SERVICES AND GATHERINGS THIS WEEK
SUNDAY – More information below … but just a reminder that next Sunday the service will be followed by a picnic on the lawn (weather permitting). This has a number of implications…
Please bring a chair if you can…saves moving all those chairs out on the lawn.
If you are so inclined, bring a salad to share.
AND….we REALLY need some volunteers to help set up for the picnic and dismantle following – please get in touch with Terese Herron.
WEDNESDAY – COMPLINE - Compline is a short service of night prayer. The heart of Compline is the recitation of several psalms. There is a short reading from scripture, intercession, and time for reflection. It is a beautiful way to close out an active day. Compline is offered by St. James’ through Facebook to bring the community together. If you cannot join live, the service is available afterwards on St. James’ Facebook channel.
We have a new rector! Perhaps you can feel the sigh of relief from Terese H., warden, and one of the members of the Parochial Committee charged with finding a new rector for St. James.
Terese thanked the parish for their support through the process and especially for their commitment to the small group meetings and their involvement in the parish questionnaire process; these gave much direction to the Parochial Committee as it went through the process.
MISSION FOR SEAFARERS
We often don’t think about Hamilton being connected to “the sea” … but of course, we are, through the St. Lawrence Seaway. We are visited by a large number of vessels from other countries, annually. In Hamilton there is a Mission for Seafarers which helps seafarers as they come into port. Last year St. James made contact and visited a couple of times to see what items were needed and how we might help. Men’s warm clothing is particularly needed as the men are often away from home for long periods of time and need to replace clothing as it wears out. They are often in port for only a few hours so what they can get at the Mission is very useful. They also love chocolate – something they miss on board, and personal items are also needed. There is a box outside the church which will be there for the month of June. Later in the year there will be another collection so if you are a knitter and can supply some warm hats and mitts that would be most appreciated. Please contact Terese or Sue via the office 905-627-1424 or stjamesdundas@outlook.com for more details.
CAN YOU HELP? WE WILL TRAIN (PART 1)
If a whole bunch/cluster/horde/team/crew/gang of people signed up for a Sunday set up and clean-up of coffee hour, it would sure make it easy for the rest of us. Please sign up in the Narthex or give Nyle a call at the church office to “reserve your spot”. You can choose to SET UP …. CLEAN UP … or BOTH.
CAN YOU HELP? WE WILL TRAIN (PART 2)
We could use the assistance of a youthful member of our church living nearby who would like to acquire some VOLUNTEER HOURS this summer. You would help in emptying the five or six dehumidifiers in the church on a regular basis would be of great assistance – maybe 2 or three days per week. We can help with training (e.g. where to dump the water and how to make sure the float is working) and we are open to working around YOUR schedule. Contact Terese via the office 905-627-1424 or stjamesdundas@outlook.com for more information.
CAN YOU HELP? NO TRAINING HERE … JUST A REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE
As you know, our church treasurer works only on Friday afternoons (and sometimes on Saturdays). Other than this time, Carolyn is fully employed. You can help by doing a couple of things to make her important work for St. James even more efficient and effective….
Please hold your requests for account balances and who has or has not paid until later in the week (Thursday would be good!). Carolyn will respond – where appropriate - on Friday or Saturday.
Electronic Transfers (ETFs) … these are being used much more than in the past; please use the space on the ETF transfer form to identify WHAT THE FUNDS ARE FOR. This will save all of us a great deal of time.
If you are sending a cheque to another organization, please send directly to the organization rather than asking us to forward for you. And, please note that we no longer support the Good Food Box, so if you are giving money to that organization, please forward directly to them.
COMING EVENTS
PARISH PICNIC – GET READY FOR AN OUTDOOR PARTY TO START SUMMER
And, speaking of parties … following up on the Pentecost celebrations, the St. James Annual Picnic will take place on Sunday, June 12th after the Sunday Service. Hamburgers (beef and plant-based) and hot dogs will be served. If you wish, please bring a salad to share and a lawn chair. The picnic will be moved to the Dundas Room if it is a rainy day. Unfortunately, no deliveries will be possible if you cannot attend; we really want to see you in person for this outdoor event.
This is also a special day for Reverend Carol Overing as she will be celebrating her 30th Anniversary as an ordained priest at St. James. She arrived as a Curate in 1991 and has chosen to stay with us for over 30 years! We are thankful for Carol's staying power and for the many gifts that she has shared with us over the years. Please come to the June 12th service to celebrate with Carol. As we do for every notable occasion, a special cake will be served!
REFUGEE UPDATE
Many thanks to those who have provided materials…a wonderful response from our community to meet the needs. They have been gifted with towels, clothes and bedding. The children may need some things – but let’s wait until Lynn and Nora get back from “the rock” and we can deal with sizes and specific needs then; the adults are doing well with clothes.
A MISSIONAL MOMENT
Adaptive Leadership in Anxious Times - called to lead when you don’t know where you’re going!
By Jackie D.
This summary is based on a course offered by Niagara School for Missional Leadership as part of our parish’s Missional Initiative Program - Adaptive Leadership in Anxious Times: Called to lead when you do not know where you are going led by Archbishop Colin Johnson.
Change is very much a part of all our lives. Individuals, communities, organizations, countries, and St James. We all hope to thrive during such major change, not just survive. The course was excellent and included clergy and lay people from all over Ontario.
Adaptive leadership is the practice of mobilizing people to take on tough challenges and to thrive rather than just survive. It relies on experimentation, improvisation, recognizing losses and taking time rather than jumping to the solution prematurely.
An interesting way of viewing a challenge and understanding the real problem is to look at it from two very different perspectives, “the balcony” and the “dance floor”. From the balcony we see how the organization is reacting to the adaptive challenge including: ideals, structures, culture, faults and noting the organization’s capacity to adapt. The dance floor gives a more pragmatic immediate and a direct view, sometimes also referred to as “on the field”.
Distinguishing between Technical and Adaptive change is very important. If we use a technical solution to an adaptive challenge, we will miss critical issues.
Technical
Clear, easier to resolve
Uses authority, expertise
Restores order, status quo
Maintains order and feels good
Apply what is already learned
Adaptive
Only addressed through changes in people’s priorities, beliefs, shedding certain entrenched ways, tolerating losses, developing the capacity to thrive
Exposes conflict and challenges
Examples
Questionnaires/Online Surveys
Building a room for youth
Buying equipment like computers
Installing a door for people with a handicapped
Building a railing, introducing internet services
Examples
Perhaps gathering as a congregation to celebrate the life of people we have lost and welcoming the new
Letting go and welcoming the new - the future
The Adaptive Leader - Directs, protects, builds on past hold steady, stay present, defines thrive, builds trust, lives with ambiguity, holds promises, avoid quickly going to solutions, keeps things going, experiments, does not fix but collaborates and mobilizing people to accept challenges, protects from too much anxiety and change, stays positive for the future, a visionary who does not work alone.
Moses as an Adaptive Leader - Moses reflects many qualities of an adaptive leader:
Trust (faith): The Red Sea did not part until he was in the water halfway up to his waist. The people wandered for 40 years learning to trust before ready to enter the promised land.
Vision: He kept the vision going. Even with so many failures and challenges, he kept the people moving forward, protecting them from losing all hope.
Tradition: He understood that people want to go back to what they know and so maintained traditional values in the midst of change.
Collaboration: He did not work alone or totally rely on his ownopinions but sought advice from others.
I would recommend this course which is offered on-line through the Niagara School for Missional Leadership. Parishioners are welcome to borrow my book The Practise of Adaptive Leadership by Heifetz, Grashow, and Linsky. There is also a short interesting, animated video using a group of penguins as cast. It is available on YouTube and called, Our Iceberg is Melting - YouTube. It summarizes concepts of adaptive leadership - in a fun way.
Change is a part of life, but working together and exploring the knowledge from many, we can learn ways to thrive rather than just survive. Change can feel like grief. My little granddaughter Iris, in the face of losing a valued family member and in response to the sadness of those around her during a time of loss, suggested having a tea party to celebrate her Aunty Iris’s life when she passed. Perhaps we could learn from her…but without the teddy bears.
DUNDAS SENIORS FAIR
After a two year hiatus, the Dundas Community Services’ Seniors Fair will be taking place on Tuesday, June 7th, from 10am to 2pm at St. Paul’s Church, 29 Park Street West in Dundas. The month of June is Seniors Month and the theme of this year’s event is, “Looking Forward” and is so appropriate as the past two years have been so difficult, especially for seniors and those with life challenges.
We are hosting over 30 Exhibitors that provide valuable services and information to seniors 55+ .
There are 4 guest speakers that will be presenting:
* Canon Robert Morrow, - Looking Forward: Canada’s Role in the Global Space Program;
*99 year-old Hamiltonian, Val Ramsay, will be showcasing and speaking about her amazing vintage fashions;
*Local garden writer and Hamilton Spectator contributor Rob Howard, will be sharing his gardening tips and tricks;
*Karen Cumming , author of “The Indispensable Guide to Ontario’s Long-Term Care System” will share wisdom and answer questions about Long-Term Care in Ontario.
Also attending to bring greetings from St. Paul’s and share information about the Hamilton Alliance for Tiny Shelter (HATS) project will be Dundas resident, Ted McMeekin.
Admission is FREE and there will be complimentary refreshments and musical entertainment from Hamilton musician, Robert Bidaman.
The first 150 guests will receive a free swag bag with information, coupons and gifts.
There are two GOLD LEVEL event sponsors: John Merrill, Century 21 Miller Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage and Dundas Pharmasave, Sam Patel, owner and Pharmacist, and several silver and bronze sponsors as well. We are so grateful for all of their support!
BODY AND SOUL
Because of the Dundas Seniors’ Fair on Tuesday, Body and Soul will not be meeting. Meetings will resume in September.
AND… A REFLECTION …. FOR THE WEEK
A Conversation
Me: Hey God.
God: Hello.....
Me: I'm falling apart. Can you put me back together?
God: I would rather not.
Me: Why?
God: Because you aren't a puzzle.
Me: What about all the pieces of my life that are falling down onto the ground?
God: Let them stay there for a while. They fell off for a reason. Take some time and decide if you need any of those pieces back.
Me: You don't understand! I'm breaking down!
God: No - you don't understand. You are breaking through. What you are feeling are just growing pains. You are shedding the things and the people in your life that are holding you back. You aren't falling apart. You are falling into place. Relax. Take some deep breaths and allow those things you don't need any more to fall off you. Quit holding onto the pieces that don't fit you anymore. Let them fall off. Let them go.
Me: Once I start doing that, what will be left of me?
God: Only the very best pieces of you.
Me: I'm scared of changing.
God: I keep telling you - YOU AREN'T CHANGING!! YOU ARE BECOMING!
Me: Becoming who?
God: Becoming who I created you to be! A person of light and love and charity and hope and courage and joy and mercy and grace and compassion. I made you for more than the shallow pieces you have decided to adorn yourself with that you cling to with such greed and fear. Let those things fall off you. I love you! Don't change! ... Become! Become! Become who I made you to be. I'm going to keep telling you this until you remember it.
Me: There goes another piece.
God: Yep. Let it be.
Me: So ... I'm not broken?
God: Of course Not! - but you are breaking like the dawn. It's a new day. Become!!!
Author Unknown
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