Happy New Year! As we enter this New Year I want to say thank you for your kindness in sharing cards and gifts with Jennifer and I and our family. The gift from the Ministry and Personnel Committee was used to purchase our turkey from Dixon Meats. The remainder was put toward what has become an annual tradition, a centerpiece with ornaments for each of the children. Thank you!
On the brink of this New Year I was drawn again to the words of Mary Oliver. I was introduced to the poetry and Mary Oliver by Parker Palmer at a Courage to Lead event in Wisconsin back in 2014 – and I keep coming back again and again, especially at pivotal times in life
Mornings At Blackwater
For years, every morning, I drank from Blackwater Pond. It was flavored with oak leaves and also, no doubt, the feet of ducks.
And always it assuaged me from the dry bowl of the very far past.
What I want to say is that the past is the past, and the present is what your life is, and you are capable of choosing what that will be, darling citizen.
So come to the pond, or the river of your imagination, or the harbor of your longing,
and put your lips to the world. And live your life.
As I pondered these words, reflecting on my own life and the opportunities and challenges that this year may present, I also found myself contemplating our life in community as Upper Sackville and Sackville United Churches. What is past that we need to leave in the past? What is the ‘present’ of our life? What choices do we need to make together so that we might reach all that we are capable of? Or, asked another way according to the poem, what lies in the pond, within the river of our collective imagination or the heart of our longing?
I am becoming ever more aware that we are changed and changing communities of faith. In the last six months almost a dozen new people have joined our congregations and we continue to see new faces each Sunday. We must be ever more intentional in building community in sharing information and inviting folk to participate. For example, folk who are new to the congregations need to know who the decision makers are, how decisions are made, how their contributions are valued and used. Even more importantly, we need to share our personal stories of meaningful sprit-filled transformation and community – such story-telling invites deeper participation by others.
In the spirit of this learning, over the next eight Sundays (the season of Epiphany) there will be an opportunity in the midst of our Sunday Gathering to Speak of the Light, “arise shine, your light has come.” to share how you have been encouraged or inspirited and/or to identify an opportunity, idea or event that you believe may be inspiring or encouraging to others.
Faithfully,
Lloyd
Looking Ahead
Monday was spent at the hospital and the Drew Nursing Home followed by some time in the office. Tuesday was a day off and today I’ve been working from home on the website. Thursday I’ll be doing some pastoral visits and taking part in a Conference Call.
Friday and Saturday will be days off.
Sunday will see us gather at Upper Sackville United Church at 9AM and Sackville United Church at 11AM. We are also responsible for leading the service at the Drew at 3PM – plan now to come and take part and extend the circle of care to the residents there.
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