Islington United Church family,

It’s Friday and the Season of Easter is well underway.

If you have been following along with us each week, reading The Story, we want you to know that we are slowing down for the next few weeks, pausing this week at Chapter 27, to spend more time with Knowing Jesus in a New Way —
the Easter stories.

We will resume working our way through The Story on May 30, 2020 – Pentecost – with Chapter 28: New Beginnings.

At this time more than ever, we need the hope and strength of Resurrection.

Today James and I will do our first private graveside funeral in the midst of this crisis, for a longtime member of our community — Joyce McIntyre.

Carole Bennett reflected on Joyce: “Joyce was upbeat despite her health challenges. She could always find something funny to talk about. She had the ability to draw a humorous picture (often with herself as the object of the “joke”) as she described the day-to-day events of her life. When I remember Joyce in the days to come it will always be with a smile on my face because, in my conversations with her, she looked for the kernel of humour or hope or gratitude to share. Wouldn’t we all want to be remembered like that?”

My heart is sad that we can’t be physically present in person when people are in hospital, or to hold celebrations of life, but we are learning another way, and trusting God is in the places we can’t be.

There will be a chance to celebrate Joyce’s life in the future as a church family, but for today I do want you to know that, as Carole noted above, Joyce loved to laugh. She was a jokester. She regularly called her friends from church and they would tease and laugh on the phone. I know Joyce would have loved that Holy Humour Sunday is this week. She would have joined us in laughing out loud.

We will light a candle for Joyce and others following our 10:30 am worship service on Sunday. Join us live on the website (just scroll down after the service ends) or the Islington United Facebook page after the service ends. We will pass the peace and share Good news stories. Join us and invite a friend.

We are in this together.

In Christ’s peace,
Rev. Maya