Weekly Musing:
We are uncomfortable with sadness and grief.
Sure, we can deal for a short while, but as soon as a person’s grief makes us feel uncomfortable or becomes inconvenient, we want the sadness to end and for people to “move on” as quickly as possible so that the rest of us can too.
Most of the time these hopes are well-intentioned.
However, when it comes right down to it, society does not make much room for people to grieve in the various ways as they need.
Because we see grief as a problem to be fixed, we don’t allow people to move at their own pace.
We try to force people through stages.
We project our own process or discomfort onto others.
We forget that we all grieve in different ways.
Sometimes, we simply need to give someone room to do so.
Grieving for as long as one needs can be cathartic in the long run.
We must not allow ourselves to sink into the places that lead us to self-destruction.
Sitting with sadness and loss for as long as we need can make us whole on the other side of grief.
So, sit with your grief and allow others to do the same.
The time to move on will make itself known when and how God intends.
When we do so, our moments of grief, filled with loss and sadness, may be reborn as a life filled with abundance and joy.
-Bruce Reyes-Chow
Mindfulness and Meditation:
Our next gathering for mindfulness and meditation will take place Monday, April 8 at 7:30 pm via Zoom.
Take time to be holy…
Study and Discussion Group:
Our next session will take place on Wednesday, April 17 at 7:00 pm via Zoom.
This month’s discussion will focus on themes raised in chapter 6 of Philip Yancey’s The Jesus I Never Knew.
Everyone is welcome to log on!
Council Meeting:
Council will gather on Wednesday, April 24 at 6:30 pm, in person at Grace.
All members please plan to attend!
Right Around the Corner!
Our annual Spring Spaghetti Fundraiser is just a couple of weeks away:
Saturday, April 20 from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Tickets are $15.00 for adults; $8.00 for children 6 to 10.
“Many hands make light work”, so please add your name to the sign up sheet on Sunday and let’s work together to make this the best spaghetti supper EVER!
Fundscrip:
Don’t forget about Fundscrip: an easy way to help support our life and work at Grace!
Specials for April are as follows:
Chalo! FreshCo 5%
Foodland & Co Ops 5%
IGA 5%
Lawtons Drugs 5%
Les Marches Tradition 5%
Needs 5%
Rachelle Bery 5%
Safeway 5%
Sobeys 5%
Thrifty Foods 5%
AnyCard 7%
AnyCard – Birthday 7%
AnyCard – Dine 7%
AnyCard – Eatz 7%
AnyCard – Kidz 7%
AnyCard – Play 7%
Foot Locker 7%
Simons 7%
Showing We Care!
The Sudbury Pregnancy Care Centre and Infant Foodbank helps mothers and infants in need, throughout the Greater Sudbury Area.
We will post the full list of items that they accept, but we had hoped that we might focus on diapers, clothing and basic care items.
While we won’t turn it away, there is still something of a shortage on infant formula and we are concerned that purchasing these items might make it that much harder for those who need to buy them.
If you’d like to help mothers to buy formula – please consider a monetary donation instead.
Suggested items:
*Diapers – try to stick to size 3/4/5/6. Some brand suggestions for value – Rascal and Friends (Walmart) or Kirkland (Costco)
*Clothing – new or gently used up to size 4
*Food – they especially need 6 and 8 month baby meals and arrowroot cookies.
*Infant equipment – mainly baby gates, non expired car seats, and highchairs with straps.
*Batteries – they’ve asked for C and D batteries
Thank You!
From Marilyn Boileau:
I will be travelling to Cuba April 13-20 with a group from Trinity Lively. We will be partnering with The Christian Center for Reflection and Dialogue.
We will be visiting and helping out a senior’s centre, an orphanage, visiting an organic farm and a pregnancy care centre.
Many thanks to everyone who made donations of needed items.
They will be gratefully received!
This Week’s Lectionary Lessons:
Acts 4:32–35
The believers shared everything in common.
Psalm 133 (VU p. 856)
How pleasant it is when God’s people are together.
1 John 1:1—2:2
God is light; journey in the light.
John 20:19–31
Jesus appears to the disciples, but Thomas is not there.
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