Back in the Game !!!

I'll be the first to admit that my interest in Fair Trade Coffee is motivated by a selfish desire to have GOOD coffee every morning.

Instead of having to shlep to the grocery store to buy coffee from thier meagre selection of fair trade and organic coffees, I like to help introduce new coffees and teas to the local community through our Church. It means I get easy access to good coffee, and the local congregations get the benefit of making a few extra dollars from the sales and promotion of Fair Trade Coffee.

Here in Flesherton, I've had an interesting and startling experience with the introduction of Fair Trade Products ... not only have they sold well within the congregation, the Council decided that they should use the promotion of Fair Trade as a means of reaching out into the community and
promoting our Congregations while promoting the FT products.

The work to get a booth in the local farmer's market was done by Council Members, and the folks who volunteer each week to man the booth and promote the product are a cross-section of our Faith Community, and highlight the enthusiasm that both Eugenia and St John's United Churches have in abundance.

So, today I not only have ready access to a fine cup of coffee each and every morning, I think we are standing on the verge of something amazing when I look at the potential and possibilities of this outreach project with the good folks of the Flesherton Pastoral Charge. Today the promotion of Fair Trade Coffee, Tea, Sugar, Fruit and Chocolate is about more than just the products, it's about telling the local community that we're alive and well and continuing to share our life and ministry with our community and the world !!!

The folks in Flesherton are enthusiastic about changing the world one cup of coffee at a time, and it feels GREAT to be sharing this journey with them !!!

Introducing the Orchestra's Newest Member ...

Last week Ms H. arrived back home from a walk with a tiny kitten tucked in her arms ... since then we've nurtured, feed and cared for this wee one ... and she's become a member of the menagerie that shares our home ...

we're still working on a name for her, but the most recent suggestion has been "Clara" short for "Clarinet" ... afterall, with Flute taking on the role of her 'momma' and Oboe being the playful big brother, another orchestra name seems appropriate.

New Resources in an age old battle ...

The weather outside is frightful ... not cold and snowy, but hot and VERY muggy ... so, with the ceiling fans and central air doing their job to keep the house comfie, my plans for the day don't involve much beyond resting, doing some crossword puzzles and catching up on some reading.

The reading was given a boost when this morning's mail contained a parcel of books and resources ordered YESTERDAY from the United Church Resource Distribution Centre in TO. I know they are efficent and fast - but really, I couldn't have driven down and picked it up any fast - OR CHEAPER !!!

So, today is going to focus on reading the book pictured above, a couple of Reginald Bibby's latests works, and a book by former UCC Moderator Bill Phipps called "Cause for Hope."

The one aspect of this however, is the fact that the books on homelessness, poverty and the urgent need for National policies on food, housing, poverty and homelessness were ALL in the clearance section of the UCRD web page !!

It saddens me to consider that the urgent need of facing and addressing poverty is by and large irrelevant to the Largest Protestant Denomination in the land ... the United Church of Canada has long been on the forefront of Social Justice issues in Canada, and yet given the dramatic increase in poverty rates, usage of food banks and soup kitchens, and the startling spike in demand for homeless shelter beds, the UCC is strangely quiet about this ...

Admittedly, many congregations like those of Eugenia and St John's are busy dealing with the local issue of hunger, poverty and housing through ongoing partnerships with other churches and community groups, but the leadership of our Church has fallen silent about this urgent and very relevant issue.

Homelessness and poverty are about to get worse with a Conservative Majority in Ottawa, and if Ontario takes the expected swing to the right that this fall's election seems to be prophecying, the return of Harris-like policies will only further exacerabate a pre-existing problem ... and yet, the United Church of Canada remains strangely quiet ...

Having needed to use a Food Bank while working a dozen part time jobs, I have a definite sensitivity to this issue ... and knowing that the numbers continue to indicate that the 'problem' of poverty, hunger and homelessness is getting worse NOT better - I think it's time to break the silence and begin to speak up and speak out about a problem that is entirely solvable.

Canada needs a National Housing Policy that makes adequate, safe and AFFORDABLE housing a right NOT a privilege.

Canada needs a National Food Policy that protects our domestic food production while ensuring EVERYONE has access to adequate, safe and affordable food.

Canada needs to address the issues that lead to poverty, hunger and homelessness - and the ONLY way that can happen is if people become aware and knowledgable about this, and no longer accept silence as the status quo response.

I am fortunate to have worked with Food Banks and Soup Kitchens in a variety of capacities including NEEDING them ... those experiences have left an indelibable impression on me and on my view of the world ... stay tuned ... this WILL NOT be the last time I speak out and speak up about these issues ...

The Church is about transformation ... and our faith calls us to care for 'the least of these my sisters and brothers' ... Can is seriously be ANY clearer or more straight forward than this??

Time to change the world ... who's with me ???

New Sermons ...

Today is a day for playing a bit of catch up ... I've ordered coffee and tea for our fair trade booth at the Flesherton Farmers' Market, and now I'm trying to get caught up on the online presence of the Pastoral Charge by updating our web page and our blog ...

SO, over at the blog: "United Church in the Grey Highlands" I've posted the most recent sermons and services ... I'll get the web page updated soon ...

Just wanted to let everyone know !!!

Tis Dandelion Season !!!

To some they are annoying and obnoxious weeds ... to others they are simply a plant ... and to still others, they are an amazing piece of creation that offers a myriad of possibilities and potentials ranging from medicine, to food through to wine ... and every spring the ubiquitious dandelion offers its beauty and its potential in unimaginable profusion ...

I have frequently preached on the usefulness of this so-called weed, and noted that it is one of the most useful and versatile plants on the plant. A search for using dandelions will reveal hundreds upon hundreds of suggestions, and the litany of what this simple plant is good for, is fairly long and extensive.

But to me, the full beauty of the dandelion comes when a fist full of the brilliant yellow flowers is offered with a smile. As a friend noted earlier this morning: you would have to be pretty hard hearted not to see the beauty in THAT!!

Reminders ...

Today I was clearing away stuff from my desk when I found a note sent a couple of years ago from Indigo Sweetwater ... it brought a smile to my face and a tear to my eye ... it was a reminder of wonderful friend, and the profound and lasting impact she has had on the world, her family and the broad circle of folks privileged to call her FRIEND.

Haven't been blogging lately ...

It has been a long winter and spring ... losing mom, then my brother, and having to deal with all that their deaths have entailed have left me exhausted ... trying to keep working while balancing my grief journey, supporting my kids and trying to just keep up has left me a couple of miles past exhausted ...

I've only just begun reading again after a six plus month hiatus ...

I wish I could offer some profound bit of wisdom, but right now I find myself moving through the day taking each step as it comes, and facing whatever the day might bring ... I'm tired ... I know it's not much of an excuse, but it's the main reason I haven't been blogging ... I've been thinking about life, the universe and everything, but when I finally get time to sit down at a keyboard, I end up playing a couple of facebook games, checking my emails, seeing what's new in the world, then I'm done ...

I want to blog ... but ...

In time it will come ... I've been reading the latest Reginald Bibby, the latest by Tim Huff, and some other material on the current state of the church ... I've been thinking about how to better utilize online resources for the work and ministry of the Church ... but mostly, I've been moving through my days one step at a time.

This past weekend we gathered in Lingelbach Cemetery to lay to rest Mom and Scott beside Dad ... Scott was cremated and his urn was placed in Mom's arms and together they were placed beside Dad ... it was a hard day emotionally, but it was a good way to say our good byes. The gathering of friends and family out at the Bush helped to celebrate the lives of both Mom and Scott in a wonderful and relaxed way ... I could picture Scott standing on the balcony of the shop, a bottle of Crystal in hand, smiling as everyone shared stories ... and Mom was sitting by the front door of the shop in the lawn chair she long ago claimed as "mine", claiming one last time the role of elder statesman for the Elliot clan, as they gathered with almost everyone there for the first time in 20 years ... if the First People of Bella Coola are to be believed (and there is no reason to doubt them), in the warm shadows ALL around lurked the spirits of my Grandparents, my uncles, and my, cousins who have gone ahead of us to the Spirit World.

As Uma once told me over tea - "they are only as far away as the next breath and as close as the wind on our cheeks."

They might be gone ... but they are not forgotten ...

Miscommunication ...

I've worn this button for quite awhile ... I've had positive comments about it, and I've had funny looks offered because of it, but last week I had a first because of it ...

I went into one of the local stores to grab a cup of coffee along the way. The Asian owner looked at my button then said with a glare - "what's your problem with hunters?"

"Pardon?" I replied very confused ...

"Hunters!!" He said quite emphatically, "why don't you like hunters?"

"Um ..." I wasn't sure what he meant and obviously looked very very very confused.

"Your button," he said pointing, "why don't you like hunters?"

"Hunters?" I said as I pulled my button up to look at it ... as I re-read the lettering he did too ...

"OH, Hunger !!" he said relieved, "I thought it said "no hunter" ... I wonder if you're a bit crazy wearing that around here ..." He then smiled and laughed then as he handed me my coffee he added, "you do like hunters don't you?"

"Oh yeah, I don't mind hunters," I said laughing, "and if they offer me some venison once in a while I like them even more."