Interwoven into our defined English vocabulary are many proverbs or sayings. Most of which I have never taken seriously or with any degree of credence before today. However, tonight I have been touched by one such idiom in a somewhat forceable way. Namely: “behind every dark cloud there’s a silver lining.”
I am sure that none of us wishes to relive the trauma of our three-year journey with the coronavirus—the stress of isolation, distancing, and limited communication with neighbouring church families. But on a weekend in October, by the grace of God and with high hopes for a future of more cohesive fellowship, the ladies of our parish succeeded in broadening the spectrum.
We were honoured to host a gathering together of the ACW Avalon West Deanery for a meeting, the election of officers, a supper, and a church service.
The district encompasses the Church of the Ascension (Mount Pearl), St. Peter’s (Upper Gullies), All Saints’ (Foxtrap), and St. Paul’s (The Gould’s), as well as our own congregation of St. John the Evangelist (Topsail).
After our 10:30 am regular worship on October 16th, as the hosts for the event, our team diverted to the kitchen, where we painstakingly prepared a supper to be shared with our invited guests from their respective parishes. Since this event occurred during the month and season of Halloween, our decor was representative of that theme and colour.
The meeting commenced at 3 pm, with about forty members present. And since this was the first assembly since before the pandemic, business extended for well over an hour.
The Rev’d Jotie Noel conducted elections, resulting in the present executive agreeing to continue in the same capacity for another year—Betty Hiscock (Topsail) President; Barbara Hollett (Gould’s) Vice President; Sandra Squires (Topsail) Secretary; and Marilyn Lear (Mount Pearl) Treasurer.
At this juncture, with the aroma of perked coffee and the whistling of a boiling kettle, everyone was ready to indulge in the meal, that had been prepared with loving hands, as we gathered around the tables enjoying food and joyful conversation.
Then with appetites adequately sufficed, Rev’d Jotie was ready to guide all present upstairs to participate in a service of Holy Communion. An offering collected at the service will be forwarded to the Red Cross in aid of the Fiona disaster.
We thank God for a full day of interaction and revival between all five parish families for the first time since the pandemic.
Behind every dark cloud there is a silver lining:
“For there is hope for a tree if it is cut down,
that it will sprout again,
and that its tender shoots
will not cease”
Job 14: 7
