What a great group of volunteers we have at St. Mark’s by-the-lake. Yesterday was our annual Turkey dinner where we serve near 500 dinners to our own people and to people all over the community. It as always was a great success with lots of folks from St. Greg’s, Tecumseh United, St Anne’s, Riverside Presbyterian (Still worshiping at Riverside United) St. Andrew’s and folks who have no specific church community. It was great. There were so many people. It was an n excellent fund raiser – but and even better FUN raiser.
Janet Forster is a trouper. She is worked so hard last week organizing everything from My Dad’s B-Day party to this wonderful dinner. There great thing about Janet is that she is no Lone Ranger. She includes so many people. The turkey dinner has over 80 volunteers that make it happen. Many Thanks to all of you who worked so hard at this. It is a great testimony to the dedication you all have to the parish.
We began the day with a couple of great liturgies. The 8 AM was alive with 35 people in attendance. The 10:30 AM saw us baptism Little Jack Edward Hatch. There were 182 people – the place was full. The music was alive and the congregation was full of life and vigour. We also had about four new families check us out on Sunday. We continue to grow as the message gets out there about this fantastic place.
Dad and Mom continue to enjoy their trip and were pleased yesterday to experience the Turkey Dinner and the great operation that it is. We can’t believe how fast the time is going. They have a week and two days left and then it is back to NL.
I finish with this thought from Henri Nouwen;
“What is a more common, ordinary gesture than breaking bread? It may be the most human of all human gestures: a gesture of hospitality, friendship, care, and the desire to be together. Taking a loaf of bread, blessing it, breaking it, and giving it to those seated around the table signifies unity, community, and peace. When Jesus does this he does the most ordinary as well as the most extraordinary. It is the most human as well as the most divine gesture.
The great mystery is that this daily and most human gesture is the way we recognise the presence of Christ among us. God becomes most present when we are most human.”
This was evidenced yesterday as nearly 500 broke bread at St. Mark’s by-the-Lake. People were getting to know each other. Friends were made. Old acquaintances caught up on time passed by. These past few days and in the days ahead for Mom and Dad too experience that very simple yet profound and human experience – breaking bread. They, along with Catherinanne and I, are experiencing friendship, hospitality and peace. Jesus knew well what he was saying when he likened his body, the people of God, to the loaf – broken and shared. It is true, that we get to know each other well in the breaking of the bread. The more we get to know you all – the more we love you!
It's Just Kevin's Corner 
YES………..inclusiveness! Good stuff! Carry on…
I have often struggled with the humanity of Christ and the divinity of those around me and, more particularly, myself. Maybe this is because I\’ve been more watchful for these things in extraordinary moments. I\’m going to try seeking these qualities in ordinary moments, and perhaps I\’ll have more success. Thanks for the Nouwen quote–it provides some clarity.