Here in Newfoundland, each season emerges along its own specific path, usually without exception. We just experienced a very warm and pleasant summer—well into the end of September. However, as October approached, the weather changed with a flourish—cold, wind, and heavy rain.
It must have been late last night, or early this morning, while I was still asleep, that high winds and torrential rain swept over the landscape, leaving in their wake some random leaves, floating like little ducks in about an inch of water all over my patio floor.
However, the fall leaves and shortening of days, and the resurgence of activities here at St. John the Evangelist, are reminders that summer is over, and autumn has made its debut.
I think the first sign here at St. John the Evangelist was the involvement of our ACW, in the preparation and serving of the regular fall lasagna dinner takeout on September 28th, with its usual success.
Sunday, October 13th, our church creative team adorned the altar for Thanksgiving, with vegetables and fruit, to mark the season of harvest and in thanksgiving for our abundance. But most importantly, this was done to inspire us to share our bounty with those less fortunate.
In the absence of Canon Noel, who was on a mission elsewhere that day, Archdeacon Greg Mercer led us in thankful worship, delivering both the biblical and human interest story of Thanksgiving, as well as directing the ukulele band in an appropriate Thanksgiving melody and song.
Donations have generously poured in which afford us well stocked tables for the flea market on October 26th. We are already in the stages of preparation for the fall market and the holly tea, scheduled for November 16th and early December respectively.
This could not be accomplished, however, without the help of our congregation, who volunteer and work as a team together for the glory of God.
“Your people shall be volunteers In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth.”
Psalm 110: 3 (New King James Version)
