From Pastor Eric’s Study – September 2025
As the years go by it seems like time is steadily accelerating. When I was a child, I remember summer feeling like a season that lasted a year, and now it feels like it flashes by in only a matter of weeks. Our perceptions of the world are constantly changing. With time, the unfolding journey offers ever fuller glimpses of gratitude, and it always challenges us with the progression of change.
Our faith speaks at its heart of God's constancy, of a love that is woven into the fabric of creation, a love that never gives up on any part of that creation. Last week, as I was canoeing in the Canadian wilderness with family and friends, I was captivated by a family of loons. The gift of time allowed me to sit on a rock and watch the two parents coach their little chick in diving and fishing. The last day there was this tender moment when one of the parents popped up from the depths with a small fish in its beak and began swimming across the lake to a visibly excited chick. Growth comes with change and learning; it also is interwoven with extraordinary compassion. At our best this is how we navigate change together as a community as well. We watch out for one another, we nurture those who are still learning, we learn from those who are around us with wisdom or a fish to offer. We keep reminding each other that through it all, God’s love is integral to the fabric of our journey.
Another season is quickly upon us, and this fall we will be embracing another change at Peace Church. The council has decided that it is best for us to continue with a single service at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday mornings. I’m grateful for the wonderful participation that we had from the congregation when we surveyed people’s feelings about one or two services. I was also overwhelmed with the majority of responses being that people would adapt to what was deemed best. Clearly any choice of service time was going to have a few detractors… they always say “you can’t please everyone.” Still, we continue on the journey together hopefully watching out for and nurturing one another. I pray that our simplifying to one service will give us a chance to more fully live into our unity as a community. I also hope that it simplifies some of the demands of volunteers. Sunday School and Pre-Confirmation will resume during this 9:00 am worship time starting September 7th. This will be “Rally Day” with a celebration as a part of the service and classes. We’ll give thanks for being regathered and into the rhythm of our program year.
We will also have a chance to “bless the backpacks” during worship on the 7th. Please bring your pack or bag so that we can offer a blessing that reminds us that we never journey alone.
As always when we engage in times of change, it is important that we keep communication open. Let the council and your pastors know what is working, what is not working. God's not done with us yet, and we’re certainly not done growing and learning as a community of God's people.
May God bless us in this season’s changes!