Hello Glen Morris, 

Peace be with you! As I am sitting in the warm rays of the afternoon sun and watching my precious cat nap peacefully beside me, I give thanks for these moments of tranquility and hope that you are also finding moments for stillness. 

This week I am reflecting on how much living in lockdowns and observing social distancing has created a sense of ‘smallness’ in my life. Since the pandemic started in March, I have stopped visiting my favourite coffee shops, attending local protests, visiting friends, which has meant I’m not leaving the house all that often. Running errands now feels like a much larger task and I somehow find myself feeling out of practice as I fret about parallel parking in tight downtown Toronto spaces and keep forgetting my wallet or my mask or my keys as I head out of the house. My energy feels focused on home as I continue to take far too many pictures of my cat (and all the very cute things she gets up to) and struggle to feel a sense of connection to the large webs and networks of love and care I have in my life. Have you felt this sense of your world shrinking as well? 

I’m choosing to see the blessings in this challenging time by seeing the beauty in my everyday surroundings. Just as a microscope can make anything into a new world of wonder, I am trying to remember to stay curious and present to my surroundings even if it is just the same few rooms I’ve been working and living in for months now.

May you discover unexpected beauty in a familiar place this week and may the peace of Christ be with you. 

 

ENGAGE

Solitary Companionship: Fellow United Church clergy Kimiko Karpoff shares her reflections on isolation and adaptation. 

A special congratulations goes to Canadian Foodgrains Bank for its inclusion as a Top 10 Impact Charity by Charity Intelligence Canada for 2020. This annual list by Charity Intelligence examines return on investment for each dollar donated. Here at Glen Morris United Church, Funds donated to the Canadian Food Grains Bank, including the Sharp family donation from the sale of the crop, amounted to $2,231.13 this year. This represents the 27th year of church and Sharp family contributions to the Food Grains Bank and the total amount donated is $46,700.20. What an accomplishment!

From The United Church of Canada November 20, 2020: The Executive of the General Council of The United Church of Canada issued an apology today for its role in separating mothers and their babies in maternity homes it operated from the end of World War II to 1980. Read more about the apology here.

Please feel free to be in touch if you have any questions about the theology of adoption or would like to share your own experience.

 

Gracious God,

You who we discover in the greatest of mysteries and smallest of miracles,

Thank you for creating a world in which there are endless possibilities in how to be a reflection of your Love Though our hearts may be weary, strengthen us for the journey ahead.

We pray this in the name of Jesus the Christ,

Amen.

 

Yours in Christ, Rev Michiko