Message from Barb
Thoughts from the desk behind the pulpit… May 2011
Normally it takes me a little while to decide how I want to open my greetings to you, but this time it is very easy. The first thing I want to say is:
My family and I felt your tremendous support surrounding us on what was a long and often very scary journey - - through the early stages of Tegan’s pre-eclampsia to Calder’s early delivery on March 9 and his time in the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit and the Intermediate Care Unit to his arrival home on April 22, and in your many words of care since then. Truly it was a gift to me to know that you were very capably “keeping the ship running” and remembering us in your prayers. The apostle Paul, who often beseeches us to care for one another in the love of Christ, would be very proud of you, indeed. You have shown, through your graciousness and care, a beautiful example of what it means to be a faith community. I am very proud to be in ministry here with you!
Many things are now winding down for the summer but we have many irons in the fire, yet. We continue to struggle and strive with making Knox more accessible and some of that work will proceed over the summer. Also our Pastoral Care Committee hopes to formalize some of the programs we are endeavouring to implement. Please, if you or anyone one you know would benefit from a call or visit from the Knox Pastoral Care Team, please do call the office (274-4543) with their names and phone numbers. Please also notify the office when a family member is admitted to the hospital – we are finding that people are NOT being placed on our Pastoral Care list and so unaware of their presence in the hospital people very dear to us are being missed. (We would much rather get three calls than none at all!)
I would like to close by sharing with you this blessing,
“Old Irish Blessing”
May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home,
And may the hand of a friend always be near.
May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you.
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
Peace & Grace to you and yours,
Barb
Thoughts from the desk behind the pulpit. - April 2010
The sun is shining - the glorious warming sun - ahh. Yes, I know it will most likely snow one more time (if not more) before spring is truly here, but I will enjoy this moment of warmth and light before the weather turns nasty once more.
As you may have discovered, I do like to use all the rich analogies to be found in weather and the natural world as I reflect on our relationship with God, and more importantly, on God's relationship with us.
This moment of wonderful golden sun is a mere sample of the endless moments of natural beauty and glory that God gifts us with - moments that we can store up like treasures to remember when the weather turns grey. Moments that can be remembered and give encouragement when the weather - or life - gets the best of us.
I believe that God gifts us with a great many of those moments, wheather through the beauty of creation: the sunset on the lake, a bird's sweet song trilling from the cedar hedge, water gurgling through the creekbed; or through the companionship of friends and family; laughing over shared memories, a welcome phone call, a cup of tea together, a game of cards.
The simple, everyday gifts of life are also gifts of God to be treasured and remembered bringing us strength and hope and joy.
For God is well pleased when we enjoy the gift of life that we have been given: "there is nothing better for them than to be happpy and enjoy themselves as long as they live." (Ecclesiastes 3.12) Life is God's gift to us, thanks be to God.
May the Blessings of God shine upon you and all those you hold dear this Easter and always. Barb Miller