Church Notes October 2020
Be kind Be calm Be safe
Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones.
Thich Nhat Hanh
We are still in strange times and it seems like we will be in them for a long while. So my question for you is how are you in this moment? Is everything OK right now? Are you alright for today?
Fear is a crazy thing! It keeps me up at night and preoccupied during the day. My mind looks for things to worry about. Last week I worried for two days that I would be missing a Zoom conference (which went fine by the way) What a waste, I could have worried about something else!
Except all our worries, fears, doubts, anger aren’t crazy or as foolish as mine. They are real as we face COVID 19 not as happening somewhere outside our communities but now it’s here. Does the Now What? or What’s Next? scare you – me too. But it doesn’t paralyze me! I’ll be doing the same things we have all been doing these past months – washing hands, not touching people or things unnecessarily, limiting where I go and who I see, wearing a mask, trying to be kind as Dr. Henry suggests. Yes I am boring! But I also see this time as an opportunity – an invitation to live fully in the moment. Moving the fear into anticipation and even joy.
Am I still afraid about what tomorrow may bring. Yes! And then I come back to the moment and I am OK right now. How are you?
Blessings,
Gayle
Focus on Spirit! Posted every Sunday on the Church web site – link to which is posted on Texada Message Board and Texada Island United Church Facebook page.
Church Reopening: Nothing definite to tell you yet, but plans are being made to have worship services resume in the future. Watch the Texada Message Board and Texada Island United Church Facebook page.
Milestones:
Kathleen (Kay) Hagman (Nov 26, 1931 - July 26, 2020) of Enderby, B.C..She and her husband Bob lived on Texada from 1988 to 2005. They were very involved in many aspects of life on Texada and were a very well known and respected couple.
Gerald Doherty (Nov. 4, 1934 – August 6, 2020) Long time resident of Texada, predeceased by his wife, Joyce, Gerald will be missed by his many friends and neighbours. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
Rev Jim Erb (July 17, 1933 – Aug. 22, 2020) Jim was ordained by the United Church in 1959 and served several parishes in British Columbia over the next 50 years, including Texada Island from 2000-2003 and Powell River from 2006-2010. He is well remembered for the time he spent ministering on Texada.
Prayer Group: Please call Rikki Kooy, 604-243-8097 for prayers or information re prayer group.
Minister’s Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 1-3 pm. at the church.
Minister: Rev. Gayle Chouinard, (B.A., B.Th., M.Div., S.T.M.)
604-414-7309. email: trollhollow123@gmail.com
Board Chair: Dale Rinehart, 604-486-0050
Website: www.texadaunited.ca (recently updated, please check it out!)
Facebook: Texada Island United Church
Be kind Be calm Be safe
Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones.
Thich Nhat Hanh
We are still in strange times and it seems like we will be in them for a long while. So my question for you is how are you in this moment? Is everything OK right now? Are you alright for today?
Fear is a crazy thing! It keeps me up at night and preoccupied during the day. My mind looks for things to worry about. Last week I worried for two days that I would be missing a Zoom conference (which went fine by the way) What a waste, I could have worried about something else!
Except all our worries, fears, doubts, anger aren’t crazy or as foolish as mine. They are real as we face COVID 19 not as happening somewhere outside our communities but now it’s here. Does the Now What? or What’s Next? scare you – me too. But it doesn’t paralyze me! I’ll be doing the same things we have all been doing these past months – washing hands, not touching people or things unnecessarily, limiting where I go and who I see, wearing a mask, trying to be kind as Dr. Henry suggests. Yes I am boring! But I also see this time as an opportunity – an invitation to live fully in the moment. Moving the fear into anticipation and even joy.
Am I still afraid about what tomorrow may bring. Yes! And then I come back to the moment and I am OK right now. How are you?
Blessings,
Gayle
Focus on Spirit! Posted every Sunday on the Church web site – link to which is posted on Texada Message Board and Texada Island United Church Facebook page.
Church Reopening: Nothing definite to tell you yet, but plans are being made to have worship services resume in the future. Watch the Texada Message Board and Texada Island United Church Facebook page.
Milestones:
Kathleen (Kay) Hagman (Nov 26, 1931 - July 26, 2020) of Enderby, B.C..She and her husband Bob lived on Texada from 1988 to 2005. They were very involved in many aspects of life on Texada and were a very well known and respected couple.
Gerald Doherty (Nov. 4, 1934 – August 6, 2020) Long time resident of Texada, predeceased by his wife, Joyce, Gerald will be missed by his many friends and neighbours. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends.
Rev Jim Erb (July 17, 1933 – Aug. 22, 2020) Jim was ordained by the United Church in 1959 and served several parishes in British Columbia over the next 50 years, including Texada Island from 2000-2003 and Powell River from 2006-2010. He is well remembered for the time he spent ministering on Texada.
Prayer Group: Please call Rikki Kooy, 604-243-8097 for prayers or information re prayer group.
Minister’s Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 1-3 pm. at the church.
Minister: Rev. Gayle Chouinard, (B.A., B.Th., M.Div., S.T.M.)
604-414-7309. email: trollhollow123@gmail.com
Board Chair: Dale Rinehart, 604-486-0050
Website: www.texadaunited.ca (recently updated, please check it out!)
Facebook: Texada Island United Church
