Guitar 101

In the last couple of years I have realized that I love connecting with people. Whether it's connecting with someone with a friendly smile while walking past them on the street, a laugh-fest, or having tea with someone and talking about life. I love the moment when a friendship with someone becomes an inch more deep then what it was when you initially sat down because of the connection that has been made.

I've been using this passion of mine, a lot in my ministry in order to meet people. I love meeting people where they are at, it allows me to connect with them and them with me, because I give them the chance to share who they are and what they are passionate about with me.

There are a couple of parishioners in Viking who are part of the Music Team. They are both guitar players and LOVE music and leading worship. They are 2 of 4 guitarists who lead worship at our services. Shortly after I began working in Viking these two parshioners, knowing my background in music, suggested I learn how to play guitar, and suggested that I let them teach me. I was hesitant at first, it would mean I would have to buy a guitar, and I really didn't know if they would follow through. After all they are busy with families and work etc. So after a couple of weeks I agreed, and started asking them about where I could buy a reasonably priced guitar. "No need to buy one," one of the guys exclaimed, "I've got one you can borrow." So the next Sunday I was in town, we arranged for me to show up an hour before the service. I put my vestments and clergy stuff in the vestry, grabbed the guitar, sat down in the front pew of the church and started learning some chords G,C, and D, to be exact. I left with my three chords to practice, along with learning how to transition my fingers form one chord to another and forming callus' on my fingertips By the second time we met (every 3rd Sunday of the month) I was ready to learn three more chords E, Em and A.

It's been a great experience for me, not just because I get to learn how to play an instrument that I've secretly wanted to learn to play, but because I get to connect with two parishioners who I don't think I would have been able to connect with this way over a cup of tea. I get to watch the excitement in their eyes, when I learn a new chord, or put the chords together in a song. I get to listen to the excitement and passion that comes out of their mouth when they share with me the kind of music they like and show me tricks that give the music a cool sound. I get to see the joy in their eyes as they share the gift of music that God has given them, with me.

It is moments like these that I thank God for the gift of the Spirit who takes ordinary encounters and turns them into God moments full of grace, fellowship, and friendship!!

Afternoon Tea and Flagstaff Lodge

I spent my day in Viking and Sedgewick today. Being the summer, it tends to be a little bit slow. I try every day to visit someone in one of my three parishes, but some days, there's just no one around, so that's when I start to wander. I wander the streets, walk into stores, go to the post office, the ExtendiCare and Seniors Lodge, and head to a resturaunt for lunch.

After arriving in Sedgewick and doing some things at the church I decided to treat myself to an afternoon tea at a cafe on main street. I had a service at the Seniors Lodge this evening at 7pm so I had a lot of time to kill. I walked into the cafe to find a few small tables set up off to the left side of the room with a kitchen behind them, off to the right side of the room against the wall were scrapbooking resources and pages that one could buy to feed their scrapbooking hobbies and in the back of the building, a hair salon!! The best part of the whole place, though, was the two little girls (3 and 2 1/2) who were hanging in the cafe all day, while their grandmother worked, rolling around on the floor laughing their heads off and playing some sort of game involving animals that growl at one another. I walked in and they immediately started to show off for me. I ordered my tea, sat down at one of the tables, and grabbed my book to read as I chilled out. The girls were getting a bit more crazy, so their grandmother called them into the back to help her fold towels for the salon. They hestiated for a moment, you could tell they really wanted to stay out in the cafe...but eventually they followed. After about 30 seconds the 2 1/2 year old came back to my table swinging a salon towel around trying to fold it. So, I put my book down, pulled a chair up in front of me, had her sit on it, and together we folded her towel. She was so excited and our team-towel folding soon turned into a game where each girl would run to the back, grab two or three towels, take turns sitting on the chair in front of me and together we would fold these towels. This game lasted a good 25 minutes.
By the time I left, both of them were sitting on my lap, playing with my hair, asking me questions, telling me about their pets, and showing me their polished finger nails!!! It was a great afternoon. Not only did I get to meet two adorable little girls, I got meet their grandmother who was a very hospitable, and caring woman.. a great pastoral experience for all of us!!
And a hard one to leave, I could have stayed there all afternoon, but needed to do some more wandering.

What I love about wandering is that it never fails, you will always run into someone you know. I was running into the Co-op to buy some treats for myself, bumped into one of my parishioners at the entrance. She was buying goodies for the Seniors Lodge evening prayer service. We chatted for a bit and before I knew it I had an invitation for supper and dessert. That's what I love about rural ministry, the gift and ministry of hospitality is offered all the time, and for that gift I am truly grateful.

After supper, I headed over to Flagstaff Seniors Lodge to do an evening prayer service. Our service at Flagstaff Lodge brought out 30 residents. These folks are so faithful in their attendance of the service and I always leave feeling energized! I've heard so many wonderful stories about their lives, it's been a blessing.

So, on my road trip home, I spent my hour giving thanks for the two little girls and their acceptance, energy, love and child-like mannerisms that they shared with me, while at the same time giving thanks for the community of the Flagstaff Lodge and their acceptence and the love that they share with me every month.

peace,
C.

New job, new blog!!

It’s been just over three months since I have moved from the busyness of urban city life to rural life!! I have to confess, it’s glorious! Growing up in a small town I swore I would never live in one again, once I had moved to Edmonton, I knew I was a city girl to the max. Apparently God had a different plan, and I’m quite excited about this plan. As some of you may know, I spent my first eight months out of seminary working as the Curate at All Saints’ Cathedral. In May of 2010, I was appointed and moved out to Vegreville to begin my ministry as the Rector of the three parishes of St. John’s, Sedgewick, St. Matthew’s, Viking and St. Mary’s, Vegreville. It’s been a great few months thus far as I have taken time to get to know people in all of the communities and have been given the opportunity to live and work and play in these communities.

In this column I hope to share stories of my adventures in rural ministry with you, as well as share some of my personal reflections that tend to take root and blossom while I’m on the road driving from parish to parish, and I hope to be able to share information or facts about rural ministry that we may not be aware of that I am learning as I get to know the history of the small communities that I am serving and the importance of the church, evangelism, and Christ centered relationships within these communities. I’m super excited to share these experiences with you and hope that you will join me in my journeys as I road trip through the prairies and listen to the voice of God in my communities!!! It’s going to be AWESOME!!!!

Ch.