Welcome Back to a Month of Firsts! September is a month of firsts!
The fall equinox, the first day of autumn arrives on Sunday, September 22, 2024, at 08:44 A.M. EDT in the Northern Hemisphere!
But even before that date there are other firsts: the first day of school for Principals and Teachers, a day to psyche themselves up before the arrival of the kids! And then, a few days later, the kids arrive and chaos unfolds as they settle into new routines!
A little later, as the town of Sackville well knows, comes the first day of classes at Mount Allison… and pity you if you are trying to get out of town on York Street or Main Street as the students are making their way from one side of the campus to the other!
We had our own first this fall too: our first Sunday gathering as a collaborative, Central United, Sackville United and Visions United, United in the Common Good!! You can watch the recording here.
On Sunday September 1st, Julia Ye, the newest member of the Ministry Team, presided at the liturgy which was livestreamed from Sackville United Church. Lloyd, the Minister of Sackville United, and now responsible with Julia for Central, Sackville and Visions, offered the reflection from Visions United Church, which was incorporated, live, into the livestream, and Central United gathered in community to view the livestream and host a Zoom gathering for those who preferred that platform! And the technology worked! Brilliantly!
If you have any feedback about your experience on our first Sunday you may send it to Julia or Lloyd or the Secretary of the Collaborative. What worked well? What didn't work so well? How might the experience be improved? How might you contribute?
Yes, there were a couple of little gaps. Yes, the sound was low. Yes, we need to adjust the order and flow a little bit – but these are things we can fix!
What we don’t need to fix is the overall attitude of those who gathered: there was enthusiasm, energy, excitement and good will! What more could one ask as one stands at the threshold of the season that will transition us to the colder days of winter!
Good will! Nurture it! Cultivate it! Share it!
May it be so!
Lloyd
Looking Ahead
Today (Tuesday) I have tw meetings in the morning. After lunch (during which Rasta will get his fall trim), I have another meeting after which I’ll be at the Drew visiting residents there. At 6:30PM I am meeting with a group to support the creation of a Men’s Circle of Care and Support.
Wednesday I will be in Moncton: hospital and nursing home visits in the morning, three meetings in the afternoon followed by a Grounding Meeting for members of the Commission and members of all of the Governing Bodies. This will also be a welcoming party for Julia!
Thursday afternoon I have three pastoral visits scheduled and in the evening I will be meeting with the Sackville Pastoral Contact Team.
Friday and Saturday will be days off and on Sunday I will be presiding at the liturgy from Visions United Church. In the evening I will gather with the Commission for their regular Sunday evening meeting – and I am sure we’ll have a full agenda!
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