Hello Blog Friends!
Here we are in the month of July, with the first Day Camp already done and another finishing up tomorrow with their Closing Gathering. Not quite like “old times” with all the complexities of 6 Teams, each weekend, juggling their travel itineraries but it is satisfying to know that the program is being used across Canada this summer, by churches of all different shapes and sizes.
Those of us, on the Day Camp Committee are comfortable feeling that we made a wise decision, (which is also honouring to God) in transitioning the programs away from the travelling teams and we all look forward to the ministry opportunities offered by new online platforms but there is also a bittersweet component, in the summer, without the adrenaline rush of those 6-weeks, when the old “Team system” was in place!
Meanwhile there are Junior Youth Camp name tags to design and letter, A belated staff Police Records Check to deal with, feedback forms to be sent to the churches who have already hosted a Day Camp and (of course!) messages from Coordinators and/or Clergy who haven’t watched the video tutorials we include with the programs and are asking questions which are already answered in said documents, sigh. Just a quiet week at the Taylors!!
Wednesday evening, we held our monthly committee meeting. Only one member had sent regrets (he and his family are on vacation in Europe) although a couple of others were delayed, so we started out as only 3 people but ended with 5. We had a good meeting, first discussing the service project at Promised Church, next moving on to plans for autumn 2025 and finally taking an in depth look at “One of Us” the 2026 Program!! Yes, we want to make an earlier start than ever this year and move deadlines up to the end of November 2025 instead of the usual December 31st.MUCH more about all this in future posts.
Some photos from the Promised Church camp have been submitted and now we just need a few reflections, both from members of that community and from the FFBCM crew. I REALLY hope to have a Wednesday Words post published, at the latest, by July 16th.
It has been a rather upside-down week with the July 1st holiday falling on Tuesday. That afternoon some dear friends came for High Tea and Monday evening the young postulant, whom I mentor, was here for supper. My Tuesday visitors brought me a lovely big lavender plant, which I have settled,ed in pride of place, in my herb garden. I fervently hope it survives a Montreal winter!!!
Last evening we held our quarterly online Team Gathering for Alumni. If you are familiar with the children’s book- Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events “ you will see that my Friday afternoon, followed a similar course!
First, our Speaker Deacon Jessica, called to say she had just ended a 12 hour day and was exhausted, and “would it be okay?” if she just gave her reflection and then logged off. Of course I said we would all understand.Then one of the participants messaged to say she had not received the link (sent at 3pm),which led to my contacting someone from the committee, who HAD received it. As of the latest upgrade, I cannot open Google Meet on my mobile, so it was necessary to rush and get my laptop to do a test and it worked! Meanwhile the first person got back to say she had found the link in her gmail account!
Next, at about 645pm, the person responsible for presenting the slides messaged to say she was at her sister’s new apartment, helping with the move and had assumed there would be a laptop set up, but there wasn’t, so she could no longer handle presenting as she would have to join from her mobile. So I contacted the person who had agreed to read the scripture passage who said she could do it, which entailed my having to open more tabs and send her the link. I was afraid MY laptop would crash, but thankfully it did not.
At 705pm (we were scheduled to start at 7pm!) we decided to begin, but were still missing several people so, during the first set of songs, I was busy texting. It transpired that two committee members had fallen asleep, after a long day’s work. I managed to rouse one but did not get a response from the other until I checked my messages this morning. Another committee member, with a very energetic toddler, joined briefly but it appeared he was trying to corral the little one and he soon vanished again and a young couple messaged back that their small child was having a meltdown so they could not join.
Shortly after the reflection (which was excellent and, fortunately, very well received) the Speaker logged off and then we realised the person leading the prayer time would also have to do so from her sister’s mobile, due to no laptop. Then another person left the Meet as she had joined from Vancouver and had to drive home from work to make dinner.
ALL THAT being said, the TG was a quite beautiful and very worship-filled. At one point there were 13 participants although it was virtually impossible to keep track. Several people messaged me afterwards to say how much they appreciated the evening, so I was satisfied, despite all the chaos and drama!
This week, in other “free” moments, work has progressed on sewing a patchwork skirt as a gift for a long-time friend whose birthday is coming up later this month. This afternoon, I hope to paint some brown paper in which to wrap it. And so, today of course, is the weekly Bake. Some digestive biscuits, a batch of GF chocolate cupcakes (for another, upcoming High Tea), the bi-weekly GF bread and, lastly, a cheeseburger pizza for my supper.
But first, it is time for our recipe. Last Monday was pretty hot and muggy so, when I was joined for supper, I made a very tasty Chickpea Salad, which was served with flatbread and a big bottle of iced Mint Tea.
This salad is super easy to put together and keeps well, in the fridge, for several days.
Easy Chickpea Salad
- 3 Tbsps. lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp. cider vinegar
- 1 tsp. maple syrup
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2(15-ounce) tins chickpeas, drained and rinsed
- 2 Lebanese cucumbers, diced (about 1 cup)
- ½ red onion, diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 medium tomato, diced (about 1 cup)
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- 3 Tbsps. extra-virgin olive oil
- Za’atar to taste
Whisk the first five ingredients, in a large serving bowl whisk. Add the chickpeas, vegetables and parsley and fold together with a wide spatula. Drizzle with olive oil, and serve with a small dish of Za’atar, for sprinkling and a loaf of flatbreads Makes 4 generous servings.