Anglican Parishes of Andover and Denmark

08/21/2026

Good day All,

I have another funny question for you this week. It is about sight, and sight more than vision. I realize that this may seem funny for me to word it that way, but I believe there is a difference. To truly see something, can involve everything from the conceptualization to the manifestation, and being able to picture it at every step in between. Does that make sense? If we look up the synonyms for seeing or sight, we get a list that contains words such as: vision, beauty , belief, witness, notice, grasp, realize, recognize, understand, observe, spot, glimpse, view and discern.

As you can imagine, if all of the words have similar meaning then we can begin to understand how big a thing it is for us to simply say "I see." I think in most cases we use it to acknowledge an understanding, more than a visualization, which can make it a little confusing. With many of the people we encounter everyday actually being unable to "see" or appreciate what we are trying to explain. In those cases, I fear that my explanations become something like white noise and "I see " becomes their response in hopes that I will simply stop talking. Sadly, as I wrote that, it made me chuckle to myself.

On another note, if we can change the tense of from "see" to "seen", that opens up a whole new world of experience and witness. In a region like ours, that has such a wealth of people who have witnessed the last century of activity in the Upper Valley, the words "I have seen" can begin stories that excite my imagination like no other. Whether it be a story about three locomotives pulling 200 hundred rail cars, the first poles and powerlines going up in Beaconsfield or cabins along the river in Andover, these stories connect us with our history, they give us an insight into the way things were, and in some cases a greater appreciation of what we have.

The other side of this coin is witnessing the sadness of expression in someone talking about how things used to be. Beginning the same way, "I have seen families come and go", the recollection of families who once lived in nearby houses that have moved or passed away, recalled with a sense of sadness for the loss of friendship and connection. It includes the loss of community as houses and families are recalled who lived along the river until the head pond was raised or the floods swept them away. It seems to me that both the happy and sad memories need to treasured, the joy and the pain, since through the pain of memories we can better appreciate the joys.

Each week, I share with you, the things I have seen in my travels, ripening wheat, blossoming potato plants, deer, moose, eagles. I talk about the beautiful colours of the autumn trees and greens of springtime. Regardless, if I am describing the view of the Tobique River or the view from the top of Lucy's Gulch, I share my vision of God's creation, so that you can picture its glories in your mind. Imagination and the visions it provides, are a gift from God that we seldom give thanks for , but without it, we would never see the disciples walking with Jesus to Emmaus, or the Transfiguration of Jesus on the Mountain top. Being able to share our stories with each other, to be witnesses through the tellers' memory, to understand through their telling and view their memories through your own imagination is a wonderful thing.

I encourage you all to take the time to connect with one another, share memories, talk about the train bridge, the ferry crossing, working a team of horses. Open your minds to the stories of walking to school uphill both ways and snow so deep you had to carry your school books over your head. Remember those who are no longer with us and say their names so that they can take part in the memory too. Share, laugh, cry, help the stories carry on to the next generation of imaginations and visions of the past; we owe that to both those who came before us and those yet to come.

May God bless you all and keep you safe throughout the days to come, filling your hearts with love, your minds with thoughts and prayers , and warming you souls in preparation for His return. I pray that we can meet and pray at some point over the weekend, praising God and being blessed as He fills our lives with joy, hope, love and peace.

Sunday August 23, 2026

Sorry Everyone,
I have made a mistake again!

Sunday Morning is:

9:00 am St. George’s- Morning Prayer
9:00 am St. Ansgar’s- Holy Eucharist
11:00 am Trinity Church- Holy Eucharist

This is a five Sunday month!

Sorry for all the confusion

Harold

Thursday August 27, 2026

Prayer Group

We will gather to reflect on this week's scripture. We will have a cup of tea, lots of laughs and fellowship. Our special guest will be the Holy Spirit, flowing amongst us and guiding our hearts! Remember all are welcome, all are family, all are loved.

10:00 am - Trinity Church
2:30 pm - St Ansgar's

All are welcome, all are family, all are loved.

Yours in Christ,
Harold+

Reverend Harold Boomer,
Anglican Parishes of Andover and Denmark,
Missioner in the Upper River Valley
Parish Office:
1295 West Riverside Drive,
Perth-Andover, NB
Mobile - 506-325-8125

08/19/2026

08/19/2026

Hello Folks,
This is an awesome opportunity for anyone who is nearing the age of needing additional care or who is providing additional care, please pass it along!

Dear Parishes (Incumbents and Wardens):
Please see the attached information from the NBCC Student-Infused Senior Care Navigator and Care Skills Development Program regarding upcoming free caregiver workshops. The program has asked that this information be shared with parishioners, family caregivers, friends, loved ones, and others who may benefit from these sessions.
The workshops are offered free of charge and are designed to support those who provide care for seniors living at home. Registration and interest forms are available through the program.
Thank you for helping to share this valuable resource within your parish communities.

NBCC Student Infused Senior Care Navigation and Care Skills Development Program is reaching out to you all today to share with you where we will be providing FREE workshops in the next few months.

https://nbcc.ca/core/research-projects/informal-caregivers/workshops

We are also sharing our Interest Form and Registration form should you have person with interest in attending the workshops.

Senior Care Navigation Workshop Interest – Fill out form
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/x4WExbWP33

Senior Care Navigation Workshop Registration Form – Fill out form
https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/JjiAxCYtMF

08/14/2026

Good Morning Everyone,

Mornings like this, bring to mind an old saying, "Come day, go day, God bring Sunday.". It has long been a saying connected with the laziness of summer. Days of heat, sunshine, thunder showers, the sound of crickets chirping and robins singing for rain. We can't help but slip into the laziness attached to the warmth of the sun on our faces as any ambition we had is slowly drained from our bodies, it's a wonderful thing. Whether we know it or not, these days of summer become an affirmation of our creation. Who, but God would turn our skin into a solar panel for vitamin D.

Imagine designing something that was so complex, that it would convert the cholesterol in our bodies which has the potential to have long term health effects, into vitamin D, a compound necessary in healthy bone structure, dental health and a healthy immune system. WOW! I never cease to be amazed at the complexity of not who we are but what we are. There are times when I think we take too much for granted and give too little credit to the Creator. In a time of the year that provides us with the opportunity to grow the crops that sustain us, to slow down and enjoy the vistas and beauty that surrounds us without the risk of frostbite, I can say without any guilt, "Come day, go day, God bring Sunday.".

As I say this, I recognize the faith that it expresses in God and all of His creation, I acknowledge the profound debt that a believer to God has for their own existence, and I am saddened at the thought, that so many seem to have lost the faith, their trust, their connection to the Giver of Life and Love. This week, we studied the Epistle of James. This portion of his letter revolved around the idea of faith without deeds and deeds without faith, "As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." The conversation held a wonderful variety of opinions which identified individuals in our lives who have no connection to a church and yet live a life of benevolence and philanthropy. It also became difficult not to discuss those who attend church gatherings throughout the community only to be seen, causing a sad commentary of false faith.

What this comparison began, was a conversation which divided faith and religion. The idea that a person can have a religion in which they participate, without truly committing themselves to a faith in God which teaches loving our neighbors as ourselves and loving our God with all our heart, with all our mind and with all our soul. At the same time, it identifies those who deny a faith in God, while expresses love in ways that He makes possible. Love in its truest form, IS the presence of the Holy Spirit, flowing among us, through us, and surrounding us within God's creation. It is simply a matter of quieting our minds long enough to hear God's voice and accepting the fact the regardless of whether we acknowledge His presence, He is with us always, each of us, all of us, always!

In the words of James, "“You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder. We don't need to be like to Apostles and travel throughout the country proselytizing and bringing others to our churches, but as we share His love, He becomes present in what we do. As we share what we have, we receive His Grace. As we reach out to help those in need, we are filled with His peace.

On days like this, when the sun is shining, when our hearts are filled with all that surrounds us, be it the presence of loved ones or just a lawn chair and a good book, let us give thanks for all we have, for all we share, for all our gifts both received and given, and without the guilt of laziness say, "come day, go day, God thank for THIS day". May God bless you all and keep you safe throughout the days to come, filling your hearts with love, your minds with thoughts and prayers , and warming you souls in preparation for His return. I pray that we can meet and pray at some point over the weekend, praising God and being blessed as He fills our lives with joy, hope, love and peace.

Sunday August 16, 2026

9:00am - St George's, Bairdsville - Morning Prayer - This service will take place at the Baird House B&B - 6045 Rte.130
9:00 am - St. Ansgar's, New Denmark - Holy Eucharist
11:00 am - Trinity Church, Andover - Holy Eucharist

Thursday August 20,2026

Prayer Group

We will gather to reflect on this week's scripture. We will have a cup of tea, lots of laughs and fellowship. Our special guest will be the Holy Spirit, flowing amongst us and guiding our hearts! Remember all are welcome, all are family, all are loved.

10:00 am - Trinity Church
2:30 pm - St Ansgar's

All are welcome, all are family, all are loved.

Yours in Christ,
Harold+

Reverend Harold Boomer,
Anglican Parishes of Andover and Denmark,
Missioner in the Upper River Valley
Parish Office:
1295 West Riverside Drive,
Perth-Andover, NB
Mobile - 506-325-8125

08/07/2026

Happy Friday Everyone,

It is probably just me, but I get a kick out of the way we react to the changes in the weather, and how it affects the way we seem to care for each other. When it is cold, we tell people to stay warm, when it's hot, we tell people to stay cool, when it rains, we say stay dry, and when it's dry, we tell them to stay hydrated. It is as if our lives are huge contradictions, or is it something more cultural? Is there a chance that over time, the changes that take place around us, cause us to encourage the comfort or caring for one another and subconsciously wish for the wellbeing of those who surround us? Is there a chance that the changes in our weather are only an example of something much bigger?

This has been, not a week of change, but THE week of change. In the church, we celebrated the Transfiguration of our Lord. It was a journey to the top of a mountain. Jesus, with Peter, James and John climbed to its summit only to be joined by Moses and Elijah. Now, we can only imagine, climbing a mountain, we would be hot, dusty, sweaty, thirsty, hungry, and tired, in fact we are told that they were. Yet as the two Prophets joined Jesus, they became energized, as Jesus transformed, His robes became brilliant white and His presence took on a glow or an aura, the voice of God, spoke from the clouds and said, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

At this point, as if he were noticing travelers by a river or pilgrims leaving a temple, Peter says “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” This makes me smile, Peter, whether we recognize it or not is making this awesome scene relatable to humanity. He was present to witness Divinity at its purest state, two prophets and servants of Almighty God, speaking with the Son of Man, at the moment He is transformed into His Divine State, and for the second time acknowledged by His Heavenly Father. When we would have thought Peter, James and John, should be kneeling in awesome wonder, Peter thinks they should tired after all this excitement, maybe we should make them a place to rest. So even in this scripture, we are brought back to the simplicity of telling someone to stay cool on a hot day.

My point is this, so often when we consider some of the things we do, simple things that have become a part of our lives, wishing someone a good night, blessing them after a sneeze, telling them stay hydrated in the heat, are they simple niceties or has our covenant with God become so ingrained in us that it is our human nature to fulfil the needs of others. Mark tells us, One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ’The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. 'There is no commandment greater than these.” Without us even realizing what we are doing, without Peter fully understanding his own words, are we fulfilling this commitment of heart, mind and soul? Does love play a bigger part in our lives and the changes we witness than we ourselves can understand? I wish I could answer my own question, but I only know my own faith and connection, but I can pray!

May God bless you all and keep you safe throughout the days to come, filling your hearts with love, your minds with thoughts and prayers , and warming you souls in preparation for His return. May you find the connection you need, not only with the Holy Trinity but with those who surround you. I pray that we can meet and pray at some point over the weekend, praising God and being blessed as He fills our lives with joy, hope, love and peace.

Sunday August 9, 2026

There is no service in Bairdsville this week.
9:00am - St. Paul's, Limestone Siding - Holy Eucharist
11:00 am - St. Ansgar's, New Denmark - Morning Prayer
11:00 am - Trinity Church, Andover - Holy Eucharist

This is a reminder that there will be an outdoor community worship service at the New Denmark Rec. Center, Sunday August 9,2026 at 6:00pm. Come ready to sing, and the Holy Spirit will take care of the rest. This service is being hosted by the congregation of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and will be Officiated by Pastor Jonah Bruce.

Thursday August 13, 2026

Prayer Group

We will gather to reflect on this week's scripture. We will have a cup of tea, lots of laughs and fellowship. Our special guest will be the Holy Spirit, flowing amongst us and guiding our hearts! Remember all are welcome, all are family, all are loved.

10:00 am - Trinity Church
2:30 pm - St Ansgar's

All are welcome, all are family, all are loved!

Yours in Christ,
Harold+

Reverend Harold Boomer,
Anglican Parishes of Andover and Denmark,
Missioner in the Upper River Valley
Parish Office:
1295 West Riverside Drive,
Perth-Andover, NB
Mobile - 506-325-8125

08/06/2026

This is a reminder that there will be an outdoor community worship service at the New Denmark Rec. Center, Sunday August 9,2026 at 6:00pm. Come ready to sing, and the Holy Spirit will take care of the rest. This service is being hosted by the congregation of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and will be Officiated by Pastor Jonah Bruce. All are welcome, all are family, all are loved.

07/30/2026

Blessings on this rainy day my friends,

Today, rather than writing a letter, or quoting scripture, or discussing the beauty of God's creation, I am sharing a letter that I have drafted for our families who have become spread out across the county. I am doing this in hopes that it will be forwarded and read, and acted upon in a helpful manner. It brings to mind in many cases, the old adage, "Out of sight, out of mind". It is hoped that this may be the reminder some families need, that eternal rest is remembering and acting, not forgetting and moving on. God bless, enjoy the rain, the earth is thirsty. H

The Reverend Harold Boomer,
Anglican Parishes of Andover and Denmark,
Missioner in the Upper River Valleys
506-325-8125
Parish Office:
1295 West Riverside Drive,
Perth-Andover, NB
E7H 5G9
[email protected]

Good Day and Blessings,
If you are receiving this letter, it is purely because the remains of one or more of your family’s members have come to rest in one of our many cemeteries. The loss of a loved one, is never easy, and in some cases, it is made even more difficult by taking place outside the natural order, as we bury our children and grand children. There is really no need for me to explain the affects grief places on our lives, our families, and our friends. More often than not, we still feel the absence years later.
The purpose of this letter is not to once again open those wounds and cause more heartache, but to assist in the continuation of a sense of confidence that your loved one’s resting place is being cared for. Often, we try not to think about the final resting place of someone we have lost, because we try to keep them alive in our hearts and minds, trying not to picture them in a distant garden of granite and flowers. We, however, as the caretakers of the eighteen Anglican cemeteries in the Upper Saint John and Tobique River Valleys, do think about these places.
Each week they are mowed and trimmed; they are maintained to the best of our ability. In some cases, this is done by volunteers, in others, where volunteers have grown old or moved away, these services are paid for out of church funds and donations to the individual cemeteries. Topsoil is spread, and seeded, stones are repaired as funds are made available, and for the most part our cemeteries are kept in a respectable condition.
Here, however is the hard truth. When a cemetery plot is sold, it is not sold with perpetual care, and so this work is carried out using the funds generated by the sale of plots and donations to particular cemetery funds. If we consider only the past six years, the changes and demands placed on this support stream are extreme.
If we consider the mowing alone, since 2020, gas prices have gone from $0.88 a litre to $1.93 a litre. Hourly rates for labour have gone from $16/hour to $27/hour, with minimum wage growing by $5/hour. Straightening stones is not only affected by these increases but also by material costs with stone and gravel jumping $295/ load to $442/load, topsoil almost doubling from $280/ load to $540, and grass seed following suit from $47.95/ 5kg to $84.99/5kg.
This year alone, at one of our many cemeteries, mowing costs are $600 a month, because of the conditions last winter, we have had to spread five truckloads of topsoil and ten kilograms of grass seed, taking two men eight days to complete. As you can well image, at that rate, cemetery funds don’t last long.
Since we are all realizing the affects of the global economy, and the impact it is having on our daily lives, I do not need to tell you that certain things suffer as prices to continue to climb. At the grocery store, what would have been an easy decision not that long ago to buy a roast for Sunday dinner, has now turned into a Monday morning wait and see what is on sale. No Name brands have come back in popularity, because of demand not desire, and meals that were once reserved for hunting camps and college students, have become staples for families throughout our communities. It is a sad reality.
In light of this reality, I cannot demand of you, to support the maintenance of your loved ones’ final resting place, but I can ask that you help with the cause any way you can. If you have a family member who has been laid to rest in an Anglican cemetery from Bairdsville to Grand Falls, from Four Falls to Riley Brook, please reach out to us. If you know families who have moved away but have left loved ones behind in our care, please pass the message along.
If you would like to contribute financially, send us a note, let us know where your family are resting and we will put you in contact with the appropriate people, or just send it to the Parish Office at the address above and receipts will be issued accordingly. The same can be applied if you would like to volunteer, send us a note in the mail, or email me directly, and together we can ensure that these gardens of remembrance will be in good condition for years to come.
Blessed be thou, Lord God of Israel, for ever and ever. All that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine. All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee. 1 Chronicles 29
May God bless you and keep you safe.
Harold+

May God bless you all and keep you safe throughout the days to come, filling your hearts with love, your minds with thoughts and prayers , and warming you souls in preparation for His return. I pray that we can meet and pray at some point over the weekend, praising God and being blessed as He fills our lives with joy, hope, love and peace.

Sunday August 2, 2026

9:00am - St George's, Bairdsville - Holy Eucharist - This service will take place at the Baird House B&B - 6045 Rte.130
11:00 am - St. Ansgar's, New Denmark - Morning Prayer
11:00 am - Trinity Church, Andover - Holy Eucharist

Thursday August 6, 2026

Prayer Group

We will gather to reflect on this week's scripture. We will have a cup of tea, lots of laughs and fellowship. Our special guest will be the Holy Spirit, flowing amongst us and guiding our hearts! Remember all are welcome, all are family, all are loved.

10:00 am - Trinity Church
2:30 pm - St Ansgar's

All are welcome, all are family, all are loved.

Yours in Christ,
Harold+

Reverend Harold Boomer,
Anglican Parishes of Andover and Denmark,
Missioner in the Upper River Valley
Parish Office:
1295 West Riverside Drive,
Perth-Andover, NB
Mobile - 506-325-8125

07/23/2026

A Gray Day is Still a Blessing,

Hello my friends, yesterday I was reminded, well maybe not reminded, but made aware of something that I try not to think about. Last week I was fixed on wind, breeze, breath, and more precisely the breath of God. I have made a connection which seems bizarre to me, that I don't consider it more often. We had a tree fall down in the rain and high winds at Trinity Church, which normally I wouldn't have thought twice about. But first, I need to take a step backwards. Last Thursday, when I arrived home after prayer group in New Denmark, I was startled to find the large cherry tree in our backyard split and a large piece had fallen on the roof of our house.

Normally, you could imagine the first words out of my mouth, but as the dog and I walked around the deck looking up at the branches stretched out across the roof, trying to see if they had gone through the shingles, I noticed that we were not alone. The leaves and branches hung down low enough that I had to duck to get around them. In the branches, were the families of birds who have lived in this tree for as many years as I have lived in the house. The birds who chirped at me as I filled the feeders, who flew around Andrea and I catching flies and spiders while we sat on the deck, the birds who sing every morning when the sun rises and every evening when it sets. They seemed slightly anxious as you would expect, and from their chirping, I was taking the blame.

As I walked down and across the back yard, I looked up noticed that where the tree had split, there was a sizable canker. In the crotch of the tree, it seemed as if it had tried to repair itself, probably from water that had frozen and thawed. It had split and healed, but a scar had formed, just as it would have on any one of us who had been injured. Where the tree had split, it appeared, much like a tear in fabric. Tiny fibers sticking out like bristles on brush. Under the bark, on the exposed flesh of the tree small Nuthatches and Downy Woodpeckers were filling their bellies with the freshly exposed bug colonies that had been brought to the surface.

Rather than feeling angry about the loss of the branches or the possibility of damage to the roof, I was saddened by the destruction of this community. The homes that had been destroyed, the loss of a food source for the birds, squirrels, chipmunks, the shade for our backyard, the swings that had been hung for children long grown up. As I stood there looking up, I realized that this old tree, that was substantial enough in 1983 when our house was built, to be left as a shade tree, and focal point in our backyard, was a member of our family. It had held birdfeeders, swings, tree troll faces that our son used to wave to when he couldn't see over the hand rail, but would look through it, its base is the resting place of our old dog, and sustains flowers each year to mark the spot.

This old tree has been pruned over the years to wrap around our deck, providing shade from the heat of summer, it has been present for every conversation that has taken place, and every decision that has been made, graduation parties, family gatherings, barbeques, it has provided hours of regeneration for us in times of grief and heartache, just sitting staring up into its branches listening to the birds sing has a calming effect that cannot be explained.

In Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, he writes a reminder," Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth. Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, and His love endures forever." As stewards of God's creation, we are intended to become attached to, and interact with everything that surrounds us, trees, birds, animals, one another. Love is to be freely given to everything that He has created, because He placed His love within everything as it has been nurtured and grown.

Although it seems funny for me to refer to the young man who worked so diligently from the bucket of an extended boom as a surgeon, but he was. Recognizing the value we had placed on this tree, he saved the branches that held our swings, the parts that housed the birds and nests that protected the squirrels, and now it only remains for me to wait, in hopes that someday I will hear this tall old friend, who shades our backyard, sing for joy at the coming of the Lord!

May God be present in your lives, may you be filled with His love, comforted with His hope, energized with His joy, and surrounded with the peace that only He can provide.

Sunday July 26, 2026

9:00am - St George's, Bairdsville - Holy Eucharist - This service will take place at the Baird House B&B - 6045 Rte.130
11:00 am - St. Ansgar's, New Denmark - Holy Eucharist- Holy Baptism
12:30 pm - St. Ansgar's, Parish of Denmark Vestry Meeting
11:00 am - Trinity Church, Andover - Morning Prayer

Thursday July 30, 2026

Prayer Group

We will gather to reflect on this week's scripture. We will have a cup of tea, lots of laughs and fellowship. Our special guest will be the Holy Spirit, flowing amongst us and guiding our hearts! Remember all are welcome, all are family, all are loved.

10:00 am - Trinity Church
2:30 pm - St Ansgar's

All are welcome, all are family, all are loved.

Yours in Christ,
Harold+

Reverend Harold Boomer,
Anglican Parishes of Andover and Denmark,
Missioner in the Upper River Valley
Parish Office:
1295 West Riverside Drive,
Perth-Andover, NB
Mobile - 506-325-8125

07/15/2026

Hello, Hello, Hello,

Wow, another great day, and what a gift it is. Blue sky, shining sun, a wonderful breeze, flowing water, and if it wasn't for the smoke in the air, it would be absolutely glorious. As I say that, I have to admit, that smoke isn't even worth complaining about. Today, gave me the opportunity to drive to New Denmark, this is always a wonderful drive, whether it be the fields of ripening crops, or the views from the top of the hill, the people I visit or as you all know, even on the dirtiest of days, there is an opportunity to stop at Hansen's meat shop for a sandwich, which these days seems to taste even better!

As I drove across Brooks Bridge, I looked down just in time to see a Bald Eagle coming in to land on the gravel shore of the river, that is exposed with the low water. I found myself singing along with Bett Midler's voice in my head, "You are the wind beneath my wings.". Oddly enough that's all it took and I was drawn into that thought. Looking around, the breeze, or wind depending on where you are in the valley, was moving the trees, holding the birds still in midair as they surfed the currents. It blew across the fields of grain and made the stocks bend and wave like a green pond of water. On the river, it moved the surface and formed waves and white caps, swirled along the shoulder of the road stirring up dust, and by Four Falls, there were times it looked like it was snowing because of the fluff that had been pulled from dandy lions or milk w**d, or whatever it was that had gone to seed.

It is hard for me to continually apologize for going down into rabbit holes, so I won't. But you know how my imagination works, and so you can imagine that this all started from seeing an eagle on the river, and feeling blessed for seeing it. Continuing to drive back to the office, I thought about a conversation that took place last week. It was a reminder of a lecture I had heard some time ago about the "Breath of God". The wonderful simplicity of the lecture and the reminder, fits so easily into a pattern of thought, that it has remained with me.

You see, the name of God, as we know it, YAWEH, is both the first and last word we speak. As we slowly inhale, our breath says "YYYYEEEEHHHH", and as we exhale, it is followed by "WWWEEEHHH". You just tried it, didn't you? See, told you! So, with each breath, we say the name of our Creator, beautiful, praise without thought, prayer without intention. This only adds to the importance of not only breath, but breeze, wind, air, the space that fills the void between spaces. Creation depends on it. Breath fills our lungs, and provides oxygen for our blood and brain. Breeze cools the air and dries the ground, wind aerates the water to sustain the fish, it moves the seed, shakes the trees, guides the birds. Air is central to all growth, plants, animals, humans.

We are reminded in Job, "If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath, all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust." , and so, it is more than the wind beneath our wings. The air we breathe, the gift of silent praise, the breeze that fills creation, is God's Grace. It is a blessing that fills us, surrounds us and flows through everything in our world. The wind that has filled sails for thousands of years, the wind that drifts the snow and dries the ground, the wind that carries kites to the sky and holds birds on the wing , IS the breath of God, and for this we give thanks. It is hard to go anywhere and do anything without finding God, without being able to feel thankful, and so we give thanks.

Lord in Heaven, we raise our voices to praise Your name. As we find You present in each day we live, we give you thanks for all You provide, for all You have created, for sustaining us, giving us hope, love, strength and for the promise of eternal life and peace everlasting.

Please join us this weekend for one of our services, or take the time to connect with God in your own time. God bless.


Sunday July 19, 2026

9:00am - St George's, Bairdsville - Morning Prayer - This service will take place at the Baird House B&B - 6045 Rte.130
11:00 am- St. Paul's, Limestone Siding - Morning Prayer
9:00 am - St. Ansgar's, New Denmark - Holy Eucharist
11:00 am - Trinity Church, Andover - Holy Eucharist

Thursday July 23, 2026

Prayer Group

We will gather to reflect on this week's scripture. We will have a cup of tea, lots of laughs and fellowship. Our special guest will be the Holy Spirit, flowing amongst us and guiding our hearts! Remember all are welcome, all are family, all are loved.

10:00 am - Trinity Church
2:30 pm - St Ansgar's

All are welcome, all are family, all are loved.

Yours in Christ,
Harold+

Reverend Harold Boomer,
Anglican Parishes of Andover and Denmark,
Missioner in the Upper River Valley
Parish Office:
1295 West Riverside Drive,
Perth-Andover, NB
Mobile - 506-325-8125