Weekly Update

SUMMER MUSINGS …

By Christiana McQuain

 

The other day I read an article about a dog whose owner of several years had given her up to a shelter in order to accommodate new puppies in the household.

In short order, “Lady” escaped from the shelter and, attempting to return to her home,  traveled nearly 30 miles.

She was taken in by a woman who found her on the road, and when the woman brought her to the local shelter to have her scanned, they found the microchip registered to her original family.

When they were contacted, though, the family refused to take Lady back.

At this point, even the woman who had found her, no longer wanted her.

A 30 mile journey, only to face rejection.

So many of us have been in a similar position.

Longing for acceptance, struggling to find our place, wanting desperately to feel worthy of love, yet facing rejection at every turn.

We can empathize with Lady because, on some level and to some degree, we have been there…

This story has a happy ending, though.

After reading about Lady online, a wealthy animal lover in Florida adopted her, and has taken her into her home to live with her and among the numerous other animals she has rescued, on her ranch.

Because of her willingness to endure that long journey, love found Lady, and Lady found a home (even if it wasn’t the one she thought she’d been heading toward).

What if we could see all of our sacrifices, struggles, and misfortunes as necessary to illuminate the path toward where we truly belong?

What if all of the tragedies we endure and the abandonments we face are stepping stones leading us Home?

How would this perspective allow us to have hope, even when all seems lost?

 

OUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME …

Our first worship service in our new temporary home at Minnow Lake Place went swimmingly! It’s going to serve us well until our new “Grace Place” is ready J

One small issue is that the chairs in the “sanctuary” are not the MOST comfortable,  so please feel very comfortable to bring a cushion from home, or even your own folding chair, if you like.

Anything you need to do to make it feel more like your spirit home!

 

COUNCIL MEETING …

Council folk, please remember our meeting on TOMORROW at 6:30 at St. Peter’s.

We’ve got lots to discuss, and everyone’s input is needed!

 

AN INVITATION…

Just because we’re overdue for a little fun and fellowship, you’re all warmly invited out to Erin and Kari’s lake house for lunch and fun by/in the lake after worship THIS Sunday, August 18 (weather permitting).

In case of rain, we’ll postpone to August 25.

Burgers and hotdogs will be provided; feel free to bring along a salad or dessert if you like.

If you could RSVP by Friday, that’d be fantastic!

 

THIS WEEK’S LECTIONARY LESSONS …

Isaiah 5:1–7

The unfruitful vineyard will be purged.

Psalm 80:1–2, 8–19 (VU pp. 794–795 Part Two)

Care, O God, for the vine you brought from Egypt.

Hebrews 11:29—12:2

The great cloud of witnesses who lived by faith.

Luke 12:49–56

Jesus comes to bring fire and division within households.

 

ONE LAST WORD …

You can never go home again, but the truth is you can never leave home, so it’s all right.  -Maya Angelou

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Weekly Update

SUMMER MUSINGS … written by Christiana McQuain

 

Where are you going?

We ask ourselves this question periodically as we move through life.

Setting goals, checking in on how the journey is progressing, perhaps altering our course or even tweaking our mode of transportation…

The truth is that we can plan every element of our journey down to the last detail, but still we are stepping into an uncertain future.

We don’t know what lies ahead.

But that’s part of the pleasure, isn’t it?

Anticipating the unknown, eyes open to the ever-changing surroundings…

When we encounter the unexpected, change becomes growth.

When we hit bumps in the road we are being prepared for what is to come and revealing resilience we might not have realized we had.

When we traverse a ravine we are learning that we do, indeed, possess the strength to face adversity and emerge triumphant on the other side.

When we pass through a serene glade, we are restored by the relative ease, and reminded of the beauty that is present for and around us everywhere.

Just the simple fact that we experienced yesterday – whatever its particular landscape – means that we are in some small way different from who we were prior to doing so.

Every step forward reveals a bit more of who we are, and is therefore

transformational.

It’s important to remember that, even when each moment feels like the last, and it may seem as though things are stagnant, the scenery does indeed change every day. We change, every day.

And in your awareness and appreciation of this lies the gift.

Life’s intangible rewards of joy, connection, deep emotion…

When life’s only constant is change, we cannot help but be transformed by the journey.

So the question then becomes not, “where are you going”, but “how are you getting there?”

 

A NEW PLACE FOR GRACE! …

As we start to get on with things in this “in-between time” after the fire, I am delighted to announce that we have found a new temporary home for worship!

Beginning THIS Sunday, August 11, until our new building is complete, we will be gathering on Sunday mornings at Minnow Lake Place (1127 Bancroft Drive), where we have use of the gymnasium space for worship and two classrooms for our children’s ministry.

Please use the lakeside entrance at the back of the building.

See you Sunday!

 

WHERE TO FIND THE REV …

Starting this Thursday, until we move into our new permanent space, my office will be located at St. Stephen’s on the Hill United (Lauzon St., New Sudbury).

I plan to work between home and there, so the best way to reach me is still on my cell phone, or of course by email or Facebook messenger.

 

CHILI CHALLENGE!

As part of our BIG Welcome Back to Church Weekend, (September 21 and 22) we will be holding our always popular and super fun Chili Challenge!

Our friends at St. Andrew’s (Larch Street) have offered us their second floor fellowship hall and state of the art kitchen for the event; we’re grateful!

As a bit of a different twist this year, we are going to be inviting our fellow United Churches in the city to participate; a nice opportunity for fun and fellowship.

Details to follow, along with requests for help… let’s all pitch in together and show the community that Grace is here to stay and stronger in spirit than ever!

 

BACKPACK BUDDIES!…

From August 11 until the end of September, you are invited to bring your donations to worship on Sundays.

I will personally store the donations in my garage until they can be delivered to their destination.

Requested school supplies include backpacks, lunchboxes or bags, pencil cases, pencils, pens, crayons, erasers, washable markers, sharpeners, highlighters, three-ring binders, glue sticks, scissors, rulers and lined paper.

Many thanks for your generosity!

 

THIS WEEK’S LECTIONARY LESSONS  Genesis 18:20-32 Psalm 138 Colossians 2:6-15 (16-19) Luke 11:1-13

 

ONE LAST WORD …

“We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.” – Kenji Miyazaw

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Weekly Update

SUMMER MUSINGS … words of wisdom by Bob Patrick

Throw some baking soda on some vinegar: explosive bubbles!

The opposites – alkaline and acid – combine with each other and cause a reaction that changes the make up of the substances involved.

If the alkaline and acid are equal in strength, they neutralize each other and each force works together to become some new neutral substance.

Life events can be like this.

The “right” mix of elements lead to a reaction, and reactions often feel very uncomfortable.

In the moment, the discomfort of the reaction may leave us angry or full of regret for the things that led to the reaction.

Reactions can push us toward vengeful feelings that make us want to strike out at what we perceive to be the source of our pain.

But time.  Even a little time can leave us seeing things very differently.

That thing that was so awful in the moment has somehow managed to bring us to a new place.

That once awful job or relationship or physical condition or catastrophe was actually the stepping stone that brought us to this new perspective and experience.

Metamorphosis often begins in episodes that we don’t like and that we wish away.

What events today, or recently, have caused you pain?

Breathe into them.

See them as energy moving you through a metamorphosis.

Follow the energy.

It leads you to your next piece of wisdom.

 

WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY…

THIS Sunday, August 4 we are invited to worship with our friends at St. Peter’s (York St.)

The service takes place at 10:30.

The hope and intention of council is that we will have our long-term temporary worship space secured and ready by NEXT Sunday, August 11.

Stay tuned for news on that front.

 

UPDATE FROM “GROUND ZERO” …

What a week it has been, friends. It’s like a whirlwind of business to be dealt with and decisions to be made; all with anxiety high and emotions raw.

I would like to express my personal thanks, and gratitude on your behalf, to the Grace trustees and council for all their work thus far getting first steps in place; work which will continue and intensify in the months to come …

As you are all aware, the building was completely leveled—in an incredibly short period of time– yesterday.

Monday, I was able to hang out a bit with the demolition crew, and had a good heart to heart with the foreman and our insurance adjustor.

I was heartened by their compassion and sense of reverence for the space.

I was able to relay history and stories to them, for which they were grateful.

The good news is, though definitely damaged, the crew was able to recover a number of our things from the sanctuary, which Kari and I have hauled home and sorted, and which now are laid out to dry in our garage (and on the clothesline 😊).

Additional items are still on site and at the Gilroy’s place.

The communion tables and three pews will be arriving at our place today or tomorrow.

Also things from my office were saved, for which I am deeply grateful.

Everything is wet and smoky, and there is some damage,

Though no one was allowed into the building before its demolishment, our adjustor did allow me to enter the sanctuary with the crew for a few moments on Monday.

The sight was absolutely gut-wrenching.

It truly is utterly destroyed.

While I’m grateful that none of the rest of you had to see it, it does give me some comfort to know that—given the state of things– there is no other option than demolition and rebuilding from the ground up; which we will do, in one form or another 😊

As more details about the way forward become clear.

GraceUnitedStrong!

 

WHERE TO FIND THE REV …

Starting next week and likely until we move into our new permanent space, my office will be located at St. Stephen’s on the Hill United in New Sudbury.

As they are presently without a minister our friends at St. Stephen’s have offered me their minister’s study, for which I am extremely grateful.

My plan at this point is to work between home and there, so the best way to reach me is still on my cell phone, or of course by email or Facebook messenger.

 

CHILI CHALLENGE!

As part of our BIG Welcome Back to Church Weekend, (September 21 and 22) we will be holding our always popular and super fun Chili Challenge!

Our friends at St. Andrew’s (Larch Street) have offered us their second floor fellowship hall and state of the art kitchen for this event, along with help advertising and putting it on—we are blessed!

As a bit of a different twist this year, we are going to be inviting our fellow United Churches in the city to participate; a nice opportunity for fun and fellowship.

Details to follow, along with requests for help… let’s all pitch in together and show the community that Grace is here to stay and stronger in spirit than ever!

 

BACKPACK BUDDIES!…

Sadly, amongst all that was lost in the fire were our donations for Backpack Buddies ☹

We are not defeated though; we just need to start again!

From August 11 until the end of September, you are invited to bring your donations to worship on Sundays.

I will personally store the donations in my garage until they can be delivered to their destination.

As you are aware Backpack Buddies of Sudbury helps parents/guardians alleviate some of the financial stresses associated with back to school time.

Requested school supplies include backpacks, lunchboxes or bags, pencil cases, pencils, pens, crayons, erasers, washable markers, sharpeners, highlighters, three-ring binders, glue sticks, scissors, rulers and lined paper.

Many thanks for your generosity!

 

THIS WEEK’S LECTIONARY LESSONS …  Hosea 11:1-11  Psalm 107:1-9, 43  Colossians 3:1-11 Luke 12:13-21

 

ONE LAST WORD …

“Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.” – E.B. White

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