A sad note at church today - a middle-aged medical doctor, semi-active in the congregation, with a wife and two young adult children too his own life this past week. I know the family. His mother-in-law is one of my closest friends. Hard to understand - nice home in one of the 'better' parts of town, inground pool, etc., children independent (the girl is also a doctor), he should be looking forward to retirement, time and money to travel, maybe grandchildren within a few years. Sad.
Other than that church was good. Our minister is really hitting the nail on the head recently. Today's sermon was based on the 1st Corinthians reading about the master builder building on a firm foundation. Closing hymn, a favourite from More Voices - Let us Build a House. And today we welcomed into our congregation a 4 month old baby recently adopted by two mothers. A life gone another just beginning.
Then we had lunch and the AGM. We are in the black, and looking good. And we approved a major overhall to our church building - first of three stages. We will maintain our beautiful, old, historic building, and tear apart and rebuild the basement space into a modern hall and kitchen to replace the many small rooms. When that is finished, probably within a year, we will move much of the church life down to these rooms, slightly below street level. Then, if approved at the next AGM we will tear down the adjoining building which was built in the 1960s for a gym, kitchen, and large parlor but that is difficult to heat, bigger than we need, and with terrible acoustics. Big projects. Looking ahead with optimism.
