I hope you all are well.  This coming Sunday (August 10) is supposed to be a very pretty day for our picnic in Moore Park (on the lakeside of the road under the pavilion.) We will begin at 9:00 with a bible study.  We use a relaxed style where people say what the verses make them think of or feel rather than using books like other denominations.  We are going to be in the third chapter of James with some lively verses on the wise use of words.  Then at 10, we will have a short service and time of open worship. I am looking forward to the sound of birds as we center down and listen for God.  Bring something to share to eat and your own chair (and extra if possible). Bring your neighbors, friends and family. It will be great to see the faces of your families and children, even adult children

              Like many parents of adult children, my experience is that I am no longer at their side taking care of problems. That is no longer what being a mother means. My job has changed and now, if I do it right (but I do and I don’t), I am there to hold space so they can talk if they wants to and cry when she needs to.  It can be very frustrating, especially when I think I know the answer or can solve the problem. But holding onto that focus of the other and letting go of our expectations and egos take practice, years of practice.  Holding space for someone takes effort in many other ways. Even for those who do it for a living, it might be important to check in and see how totally present we are and if we are listening. For holding space for others to come naturally we have to remind ourselves repeatedly to listen and just be. We can learn as we interact with one another on a daily basis. 

              Heather Plett is the originator of that phrase, “holding space” for someone, and she advises not to advise unless it is asked for. She writes in her article about What it means to “hold space” for other people and how to do it well, (https://heatherplett.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/holding-space-for-others.pdf )using examples of her mother’s hospice nurse being the one who taught her best how to “hold space” for people.  I am sure we all have an example of a good listener among our friends or families, someone who is non judgemental, open, safe that we can be genuinely ourselves with.  Can we be someone who “holds space”  for others?  Do we know how to be totally present when someone else is talking or just being?  As a church, how do we become a safe space where everyone is open to be themselves, whatever our messy selves might be?

              It is always great to see a familiar face, but it is becoming beautiful to see the faces of some of our new attendees.  We have been especially blessed to have Llewelyn coming regularly as we embrace them.  They have a need that maybe one of you might know of how to help.  Here is their letter to you about the situation.

              Thank you all, and I hope to see you Sunday.   Leigh