HAPPY THANKSGIVING ESTON

What a great place Eston is to live. Yesterday the main street was crowded with folks gathering to watch the hockey games and to enjoy a hamburger. Lots of specials at all the stores. Toys at the Hardware store, leggings at the hair dresser, flowers at the flower shop and it was great to see Jackie in her general store selling her stock. The pharmacy also had specials and people could take a browse in Gina's shop. There was a beer garden for those who are a little older. There were so many kids running around. The band sounded great although I didn't see them as I had gone home to finish unpacking the last room at the manse. I could hear it though. Then last night, a street dance which also sounded great.

So on this Thanksgiving weekend, may we all be blessed by where we live and all that we have. I want to share a grace for a meal with you today. It is written by John O'Donohue in his book, "to bless the space between us" Enjoy all!

'As we begin this meal with grace, let us become aware of the memory carried inside the food before us: the quiver of the seed awakening in the earth, Unfolding in a trust of roots and slender stems of growth, the kiss of rain and surge of sun; the innocence of animal soul that never spoke a word, nourished by the earth to become today our food; the work of all the strangers whose hands prepared it, the privilege of wealth and health that enables us to feast and celebrate!'

Beautiful Day

So I am back from an amazing week at the Sandy Saulteaux Spiritual Centre in Beausejour, MB. I am taking a 2 year course on Spiritual Direction. What a wonderful group of people. It will be hard work, but hopefully very rewarding. Yesterday Jim and I spent the day in Meadowlake at Presbytery. That was a long day but productive meeting. Today, our gospel reading in church is from Matthew 20: 1-16 and is the story of the landowner who hires workers all throughout the day only to pay them all the same wage at the end of the day. What do you think about that? Well I don't think this parable is about labour practices or employer-employee relationships, or even about money, I believe this parable is about the graciousness of the love of the Holy and our relationship with one another in the kingdom of God. It is about receiving the love and grace of holiness in our everyday life, no matter who we are of where we are. We are all equal. Something for us to think about. Enjoy your Sunday!

What do you think about bullying!

I had a conversation this week about Bullying. Now that school has started back up and our Sunday school is starting we need to be on teh look out for Bullying. There are so many people in our town and so many ways that people bully other people. It might be about your size, your colour, the colour of your hair, your clothes or even your religion or lack of it. This disturbs me greatly when I think about religious differences in our town. I have heard stories of youth bullying other youth because of their religion or lack of religion. We are all children of God whether you go to church or you don't, whether you go to the United Church, the Anglican Church, the Roman Catholic Church or the Full Gospel Church. Just because someone does not agree with your particular beliefs, it does not mean they are wrong. We live in this wonderful town where there is a bullying by law. You are not allowed to bully people, this is a no-bully zone. So please if you are being bullied talk to someone. If you are doing the bullying imagine how you would feel if it was you that was different. BUllying leads to many different reactions in people and you certainly don't want to be responsible for harming another person. So please, think before you speak. In today's gospel reading, we are hearing a story of settling differences between one another, maybe it is a good lesson to learn.... So come out and join us.

Take up your Cross

If any want to be my followers, let them take up their cross and follow me... Hard words to hear this morning in church but hopefully we can make sense of them. Come and join us for our service this morning... Tomorrow is moving day for Jim and I. We will finally be townies... I can't wait. But what a lot of work to pack up and move a house even if we have only lived there for 3 1/2 years. We sure gathered a lot of stuff since moving to Eston. I have a feeling by tomorrow night we will be exhausted. Thanks to all those who are coming to help. Many hands and all that stuff... Hopefully we will be in by early afternoon, I say 1, Jim says 2.... We'll see. So if you are not busy, drop by and we will pass you a box to carry or just stop to say Hello. Take care all and have a great day today and Go Riders!

The Butterfly Effect

Today in church we are going to be talking about the butterfly effect. I got this from a book by the same title written by Andy Andrews. It is a great little book. The butterfly effect says: It has been said that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly's wings can ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world! This means our actions, good and bad can have consequences that can not be measured only by what you see. It reminds me of the movie, Pay It Forward. So, what will your actions do today, will they heal or harm. Pay attention! On a more personal note, we hope to be in our new home, at the manse, before next Sunday! Enjoy your Day!

Beautiful Sunday Morning!

Well it is a beautiful Sunday morning. I woke up to lots of birds singing in the trees outside the house. I wonder if that will still happen when we get moved to town. Today's sermon is entitled "Mental Illness" This seems so appropriate after the death of Robin Williams this past week and with today's scripture of the Canaanite woman from Matthew 15: 21-28. When I was surfing facebook last night I came up on a wonderful tribute to Robin Williams that said in his voice: Please don’t worry so much, because in the end none of us have very long on this earth. Life is fleeting. And if you are ever distressed cast your eyes to the summer sky when the stars are strung across the velvety night and when a shooting star streaks through the blackness turning night into day, make a wish, think of me, make your life spectacular, I know I did. What great words from a great man! I am sure they are from one of his movies or maybe a few put together. Where ever they are from they are certainly great words. How many of us take the time to look up at the sky, noticing the blackness and seeing the lights flicker on one at a time as the stars pop out. I will always remember this saying as I watch them from now on. If there can be one thing that comes from Robin William's death, it could be the amount of attention that is coming on Mental illness and the awareness it is bringing to people so hopefully people won't have to live in fear of being found out. But can life in life seeking help and caring from their neighbours. So my prayer for today is that we will all take an extra moment to help others in our lives. You never know who might be the next person seeking help from the blackness. Love and peace to all this day!

Back Home Again

Well Vacations are great, but coming home is always sweet. I had the pleasure of coming back to the wedding of Casey Stevenson and Derek Christiaens at Riverside Park. It was a beautiful day with a beautiful bride. Congratulations to the Christiaens family! I had a wonderful vacation with my family and friends. The trip to Nova Scotia is always the highlight of my summer. My grandchildren are growing so big and it was wonderful to see all of them. We all stay with my sister for a week, it is crowded, full of laughter and fun times. So it's back to church today with the gospel story of Jesus walking on storm waters. Where are the storms in your life? I know I have had a few in mine. Some were very difficult to overcome and others were just a quick blow-up and they were over. Whatever the storms we face, we know that we can overcome them with the help of all those who surround us with love and strength. That love and strength are gifts from God. May today be filled with blessings for you and your families.