October 29, 2010

Sunday we enjoyed the third Literary Evening. These events are an opportunity for authors in our congregation to read from their published works. Musicians play between presentations, and tea and sweets are served. Literary Evenings provide a way to get to know one another, and to learn something! It was a wonderful night.

Marion Brooker was the first reader. She is working on a new book, about her uncle James Henderson Fargey. She showed us the Bible in which his mother inscribed on July 23, 1915: "Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth". He took it with him into the trenches in World War One. From there Jim wrote to his mother, “I try to read a passage every night when possible.”

What a treasure.

I look forward to holding Marion’s new book, reading the words and looking at the pictures. Family stories are the crucible in which we live. I hope the letters, photographs and Bibles in your home tell you stories of faith and courage.

We live and move and have our being in God’s love. This is our faith; this is our courage. This is the hand that holds the crucible in which we live. This is the love that takes us through, and beyond, those family stories into the Presence which cherishes us no matter what.

Blessings to you,

The Rev. Dr. Catherine Faith MacLean