St. Nicholas Bazaar a Celebration of CommunityStopped in Awe: News from Tobermory United
Submitted by Rev. Sheryl Spencer
Many, many thanks to the entire community for supporting Tobermory United Church at our St. Nicholas Bazaar on November 25th, especially St. Nicholas, who made a surprise visit! Thank you to the vendors who sold their wares, local businesses and people who donated to the silent auction, Peacock’s Foodland, and of course everyone who donated baking, crafts, nearly-new items, and of course, their time and energy. It was good to see so many people mingling and catching up. Over $8,000 was raised in just three hours!
This season is one of the most beautiful and the busiest for Tobermory United. Each Sunday, we light a new candle on our Advent wreath so that on Christmas eve, all of the candles will be lit. Our Christmas eve service will be at 5:00 p.m., and it will be a service for the whole family and will include Communion.
Before that, Tobermory will host a Longest Night service on December 21 at 7:00 p.m. This is a quiet, contemplative service that is especially meant for those who are grieving or weary, but it’s also a service that helps to remind us to slow down in a time of year that can be frantic and sometimes celebrated with a forced joviality. This year is not easy. There’s a lot going on in the world right now that can break our hearts, so the Longest Night service offers a space for melancholy and lament.
Rather than doing an Advent study this year, I’ve encouraged the folks at Tobermory United to try to connect with what is ancient and enduring in this season – to read or write poetry, to paint or look at paintings, to listen to or create music, to walk, to just be. It is important not to just rush through these pre-Solstice days when the light is low, but to settle into them, experience and acknowledge the gifts that they offer.
Something new this season is that Tobermory United will host “Christmas with Peninsula Musicians” on December 20 at 7:00 p.m. This will be a fundraiser for the Golden Dawn and will feature Brian Taylor and friends, Trio Garagio, the Tobermory United pop-up choir and more! Maybe there will even be a carol sing!
Tobermory United is so blessed to be a part of this wonderful community in this very special place.
Rev. Sheryl Spencer is minister at Tobermory United Church.
