Mid-Week Message - July 10

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be always with you!

I was talking to Elaine this week, and she commented about how it now really feels like summer - misty mornings, hot muggy days, and long evenings.  I hope that you are all finding ways to stay cool, are drinking lots of water, and remembering your sunscreen!

Summer is a season when we can revel in God's creation (and with the mix of heat and rain that we've had this year, the plant parts of the community of creation seem to be growing well!). The first chapter of Genesis describes God creating everything out of nothing - God speaks, and the swirling chaos takes form, and God names it "good." From the sun, moon, and stars creating light and darkness, to water and dry land and air giving a home to birds and animals and fish, to vegetation - God names all of this as good.

A spiritual practice at any time of year, but especially in the summer when many of us are able to spend more time outside, is to remind ourselves of the goodness of God's creation. As you step onto the grass, say to yourself (or out loud), "God created you grass, and you are good." As you walk on the beach, say, "God created you sand and stones, and you are good." As you swim in the river or in the ocean, say "God created the waters, and you are good." (Personally, I find this practice more challenging when it comes to the insects who have been biting me, but, "God created you mosquito, and you are good.")

As you spend time with people, you can us the same practice: "God created you, <name>, and you are good."

And on the 7th day, God rested, and enjoyed all that They had created. We celebrate creation in our rest, in our singing and dancing, and in our joy!

I have just a couple of announcements for you this week:

• Worship on Sunday will be our remaining two Flower Services - 11:15 at Westfield and on Facebook Live, and 2:00 at Summerville (outside in the cemetery, weather permitting). This is a special service when we remember people in our communities who have died in the past year, or longer ago but whom we still carry in our hearts.

• Strawberry Dinner - I heard yesterday that the tickets are sold out for tomorrow's drive-through dinner! Thank you to everyone who bought tickets, and especially to the UCW for organizing it. Enjoy your dinner!

• Movie Nights - We started our weekly summer movies last night - next Tuesday we will be watching Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which will be featured in the July 21 sermon. The movie starts at 7pm in the parlour at Westfield United Church, and everyone is invited. The popcorn will be popped, and I'll try not to burn it next week lol!

• Upcoming Movie Schedule:  Knowing that not everyone is able to make it out on Tuesday night; and because our Sunday sermons this summer are along a "Let's Go to the Movies" theme, here is the schedule of upcoming movies in case you want to watch them on your own: Sunday July 14: The Way (streaming on Prime) Sunday July 21: Rise of the Planet of the Apes (streaming on Disney+) Sunday July 28: Turtles All the Way Down (streaming on Crave)

And those are the announcements I have for today!

For a closing thought, I seem to be having a Nigeria-oriented morning! I started reading Butter Honey Pig Bread by Nigerian Canadian author francesca ekwuyasi this morning; and then on CBC's The Current, I heard an interview with Charity Ekezie, a Nigerian YouTuber and TikToker who uses her platforms to dismantle stereotypes about Africa using sarcasm and absurdist comedy. Having lived in Tanzania for 3 years, even though it is on the other side of the continent from Nigeria, a lot of her humour resonates with me! If you want to get a taste of her humour, you can click here for a compilation of some of her short videos.

Blessings to you and yours, today and always!

Kate.

Rev. Kate Jones

Two Rivers Pastoral Charge

(506) 757-2201 (office)

(506) 343-1307 (mobile)

www.tworiverspastoralcharge.com

Pronouns:  she/her/hers

"Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the law?"

Jesus replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: "You must love your neighbour as you love yourself."

(Matthew 22:36-39)