Submitted by Brad Inglis
Well any good gardener knows that if you keep deadheading your plants, the blooms will only continue to multiply. Who would have thought that would be the case with flags?
Someone stole our pride flag last week from the front of the church and what do you know, about 5 more appeared! Just like magic, folks were onto it and now we have more than before.
I guess the reason I wasn’t really fazed by it was because it wasn’t like the flag was burned in the parking lot or ripped up – it just disappeared and I figure that someone needed it more than we did. Some would even say that even if the flag was burned, that’s not such a bad thing either. It just means it touched a chord in someone – why did they do it, what fear did it create in them that they needed to consciously steal or destroyed something that is supposed to represent a life-giving message.
It isn’t a symbol of hate, it doesn’t put anyone down. Instead it is meant to build people up, recognize diversity, be a unifying symbol of people standing together in love and acceptance and solidarity. As it goes to show, when one is torn down or pruned away, it only encourages more to blossom. That is the beauty of gardening with love, even though it feels ruthless when the dead heads are cut away – it always makes room for new growth.
Thrift Shop Open July 2nd
Yes! The Thrift Shop will open on Friday July 2nd from 1 to 4pm and believe me when I say it, the shop is packed with treasures that have your name on them.
Thank you for the many generous donations of gently used item and clothing. You have helped us create a shopper’s paradise! And keep coming back each week because I know there is lots more to come. We have had to try and stagger the donations so that we have room. Each week you will find lots of new stuff. Please remember that donation only days are Monday and Tuesday each week, 1 to 4 and the shop is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday 1 to 4 for shopping. Covid protocol is in place and please remember to bring a mask for your protection as well as the safety of our volunteers and other shoppers.
In Person and Youtube Services
The church building itself is starting to open up a little more. By the time you read this we should be into Step 2 of the Provincial order and will be allowed to have 22 people in the church for a Sunday service. Registration is still required by either calling or emailing the church tobermoryunitedchurch@eastlink.ca so that we can track who attends and to ensure that you aren’t disappointed if we have reached our capacity.
We will continue posting our service on Youtube Live Sunday mornings at 10:30 or you can watch it any time throughout the week by googling From the Desk of the Lazy Theologian. Elaine White is back playing and our pop-up choir helps to bring some words to the music.
Lazy Theologian Mail List
Are you interested in being on our mail list? Just send me a note and eventually you will wish you hadn’t. You will get weekly links to Tedtalks, notices about community events, a link to our weekly service, a Zoom invitation to Coffee with Brad and other bits and pieces of information and semi-smatterings of wisdom that you may find help or can easily gloss over.
The prayer from Tobermory United these days is that all who visit, come with a high respect for the rugged beauty of this place we call home and for those of us whom live here, be welcoming and grateful because the visitors keep our economy going.
Brad Inglis is the minister at Tobermory United Church. He can be reached at binglis2@me.com
www.tobermoryunited.ca
