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Pain is a Messenger
Pain is a messenger. This is something I used to tell my patients when I was working as an intern acupuncturist. I had heard it said by wise folks whom I respected and it seemed to make sense to me. So, I would say it to people and encourage them to try to tune in to what it was their bodies might be trying to tell them.
2nd Quarter Financial Report
The 2020 Budget was revised to ensure that we operate within our reduced income. A revised budget to the end of August was previously approved by Leadership Council.
Operations Working Group - Second Quarter Report
The Operations Working Group has been working timelessly since the COVID19 pandemic changed our world in March. We responded quickly to move McDougall into compliance with the AHS safety guidelines and research the supports available to us through the United Church of Canada and our federal government.
Governance Working Group - Second Quarter Report
The Governance working Group has not met in this quarter due to the need for members of the working group to focus our time and energies on other priorities during the first months of the COVID 19 pandemic.
Choral Listening Series - Recording #9
About the performers: Developed in 1962 by Ward Swingle, the Swingle Singers were an 8-piece vocal group (SSAATTBB), and are now a 7-piece group (SSATTBB) that performs jazz-inflected versions of classical, folk, rock, and pop music.
Pastoral Care - Quarterly Report
During the Covid 19 pandemic Pastoral Care has been through phone calls and most groups have now connected through Zoom meetings.
The Truth Will Set You Free
This week I have been reminded to care for my prayer life. When I get busy, it is easy to forget to care for myself. I eat poorly, I stay up too late, I worry. I have heard it said that worrying is like praying for what you don’t want.
Emotional and Spiritual Wellness
As I was doing pastoral work this past week and in conversation with friends, I noticed something that gave me pause. Articulate, intelligent folks confronted by their own deep and unsettling emotions often apologising and justifying, hedging really, on the emotions that as a culture, we have deemed “negative”.
Choral Listening Series - Recording# 8
This video contains the score. Yay! Bob Chilcott was a member of the King's Singers for a long time, and he created this beautiful arrangement of the famous Billy Joel song. He is also singing the baritone part on this recording. I love this piece. This arrangement is performed by a lot of choirs, and with good reason- it's masterfully done.
Choral Listening Series - Recording #7
My absolute favourite version of this classic. I hope you like it too.
June 20/20-Neighbour Day
Many community and congregation families joined together (at a distance) to enjoy each other's company and create amazing chalk creations in the parking lot of the church. It was wonderful to see so many people.
Choral Listening Series - Recording #6
This is one of those unicorn recordings that seems to get better each time you listen to it. Absolutely stunning musicality on display here, and I encourage you to take the time to listen to this one a few times to absorb the mastery of both the arrangement and the performance.
A Strong Community of Friends
It has now been three months since the world changed for all of us. Who would have guessed what changes we would see? At first, it seemed as if this would just be a temporary interruption of our lives but as time has continued we have realized that so much of what we have always taken for granted may never be the same again.
This is a Significant Time
We are in a significant time. I remember thinking as a kid that it would have been amazing to live during the revolutionary time of the 1960s. I was always surprised when I asked my mother what she was doing then to hear her say, “not much”. When I was too young to see it, I watched a movie called Cry Freedom.
Choral Listening Series - Recording #5
About the performers: Voces8 is an eight-voice group that performs a variety of music, from 16th-century renaissance music to modern pop music, and everything in between. Their group sound is warm and rich, but incredibly clean and pure at the same time.
How We Are Staying Connected
As I write this note I am reminded of the changes that have taken place over the past three months. We have all experienced the Covid-19 crisis in one way or another and for many of us, it has meant a significant shift in lifestyle.
Choral Listening Series - Recording #4
Okay, time for some pop music. What a great arrangement this is. Pentatonix is one of the world's best a cappella groups, originally forming to compete in The Singoff, a televised a capella competition.
Verna & Gordon 70th Anniversary
Verna and Gordon G. will be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary on June 11.Verna was a choir member for many years, and her wonderful sewing skills have created costumes, table runners, stoles etc for McDougall. Gordon’s church carpentry contributions