Dear Friends,

This week I have been reflecting on the urgent priority of good leadership that unites and cares for others. Our own church leaders are working diligently to fulfill this same mandate as, across the province and, indeed, in many parts of the world, the number of COVID-19 cases has begun to surge once again. Stay tuned for details of our most current plan of action in response to the recent spike in COVID-19 cases, some of which are in our very own community.

I hope you will attend the Annual Meeting next Wednesday where we will review and celebrate the past year and share several important ministry updates.
Earlier this week, I mistakenly opened the wrong file on my computer. It turned out to be an old church bulletin. As I scrolled through the copy I landed on the section, “This week at Islington.” Remember that? There I saw listed all the announcements of things we used to do to help and care for each other, and all the community gatherings where we shared life and faith.

It made me pause and, for a moment, I felt grief for what was. I reflected on the the many ways our ministry looks different today. A moment later, the words of Rev. Cameron Trimble spoke to me:

“Every global religious leader and every religion has named how we care for the most vulnerable among us as the highest calling, the one closest to God’s heart. As we consider our future as nations and a global community, may we find it in ourselves to value care for the common good a more powerful motivator than concern for self. It’s only then that we will find our way through to better days. We are in this together.”

As we move forward as a church community, we will continue to be creative about how we act safely, responsibly and faithfully. We will focus on “Plotting Goodness” (the title of the next chapter in We Make the Road by Walking). And when we feel discouraged, we will move our bodies, for when you move your body, you change your mind. It can be any kind of movement – walking, dancing, chair yoga, stretches, running – moving what you can from where you are.

In Christ’s love,
Rev. Maya Landell

P.S. Just one reason why the Run for Refugees is so great: you get to move your body (and your mind) while also doing good. Adam and I will be running the half-marathon this Saturday, and then walking with the team on October 17. We are all in this together.