Jamboree

     I now know that the only thing better than attending a Challenger Baseball Jamboree is helping to host one. Challenger baseball players have varying degrees of ability and disability but they all share an intense love of the game. Many of the Challenger teams from all over B.C. attended this fun-filled day of sports, smiles and snacks in our own South Surrey. It started out cool, even a little wet but as it progressed it became warmer and brighter and even more enjoyable. We had so many volunteers, mostly parents of players who did their very best to make it a memorable day for us all. From the initial event and diamond set-up to the greeters at the information booth, the first aid volunteers, the awards table and the super organized food tent, it all ran like a well oiled machine. And of course our leadership was incredible with Coaches Kim and Steve doing their utmost to arrange, organize and encourage all the volunteers, players, coaches and their families. This had been an endeavour several months in the making and the preparation that was done showed in how successfully it all unfolded. 

     We also had huge support from the Jays Care Foundation, Rogers, 7-Eleven and Domino's Pizza who kept us all supported, funded, hydrated and fed throughout the course of the day. Everyone from these various organizations was unfailingly friendly, polite and helpful. And we had Korki the Clown present as well as an amazing wandering trio of musicians and a caricature artist. It was an incredible day! And it showed in the smiles on the faces of all the athletes, who for a whole day, could play with their teammates, witness the pride on their parents’, family's and caregiver's faces, make some new friends and revel in the safety of a wonderful community who was there for one reason and one reason only: to play ball!

Remembering

     As many people who have experienced loss through death will tell you, it is a profound comfort to have an opportunity to remember your loved one. Whether it is in telling their story or visiting their gravesite, there is joy in the remembering. Another way to memorialize them is to give flowers for the church altar or to pay tribute through the aumbry candle. It has given me an enormous amount of comfort to be able to remember our niece and nephew at various times throughout the year by giving flowers or lighting the aumbry candle to the Glory of God in memory of them. Whether it is their birthday or another important date, it feels wonderful to give my appreciation for my loved one a tangible, beautiful form of expression. There is a large calendar where you may choose the appropriate date for either donating flowers or the lighting of the aumbry candle. This is acknowledged in our weekly church bulletin which we receive at both services on Sundays. Our amazing Altar Guild purchases new seasonal flowers every week and arranges them for the church altar. Please take advantage of this lovely way to remember which also beautifies our church. Thank you!

Spirit

     Have you ever had an experience of the Holy Spirit? His Grace Archbishop John's sermon on Pentecost Sunday gave me much to think about. He suggested that many of us have had such an experience but did not know what to call it. He stated that it might be "in the presence of the birth of a child or the death of a loved one. We will recognize the presence of the Spirit this morning, in baptism, in confirmation, in the Eucharist. The Spirit may be known when someone tells us they love us or when we're all alone on a mountain top. The Spirit may be felt when we pray with the whole of our heart and mind, in a church or in a field or by still waters. The Spirit may be known in a thunderstorm or the quietness after it has snowed." And he also mentioned that as it happened in the past, when we talk about this experience someone might call us strange or even ridiculous so we might not want to talk about it, but we should I think. 

     My experience was a near death situation and I had not recounted it as the presence of the Holy Spirit because I did not realize it as such until yesterday. In staring into Jesus’ eyes and invoking His name over and over, even in my diminished state I knew then that I now had a relationship that I had never known before. I have had other comparable experiences in much more mundane settings but they all bear a strong resemblance to the moments His Grace spoke of on Sunday. You may have your own experiences of the Holy Spirit. And maybe you will share them. Because as His Grace told us it is in these moments that we draw closer to God; he said, “ … the Spirit invites us into a fuller, richer experience with God.” He further stated that “The Spirit nudges us away from complacency and urges us to see moments where God can be known.” A lot to think about? Yes! Come Holy Spirit!