This week we hear from Georges Saison, a young member of St. John’s. He writes in his own words of a highlight of this past summer for him when he attended one of the Shrine Mont camps – his third summer in a row there. He shares pictures of the campers who attended with him.
Don’t know about you, but this reminds me to take time to check in with my grandchildren next time I see them about what they consider a highlight of their summer just gone by. And it takes me back to “summer camp” in the Shenandoah mountains when I was a pre-teen. I still remember how the mountains and “twilight” looked when we gathered in a circle in the evening around the flagpole in front of the main camp building. As the flag slipped silently down the pole, our voices traveled in that mountain air as we sang, “Now the day is over; night is drawing nigh, shadows of the evening steal across the sky. Jesus, give the weary calm and sweet repose: with thy tend’rest blessing may mine eyelids close. When the morning wakens, then may I arise pure, and fresh and sinless in thy Holy eyes.” The idea that the night and rest would be cleansing and peaceful, with morning dawning on something refreshed and new again. And as I remember that camp time at twilight I think, “Not a bad tune to hum before I go to bed some nights now.”
Thank you, Georges, for sharing your memory, which stirred an important one for me from a long ago summer.
After you read Georges's piece below, please take a moment and reflect on the question that I believe Georges's special final words call out for each of us, now adults, to consider. A holy “prompt!”
Torrence
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Georges and his group at 2019 Explorer Camp at St. George's
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Hi, it's me again, Georgie, and this was my 3
rd year at Shrine Mont and it turned out better than all the rest. I had a lot of fun.
There were two main hikes, North Mountain and Seven Springs. On the hike to North Mountain I was talking to friends and my counselors and having fun. We stopped a few times, but I had fun on the way back from the hike, too.
In the hike to Seven Springs my feet hurt like crazy, and I could barely walk back after that climb.
Now, there's a reason why it is called Seven Springs. There are seven cold streams that flood into one huge stream, and that goes to the spring, and it is FREEZING cold in there.
We also pulled an all-nighter while camping, and we talked all night about pizza, and what a Polar bear and Grizzly hybrid bears are like.
There is a reason I love Shrine Mont, it is a place that I can go to and be myself. It feels like home.
Thank you!
- Georges Saison
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Prompt for Reflection:
Where is a place that "you can go to and be yourself" - a place that "feels like home"?
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Note regarding pictures: the background picture in this issue, which those of you who view this on your phones do not see, is from the Shrine Mont web-site. The pictures of Georges & his group were sent by his counselor, the picture of Mercer and Sandy was taken by Torrence, and Winston's is a staff (Lucy) photo.
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Monday at Farnham & St. John's
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Last Sunday we said a special
liturgy for peace
since Saturday was the UN's 70
th
International Peace Day.
Here
's a copy of the liturgy.
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Dinners for
The Haven Residents
Special "cheers" for Mercer O'Hara and Sandy Hagan, our kitchen angels for The Haven Monday Night Supper this week.
And to the other kitchen angels who also have been spotted flying around the St. John's kitchen this year on a Monday evening to do the same for the quarterly Monday night supper St. John's prepares for The Haven women and children. Cheers also for the angelic teams of Barbara Jean LeFon and Barbara Walker, and Marilyn Day and Dougie Lawton and upcoming November team, Anne Neuman and Courtenay Altaffer. Yea, teams!!
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This Saturday, September 28
th the Northern Neck Bar Association presents
SENIOR LAW DAY
at the Westmoreland Players Playhouse in Callao. Registration Required
Call Bay Aging [(804) 493-0238] to register and
click here to see details.
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Check out my October Chesapeake Style article on
"
All Creatures Great and Small
"
It will help you get ready for the
"
Blessing of the Animals
"
Service on
Sun, Oct. 6
th
(9 a.m. at Farnham; 11 a.m. at St. John's)
I am also challenging everyone not only to bring their pets, but also to wear something "beastly" - something with an animal/bird/etc. motif.
Also promising to have my very special dog biscuits at the service and simple reception to follow in the parking lot. Maybe by then I'll have concocted some kitty treats too.
Enjoy the article.
See you and your furry, finned, feathered friends on the 6
th.
Torrence
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Each Sunday through Christmas, parishioners are asked to bring a canned good donation to church to be collected and then donated to Richmond County Social Services. Please consider this a "mindful spiritual practice." As you purchase your donation each week, pause and place on your mind and heart who you imagine may ultimately receive what you are giving. This moment of "contemplation" (like a momentary prayer) reminds us of the last line in many prayers of grace before our meal, "And, Lord, make us mindful of the needs of others." In this way we come "face to face" in an imagined but embodied way that connects us with the person/family who may be having their meal with what we have offered.
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Thanks to those from Farnham & St. John's who have volunteered to "step up to the plate" (so to speak) and serve as our October Meals on Wheels delivery folks. Well done, good and faithful servants!
Oct 7 -- Sandy Hagan & Arline Hinkson
Oct 14 - Hannah Tiffany & Barbara Jean La Fon
Oct 21 - Becky & Ed Marks
Oct 28 - Kim & Bill Calvert
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note from Winston
cats would love to have those same treats, Torrence, but you've been promising me more for nearly a year and i haven't seen them. you know i'd do anything to get more.... bacon .. bacon .... bacon.... cheese.... and you're going to give them to CATS!?
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PS Why is there a picture of your grand-dog in the Chesapeake Style article and not one of ME??
if you're giving my treats to CATS, we might have to review my pay as parish house dog.
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Save the Date:
Northern Neck Orchestra Concert
October 20
th
4 to 7 pm
at Good Luck Cellars
More details to follow
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Lost & Found:
there are 2 pairs of sunglasses (one in a case found in the parking lot & one left on Lucy's desk) and a car key in the office lost & found.
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Music on Water Lane
November 8
at 7:00 p.m. SMS gym
The St. Margaret's School Alumnae Association presents
Music on Water Lane,
featuring a chamber ensemble with members from the Northern Neck Orchestra
(including our own Arline Hinkson)
VIP tickets:$40 -general admission is $25.
Click here to purchase tickets by November 1.
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Sunday September 29
th
Morning Prayer
Joint Congregational service
10:00
a.m. at
St. John's
no service at Farnham
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Sunday October 6
th
Blessing of Animals
9:00 a.m. at Farnham
11:00 a.m. at St. John's
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Sunday October 13
th
Holy Eucharist
9:00 a.m. at Farnham
11:00 a.m. at St. John's
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Sunday October 20
th
Holy Eucharist
9:00 a.m. at Farnham
11:00 a.m. at St. John's
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Come Worship With Us
Sunday Service this week
10:00 a.m. St. John's Church
Warsaw, VA
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