Trinity United Church

05/31/2026

Service

05/29/2026

05/13/2026

Gratitude to Mothers

It has been a few days since Mother’s Day, and like many of us, I celebrate Mother’s Day without a living mother. I didn’t buy a card, or flowers, nor did I take my mom out for supper. For, my mom died 2 years ago.

My celebration is more muted, but still I remember. I remember a mom who could peel an orange with her thumbnail without breaking the orange skin. One long spiral peel emerged. I remember a mom who at lunchtime, marched me back to school to confess that I had lied to the teacher. I was in grade 4, and it stayed with me. She was a stickler for honesty. I remember a mom who looked like a fairy princess when she got dressed up for the January New Year’s Eve Ball. (They had such fancy events back in the day!!)

But what I remember most, was that my mom went to University. In the late 1940’s she attended Dalhousie University in Halifax. Long before it was “the norm” for women to do so, my mother went to university. And in her grad class of three hundred and thirty-nine, she was one of only 76 women who received her degree. There were no women graduates in dentistry, only 2 (out of forty) in medicine, none in engineering, none in pharmacy.

I didn’t realize it until recently that my mom was a trailblazer. But it wasn’t just my mom: her sister, who was nine years her elder, also went to Dalhousie, and graduated in commerce: very unusual
for the time. I wonder if seventy years ago, all these daring young women realized what a difference they were making to the generations who would follow. Probably not, for we often don’t realize the impact our lives and our choices have.

On Mother’s Day I am grateful for my mom; for studying hard (especially to pass math!), for walking across a stage in cap and gown, and ,against the norms of the day, graduating from university. And when I see the smiling faces of so many young women graduating from universities around the country, I smile to myself and think, “my mother and others just like her, are the reason you are holding a diploma.”

Thanks Mom,
Happy Mothers Day.

04/29/2026

I grew up with a s**g carpet.

I grew up with s**g carpet. (This should give you an idea of the time frame in which lived.) In the living room, in the dining room, and in various halls those gold and brown wall-to-wall rugs were everywhere. The original shiny hardwood floors were covered
with s**g carpeting; all in the name of fashion and style. I also grew up with avocado green stoves, harvest gold fridges and burnt orange/copper assorted pots and pans. My, it was a colourful decade!

And though I grimace and poke fun at it now, at the time it was the height of fashion. But then again, so were mini skirts! And I wore them, because it was the fashion of the day. I must have been nuts! I still remember, having dropped some item, trying to bend over and pick it up. It was a nightmare! People stopped to watch!

Fashion is funny. We are conned into changing our wardrobe, redecorating our kitchens, and living rooms, and swapping out our cars, all in the name of fashion, and being in style. Advertisement is
powerful. It can convince us of most things. In the future, when we look back at today, no doubt we will wonder about ripped jeans and who managed to con an entire generation to buy them. (Really, we pay for them?)

I wonder too, if advertising and “style” have conned churches and the faithful into believing what is important. New hymns, old hymns, worship bands, screens, computers, power point, robes, stoles; the list is endless of what is hawked as the newest and best, and therefore necessary. I remember the words from Micah 6:8 And what does the LORD require of you? But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

Good words, that don’t go out of style. (But the “walking humbly” has always been a challenge for me !)

04/26/2026

The good shepherd.

04/26/2026

Our Free Little Library is back and full of some great books! Feel free to stop by and grab a book or drop one off!

04/15/2026

Reflection #218 Down by the riverside / Trinity

So, the other day, my friend came to visit. In the darkness of a cold January she dropped by after supper. And then we started to chat. And with DB (dearly beloved) adding in his comments, the chatting went on for quite some time. It was lovely. But soon it was time to leave.

We were all tired, and as she walked to the backdoor, and
put on her coat, I said “We should sing!”. My friend and DB looked at me as if I was nuts! But not to be deterred, I began, “Gonna lay down my burdens, down by the riverside”. After half a phrase, my friend joined in, singing the descant. And then DB joined in, singing the bass. And we stood in the entryway of the house singing in three-part harmony. No musical instruments were needed. It was a moment in time, and when we were finished, we just looked at each other and grinned.

What a gift from God to be able to sing with friends. Of such is the kingdom of God.