First, can I tell you how grateful I am that you were all so forgiving last weekend when I was late for our first Sunday worship service together?  Thank you for your grace, your laughter and your understanding.  As several people said, we won't forget this first Sunday!

Some of you have asked about my commute.  Until we sell our house in Stouffville and move, the drive in to the church is going to be part of my day.  It takes about an hour in good traffic - I know many others travel a lot longer to work.  I enjoy driving and the 407 Highway is a great road, so I am not at all worried.  Thank you, though, for all of your concern.

The first week of commuting, I was focusing on getting to my exits and finding my way; there was no opportunity to look at the scenery as I passed.  But on Sunday morning, as we sat, not moving, and I was fretting - about being late, about disappointing you, about starting off badly - I looked out my window and saw the translucent moon suspended in the blue sky.  And then a small flock of birds flew across and were silhouetted on the moon and I felt at peace.  That momentary glimpse calmed me and I knew instantly that all would be well.  Sometimes our God has to work to get our attention.

Since then, I have made a point of watching for beauty along the way and I have not been disappointed, although it isn't always obvious.  One afternoon it was sunlight prisming off the windows of a high-rise building, the whole array of colours reflected. Another morning it was a low mist over a newly mowed field and hundreds of Canada Geese eating the leftovers, getting ready for their long commute.

Our God has a way of speaking to us without words, in a language that touches our hearts.  It's a language that we didn't have to be taught, but one that we need to practice or risk forgetting.

My prayer for you this Friday is that you will find beauty and know that the Creator is speaking to you in love.