The sun is shining, the birds are singing, I’m resisting getting into my garden to clean it up… leaving all the beneficial insects in it who have overwintered in it. It’s a mess! We installed a new walkway last summer and didn’t get a chance to do the landscaping, so I was exploring a number of websites the other day dreaming/imagining what I could do there. We have to build a fence around our raised vegetable beds as the deer ate almost all of our crop last year.
United in Faith
With it feeling like spring, it’s the perfect week for The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree from Luke 13: 6-9! And an opportunity to dig out my Farming Church book. 😉 With a name like MacDonald, you should know that I have a book with that title.
We also have the Carillon Bell Choir this week and they have FIVE new ringers since Christmas! What an abundance of musical energy. I need to get a new picture of them, since the last one I have they are still wearing masks. Creating the bulletin, including choosing hymns and creating the PP for worship are part of my weekly ritual; I’m trying to figure out how to start including another hymn and using it as a time to learn a new one, so singing it for 3 or 4 weeks… a task further explored after Easter. An of course, I spent some time getting ready for the What Would be Do If We Were Brave study group.
I didn’t anticipate how long weaving the ribbons would take, so we won’t do it as part of worship this week, I’ll have it out at coffee time for anyone who wants to weave another ribbon. It’s taking shape beautifully, my plan is to tie off/sew up the ends and sides somehow and use it as a pulpit hanging.
Strengthened by Friendship
As you know, I am all about creating opportunities for people to connect with each other. With that in mind, this week we are starting a 6 week trial of having coffee upstairs. Actually making it upstairs, no running up and down with pots etc. We will evaluate after 6 weeks and will
I met with Phil Bissett, the Executive Director of 2 Denarii, the newest tenant in the hall. 2 Denarii is an addiction recovery association. They need to update their website. Here is an interview with him on CTV.
I met with someone who contacted the church and wanted to volunteer in some way; she contacted us because of our LGBTQ+ stance. She’s a working woman and while I explained to her that most of our volunteer opportunities take place during the day, she was open to anything on the weekends, so we can make use of her for things like the Indoor Yard Sale.
Building a Community of Love and Justice
I spent a chunk of Tuesday morning handing out pies and information about PIE Day at the Food Bank this week and telling folks why we were doing so.
I met with the Property Committee who continue with their work on the hall and then followed up with a conversation with the Regional Property Committee. There will be a Special Congregational Meeting on April 13th following worship to hear the options and discuss them. We’ll be looking for volunteers to provide lunch!
Work in the Wider Church
I worked on creating a video for the Association of United Church Clergy to show at the Annual Meeting of the two regions at the end of May.
St. James United Church Dartmouth 