July 29, 2026
Summer is the season that I love the most. I love planting veggies in pots, and in the garden. I feel that I have become an expert on tomatoes as well as peppers (both green and Jalapeño). This year I expanded my attempts and bought some spinach plants. These were an abject failure. Why did they go to seed so early and why did I get just a few measly leaves with which to make a salad? I cannot answer that question, but I will not try it again. Green onions are doing very well and this year, for a first, I planted some potatoes and yes, they are doing quite well…so far. It is just a shame that I have to wait so long to harvest my crop and as luck would have it, they are usually ready for picking during the week that I am away in August! Go figure!! I remember when my parents had their weekend farm in Alexandria, Ontario. My parents would plant everything and then some. When they would come home form the farm on Sunday evenings, while I was glad to see them (I had a job on weekends) I knew that the arduous work was just starting. The word “blanching” gave me shivers and not in the good way. My mom would lug in bag after bag of green and yellow beans that they had picked and our job was to blanch them, put them in freezer bags, suck out all the air, and then deposit all of these bags into the freezer. I did not enjoy this…however…come November and the long winter months, it was great to have all these vegetables ready to be cooked and served for our dinner. THEN I was truly grateful.
It’s funny, how I wait most of the summer to enjoy the fruits of my labours. I enjoy the lettuce and onions and herbs all summer long. I love harvesting my tomatoes when suddenly, my Sweet Millions live up to their name.
There is nothing like a freshly picked Beefsteak Tomato in a sandwich with salt, pepper, and mayonnaise. It is indescribable. Why do I wait all summer for the fruits of my labour to be realized? It is because the result is so wonderful. Such is the glory of God and of believing in a wonderful life ever after. We trek through life wondering when the “pay-off” will be. What will it be like? We only must have faith that the pay-off will be greater than anything we could ever have imagined. We just have to wait for it. It will be delicious!
Worship Calendar
Aug. 2 – When the Net is Drawn Ashore – Matthew 13:47-52 / Rev. Eric Lee
Aug. 9 – He Can Never be Inconvenienced – Matthew 14:13-21 / Rev. Eric Lee
Aug. 16 – How Will They Hear? – Romans 10:5-15 / Rev. Eric Lee
Sept. 13 – Visit of Knox College / Principal Rev. Ernest van Eck
Oct. 4 – Communion Sunday. / Rev. Eric Lee
Oct. 11 – Rev. Jan Hieminga
Oct. 18 – Rev. Jan Hieminga
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Weekly News Notice
Please be advised that there will not be a Weekly News on August 12. The editor will be on a much-deserved vacation.
Thank You
Kathy and I would like to thank all those who have donated cookies and sweets or money, to our Fellowship Time after church on Sundays. Our family never lets us down. Your contributions are very much appreciated.
Guest Organist/Pianist Coming Soon
On Sunday, August 23 we will be welcoming a guest substitute accompanist to our Sunday worship service. Hazel Ogilvie will be taking over Kento’s duties for this one Sunday. Hazel comes to us with a lot of experience and is a graduate of the University of Toronto. I for one, am looking forward to meeting her and having her lead the musical portions of our service.
A Taste of Italy Dinner
Chef Keith Hoare is not able to be present on Friday, Oct 23rd and therefore Outreach has rescheduled the dinner to Friday, Oct 16th.
Outreach plans to host a dinner on Friday, October 16 th in the downstairs hall. It will feature an Italian themed dinner and will be prepared for us by the new culinary teacher at Thistletown Collegiate and his students.
Chef Keith Hoare will be involved too. Ticket prices are $30 and all proceeds from the dinner will go to the Thistletown Euro Trip to Italy which will take place during the 2027 March Break.
The proposed date of Oct 16 th will be confirmed the first week of school in September. Please save this date on your calendar!
A Summer Devotional Update (June 16):
A new edition of These Days (July/August/September), as well as the current edition of Our Daily
Bread (June/July/August) are available on the table in the church vestibule and in the devotional box on the church porch.
Common Scents
Please be advised that our church has a scent-free protocol. It seems that some of our dear parishioners feel unwell due to heavy floral smells. Please be considerate of those in our congregation who are affected by strong smells and odors and refrain from perfumes or colognes when coming to worship on Sunday mornings. Thank you one and all.