Greetings friends!
It’s the first day of May. May Day! This expression has a couple of meanings. One is the ancient celebration of a new month and the coming of spring, the other is a call for help! Perhaps we are in the midst of using it for both reasons. Some days the news is just too hard to listen to. With global unrest and political maneuverings, we are apt to call out mayday, mayday. As such, perhaps we need the counterbalance and reassurance of the other May Day, the one that ushers in the renewal of the earth and the delight of spring growth.
The month of May offers us much to celebrate here at Ebenezer as we celebrate community and support one another.
This coming Sunday May 3rd I will be participating in a four-way pulpit exchange. I will be preaching at Enniskillen-Tyrone United Church. Their minister Rev. Jeff Doucette will be at Faith United Church while their minister the Rev. Ned Wells will be at St. Paul’s United Church in Bowmanville so that Rev. Michelle Brotherton can be here leading worship at Ebenezer United Church! Phew! Let’s hope we each remember where we are supposed to be and at what time! It is a great way to build connections with our neighbouring United Churches.
Sunday, May 10th will be a celebration of Christian Family Sunday and a tribute to the women in our lives on Mother’s Day.
Another wonderful opportunity to build community, both within our congregation and in the broader community, is to help at and support our Spring Marketplace on Saturday, May 9th from 9:00 to 1:00. You could bring some baking for the bake sale or come and buy some baking! You could shop for special gift ideas at the Vendor’s Market in the church hall or pick up some bargain books and puzzles at the book table. And if you are thinning out some perennials then pot some up and donate them to the plant sale. If you are tired of shifting around some of those garden tools you never use, donate them to the garden table. On May 9th there will be something for everyone.
May 24th is Pentecost Sunday – be sure to wear something red (or orange or yellow) to mark the coming of the Holy Spirit with flames of fire and blowing wind.
Also, on May 24th we will welcome Erin Down who will provide a “Lunch and Learn” after our morning service when she speaks on “Nature protection in Canada and internationally – Perspectives from a federal public servant”. Erin (Marilyn and Gary’s daughter) is a Policy Manager at Environment and Climate Change Canada, where she is currently focussing on files relating to international biodiversity and wildlife trade. Following her university studies in international business and environmental economics, Erin moved to Ottawa and has spent her career thus far working on a number of environmental policy issues. In our time of global discord, it is good to know we have brilliant people like Erin working to care for our planet.
The month of May will fly by so be sure to mark these important dates on your calendar and include Ebenezer in your plans this month.
See you at church. Blessings ~Nancy