By Rev. Helen Reed

Yesterday I spent my morning having tea with a group living in a Seniors Lodge, last night I led worship at our local Continuing Care Center and followed that off by visiting in our hospital. Today, I am finishing off the planning for this week’s service, meeting with a family to plan a service of celebration, writing news articles celebrating a successful community event on the weekend, coordinating Food Hampers, encouraging folk as they offer their first Christmas meal for those feeling left behind at Christmas and looking at my desk longing to see the top of it again.

Such is the life of rural ministry. Always busy, always full. It is a very wonderful place to be.

The scripture that I offered at Continuing Care is also a popular one for this upcoming week of Advent Joy:

Philippians 4:4-7 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

⁴ Always be filled with joy in the Lord. I will say it again. Be filled with joy.

⁵ Let everyone see that you are gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon. ⁶ Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have. ⁷ And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds

In these words, I see a reminder to all of us to be thankful for where and who we are and to be deliberate in connecting with the Holy in all of our moments. So, in the midst of searching for a desk (that I know will emerge in January), I wanted to give thanks for the privilege of being in ministry with you in Chinook Winds Region.

Through these times of transition, moments of worry and concern, I have seen folk gently and kindly guide each other into this new journey. Yes, there are still a lot of unknowns but there are also stepping stones that we have already moved beyond and can look back on knowing we have already succeeded. There are new clusters forming throughout our region as people are taking the initiative to share their passions together. The UCW, Intercultural Community and Being Good Relations Community are slowly re-forming themselves as networks and it is so wonderful to see this newness blossoming forth.

You can see by the activities, workshops and opportunities to share that are highlighted in our weekly Newsletter that our Region is filled with Communities of Faith that are actively looking for ways to be God’s presence with their neighbours and I give thanks for that faith and exuberance.

I feel very blessed to be able to work with the Executive Minister Treena Duncan, Staff and Executive of our Region. These dedicated folk are bringing out the best in us as they offer the best of themselves.

I invite you to join me in being thankful for this Region that is “becoming” with us and for us. I invite you to join me in remembering that God has us in this place together so that we can grow into this great adventure.

I invite you to remember in those moments of Advent and Christmas flurry to take time and speak to God. Together let us open our hearts and minds for the Peace that is given to us in this time of waiting and preparing.

Whether this season finds you with friends and family, or simply sitting with God, I wish you the very best of this Season.

Rev. Helen Reed

Presiding Officer for Chinook Winds Regional Council