Reflections by Rev. Joanne Anquist

Summer is almost gone. Funny thing is, most of the summer was rainy so in some ways it feels like summer has just begun!  

I hope you had a chance to relax and rejuvenate and that you are ready to re-enter Churchland as we begin our fall programming.  

My summer was unusual in several ways. I spent quite a bit of time doing wider church stuff this past months.  In June I attended the 100th anniversary of the UCC in Newfoundland which was wonderful, had some study leave at Atlantic School of Theology in Halifax which was enlightening.  Then in August I attended General Council 45 as a commissioner.  Lots of proposals were discussed and decided at that meeting and we will go through the implications at a later date.  

Add to that our 2-week summer music theater camp with about 16 kids and my summer was indeed full! I hope you got to see the production of Junie B. Jones the musical. The kids did great! 

We have also been renovating our kitchen which has turned our whole house upside down! We can see the end but it is painful in the process! 

In the midst of all this, a routine MRI scan for breast cancer, which I have been doing for the last 15 years, showed a small tumor that turned out to be cancer. The good news is that it was caught very early (I had a mammogram less than a year ago which was clear) and it is of a type that is quite treatable.  I found out a few years ago that I have a gene that increases the chance of breast cancer (CHEK2), and this is the second time I have had it. Because of these two factors, I am electing to treat it with bi-lateral mastectomy and reconstruction. This is a long and difficult surgery and requires several doctors. Because their schedules will not align for several months, I will undergo a precautionary lumpectomy on the 1st of October. Recovery for this will be 1 to 2 weeks. The full surgery will be done at a later date, probably in the new year.  

I am grateful for our medical services and the wonderful screening program which has allowed this early detection. Thank you for your understanding of these matters. Please feel free to talk to me about it if you would like more information.  

I wanted to let you know this because planning for our churches’ Fall programming is well underway.  We are working together as a Ministry team to ensure that our worship and witness continue to be as meaningful and impactful as they have been in the past. New initiatives include a Sunday afternoon worship service in Ogden at the seniors’ center and an intergenerational musical based on A Christmas Carol, that you can all be involved with, which will begin rehearsals in September for performances in December at both McDougall and Red Deer Lake. And don’t forget our Orange Shirt Day dinner, commemoration, and concert with singer-songwriter Shane Ghostkeeper at Red Deer Lake on September 27th. 

There is lots going on in your life and mine and the life of the church. These are difficult and uncertain times, and yet there is so much joy to be found. I'm thankful for these communities of faith which continue to inspire me as they walk in the way of Jesus. 

So, for the next week or two, even if your summer, like mine, did not turn out like you expected, get outside, enjoy these last days of the season! I know I will. 

Joanne