January-gone! It will be almost a quarter of the way into February before you read. Do you realize that February 17th is Ash Wednesday and we are into the Lenten season, heading to Easter? This past week was one of the coldest we have had this winter, but nothing like we often have experienced by now. As the month closed off, skies were mostly clouds with only a few days of sun. However, the few nights when it was clear gave a spectacular view of the full moon. The January full moon has had a few names over the centuries. First Nations called it Full Wolf Moon because the wolves were howling from hunger. It was also called Old Moon or Moon after Yule. Some tribes called it Full Snow Moon. Each month there is a different name. Happy birthday to Pat Snooks, who celebrated early last week! Owen Shier turned 19 and is already a well-known hockey player. Owen is the grandson of Ron and Jean Shier, his father Ray and mother Lori (Ryall), a cousin of mine. He is also great-nephew to Linda Wagg. Happy birthday to two more Uxbridge raised folks, Sharon Capstick and Dale Ashton. “Welcome to Sandford” to Lena Theo and her family, who have recently moved to the area and live on Sandford Road, between the 5th and the 6th! Lena is a certified Nail and Lash technician and hopes to open for business, when the pandemic is over. She has two children and lots of animals! You will recall I mentioned a few weeks ago Bill Sanderson had cancer and was undergoing treatment, which included several blood transfusions. Sadly, this has not worked, and this week he moved into palliative care at Ross Memorial Hospital. Visitors are allowed. I had another note this week from Darlene Douma, daughter of Rev. Art and Ruth Rodgers. In it she included a couple of lovely photos, one of her dad and mom, another of her mother with Darlene and her siblings. I will share these photos later on Facebook or in a letter to the congregation. With all the hoopla over giving or not giving vaccinations to certain categories of people, and blame being tossed back and forth, mention keeps being made of how well Israel has performed this task. What is seldom mentioned though is that Israel is a much smaller country with an on standby army always at the ready for battle. It is interesting to consider the hymns that each of the different services I listen to on a Sunday, choose to sing and illustrate their message. Quite often several will choose the same hymn. One of these this Sunday was one I don’t recall singing but is a great hymn. It is found in Voiced United hymnal, on page 619, and is well suited for our time in history. It is called “Healer of Our Every Ill” Chorus: Healer of our every ill, light of each tomorrow, give us peace beyond our fear, and hope beyond our sorrow. 1.You who know our fear and sadness, grace us with your peace and gladness. Spirit of all comfort, fill our hearts.
In the pain and joy beholding, how your grace is still unfolding. Give us all your vision, God of love.
Give us strength to love each other, every sister, every brother. Spirit of all kindness, be our guide.
You who know each thought and feeling, teach us all your way of healing. Spirit of compassion, fill our hearts.