After a short night’s sleep I was up early again this morning to deal with a house full of people, dogs and a cat!
The Huyers were planning to leave for Sherbrooke during the morning, so they were packing as I was scurrying around doing my regular chores, washing dishes, stripping and making up beds etc.
Then I said my good-byes and hopped on my bike to head for church. Surprisingly today there were just 2 toddlers and no other children, and one of the toddlers was too shy to come upstairs, so Fred and Danielle’s little girl, Olivia, had the attention of three adults, plus a helper.
First we all enjoyed the ample snack they had brought and then Fred retold our story from 1 Samuel 8, using the little wooden figures we have. He simplified the story to focus on the need for a good king for the people of Israel and on how they did not make good choices or listen to God’s word, which was sent to them through Samuel. We also talked about how we have a king in Jesus, a king who is good and just. I had prepared materials for making sceptres so next we helped Olivia craft hers and then Danielle got out the paper crowns she had brought for activity time and Olivia did some colouring. We had quite a long time together, as the sermon discussion seemed be quite protracted, but it was quite peaceful to spend time with a little one after all the activity of the past two days and to look at the world through her eyes, even for a short time.
She really liked the sceptre and went around “anointing” all of us. When we went downstairs to join everyone for the Passing of the Peace, she even anointed people in the congregation, which was so sweet! Sharing in the Eucharist today was certainly very different from the one in the Cathedral yesterday and again I was struck by the huge spectrum of diversity within the Anglican Communion, richness I truly value.
After church and a bite of lunch I hurried home and did some maple keys raking and while I was finishing up Jessica arrived to work on the Team Leaders binders. Once she was set up, Wil and I went for our walk and then I got everything ready for the Senior Youth Camp Bible Study, which is happening in my dining room right now!
Jessica and I made a simple supper of a Chicken and Couscous Salad, melon, and some yummy Moroccan cookies she had baked. I also squeezed in time to prepare the dessert for tomorrow’s Day Camp Committee meeting. It is good to know that we will be able to talk as a group about the problems facing us as we struggle to find enough Team Members and I am looking forward to a gathering of likeminded people with whom to share this huge difficulty.
Only three weeks to go!