Stopped in Awe: News from Tobermory United
Submitted by Rev. Sheryl Spencer
We hate to cancel worship at Tobermory United, but seeing as ice-laden trees were dangerously bending over roads on the morning of Sunday March 30, it seemed the only thing to do. The church had power for a little bit that day, then it went dark, like most of the rest of the area. That was the day that cell phone service was also wonky for many people.
Was your power out? For how long? What did you miss? What did you learn? When the power came back on at the church on Monday March 31, the church started to become an informal gathering place. Folks who still didn’t have power would come by to charge their phones, have some coffee, get warm and chat. As people started telling stories of neighbours offering shelter, showers, or hamburgers cooked on a grill, I said, “I bet if you gathered all the instances of people being kind in these days, it would measure in the thousands.” I think that’s true. Such ubiquitous kindness may not happen everywhere, but it happens here.
I know that many people through the days of power outage have learned gratitude. Just how wonderful a hot shower is, or a hot cup of tea. Gratitude for the people who work outside in the cold and have the know-how to fix the power grid and make it work again. (Thank you!) Gratitude for light and heat – and the Internet!
So, at Tobermory United, we head into Holy Week with an extra dose of humility this year. Maundy Thursday, a quiet, contemplative service where we celebrate Jesus’ last supper with his friends, will take place Thursday April 17 at 7:00 p.m. The service for Easter Sunday will be held April 20 at 10:30 a.m. There will be a light breakfast provided prior to the service. Holy Week is a tender time, so all are welcome to drop by the sanctuary for quiet reflection and prayer from noon to 1:00 p.m. each day April 15 to 18.
Rev. Sheryl Spencer is the minister at Tobermory United Church, 5 Brock St.
