From the Rector's Desk

Now that better weather is here, so is seasonal road maintenance. DrivingImage around town is a challenge these days with detours and construction, especially on a certain highway near us! It reminds me of the silly story of the doctor, the engineer and the town planner, debating whose profession is the greatest. The doctor pointed out that in the Creation Story in the Bible, God created Eve from Adam's rib and this required surgery, so the medical profession is the first and greatest. The engineer countered with an earlier passage in the Bible where God created order out of chaos, which is what engineers do, so theirs is the greatest profession. "Ah yes” said the planner with a smile, “but before that, who do you think caused the chaos?"

With apologies to any doctors, engineers and planners among us, for poking fun at their important jobs, I guess it is true that none of us can plan changes of any kind, or implement them, without causing some level of chaos.  Whether it’s in our personal lives or in an institution, planning ahead is difficult especially in these times of global interconnectedness and rapid technological change. In my view, there are at least two reasons for this. 

First we tend to extrapolate from the present.  In other words we observe trends and expect they will continue like a straight line into the future. But rarely are we able to foresee sharp corners ahead, nor big changes in direction, so we usually assume little or no change in the status quo as we plan ahead. For example, pandemics are not usually included in our forward planning!

Second, I would suggest that our lack of foresight arises because we don’t always include God’s grace fully in our forward thinking.  During the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II last week we watched a documentary called “The Queen: In Her Own Words.”  She was once quoted as saying “I know just how much I rely on my own faith to guide me through the good times and the bad. I know that the only way to live my life is to try to do what is right, to take the long view, to give of my best in all that the day brings, and to put my trust in God.”

The biblical witness and experience of countless people of faith, is that God is more palpably active in the world when the rules of the game are changing all around us, especially when healing and transformation are on God’s agenda. The greatest of those times was Jesus Christ himself, in whom God revealed “what no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor human heart conceived… what God has prepared for those who love him”  (1 Corinthians 2:9)  In another context, the prophet Jeremiah (29:11) discerned God’s words: “Surely I know the plans I have for you… for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.”

We may plan for what we think we can see ahead, and there’s absolutely nothing inherently wrong in that, but life does come at us from different directions, sometimes fast and unexpected. That’s when chaos may ensue! We need to keep aware that God is more present than ever in moments of challenge and change and does indeed have thoughts and desires for us which are outside our lines of thinking and beyond our imagining.  When we open ourselves to God’s grace, they are worked into our lives and into our community.

With every blessing,
Alan  

                                               

                  Save these dates...

We are planning three social gatherings after the church service:

Sunday, July 3rd - Canada Day Weekend picnic (bring your own bagged lunch)
Sunday, August 14th - St. Mary Matronal festival ('make your own bunwich' lunch)
Sunday, October 9th - Thanksgiving pot-luck lunch   

  

   May Financials

Total Income      $14,224.13                

Total Expenses   $10,893.48

Net Income         $   3,330.65

Jan 1 - May 31  Total Net Loss $7497.32     

Jan  1 - May 31 Budgeted Net Loss $8,560.00


   

    Office Coverage June/July

KAT is off to the UK Tuesday June 14. Darrell Bell and Bev Overton will be providing part-time office coverage Tues and Thurs, with Alan covering on Wednesdays.  

 

  OUR NEW READERS ROSTER needs you again

Please sign up for the NEW roster at the entrance to the church.  Rev. Alan will be doing the bulletins when KAT is away and signing up will make his new duty of finalizing the service bulletins just a little easier.       

We are hoping to hold a CHRISTMAS FAIR in November, the first one in three years!

                                                  

This will be a fundraiser with the proceeds to be split between the Parish and Ukrainian Refugee support. There will be just four stalls: Bake Table, Cafeteria, Attic Treasures and Silent Auction.  This is dependent on sufficient volunteer help being available. Please let either Rev. Alan, John S or the Church Office know if and how you can help. Thank you!      

     

           The June issue of Faith Tides is now available online.                                              

Check out this link https://www.bc.anglican.ca/events to see upcoming diocesan events.