Entering Autumn!
Welcome to my October newsletter...
Welcome here, friends. I am so glad that you can join me. As I write, our office is dimly lit with our cozy lights and there is a diffuser going with some essential oils. We’ve been talking more and more as a team about how cozy this time of year feels, and we are trying to lean into that for a bit after a busy Summer (and before the hectic holiday season begins!). Let me catch you up to speed on what we’ve been up to.
Every August Erinn takes a month long break in order to recharge and refresh. This has been her rhythm for a number of years, so we are used to “holding down the fort” while she’s away. This August we filled our time up with a variety of things and the month flew by. Lots of people requested help moving furniture so our outreach van was put to good use. We spent a lot of time in our community garden plot finally harvesting many tomatoes and sharing them with community members. There is a local cat that we’ve fondly named SuperCat that we love to hug whenever he comes by. We did some evening outreach with a church partner called The Meeting House and witnessed some Tibetan dancing that happens at a nearby school every Wednesday night in the Summer. We also each took turns participating in our church services on Sundays and I had the honour of serving Communion a number of times. The month had that beautiful, full, end of Summer feeling where every moment was cherished.
September came quickly, and soon Erinn was back with us! We started off the month with a staff retreat to Silver Haven - a retreat cottage up north. We had lots of time to eat together, pray, plan for the end of the year and have some fun. It was such a beautiful time reuniting as a team. When we got back to Parkdale for our first Monday lunch of the season we had a fun Pizza Day which was a great way to start our Fall season together. September was filled with some other fun activities such as a pottery lesson from our friend Shakeel who is a local ceramic artist and a day at Centre Island for some fun in the sun. These “extra” activities that we do are a great way to continue to deepen relationships with each other. We also had our first INDOOR MONDAY LUNCH in over 3.5 years since Covid made us take our meals outside. This is a huge transition for everyone in our community, but one that is proving to be so special.
Now we are well into October and our work life is picking up the pace. The Dale helped plan and participated in an event called Story Day: Hospitality. It was a special day filled with stories and songs about hospitality, and involved a lot of great conversation and connection. We have a few exciting community events coming up as well such as pumpkin carving for Halloween and a movie day in the church. We are focusing more on connection after Covid kept us at arms length for so long, and it has been really soul-filling for us all.
Personally, things at home have been filled with a deep sense of change and transition. Charlotte has now started Junior Kindergarten, as mentioned in my last newsletter. This has been a huge change for her to adjust to and for Ian and I as well. While Charlotte LOVES school, we have been having some challenges with her behaviour at home so we would ask for prayer for that! She is learning so much and it makes me weepy to see her change and grow right before my eyes. I am so proud of who she is.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
Prayer Requests
Prayer for Charlotte and our family as we continue to adjust to a new school routine.
Prayer for our friends who are living outside as the weather cools down. The City needs to invest in affordable housing and create more of it so that folks do not die outside in the cold.
Prayer for The Dale as we transition to having lunch indoors again in a new space!
These past few months have been busy, busy, busy and it won’t be slowing down anytime soon. As we head into Fall and Winter, the care that our community needs amps up in a variety of ways - the need for warm clothing, connection, and food is high. I am so grateful for a God that sees the needs of His people and provides. But I know that this takes time and effort from us and from all of you - we could not do this work without every member of our community, both in Parkdale and beyond. I am grateful for the way we all care for each other. Thank you for being part of that. Peace to you!