“When the power of love, replaces the love of power, humankind will have a new name………….GOD” Sri Chimnoy

This week we begin our liturgy with the lighting of the fourth candle on the Advent wreath, the candle of love. Saint Paul in his first epistle to the Corinthians writes, “faith, hope and love, these three, but the greatest is love.” Love is about relationship, given and received. It has been a pleasure, in this week leading up to Christmas, to practice that need for relationship as I carried out my vocation as your parish priest.

On Tuesday I was pleased to go to Melville Lodge to visit with two of our parishioners, Helen Fraser and Maria Jones who are residents at that facility. I was also pleased to visit the hospital and have a conversation with a parishioner who has been admitted.

Wednesday the morning the prayer group met and although our numbers were small our conversations were meaningful and prayerful. In the afternoon I met Marian at the Cunard Centre in Halifax as we attended the Mission to Seafarers luncheon. This event both raises money for and recognizes the good work done by the mission.

I was pleased to have Marilyn Hamlin accompany me on Thursday morning as we did home communions with Edie Gilbert, Minnie Dunn and Gladys Boutilier, a time of sharing the Christmas story and bringing the Holy Sacrament to those unable to attend church. As I always remind them, the church is the people and it extends beyond the doors of a building.

In the afternoon Thursday Marian and I met with a resource person to discuss an exciting new youth ministry project we are hoping to develop in the region of Fort Sackville.

I was also pleased to conduct my regular hospital visits on Thursday. I visited two individuals from our communities. Before heading home for the day I attended choir practice at St. Andrew’s as the choir make final preparations for our Christmas services.

Besides catching up on a few office duties on Friday I visited the home of a parishioner who faces further treatment in the face of a cancer diagnosis.

Love calls into relationship at all times. As we prepare to renew our relationship with our Lord this Christmas may we make him alive in us as we renew and maintain our relationships with others.

Blessings, Rev. Mike