SQUAMISH UNITED CHURCH OFFICIAL BOARD

Perhaps we need two signs on our front door : (1) Welcome, come right in. We are so glad you’ve come. Do, please come back. AND (2) Warning → Sooner or later, The Sacred will happen to you here. Enter at your own risk.

I love what I have slowly learned here. This place has provided to me an unlearning of old pain, hurt and misguided teaching (from my confused, wounded family of origin); ever so gradually, this has been replaced with something very different. I now see the world around me in a very much richer, warmer, safer, more nurturing and more loving way.

I love what I have learned here - the language, the imagery, the poetry, the music and a different way of knowing, seeing  and speaking :

“Come in, come in and sit down, you are a part of the family”
FAMILY, COMMUNITY, BELONGING

“I was there to hear your borning cry, I’ll be there when you are old”
COMMITMENT, COVANENT

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound … I once was lost,
but now I’m found … now I see”.
GRACE, AWAKENING

 “We are … fellow travelers on the road;
we are here to help each other walk the mile …
I will hold my hand out to you
I will share your joy and sorrow
Til we’ve seen this journey through”
EACH IS NOT ALONE, WE  HELP EACH OTHER

“We are one, as we share brokenness and fear
In the touch of a hand, there’s a sense that God is near
… as we heal, we are healed,
And we share warmth in God’s embrace
As we pray together in this place.”
HEALING, INCLUSIVENESS, BLESSING, THE SACRED

“God be with you til we meet again,
unseen wings protect you,
manna still provide you,
unfailing arms surround you
God be with you, til we meet again”
COMFORT, SAFETY, NURTURE

“In loving partnership we come, seeking O God, your will to do …
Our prayers and actions now receive; we freely offer them to you”
SERVICE, LIVING “THE WAY”

However slowly or quickly we come to know
deeply of our “belonging” and “being part of” here, eventually, we become aware of how precious a treasure this place we call Church is, how important it is to sustain it, and how necessary it is to contribute to ensuring that it remains the nurturing, growing place that it has been and presently is.

So let us keep coming back, and let us keep offering our gifts.
God bless us, every one.


Humbly submitted,

                          
Louise Martin
 
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