ZEPHYR & SANDFORD by Pat Asling

Is it autumn yet? By the calendar it is still a few weeks away but when it is 6C in the morning and only gets to 23C in the afternoon, it sure has that feel. I know several who are quite relieved the extra hot weather is past but I like a mid point, maybe 27C or 28C better. The rains sure helped the later crops to come along better and the flowers to perk up. The sunflowers in everyone’s garden seem to be reaching for the sky, it’s such a great year for them to excel. From our friend Carol O’Neil we have these words, from the beginning of her service, for us: Let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. As the psalm says: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Call to worship: “How shall we live in the love of God? A: We will treat one another with fairness and dignity. L: How shall we witness God’s forgiving love? A: We will reach out to others with compassion. L: Come, let us worship God, who has always loved us. A: Let our worship of God be reflected in our lives of hope and peace. AMEN”. Reverend Diane Bennett-Jones is now back from holidays and you can watch her services on Lansing United Church Facebook and YouTube page. First a correction and apology! When I congratulated Judy Risebrough on her new position, I said she was married to Paul. Now Paul is one of those young men I watched growing up and is a great guy, but it is his older brother David to whom she is married, pretty exceptional in his own right. Some more sad news this week, firstly Irene Watts passed away. She was about 93 while her surviving husband Ken is 95. Ken was the instigator of the Horseshoe pitching games at the museum, run by Bob Kirvan. When Epsom used to have the Community care luncheons Ken and Irene were faithful attendees and now I see them at the ones in Uxbridge, or did before COVID. Our sympathies to Ken and his family. Sue Carmichael, a younger lady, passed away on Thursday, September 3rd. Sue had been battling for over a decade and surely fought a good fight, never letting it get her down. She ran Quilters Cupboard for many years, where many got to know her. She and Phil were on the same trip to the Yukon I took about 3 years ago with Conrad and Lisa Boyce. Our sympathies to her daughters and rest of the family! Congratulations and best wishes to Dawson Ball who will be going to Ridgeway Agricultural College, online, virtually. It won’t be easy and will be interesting to see how it works out. All these students who can’t physically go and take classes because the residences are not open. Birthday wishes go out to Betty Johnson, nee Noble, and married to the late Ray Johnson. Betty turned 80, so joins the crowd! Lisa Boyce turned 70 and still very dynamic. She is married to Conrad. One of my Port Perry High School friends, Alex Williamson, celebrated his 82nd birthday. He is married to the Gail, nee Shier, who was raised just down the road from here. Laura Ross celebrated her 86th birthday. Laura nee Weir, daughter of Lewis and Eldene, has lived her whole life in this small area. One of our last war veterans, Alan Williams, celebrated his 95th birthday. Our sincere congratulations to all these holders of history! Ron Stewart celebrated his 79th birthday, soon to enter that special age group. Barb Peck is still a way off from that, and my neighbor LeeAnn Ball has still much further to go. Best wishes for many more great years; also to another neighbour, Catherine Jane Smalley. Cathy graduated from St. Mary’s University, in Halifax last year, gaining a degree in Psychology and Sociology. This year she took a postgrad course at George Brown College, in Human Resources Management. Wow, what a girl! Anniversaries were celebrated by Jeanette Herrema and Brandon Ehinger, their third. Keith and Sharon Doucette eclipsed that by celebrating their 38th. Congratulations and best wishes for many more years of happiness together. The Official United Church Board met this week. Among other things, it was passed to begin in-person services on November 3rd. This, of course, is tentative, depending on the statistics of COVID!