HELLO!

I hope you had a meaningful Sunday. I did. The morning worship feels more intimate with the circular configuration. Bethe and I are listening to your feedback on this, it is your church, your sacred space, we honour your choices. I have never been a fan of straight rows of chairs, where all you can see is the person at the lectern, the choir, and the back of heads of those sitting in front of you. While I am not a visual person, I do like seeing the face of someone, it helps to identify them, remind me how I know them, what I recall of their story. I am not focused on their hair (or lack there of), what they are wearing (unless it is a sports team apparel), or even if they are smiling. And as I am preaching from the floor, looking at faces in the pews and the choir, stories emerge. If it is a confidential story or one that I do not have permission to share it goes to background, it helps shape the tone. The other examples I can share, and they help illustrate the Good News of our text for the day, brings them to life.

Because today’s service was focused on conversations at night, ones we have that are deeply meaningful and potentially vulnerable to our spirit, I was especially aware of your faces today. I was also thinking of the faces of those watching via livestream. If you missed the service, here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgI_whCaEUQ

After the service we held a Church Council meeting, typically we would meet on a Wednesday, but it was postponed due to the weather. We discussed and passed a draft budget for 2026, one that will require your consent on March 22. Reviewing a church budget is an important blueprint for the year ahead. We are challenged as a faith community by the reality that many of our very generous supporters have died recently. There are, as you can see in the pews, many new faces. But affordability for working people is not just a slogan, it is a reality for many of our neighbours. We keep adding new faces but just keeping up in our revenues. Bethe and I are aware, we are frugal, and Bethe’s programs even generate much needed funds (she is very skilled at finances among many other things).

Speaking of new faces, I met with a group of new people who want to join our church. Many come from other denominations, some are baptized, some are not. We reviewed an excellent overview of the United Church of Canada. If you are interested, I can send it to you online. There were excellent questions. I hope my answers were satisfying.

Finally, I visited with Chelsea and her family this evening, her dear grandfather Harvey Foston died. Spending time with those in grief means listening skills are at a premium. I learn a lot from these conversations. I hope you too had a meaningful Sunday of sacred conversations.

Peace, Kevin

PS We had new families show up with their wee children. Bethe’s Sunday School class was full and busy as you can see in this photo.