Submitted by Pastor Janaki Bandara
This has been a challenging year on the heels of a pandemic that turned the world upside down. In the midst of all the things we are encountering in our various newsfeeds, we go through our day-to-day lives, perhaps holding it all in and rushing around. It is difficult to find the pause to think, pray, talk, meditate, listen to the way the outside world is interacting with our inner worlds.
In my encounters with people on the Peninsula, I am finding that providing a container for listening, silence and pause is received as helpful. That container gives us the space to look at what we are experiencing and perhaps re-organize ourselves a bit, so that remaining hopeful, thankful and encouraged is possible.
In the month of December, Christmas wind-up may seem counter-intuitive with the challenging things we are seeing in our news feeds, or difficult things in our lives. To support and encourage you during the month of December, our North Peninsula churches are offering unstructured spaces with pastoral presence (and doggy presence) to serve as your containers.
You may sit in silence, or receive a non-judgmental listening ear. If prayer accompaniment will be helpful, or a cup of tea to clasp in your hands and sip while you think or feel your way through the things on your soul – there is a container for you.
This is not a structured time of worship, it is simply an opening up of space, both physical and heart space, as our gift to you to encourage you through the month.
These sanctuaries will be open with both pastoral and a comforting beagle presence available as follows:
• Monday December 4th: 2-7 pm -Church of St Edmund’s at the Gap in Tobermory
• Tuesday December 5th: noon-3pm -Christ Church, Lion’s Head – 55 Main Street
• Monday December 11th: 2-7 pm -Church of St Edmund’s at the Gap in Tobermory
• Tuesday December 12th: noon-3pm
-Christ Church, Lion’s Head – 55 Main Street
• Thursday December 14th: 2pm-6pm
-St Peter’s & Trinity, Wiarton – 441 Brown Street
• Monday December 18th: 2-7 pm -Church of St Edmund’s at the Gap in Tobermory
• Tuesday December 19th: 1:30-3pm -Christ Church, Lion’s Head – 55 Main Street
• Thursday December 21st : 2pm-6pm
-St Peter’s & Trinity, Wiarton – 441 Brown Street
Parker (the beagle) and I hope you might drop in.
Janaki Bandara is the Pastor at the above listed churches.
