBTQ+ people. In a time when there is increasing polarization, it’s more important than ever to a visible presence in the community. On Friday a group of folks are taking pies out to LGBTQ+ friendly businesses in Downtown Dartmouth. And on Sunday, Ryan Gomes is our speaker for this celebration and there will be PIE afterwards to eat and to purchase. Hope you can join us!
United in Faith
Many thanks to Marilyn and Reid Harrison for co-opting their son-in-law to make the weaving loom that we’ll be using for the Prayers over the next five weeks. Many thanks to my stepson who 3D printed the hands on the communion table and to Rose who painted the ‘white’ one.
The first week of How We Learn to Be Brave study group started today; this will run for 5 weeks and you can still join, we are looking at Chapters 2 & 3 next Wednesday at 10:30 in the parlour. This study is also taking place at Grace United on Thursday @ 2 pm in the sanctuary.
Strengthened by Friendship
The Craft group got together for lunch on Wednesday as a thank you to Marilyn who has been leading them through a mystery quilting project! Delicious and a beautiful table was set. I appreciate the invitation to lunch and paid my dues by saying grace. 😉
Building a Community of Love and Justice
I created an Easter invitation for you to share with your friends; with a discount code, and taking the cost of Cathy’s time into consideration, I decided it was more economical to order them through VistaPrint, (based in The Netherlands) which has on their website: Proudly printing from Windsor, ON since 2005! They should be here in a couple of weeks.
Interim Ministry
I had a conversation a couple of weeks ago with Rev. Lynn Donavan, a Presbyterian Minister in Picton, ON about the transformation her church has undergone. Here is the link to the article, it’s stunning, imaginative, and inspirational!
The Transition Team met last night and are working on a Feedback Process Policy Document as well as updating the chart of things that have been done, are in process, need to be done. That document will be shared once it’s gone to the Leadership Team for approval.
Tomorrow, I have to finalize a grant application for funding for a couple of 100th Anniversary projects: putting a couple of raised beds at the front of the church, as well as a community picnic; both of these are in conjunction with other UCCs.
Work in the Wider Church
I received the news that Rev. Kendall Harrison, Pastoral Relations Minister for Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters, died suddenly Monday morning. Kendall was the Personnel Minister for Maritime Conference and while it’s been a few years since I’ve seen him, his death was a shock right across the church, but especially here in the Maritimes.
Things are starting to get busy as the region looks towards the annual meeting, as reports need to get ready and submitted. we’ll be meeting on-line for two evenings in mid May for the business portions of the meeting and then former ‘Maritime Conference’ will be meeting together in Sackville, NB at the end of May to commemorate the 100 anniversary of the United Church of Canada.
St. James United Church Dartmouth 