“[The Kingdom of God] is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” (Mark 4:31-32)
Greetings, all! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
This week has been a scorcher, folks. The humidity and the sun were so aggressive that I found myself diving into shade wherever I could find it. Doing some gardening around the house this past weekend, I was really hoping that some bushes or trees might magically spring up on the property and provide some more shade and protection for the house. But alas, hostas don’t really cut it.
This has also been a time where our faith might feel small or fragile. We continue to bear witness to the call from our Indigenous siblings for immediate action on the calls to action and talking points that have been known for years, if not decades, at this point, including the Church’s continuing need to live out its apology. We also lament the terrorist action in London last Sunday, taking the lives of four innocent Muslim family members, and leaving a young boy and community reeling and frightened. And the traditional ways in which we discern and work through these tough conversations, like Sunday worship and coffee shop conversations, are still altered.
But through all of this, God is still nurturing us and our faith. We are finding new and renewed ways to reach out and learn. We are being encouraged to recognize our relationship with all our neighbours. And from our seeds of faith, there are roots and branches of justice-seeking emerging, with our congregations supporting the Healing Fund (aiding projects that help those impacted by residential schools), and our denomination proclaiming their ardent support for our Muslim siblings.
We also have some discussions happening in the coming week to help determine what our worship and faith life as congregations might look like this summer. Outdoor worship is a real possibility this summer, as are other activities that can help us safely come back together in-person. Look for further announcements in the coming days, but for now, check these out:
Upcoming Events:
- For the time being, we will be pausing our Fellowship Times on Tuesday and Wednesday morning on Zoom. This is due to the nicer weather and more people working outside. However, once restrictions are lifted, we will likely have in-person fellowship times. Stay tuned for more details.
- We are currently planning outdoor programming for our youth ministry going into the summer. If you have any ideas or would like to be involved in any way, please be sure to reach out to Alex.
- Many thanks to our Lay Pastoral teams who are checking in with congregants and friends, and making sure that they are connected to the happenings of our congregations. If you know of someone who might enjoy a call, or who may need pastoral care from Alex, be sure to reach out!
- We are looking for Blyth folks who would be interested in helping to man a multi-church hospitality booth, either as part of the Blyth Market, or as its own stand if the market does not go ahead. We will be handing out youth ministry packages and providing conversation to passers-by. If this is something that might interest you, contact Alex.
- We are having a Bible study on the Book of Acts. Come learn more about the narrative of the early Church, and how we might be called to act as Church in the community coming out of this pandemic. If you would like to take part, contact Alex.
Upcoming Dates:
Throughout June – Joint Mission: Collection for Camp Menesetung. Financial donations can be sent to the treasurers of either congregation. Contact Alex or the church offices for more information.
Sunday, June 13th – Third Sunday after Pentecost service available on Youtube.
Monday, June 14th – Spiritual Growth Meeting at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom.
Monday, June 14th – Lay Supervision Team Meeting at 2 p.m. (Blyth United)
Tuesday, June 15th – Book of Acts Study at 7 p.m. on Zoom.
Thursday, June 17th – Brussels Ministerial Meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Zoom.
Thursday, June 17th – Book of Acts Study at 10:30 a.m. on Zoom.
Sunday, June 20th – Indigenous Day of Prayer service available on Youtube.
Sunday, June 27th – Joint in-person service at Blyth Lion’s Park (time and details TBD)
Blessings and Christ’s Peace be with you all!
Alex Jebson
Student Minister – Blyth and Brussels United Churches
Email: minister.brusselsandblythuc@gmail.com
Blyth Office Number: 519-523-4224
Brussels Office Number: 519-887-6259
Emergency Pastoral Number: call/text 705-344-3385
Brussels & Blyth United Churches 