From the Minister’s Study – September 17, 2024
“I am a spiritual being of God’s creation
and God’s spirit infuses me with life; and I am comforted.”
Hello everybody,
Summer is giving us one more warm hug before Fall officially arrives this Sunday September 22. I hear people are still taking advantage of the warmer waters and swimming in the middle of September! I got a kayak in this afternoon before supper. And yet, as I drove into Trinity on Monday there were colourful signs of our new season all around me- dashes of colour and leaves falling quietly and peacefully to be laid to rest for another year.
This coming Sunday September 22 is our official “Back to Church” Sunday. It’s a time we gather to celebrate the start of a brand new church year. This will include lots of new music, new banners flying and yes, as an ode to our passing summer- even a hot dog after the service. A big welcome back to our Trinity choir! Our Light Beamers are reminded to bring their backpacks to church for a blessing as they start a new school year too. This is a reminder that God always has their backs- and ours too.
As most of you know by now, this week has been a week like no other for me. I got word that mom had taken a turn and it was time to come home. Mom was my rock. She was always there cheering me on from the sidelines- there for my brothers and sisters too. When anything good or bad happened in my day- I couldn’t wait to get home to phone her and share the news with her. Mom would celebrate that good stuff and help me through the more challenging times in my life. As Lynda Arnold said- I think it was Lynda- last week is a big blur: “A life well lived… but never easy to say good-bye.” Yes, especially our final good-byes. They have to be the hardest. I read these words on the sign outside Riverside Public School on my way into work: “We can do hard things.” Indeed, we can. We can do hard things through Christ who strengthens us. I repeated these words found in Philippians over and over to myself “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” and the words of a good friend “You got this.” throughout the emotional rollercoaster of the week that was. Leading mom’s Celebration of Life service was my parting gift to her. She brought me into the world and I now had the privilege of escorting her into the new mysterious world that awaits us all. Her soul is set free and soaring high! Mom leaves behind her a trail of love and God’s arms are open wide welcoming her home with a warm and tender embrace. Even though it is hard to turn the page when you know somebody you love is not in the next chapter- the story must go on. And memories of mom will make for a delightful sidebar.
I want to wrap up this message with a poem called All is Well by Henry Scott Holland
Death is nothing at all,
I have only slipped into the next room
I am I and you are you
Whatever we were to each other, that we are still.
Call me by my old familiar name.
Speak to me in the easy way which you always used
Put no difference in your tone,
Wear no force air of solemnity or sorrow
Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together.
Play, smile, think of me, pray for me.
Let my name be ever the household word that it always was.
Let it be spoken without effect,
without the trace of shadow on it.
Life means all that it ever meant.
It is the same as it ever was, there is unbroken continuity.
Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?
I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very nearby.
Just around the corner.
All is well.
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I wish to thank you all for your kindness shown to me last week through your caring thoughts, text messages and emails I received when I was in Newfoundland and for the sympathy cards that awaited me on my desk and in my mailbox upon my return. They were all balm for my aching heart. You have demonstrated once again that love is always the light that gets us through our darkest moments.
Thank you for being my light.
Mark these dates on your Fall calendar:
Book Study- Growing Old Gracefully Tuesday afternoons
in the Arnold Room. 2 pm
“Mug up with the Minister” returns on Thursday October 3rd
with a guest speaker talking about nurturing faith
in our children and grandchildren.
World Communion Sunday- October 6th
Thanksgiving Sunday October 13th and in celebration of our 100th Anniversary our Inspirit Team
is hosting a Fall Speaker series
starting on Thursday October 17th.
Dessert at 6: 30 pm followed by speaker at 7pm. Details soon.
Hope to see you all Sunday morning- is it possible to fill those pews? Come on out and join us even if you haven’t been here since COVID- it’s time for fresh starts and new beginnings and of course bring along a friend.
Autumn blessings,
With gratitude,
Rev. Diane
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