From the Minister

I know you are nostalgic for those magical Christmas Eve gatherings where we crowd into our sanctuaries to sing and light candles together. We love our celebratory services this time of the year, look forward to welcoming the extra visitors that pour into our joyful sanctuaries from the dark winter’s night.

But this year, it is not to be. We will not be gathering together, but be quite apart. And given the new restrictions beginning on Boxing Day, with all travel curtailed, and visiting discouraged, it will be quite a different Christmastide.

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These last weeks have been busy ones around the neighbourhood, and we are delighted to be a part of that business, even with our church sanctuaries closed for Sunday worship. The pandemic continues to keep us home as much as possible, but still it is amazing what continues to carry on.

Our Christmas newsletter went out in printed form this week, and we have it here in digital form as well. Remember that we have a Christmas Eve podcast coming up, and there is lots to read about what is going on in our WOW region and beyond.

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As you will no doubt know, we head into a red zone designation on Monday. This means that travel and visiting will be even more restricted than it has been. Please, please take care of yourselves, and take no unnecessary chances with your health, and the wellness within your own home.

Advent season is a season of reflection, of slowing down and considering our lives, so this forced inactivity is helping us in a way, to really take the season of waiting seriously.

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As the pandemic continues, the concern for our front line workers increases. Whether working in the pharmacy or the hospital, the grocery store or the gas station, there are many people who are continuing to work in order that things may bear some semblance of sanity. But we are particularly concerned about those working in the medical field.

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This last week in our pastoral charge we held an important Pastoral Charge meeting, hosted the Primrose’s Christmas Market, and celebrated the life of Wilena Flear.

Beginning the Advent season there are Advent Jars for you to open, a Sunday Afternoon Podcast Reflection to attend if you wish, our continuing Practicing Compassion Gathering, and Jeff Cottam’s invitation to a Scrooge Evening. See All Details below.

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Next Sunday begins the season of Advent - a time of contemplation and reflection. As the pandemic continues to press upon us from all sides, it may be the year to take seriously the season’s invitation to stillness and quiet. For the moment, visiting and shopping, except for essential maters is to be set aside. And certainly the prayerful ushering in of hope, peace, joy and love is more needed than ever.

As you will know, Dufferin County is now in the Orange Zone regarding restrictions.

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Besides the usual updates of meetings and fundraisers, here is a Fresh Start zoom broadcast from Kingston Lambton United Church’s Fresh Start Program. Many thanks for sharing this service with us. And Richard Rohr, who created and runs the Centre for Action and Contemplation, offers some thoughts on the prophetic call of critical thinking - much needed in their time, and much needed in ours.

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Here are three articles taken from the last few weeks of Broadview, the United Church of Canada’s magazine. They offer a faith based lens into topical matters - veterans affairs, the place of the legion in the community, and our mental health during the disruptive American election.

Also, note there is a Trinity Council meeting next Tuesday, November 10th and a Pastoral Charge Meeting on Wednesday November 25th. Scroll to the bottom for further details or have a look at our calendar.

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On Saturday October 24, 2020, the Commissioners of the 43rd General Council voted to declare the denomination to become an anti-racist church. “This doesn’t mean we have achieved this goal,” explains the Moderator, the Right Rev. Richard Bott, “but we are taking a stand and saying we are publicly committed to eliminating systemic racism from our practices and policies.”

As part of the work to become an anti-racist denomination, one of the last actions of outgoing General Secretary Nora Sanders was to create a new Anti-Racism and Equity Officer position in the General Council Office.

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In our homes and neighbourhoods everyone needs tenderhearted care. Be patient with yourselves, and with others. It is going to be a long winter, and we will need to hold steady throughout this time. The UCC takes a stand on the social justice issues of fishing rights, we have three fundraisers as we move towards the Christmas season, and you will note that we will be gathering once again for our Practicing Compassion study. Everyone can join. We will do a little review to bring us up to speed next Thursday, October 29th at 7:30.

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Marion Webb’s husband, Bob, died this last Wednesday. We hold Marion and her children, Tammy and Nevin in our hearts. Marion, who taught in the local schools for most of her life, and Bob, who farmed in the Honeywood area, have a history deeply woven into the local community, and the land. Bob had suffered from Alzheimer’s for quite a few years and spent the last year and a half at Headwaters Hospital waiting for a place where he couild be adequately cared for.

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Thanksgiving this year will not be like any other one you have experienced. Well, that is true at every Thanksgiving, of course. But this year is particularly different. Our families are not able to gather as they once did. Our elderly relatives are unable to leave their retirmenet or nursing homes. Our young people unable to travel. Many places of business are not running as they have done. Our church doors stay closed. The visions that we have of Thanksgiving seem oddly out of sinc with our realities.

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I know this is very disappointing to some people, but both groups in charge of looking into the advisability of reopening the churches have advised that this is no longer wise. Trinity was to re open on Thanksgiving Weekend. But given that the provincial government is advising everyone to stay home through the Thanksgiving weekend and Covid 19 cases are on the rise again, it is best we stand in solidarity with our community in this matter of safely and wellness.

After enjoying two gatherings at Primrose the last two weeks, Primrose has come to a similar conclusion and tomorrow’s service is cancelled, and reopening is on hold.

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A reflection on the experience of returning to church, what we might do to support our Indigenous people, and a look at why and how the United Church of Canada is taking a strong stand in favour of a guaranteed universal income.

Assuming there are no more provincial changes, Trinity will be gathering in their sanctuary for Thanksgiving Sunday on October 11th.

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The ladies - oh, and Wally! - have been busy cleaning and tidying at Primrose and the church is well aired out and ready for visitors this Sunday. If you are still unsure of protocols, see notes below from our news letter. Face masks must be worn at all times. No washroom facilities. No singing, but we are looking forward to gathering with you again. The pews have been marked so you will know where you can sit. Service is at 10 am in the morning, but you should arrive at 9:45 to make sure all is in order.

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A few dates to note this week and in the weeks ahead: Bring Your Own Brunch at Primrose tomorrow, Pastoral Charge Meeting Wednesday, First Inside Gathering at Primrose Next Sunday, Sunday afternoon concert next Sunday, and a Vintage and Antique Sale coming up for October 3rd at Primrose, Help for Parents with children returning to school.

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Labour Day weekend seems to have arrived early this week, as an uneven summer comes to a close, if not technically, then in our collective consciousness. With schools in Ontario planning to open, parents are of many minds concerning their children’s education and safety. The on going protests, tearing down of statues, and the ramped up political climate has not help ease anyone’s spirit. It is therefore, ever more important for us all to hold steady in the surrounding unevenness.

Here below are a few announcements concerning church business, and four links to articles you may find of interest that connect our Christian spirituality with the world at large.

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Another week has passed in this wild ride of a world we are currently living in, and there is much to reflect upon. So, here are four things for your consideration: the notes from Trinity’s Council meeting concerning the possible re-opening of the church buildings, an opportunity for an evening of restoration and meditation, special dates this week that will help in our on going reflection on the issues of race first raised by Black Lives Matter and Ken Sehested’s wonderful reflection that incorporates both the state of the world this week and the demands of our faith.

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Both Primrose and Trinity have a small task force that has met to consider how and when the churches should reopen for communal worship. They have reviewed public health information as well as information received from our insurance provider.

The following are the protocols that would need to be in place for the churches to re open. These protocols will come to both councils when they meet at the end of August and the beginning of September for council approval. The boards will then consider if and when to reopen for in person worship.

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Thawing Arctic permafrost seems like a distant threat. It’s not. People displaced by the collapsing ground could be Canada's first climate refugees. But the thaw should worry everyone……And also From the On Being Project, Krista Tippett interviews Jane Goodall about ‘What it Means to Be Human’.

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