July 14, 2021

FROM THE DESK OF THE RECTOR      

   We will be RE-OPENING our beloved little church on the occasion of our matronal feast day, Sunday August 15th.

Look for more details in the coming weeks. It will still be a while before we can socialize and enjoy refreshments in the hall, but hopefully, that too will come soon.  Hallelujah!!  

A NEW BEGINNING:    As the pandemic slows down and life picks up, we are in a time of transition. For many, it is a huge relief to be able to leave home, feel safer, and to socialize more. Yet there can be stressors we haven’t anticipated. Maybe we’re not comfortable hugging people… it’s too soon, or we’re suddenly a bit shy. Perhaps the opening up of opportunities feels overwhelming: from having little contact with the outside world to suddenly being able to do many things. For me, entertaining has felt quite stressful. I’m not used to cleaning the house, planning a menu, shopping, cooking, and then entertaining out on the deck of our tiny home. The first few times have felt quite overwhelming. I know I’ll get used to it, but it’s been interesting to discover how “out of shape” I am! More than a couple of people have told me, “I thought I’d get so much done during this imposed time at home.”( ie., projects started and completed, new skills/hobbies learned, deep cleaning of the house.) But just getting through the pandemic has required enormous amounts of energy for most people – keeping up routines, attending to mental and physical health. It hasn’t been easy for most folk. And for some it’s been downright difficult – separation from loved ones, loss of income, inability to grieve in community.  Addictions on the rise, mental health issues have increased. We need community and we’ve missed it. And now as we return to a more fluid life, it’s not the same. We are different, our world is different.

This is an important opportunity to reflect on the past year and a half:
How was it for you, living through this pandemic?
How are you different?
How is it for you – the opening up of community life?
What have you learned?

If you would welcome the opportunity to share your reflections in community, Selinde will facilitate a morning gathering outside the church on Wed, July 21 at 10am. Please RSVP by 2pm Tuesday, July 20 so we know how many people to expect.  If more than 10 people respond, we will arrange for an additional date.

We have been hearing the heart-breaking news about more graves of children being discovered at the sites of former residential schools throughout the country.  The latest discovery on Penelukat Island hit me especially hard.  Please read the letter attached with my Kuper Island Indian Residential School reflection.  There is also a film on CBC GEM called We Were Children that recounts the experiences of two residential school survivors: Lyna Hart, who was sent to the Guy Hill Residential School in Manitoba at age 4; and Glen Anaquod, who was sent to the Lebret Indian Residential School in Saskatchewan. 

Shingles for the church in the north:  While the old shingles from the church roof were picked up by people who saw the value in them as kindling, we had very few donations. If you would like to donate to a church in the north that has much fewer resources than we, any amount would be helpful. No tax receipt, sorry and thank you!  

The 2022 Canadian Church Calendar can now be ordered:  Our St. Francis Pet Memorial Garden is featured in September, about the size of a calendar square.  The cost will be by donation.  Please let KAT know if you are interested in ordering by JULY 27, 2021.  

  The next Care meeting is Monday July 26 at 10am on SKYPE.    

St. Mary’s grounds are really quite beautiful even with all the very hot weather
We have many volunteers that keep it that way.  Val captured this photo of a beautiful butterfly on the butterfly bush.  Buddleia davidii (Butterfly Bush) is a wonderful shrub with large, fragrant, colorful flowers that attract a flutter of butterflies into the summer garden. Many thanks everyone!