image from Sanctifiedart.org; special Sundays
This Sunday we celebrate Earth Day and Camping Sunday. More about that at the end of the blog … but as I was looking at past sermons about camp, and earth day, I came across this wonderful video which I showed in worship many years ago. I was delighted to see it again … and I have watched it a number of times this week when I have felt overwhelmed. It brings me such joy!
Perhaps some of you may remember …
Harry Belafonte and The Muppets - Earth Song (short version)
I last wrote this blog on the Saturday before Easter, what we often call Holy Saturday. That in between time. A time between grief and hope. It has been a rollercoaster since our glorious Easter Sunday worship service, which was full of joy and beautiful music. However, fresh in our minds that day was the death of a beloved member of our faith community, Bob Grant, on Good Friday. Later that week, another beloved member, Phil Keeley, died. Both memorial services will be held at Bethany. Phil’s will be this Sunday at 2 pm, and Bob’s on May 17. Our community mourns the loss of these two men as we continue to walk with Bev and Yvonne and their families, and surround them with love and support. It is a stark reminder of the cycle of life and death, and of the Easter season which is upon us.
This is the time of year when we see this cycle vividly all around us. New life. Hope.
My vacation last week was not what I had hoped for … which was supposed to be a trip to PEI to visit a good friend who has experienced tremendous loss over the past 6 months, after a devastating loss 18 months ago. It became very clear to me after the busyness of the Easter weekend that traveling with a bad knee that was only slightly beginning to feel better might not be a good idea. At least until I got in to see my trusted physiotherapist and caught up on my sleep. As the week progressed and my proposed trip slipped away, I whined and whinged for awhile, and then tried to make the best of things.
I read. (3 books) I knit. I listened to a podcast or two. I binged a few TV shows. I slept. A lot. I even sorted out a few piles of things (books, papers, clothes) that had been getting a bit unruly. Even got hopeful one day and dug out spring clothes and sandals from the back of the closet. I tried not to think of church and what I had left behind for a week (and what Louisa was dealing with at the office) … plumbing problems, deaths, anxiety about next steps in my ministry here … I was mildly successful at that. I did watch parts of the worship service last Sunday, and Tim Crooks’ reflection, which was inspirational.
One day I did allow myself to think about the worship service for May 4. In its wisdom, on a cold winter evening, the Worship Committee decided to celebrate Earth Day, which is April 22, and Camp Kidston Sunday on May 4. Rev. Katie Aven from Bedford United Church prepared a 22 minute video for churches to use on Camping Sunday, and I previewed it last week. Although we aren’t able to show it during worship, I would recommend it to you.
The video brought back so many memories … and also, dare I say, gave me hope? Hope for the future. For young people, for the world we live in. I remembered my own time spent at Kidston as a volunteer Chaplain. I remembered my own kids’ experience, and driving carloads of weeping kids home at the end of the week because the week had ended. I remembered sitting beside kids at dinner who had been to the bog that day and still had mud in their ears. And I remembered how terrified I was whenever they played their night games.
Please take the time to watch the video. It is such important ministry within the United Church of Canada. And like all ministries outside of a church building, sometimes it struggles for recognition and survival. On Sunday we will hear from two Bethany campers, Elizabeth Carter and Mason Bowers, and also have a written testimony from my daughter Alana Martin, who went to Camp Kidston every year since she was 5, became a CIT, and a counsellor, and now works with children, youth and young adults in the UCC.
I hope to see you Sunday!
here’s the link to the Kidston video.
