Congregational E-mails
Congregational Email February 12, 2021
Dear Congregants, This has been a heavy week with the death of two of our members, Jeff F. and Anita S. At the same time, it has been a week of celebration with the birth of Amanda and Luc’s daughter. The cycle of life takes us on highs and lows that can sometimes spin together …Read more
Congregational Email February 5, 2021
Dear Congregants, This past week I’ve had the privilege of being part of two webinars. One was the first of three webinars which Ron Bailey organized on Estate Planning. It was so good to see about 23 “Westworthians”—I can attest that we’re still alive and kicking! It was good to have some serious conversation and …Read more
Congregational Email, January 29 2021
Dear Congregants, At a recent planning meeting for our Lenten services, I was struggling to find creative energy. For the first time, I did not have any ideas to bring to the virtual table. Debbie M., our beloved music director, took up the torch and poured through material to offer a number of ideas. Her …Read more
Congregational Email January 22 2021
Congregational Email Jan. 22, 2021 Dear Congregants, I was part of a national info-session for clergy with our Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tam on Jan. 20. She acknowledged the important role that communities of faith play in helping our communities through this pandemic. She asked for our help in disseminating government facts about COVID and …Read more
Congregational Email Jan. 15, 2021
Congregational Email Jan. 15, 2021 Dear Congregants, With thanks to the gracious offer of Rev. Earl Gould to voluntarily lead last Sunday’s worship and be on call for emergency pastoral care, Nancy & I were able to have a 4-day retreat reading and hiking in Manitoba’s snow-covered forests—forest-bathing, as they call it in Japan! Our …Read more
Congregational Email Jan. 8, 2021
Congregational Email Jan. 8, 2021 Dear Congregants, We are entering a new year filled with new hope of healing and health. But we have a ways to go before we can ease up on our COVID safeguards. If you find fear and anxiety beginning to set in again, or if you are dealing with other …Read more
Congregational Email Dec. 17, 2020
Congregational Email Dec. 17, 2020 Dear Congregants, “A blessing speaks from God’s mysterious heart into our own heart, meeting us in our ache for connection and presence,” writes Rev. Jan Richardson, a United Methodist minister in her book Circle of Grace. Do we ever ache for connection and presence with our loved ones this Christmas! …Read more
Congregational Email Dec. 11, 2020
Congregational Email Dec. 11, 2020 Dear Congregants, These have been quite the challenging last few days. Although it was not a surprise, it was still difficult to hear Dr. Roussin’s words that families should not gather together for Christmas. Households need to remain separate. Single people should only meet with one other person. Wow. But …Read more
Congregational Email Dec. 6, 2020
Congregational Email Dec. 6, 2020 Dear Congregants, The following prayer by Thomas Merton may express how many of us feel. We don’t know where we are going, nor can we be sure that we are making the best decisions. All we can do is to give the of our best of intentions and efforts, quick …Read more
Congregational Email Nov. 26, 2020
Congregational Email Nov. 26, 2020 Dear Congregants, “I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that …Read more
