Mid-Week Message - July 8

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

I usually begin these newsletters by reflecting on something that is on my mind, and what is on my mind today is death.  (Which is maybe a really morbid way of beginning this reflection!)  But I was at a friend's funeral last Friday, and we have our Flower Services coming up beginning this weekend, so I have been thinking about all of the people I carry in my heart since they are no longer present in this life.

The funeral on Friday was a good celebration of a life well-lived.  I got to know Hugh through my work with the Regional Council (Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters, which includes all of the United Churches in NB, PEI, and part of the Gaspé).  I've been on the Pastoral Relations Committee of the Region since January 2021, and when I first joined, Hugh was the committee secretary.  He then became chair of the committee, and two years ago, when he was named President Elect of the Region, I became chair, and Hugh mentored me into the role.  He was the sort of person who always radiated warmth and kindness and wisdom... and a sense of humour!

But even though the Region was well-represented at his funeral, Hugh was much more than a faithful member of the United Church of Canada. He was a pharmacist, and in addition to his clinical roles, he also held management positions, and even developed policies for the Government of New Brunswick.

Most importantly, he was also a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Both his partner Randy and daughter Lauren spoke at the funeral and they painted a picture of a person who was even more loving and devoted in his personal life than his public life.

Hugh was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer the week after he was installed as the President of Fundy St. Lawrence Dawning Waters Region last May.  (He actually spent most of the weekend at the Moncton Hospital as he was already feeling quite unwell. I had to step in for him at one point, and he had emailed me his notes. I stood up and began, "I'm not Hugh, but I will do my best to channel my inner Hugh, and if he was here, this is what he would have said.") But despite the pain as well as side-effects from an intensive treatment regimen, he served his term as president faithfully, even chairing the annual meeting of the Region on the first weekend of June.

I will miss his wisdom, his laughter, and his kindness.

But our United Church New Creed reminds us that "in life, in death, and in life beyond death, God is with us. We are not alone. Thanks be to God."  And so I'm able to trust that wherever Hugh is now, in the mystery that awaits all of us on the other side of death, God is still with him.  I believe that God is love - God doesn't just feel love, God doesn't just do love, but the very essence of God is love.  And that same love (that is God) that surrounded Hugh through his whole life has now fully embraced him.  All of the pain, all of the tears have fallen away, and his only reality now is love.

Our annual Flower Services will be held at each of our three churches this Sunday and next. As we build our bouquets of memories at each church, adding flowers for the people we carry in our hearts who have died, Hugh will be one of the people I am remembering as I add my flower to the bouquet.  And each year, after we have constructed our bouquet of memories, I love to stand back and look at it and think of all of the love and all of the memories that these bouquets contain.  Sometimes we feel sad when we remember our loved ones (and that is OK), but sometimes it is the love and the laughter and the joy that shines through.

Moving on to announcements for this week:

• Worship on Sunday:  As I mentioned, we are beginning our Flower Services this week, which means that for the next two weeks, our worship times are going to be a little bit different.  This Sunday, we will have flower services at Westfield (and Facebook Live) at 11:15am, as well as at Summerville at 2pm (outdoors, weather permitting). You can see the flower service poster by clicking here.

• Movie Night:  We are continuing with our Summer Movie Nights on Tuesdays through July and August. Next Tuesday (July 14) we will be watching Hamnet, a 2025 film that imagines the what-might-have-been of William Shakespeare and his wife Anne/Agnes. You can read more and watch the trailer by clicking here. 7pm in the parlour at Westfield United - see you there!

• Beach Party:  Bette Ashley is hosting a beach party for all three of our churches!  Wednesday July 15 at 7pm (Rain Date July 22). Bring your own chair, a stick to roast hotdogs/marshmallows, and your swimsuit/towel - everything else will be provided. (Bette is also watching the provincial burning regulations - fingers crossed we get a good soaking rain in the next week!) All ages are invited - the more, the merrier! 1770 NB-845 in Summerville (just up from St. Bridget's church).

• Strawberry Drive-Through Supper - thank you to everyone who purchased tickets - they are all sold out! If you do have a ticket, don't forget to swing by the church tomorrow afternoon (at the time specified on your ticket) to pick up your delicious meal. The crew has been hard at work in the church basement this week getting everything prepared.

• Pride Parade - we and the other Affirming Churches will be walking in the Saint John Pride Parade on Saturday July 25 - this is always a fun and energizing event bubbling over with queer joy! The route is a bit different this year - we are gathering in the Diamond Jubilee Cruise Terminal Parking Lot and walking up to Market Square. The parking lot between the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal and the Diamond Jubilee Cruise Terminal is reserved for parade participants, but please consider carpooling so that there is lots of space for everyone. Wear something colourful and comfortable (and based on previous years, bring a water bottle too!). I'll have our Two Rivers Pride Signs and all of our rainbow flags to wave. You can click here to see a parade map - we are asked to arrive between 12:15 and 12:45 so that the parade can begin promptly at 1pm.

• Pride Worship Service - for the past couple of years, the Affirming Churches have joined together for a shared Pride Week service, and this year it is Two Rivers' turn to host! Sunday July 26, 11am, at Westfield United Church. Our guest preacher is going to be Daniel Wheaton, and folks from other churches in the Saint John area are planning to join us.

Thank You Corner - this week's "thank you" goes out to our "lawn care specialists" at all three of our churches. I have seen some of you at work this spring/summer, and have seen (and admired) the results of your work.  The work of the church requires all of us to share our gifts, and that includes a willingness to push a lawnmower around!

For a closing thought this week, as I went looking for a poem to print on the back cover of the bulletin, I came across this one. It didn't quite fit for the bulletin, but I wanted to share it with you anyways.  "Dark and Light" by Steve Garnaas-Holmes.

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)