Bring on the sunscreen and sunglasses! It is still pretty chilly to go for a swim at the cottage, but the boaters are having a grand time. A few fish are being caught too.

I hope you all have had a happy week. I am back home to tidy up the yard and do some errands. It will be a good day on Sunday as we celebrate Father's Day. I must buy Dan and Robert a few fishing lures for a little treat. Be sure to share a compliment  with the special men in your family. Maybe some of you are planning a tasty breakfast or BBQ for that day.

Congratulations to Tom Virany on the celebration of his 90th birthday this week. He is a very interesting gentleman and I am sure he has had some exciting experiences over his lifetime. Recently I read an article written by a 90 year old. Here are some of his tips for a happy life and good memories:
​

1. Enjoy each day and it's simple pleasures.
2. Take time to count your blessings.
3. Friends are the family you choose.
4. Children are a very precious gift and must be nurtured.
5. Believe in miracles!
6. God loves you no matter your age.
7. Life is not always fair , but it is good.
8. The best is yet to come..........

Before I close, I must share a little joke.

There are two ants. The baby ant asks. "Dad why don't we get coronavirus?" Dad answers "because we have ANTY BODIES."

I am returning to my cottage for the weekend.  Unfortunately we do not have an Internet connections, so I will not be e-mailing for some time, but you will be in my thoughts and prayers. Enjoy your summer holiday! KEEP safe and healthy. Share a smile or some kind words with someone.

​By Reverend Richard Delrome on his 60th Anniversary of entry into the Order of Ministry in the United Church of Canada, June 1, at Sherbrooke, Quebec.

The sudden realization that it is already 60 years since my ordination has prompted me to ask what I might share in the time of this present pandemic with a congregation should I be in active Ministry.

The results are:

We are taught three things: 1. Something about life and ourselves; 2. Something about faith; and 3. Something about God.

LIFE AND OURSELVES

We are reminded that human beings are at times shown to be fearful people and have every right to be so by the very nature of existence itself. Put bluntly, we are all born to die and asked spiritually to make something out of that period between our point of entry (birth) and our point of exit (death) - what we sometimes call in Christianity ‘Working out our Salvation’.

Life with COVID 19 is no different than it has ever been in terms of the threat that life itself poses; this particular unexpected circumstance merely shocks us into the realization that ‘what is, is’ and forces us to grapple with that painful reality in innovative ways.

FAITH

Faith basically means trust ... acknowledgement that life, despite all, is ultimately good. So how could COVID 19 not help reassure us of that fact by virtue of its ‘badness’ because its dark side can only be seen in the light of its opposite, i.e. the ‘good’ side - just as resurrection is the positive commentary on crucifixion.

GOD

Yes God has always had something to say about masks - asking us to show transparency to others by becoming ‘unmasked‘, thereby showing our true selves as love. Jesus is God unmasked, and however we understand the seeming paradoxical nature of Deity, we are called to live that paradox all the more passionately in these difficult times. 

Rev. Richard DeLorme, Vancouver, B.C. (With permission, his love and good memories)

Some thoughts from Pauline on the Broadview magazine article entitled  "How to Grow a Church"

The most important aspect is the energy that circulates between all these people or groups of people.  The first connection is to get plugged to the energy of God by worshiping:  not necessarily evangelistic praise, but simple hymns that uplift and help us rejoice the highest power, 

Taking time to read Psalms or short prayers that make us feel this energy through our body, mind and soul, taking the time to bathe in this beautiful energy.   We aim to feel that harmony and convey it through the congregation.  After this, we can bring this energy of encouragement and joy to the community and beyond our community through our conversations and actions.   The leadership of a motivated pastor or minister that links and directs this energy working with members of the congregation that follow that flow of energy will create a healthy body of Christ.  The respect for the head is essential.  

My thoughts on the comparison between the United Church versus the Roman Catholic:  In the United Church, the minister is chosen internally which can be a source of pressure and criticism toward his or her decisions or projects which  can block energy; whereas, a Catholic priest is chosen (and hired) externally by a higher level of hierarchy.

The members seem to submit and cooperate much easier because the congregation cannot impose expectations and use pressure to obtain tangible results.   We are the body of Christ and must be involved in the optimist energy.  We all have a responsibility to connect to the optimist energy and spread the love and healing peace around us everywhere we go. 

Aylmer United Church congregation has a telephone chain again - did you know that we used to have one? - to help keep our church family "together" while we are apart.

A number of our church family do not have the internet, so they may be unaware that we will be closed until September, the roof will be repaired, and that there are options for contributing financially (if they are not on PAR) via PAR or cheque.

It is also a good way to reach out to ensure that there are none who need help or have issues or questions and are just waiting for a friendly voice on the end of the line to chat with.  

Our thanks to those who are participating in the telephone chain - a way to actively practice our Christian faith.  If you haven't received a call and would like to be partnered with a caller, please contact us. .