JANUARY JOURNAL

January 29, 2022

Although I realize that the obituary for Douglas Hales, our well-loved music director here at St. David's for many years, was sent out to the congregation via email last week, I want to add my condolescences to Marjorie and her family who are mourning the loss of their husband, dad, grandpa... I had the privilege of working with Douglas during his time with us -- I was often the page-turner for him as he accompanied the musicals that we staged here at St. David's. I would join rehearsals during the final week and sit next to Douglas at the piano awaiting his signal to "Turn the Page!!" I also worked with Douglas with the Boys' Choir which ran at St. David's for a number of years. When Douglas and Marjorie moved to Digby, Nova Scotia he passed on the music for the singing group, "That's Entertainment" and for three years following his departure I accompanied this amazing group of singers as we belted out "Hey, Jude" and "Dancing Queen" among many, many other favourite songs. Fond memories! Fond thoughts!

Douglas' picture and file attachment of his obituary can be found below. 

Check out the Newsletter for January 30, 2022 below. 

January 24, 2022

Today is overcast and there is a skiff on snow on our outdoor surfaces. Watch your step if you decide to walk outdoors. Tomorrow night our council meets for its regularly scheduled January meeting. 

I thought I'd share some of the chat comments from yesterday's Zoom worship service with Amy and Betty Minifie. There were many comments on the wonderful anthems prerecorded by Brent of the Angel Voices and truly they were! More comments were delighted to learn that Amy would be presiding over services leading up to Easter. Accolades were directed at the Worship Ministry Committee for their continuing work. It was also mentioned how important Community time was Sunday morning. Amy reminded folks that ongoing, there will be two links sent out for Sunday morning service: a Youtube link that is livestreamed and then available for convenient viewing and a ZOOM invitation that begins after service. See you there!!

ACTS Adult Spiritual Development Ministry winter programs are in full session. Monday Night Book Study, with Wayne, Joan and Brenda, is focussing on Dr. Parker Palmer's book, "On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity and Getting Old" (2018). Thursday Morning Bible Study will be concentrating on First Epistle of Corinthians -- Paul's letters to Corinth. Both studies are being conducted on ZOOM and newcomers are welcome to join us. Check MINISTRIES/Adult Spiritual Development for weekly publications relating to our study. 

Stay safe during this fifth wave of COVID-19. The Omicron variant is wreaking havoc with our schools, churches, shops and organizations. We so look forward to returning to in person worship. Stay the course, okay? 

January 17, 2022

Okay, so 10 days have flown by as we march to the second half of January. This past week has been a welcome reprieve with above 0 weather, however tonight will bring with it snow, north wind and tomorrow's high will be -12 degrees, they tell us. At St. David's, we are still in our COVID-19/Omikron protocol with empty seats and only participants of choir, worship and livestream team present. We welcomed Deb back from Ontario and were particularly delighted to hear her enthusiasm as she encouraged us to Re-New-Al in the time ahead. Sometimes it is difficult to jump on the band wagon but a healthy dose of gratitude for friends, family, caregivers, front line workers makes us realize that it is really a team effort. Wear those masks and roll up those sleeves and, just maybe, things will improve as we move forward in 2022.

Sunday's services with the Chamber Choir offering their ministry in song, along with director, Brent, and accompaniest, Garrett was very well received. The folks present who had suggested their favourite hymns and were willing to tell us why only added to the worshipful nature of our service. Livestream was a challenge. I couldn't open the Youtube, while Deb was on computer and Hugo running the sound board. We realized that the invites for Sunday had been swapped so some quick work on Deb's part brought us into action again. Thank you to Garrett for his prelude and Bruce Clark for his postlude. Such talent we have. 

ACTS Adult Spiritual Development Ministry's Monday night book study starts tonight with an introduction to Dr. Parker Palmer, author of "On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity and Getting Old. Not that that applies to us !!!! Thursday morning, Wayne and Joan will be welcoming us into Bible Study. The group will determine the direction for the study but the ZOOM platform is exceptionally well received. That goes for the Book Study as well. We enjoy the contributions of our out-of-towners who join us, not to mention the convenience of participating. P.S. Contact me at [email protected] if you are thinking that this session might be the right one for you. 

January 7, 2022

Here we are -- 2022! A brand new year and a brand new page for our wonderful St. David's United Church. On December 19, we presented a large clock complete with Roman Numerals that Rev. Peggy hinted that she would like as a gift. The clock had a plaque on its face that indicated the years that we shared with our dear friend: MMVIII to MMXXI. Garret, our accompaniest, composed a song especially for Peggy which he and the choir shared with us. We will miss our Peggy but look forward to 2022 as St. David's comes together to worship. Amy, Pastoral Care Ministry, will be presiding over several services in January and February and St. David's Committee and the congregation will be looking to the future. This coming Sunday, January 9, 2022, Debra Charnuski, Past Chair of Council and Chair of PSALT, will be presiding.

The book for Monday Night Book Study has been selected: On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity and Getting Old by Parker Palmer. This is Palmer's ninth book -- his books have made a difference in how we think, teach, worship and mature. We will be engaging in our third ZOOM series as we continue to work around COVID-19 and its variants. With partners Wayne Holst and Joan Gray, we will begin our study on January 17, 2022 at 7 p.m. Buy your copy of the book (or ibook or Audiotape) and join us for 10 - 90 minute sessions. Thursday Morning Bible Study will begin on January 20, 2022 at 10 a.m. on ZOOM. Watch for your invitations. Contact Joan, Wayne, the church office or me if you would like to be added to our mailing list.

The big excitement for the tech team (PSALT) has been the launch of our livestreaming Sunday mornings on Youtube. So far, Deb, Hugo Goasdoué Wallace and Mike Stockdale have "driven" the computer, cameras and monitors while I've had the opportunity to work beside them on Sound and Light. P.S. We continue to look for volunteers to help us out.