Many of you know that Cris and I have a cat, Tucker. Tucker is a rather large tuxedo whose closest interaction with the outside world is watching the birds at the feeders from a safe comfortable distance behind the screen door. Well this summer Cris and I have begun a bit of backyard outreach with an orange cat who has been on the scene for a while now but hasn’t really had a home. Our neighbours call him Wiz (like Cheese Wiz because he is orange), and it seems his original owner passed away and Wiz got left behind. Wiz is small, quick and has no intentions of coming indoors any time soon. And while it might be a silly comparison – our attempts to provide extra food, ensure that Wiz has access to clean water, safe places to sleep and even moments of affection have had me thinking a lot about our call towards outreach.
It is easy to think that doing outreach needs to be something big, take a lot of time, or even a lot of money. We think of big churches doing big things – but it’s really about engaging with the world outside our church walls. Outreach can absolutely be giving a space to an organization supporting folks in need or participating in a ministry to feed the homeless. But it can also be bringing flowers to a neighbour who has been unwell, seeing a need in the community for a safe place to sit and bringing a chair to the bus stop at the corner or offering a ride to an appointment, cleaning up garbage as you walk through the park. And sometimes outreach is as simple as giving water to a forgotten cat on your back porch.
So as we look towards the fall I invite you to look for opportunities to step out in faith and love, show a little extra compassion… because your small acts may not mean much to you, but it sure could mean the world to those in need.
REV. KIRSTEN IS GOING ON VACATION!
Just a note to let you know that Rev. Kirsten will be away for 3 weeks in September (Sept 4-25) in part for a vacation and also to participate in the opening session of the 2nd year of the Provincial Congregational Development School held in Whitehorse, Yukon. While she is away, we will have some new faces leading Sunday Worship. On Sept. 7th, The Rev. Rob Hutchison will be leading the service of Holy Eucharist. On September 14th the Venerable Brian Evans will be taking the service. September 21st will be our one Sunday a month that is lay led, and thankfully one of the lay leaders from St. Anne and St. Edmunds (Sandra Leigh) is willing to step in to officiate for us. Jean and Susan are unavailable at that time. Let's be ready to welcome these friends of the parish in September as we celebrate the Season of Creation!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - SUNDAY SERVICES:
We are looking for Sunday Service volunteers for the various roles that make our Sundays a beautiful and welcoming community. We are needing folks for all the various roles, but particularly, to be on Coffee Duty. If you can help out, please reach out to Linda in the office or Don and Pat Nicol. Thank you for helping us out!
We Together is our regular (once every other year) diocesan conference to remind us of the ways we are connected; we are stronger together. We are bound in countless ways, in our structures, in our prayers, and through the stories we tell. We are each other's concern, and we are each other's gift. This year is God is not Elsewhere. The God of our scriptures and stories, the God of our ...
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LOONIE LASAGNA NIGHT - SEPTEMBER 2nd @ 5 pm:
TICKETS $15
Our Lasagna Dinner and Loonie Auction is fast approaching! So far we have had 10 items donated for auction but it would be lovely to have more donations come in before the day. If you would like to donate something for bidding – (gift card, home baking, houseware treasures, etc…) please bring the item(s) to the office, or email Rev. Kirsten with the what the item is so she can prepare the bidding sheets. Items must be in by August 31st so the bid sheets can be made in time for the dinner. Also – tickets for the event can be purchased for $15 through Bev or the church office. This is sure to be a fun event with an excellent lasagna meal. You don’t want to miss it!!