Musings...ON Voting & Love!

In seeking to make sense of all that transpired on Sunday I went looking for poetry and, in my searching, came across this poem: Vote, by James Crews

A flock of birds doesn't turn 

all at once-they vote with 

each wingbeat which way to go, 

first one and another choosing 

to fly at a slight angle, then 

all of them following suit 

as they arc through the sky, seeming to move 

as one body and mind, though in truth 

it takes everyone doing their part, 

voting and voting again to be sure

the whole flock keeps heading 

in the right direction.

No, I am not in any way suggesting that another vote is necessary on the question already considered. What struck me in this poem are the lines, “it takes everyone doing their part, voting and voting again”. Voting and voting again through your participation in the life of your community of faith “to be sure the whole flock keeps heading in the right direction.”

This afternoon, Monday, at 4PM the Executive of Sackville United Church will meet. At 6:30PM this evening, the Council of Central United Church will meet and at 7PM the CLT of Visions United will meet. 

Vote, and vote again, through your voice to the Commission to ensure that these last five months of the Pilot Project are, as much as possible, “an arc, seeming to move as one body and mind”.

The Commission next meets on Thursday October 9^th and that meeting will no doubt have a full agenda. Please hold the Commissioners and members of the Ministry Team in your prayers. All of us are working with the best of intentions toward fulfilling the mandate we have been tasked with.

Faithfully,

Lloyd

Looking Ahead

Today, Monday October 6, I am spending the morning with Ministry Personnel colleagues as we gather at the Regional Council office to hear from two of the Commissioners to General Council. The balance of the day will include two meetings with community agencies and at 4PM, the regular meeting of the Sackville United Church Executive (a week early due to scheduling challenges). At 7PM I will meet with Visions CLT for their monthly meeting. Julia will be with the Central United Church Council at 6:30PM.

Tuesday I am in Moncton for the day and at 7PM I hope to drop in on the first Children and Youth Faith Exploration Program at Sackville United Church. The Lectionary Study Group will take place at 10:30AM with Julia offering leadership.

Wednesday morning will be devoted to crafting a liturgy for Thanksgiving Sunday and in the afternoon, I will be meeting with the Trustees of Sackville United Church as they continue to deal with a significant piece of business in cooperation with another local congregation. At 7PM on Wednesday evening I will host the third of four Hidden Wholeness gatherings with wisdom from Parker Palmer. Click the link to participate.

On Thursday the Pastoral Care Team of Sackville United Church will meet by Zoom followed by a meeting of the Anniversary Planning Team (in-person).  Then, it is off to Moncton for pastoral visits and visits at the Moncton City and George Dumont hospitals. At 6:30PM I will gather with the Collaborative Commission for their regular meeting.

Friday and Saturday will be days off.

On Sunday I will preside at the liturgy from Central United Church and Julia will offer the reflection from Sackville United Church. Visions United Church will be hosting a Thanksgiving Spirit Gathering on their own.

Monday is a holiday and both Julia and I will be off. I will be working remotely from Toronto between October 14 to 16 and will preside at my Aunt’s funeral on October 18^th.