Happy Wednesday!
May 1, 2024
Weekly Musing:
I once had a chess teacher.
He wasn’t always my chess teacher.
For the longest time, he was the homeless guy by the door.
And one day he became David, my chess teacher—but only after I opened the door, invited him in, and he came on in.
Metaphorical and actual doors keep us apart every day.
Sometimes we are the ones who close, slam, or lock the door, and at other times, we are the ones left standing on the other side, yearning to come in from the storm.
David was one of those standing on the other side of the door, and I kept walking past and closing the door behind me.
I was never dismissive, and he was never pushy.
We simply never took the chance to cross the threshold together—not until he offered to teach me how to play chess.
From that point on, while I was a lost cause when it came to chess, we found a mutual joy in one another’s company.
And for a brief moment along our individual journeys, we were just two guys sitting at a table, drinking coffee, swapping stories, and sharing grace.
These are the holy moments in life that we miss out on when we fixate on the doors that protect and exclude.
Yes, there can be risk.
If we are to become the radically diverse household of God, we must open doors and walk right in.
-Bruce Reyes-Chow
Mindfulness and Meditation:
If stress has you anxious, tense and worried, you might try meditation.
Spending even a few minutes in meditation can help restore your calm and inner peace. -The Mayo Clinic
Our next half hour retreat for body, mind, and spirit will be held on Monday, May 6 at 7:30 pm via Zoom.
Study and Discussion Group:
Our next session will be held on Wednesday, May 15 at 7:00 pm via Zoom.
Following along in our focus book, The Jesus I Never Knew, we will be exploring themes raised in chapter seven.
Everyone is warmly welcome!
For more information about the group or the book, please reach out to Rev. Erin.
Faith, Fun and Fellowship for Youth!:
Our Grace United Youth Group is going STRONG!
Our next gathering will be on Friday, May 31 from 6:30 to 9:00 pm
All young people 12 and up are invited!
Let’s Get Cookin’!
With our super-successful Spaghetti Fundraiser behind us, it’s time to shine a BIG SPOTLIGHT once again on our Grace United Cookbook!.
Debbie is eagerly waiting to receive your contributions at harleychyk.ds@gmail.com
Alternately, you can hand hardcopies to Debbie, Sarah or Leona, or place them in the envelop on the bulletin board.
At least one recipe from each family would be fantastic.
Let’s get cooking, Grace!
From Our Fundraising and Fellowship Team:
We’re planning some taco fun for Cinco de Mayo lunch in the fellowship hall following worship this Sunday.
Please see our Grace United Strong Facebook Group page for ways you can help make this a great time to enjoy!
Directly following lunch Sarah and Leona invite anyone interested in helping plan the June 1st Yard Sale-Spring Fair to join us in the boardroom for a short meeting and brainstorming of ideas.
Many helping hands are needed to get this annual fundraiser organized!
Showing We Care!
The Blue Door Soup Kitchen was founded in 1982 in response to economic hardships resulting from lay offs at the mines.
Their mission is to provide hospitality and a nourishing meal to all those in need, without question or judgement.
The Blue Door currently provides more than 300 meals every week day, and are in desperate need of coffee, whitener and packaged desserts.
As their needs change regularly, our Mission and Outreach Team Leads, Shaye and Janice, will inform us of how we can help throughout the month of May.
Donations can be left in the Care Box in the narthex at Grace 😊
This Week’s Lectionary Lessons:
Acts 10:44–48
The gift of the Holy Spirit comes as Peter preaches.
Psalm 98 (VU p. 818)
Sing to God a new song.
1 John 5:1–6
To love God is to obey God’s commandments.
John 15:9–17
Love one another as I have loved you.
Grace United Church Sudbury 