36 Christian Ways…

Happy New Year! Last week, someone left this article in the waiting/lobby area of my office building at the church and I thought I would share it with you all. It is called “36 Christian Ways to Reduce Stress.” I do not know who is the author but whoever it is, kudos to him or her, because I find it to be very true, good and wise advice for all of us. I like it which is why I am sharing it with you. Hope you like it, but not only like it, live it as well.

36 Christian Ways to Reduce Stress

1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say “No,” to projects that won’t fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. ((Although one is often not enough, two are often too many).
8. Allow extra time to do things and get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don’t lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you to do and let go of the anxiety. If you can’t do anythingabout a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don’t use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shout). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough exercise.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write thoughts and inspirations down.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don’t wait until it is time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite Scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good “Thank You, Jesus.”
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but yourself not at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you’re grateful for that you’ve never been grateful for before.

God has a way of turning things around for you.
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

Barbados… Work, not Pleasure

From Monday, October 31 to Tuesday, November 8, I returned home to Barbados at the invitation of the Rector, Church Council (Vestry) and People of All Souls’ Anglican Church, Bank Hall, St. Michael. I was invited to preach at their Feast of Title Celebration (All Souls’ Day is November 2) and their 90th Anniversary of being a Christian presence in the Bank Hall area. Unfortunately, my family was unable to join me on this trip since it was during school time and we did not want to take our children out of school. Nevertheless, it was great to be back home but it was truly a working trip. Originally I had planned to write my sermons while in Florida before reaching Barbados but that plan did not materialize because of a number of commitments. As a result, I wrote one sermon before leaving Florida, which was the one I preached on the first night. This meant that I spent the daytime writing sermons and the night preaching them.

The Rector of All Souls’, The Rev. Coleridge A. Darlington, who incidentally is my cousin, met me at the Grantley Adams International Airport, Barbados. My second mom, Marjorie, was also there to welcome me. As usual, when I arrive in Barbados, the first thing I always have are two rotis from Cheffette Restaurant. I did not have to go far since one of those restaurants are now at the airport. After lunch, I drove to my parents where I would spend the week. It was wonderful to see them and they were excited to see me since I had not been home in three years. With a few hours to relax and to look over my sermon, it was time to head to All Souls’ Church, with my mother, for my first of seven preaching engagements. My parents, siblings, other family members, and friends including members of the clergy, would also be in attendance during the week.

The theme of my sermon series for the week was, “Beyond These Walls: The True Us.” I focused on Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians, and each night, I shared a different sub-theme:
Monday, October 31 - Faith
Tuesday, November 1 (All Saints’ Day) – Evangelism
Wednesday, November 2 (All Souls’ Day) – Love
Thursday, November 3 – Living True Lives
Friday, November 4 – Hope
Sunday, November 6 (Morning) – Community
(Evening) – Overview of the Week and Exhortation

Each night, in addition to the All Souls’ Parish Family, there were guests from organizations around the Diocese of Barbados. These organizations included the Mother’s Union, Men’s Fellowship, Altar Servers (Acolytes), Prayer Groups, Church Army, Youth, and Choir. There were also different kinds of services each night – Evensong (Monday), Eucharist (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday morning), Mission Service (Thursday), Youth Service with dramatic, musical and poetic presentations (Friday), Musical Extravaganza (Sunday evening). The services, which were very well attended, were an opportunity for me to re-acquaint with friends and congregants of parishes in which I served as a priest in Barbados. Due to the long conversations after the services, each night I usually got home around midnight.

With Friends from St. Cyprian's, Barbados

On Friday, I had lunch with some dear friends of many years, Graham and Marion, at one of my favorite dining places, Brown Sugar Restaurant. It specializes in authentic Barbadian (Bajan) cuisine and local drinks. It was wonderful to return there. In fact, two times were a charm since I would dine there again with Father Darlington on the following Monday, the day before I returned home to Florida.

Saturday was a free day from preaching, but not from writing sermons. As usual, I woke up in the morning, ate breakfast and then started writing my sermon for Sunday morning, which incidentally was broadcast live on radio throughout Barbados and the Caribbean, unknown to me until I got to the church on the Sunday morning. Father Darlington greeted me with, “Father, I have some good news and some bad news.” I said, “Yes?” He continued, “The bad news is that you will be preaching live on Voice of Barbados this morning.” I asked, “What is the good news?” He replied. “The same as the bad news.” From all reports the sermons were well received by those who attended and I believe that seeds have been sowed and I prayerfully hope will mature.

Nevertheless, back to Saturday. After writing my sermon, I visited my in-laws, then my brother and his family, to see my niece, Annalisa, my newborn nephew, Ethan, (just a month old), and their new home. Then it was off to visit one of my clergy friends, Father Michael, his wife, Dawn, and their sons. I wanted to visit and to see the new rectory at the Holy Trinity Parish, where I was a former Rector. My second Mom was also there visiting. I had visited her at her home on the Tuesday afternoon.

The day before I left Barbados, I spent the day doing some personal stuff including getting a couple of souvenirs for my wife and children, visiting my parents-in-law, among a few other things.

All in all, it was a great trip and I completed the purpose for which I was called to do, but it was work, not pleasure – no going to the beach, or sightseeing around the island.

With Father Darlington's Family

“…From Cows to Condos…”

Since returning from vacation, it has been back to the old drawing board. On Sunday, August 14, as usual, I celebrated two masses in the morning. It was wonderful to see and be with our parish family again. In spite of the fun we had on our vacation, it was a joy to see them because we missed them. But the week was going to be a very busy one with the Leadership Workshop coming up on the weekend (August 19 & 20). For the past two to three months, six members of our church family – Linda, Ian, Gail, Tony, Scott, Maureen, and I were formed as a Task Force to plan a workshop for the Leaders of ministries, organizations, and committees, members of the Vestry and Office Staff. The program was designed to build healthy relationships among leaders, create a cohesive church environment among the leaders and members, foster discussion, challenge the leaders to brainstorm and to share ideas and suggestions, and to provide spiritual opportunities. The workshop also had a whimsical or humorous side to it.

The theme of the workshop was “…from Cows to Condos.” Why the name you may ask? Up until five years ago, most of the church was surrounded by cow pasture and with that comes not only cows but you know what else… Today, the same area next to our church is becoming a totally different place. Currently single family homes, and condos are being built where the cows once grazed.The only similarity between the cows and the condos is that they both begin with the letter “c.”

Our hope was that the time spent among the members of the leadership team of Holy Sacrament and me would allow us to listen, share, dream, and foster renewed energy to help in the building up of the church in which God has placed us as His stewards. The workshop was an opportunity for the leadership team and me to come together and be empowered so that we can engage in the mutual ministry of Holy Sacrament in the service of Jesus Christ as we chart a way forward for our church and its ministry that would realize its vision and goals.

In my opening remarks to the leaders, I spoke about five (5) major aspects:

1. The vision and mission statements of Holy Sacrament were created as a guide as to how we should minister in the South Florida area. The vision statement which the members of this Church conceived reads: “Holy Sacrament Episcopal Church will faithfully serve each other, respect and delight in our diverse gifts and faithfully carry the light and love of Jesus Christ to all people at home and abroad wherever our Lord shall lead.” Furthermore, we believe that our mission is about “Transforming lives through Christ using our diverse gifts.”

2. My vision for Holy Sacrament for the first three to four years of my incumbency would embrace the five (5) purposes of any church – “Worship, Ministry, Evangelism, Fellowship and Discipleship,” and that these principles would be realized at Holy Sacrament through:

- Inviting and enthusiastic worship, which is continued and strengthened and where God’s presence and love is felt and experienced through Word, Sacrament, Music and Christian Fellowship;
- Providing and encouraging members to develop and redevelop their gifts and to use them more efficiently in the mission and ministry of the church;
- Sharing the Gospel in word and in the way we live through evangelizing those in our community and beyond;
- Experiencing fellowship by loving one another more deeply, and where love, hope, guidance, encouragement and forgiveness are found;
- Educating members through biblical teaching programs to improve their lives spiritually and assisting them in becoming faithful followers or disciples of Christ.

3. Developing a long term strategic plan that is centered on these five aspects, and where together as leaders, we identify initiatives for the five
areas, outline tasks which are essential to accomplishing these proposals, recruit, train, and supervise ministry teams appropriately for each initiative, establish suitable benchmarks in which each initiative could be achieved by 2015, record the results and decide whether the tasks or initiatives have been achieved. This would include evaluating the performance of the leadership team responsible for a particular task and to find out the level of its effectiveness.

4. The realization of the goals of Holy Sacrament which include: Encouraging a welcoming environment, Developing effective means for Pastoral Care,  Administering sense of purpose and vision for the Parish, and Embracing diversity and encouraging spiritual growth.

5. The need to be an outward looking church rather than an inward looking church, addressing the needs of the people that are living in this community as well as those who are to come, hence the reason for the theme – “…From Cows to Condos…”  We need to ask ourselves such questions like, “Who are the people who will be moving into these condos?” What are they like? What are their needs and how can we meet their needs? As a result, we need to have an action and implementation plan so that we are able, not only to introduce ourselves to them but to be truly a faith community that serves and reaches out to them in an invitational way by showing them the salvific love of Jesus Christ.

The Workshop featured four worship services, each of them depicting a different theme: “Friendship and Relationship,” “Light,” “Leadership and Decision-making,” “Thanksgiving.” The last worship service on the Friday night was a beautiful candlelight service, while on Saturday, August 20, the workshop ended with a Closing Eucharist in the Parish Hall.

The Appreciative Inquiry Process was used when discussing and presenting the 5 critical questions at the workshop. Each table group was comprised of a Discussion Coordinator, Timekeeper, Recorder, and Reporter. The groups were given 15 minutes each to respond to the following 5 questions and then to make presentations on their discussion and answers:
1. “What about Holy Sacrament makes you glad that you worship here?”
2. “Thinking about the past, what events have had a major impact on Holy Sacrament?”
3. “What are Holy Sacrament’s strengths?”
4. “What are the greatest needs at Holy Sacrament?”
5. “Imagine in your wildest dreams – what would you like to see Holy Sacrament to look like three years from now?”

These five (5) questions as well as the five (5) purposes of the church formed the basis for the final set of questions: “What do you think are the most pressing needs right now at Holy Sacrament in the area of Worship / Ministry / Evangelism / Fellowship / Discipleship? And Why? Based on Holy Sacrament’s gifts/strengths, how do you see us realizing those needs?” The leaders and vestry members were divided into the 5 purpose groups that best represented their ministries. Each group were to identify not more than 3 “pressing needs,” and were given one hour to discuss this question. The groups then made their presentations, each of about 7 minutes in duration. The responses from these groups will become the  focal points from which we will implement various aspects of ministry in our church and community.

The workshop also had some humorous aspects. One humorous part of the workshop was the naming of the table groups. Each table had either a cow or a condo as a centerpiece and the table name  was to depict that object. The names chosen were: “The Jersey Penthouse,” “The Happy Cowgregation,” “The Herdsmen,” “Moo-Haven,” “Condos Cow Mandos,” “The Barn,” “La Casa de la Vaca,” “The Tiki Garden,” and “The Rabble House.” Another amusing aspect of the workshop was the question session: “Would you rather be a front porch or back porch?” The choice of porch by each participant revealed personality of the individual. Some of the responses were rather hilarious – ranging from “liking to know what is going on in the world” to “relaxing quietly by oneself.” A third hilarious aspect was the “Cow Personality Test.” In this exercise, the participants were invited to draw “a cow” after which the person leading the test read the types of personalities based on the cow that was drawn. The large cadre of personalities can range from being a good listener to being direct, enjoy playing devil’s advocate and neither fear nor avoid discussions. From being secure, stubborn and stick to your ideals to being analytical, cautious, and distrustful. [I will not tell you which parts of the animal determine these different personalities in the event you have the opportunity to do the personality test]. These exercises produced great fun for all involved.

During the workshop, the video entitled “FISH” was shown. This 20-25 minute business video portrays a group of men who sold fish in a market and enjoyed what they were doing. The video highlights the way in which we should embrace our jobs and workplaces in an atmosphere of enjoyment. It serves as a model as to how people can be very alive at work, and gives viewers the tools to promote and ideas to sustain a lively and joyful atmosphere in their workplaces. The video is a great tool to improve areas like the leadership, customer service, teamwork and work quality in the workplace. Such a joyful and delightful atmosphere among people working together can also be applied to the ministry groups in our churches and the congregation as a whole. Personally, I would suggest that this video be shown in all churches, organizations, companies, and even in homes.

After all of the discussions and presentations, I gave the group an action plan that will follow this workshop:

1. I named 5 leaders and charged that they create 5 sub-committees based on the 5 purposes who responsibility will be to develop and implement an Action Plan for the needs which were identified by the Five Purpose Groups. The leaders of these groups will report at the monthly Vestry Meetings and the Annual Meeting in January 2002.
2. Two (2) town hall congregational meetings to be held on Sunday, September 11, immediately following both celebrations of the Eucharist. The purpose of the meetings is to share with the congregation what took place at the leadership workshop.
3. The implementation of a master calendar which would have all the events and activities of the church for the coming year of 2012. Ministry leaders are to have their list of events submitted electronically to the Parish Office by October 31, 2011.
4. The next Leadership Workshop scheduled for April 27 and 28, 2012.

Two other highlights of the Workshop was the reading of a poem and were specially written by two members of the parish, Marilyn B. and Veronica F. respectively, for the Leadership Workshop. These two creative and awesome pieces are below in this blog.

All in all, the survey, which is being completed by the participants will tell us how they felt about the workshop and its productivity.

Poem: “  ….  From Cows to Condos”

As our Parish prepares for the leadership workshop, we pray
That God will be our focus and guide to show us the way,
But, before we dream of the future, our goals and ambitions
Let us give thanks for the outcome, of months of transition
For the provision of an innovative and dynamic Rector, Fr.Tony
His charming wife, Judith and kids, Tadhg and Aleksi.

Lord you are always there for us; it was part of your master plan,
The purchase in 1959 of this ten acre plot on which the church stands
Many onlookers had identified us as the church near the cow pasture
But now a developer has come with condos, an eyeful for beholders.

Let us accept and appreciate that each one of us is different
That makes us the faithful multicultural parish of Holy Sacrament
In fellowship, whether we break bread with hardo, salt bread or toast
It is the commitment to serve Christ, wherever directed that matters most
Whether on mission field, embracing cows, or welcoming condo folks.

As we chart a way forward, Lord let’s hope each ministry participates
From Acolytes, Altar Guild, Choir, Cursillo, Children’s Ministry, Youth Group, Sound Techs, Brotherhood of Faith
Let’s encourage Feet of Worship, Christian Ed, Flower Guild, Friends Reaching Friends, Daughters of the King and not dictate….
But allow Level Up, Prayer Teams, Projectionists, Office volunteers, ECW and Stewardship to set their pace
Then Eucharist Ministers, Ushers, Greeters, Bible Study, Office Staff, Finance Committee and Vestry can iterate,
That each Ministry must be a part, of the building up of this place
Where cows once stood and condos now permeate.

©Marilyn Simpson Bailey
8/18/2011

This poem was written at the request of the Task Force responsible for organizing the Parish Leadership Workshop and was given its title by the members of the Task force.

Prayer specially written for the Leadership Workshop 2011
Father God, we thank you for this time of coming together as Leaders in Your Church, and for giving us this time for spiritual refreshment and renewal. We pray that you will let this be a time to Listen, Share and Dream. With open hearts and minds we ask for humility, wisdom and the knowledge to understand what You are calling us to do. We pray that You will bless us with an abundance of imagination and creativity. We ask that the relationships between our
Ministries and Leaders be built up, and that the eyes of our hearts will be opened wide enough to see and to celebrate the goodness in each other. We pray that our sense of working together as a Team will be strengthened and that we may all be One. We pray for Patience, Faithfulness, Kindness, Peace, Self-control and Joy and the sensitivity to God’s voice as we seek to live out our Vision and identify initiatives that will enhance the Ministry of Holy Sacrament. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.
[Written by Veronica Francis]

Trip Home to South Florida

At 5:30 a.m., on Thursday, August 11, Judith, our children, my brother, Ian, and I began the 1500 mile trip from Toronto to South Florida. We avoided the Toronto and the Buffalo, New York, morning rush hour traffic by leaving early. It meant getting up early but it was a good move. On the way, we made stops every 3 hours for a short break. My brother, Ian, could not wait for the break times to occur. I guess it was a tight squeeze for him since he was sitting in the back seat next to our children. By 8:05 p.m., and with heavy rainfall we spent the night at Jacqueline’s (Aleksi’s Godmother) home in Columbia, South Carolina. By the time we got to Jacqueline’ house, we had traveled virtually 900 miles on the first day – having driven through Ontario, Canada, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina into South Carolina. We were aiming at making 1,000 miles but because of heavy rainfall, we decided to stop at that point.
After dinner at a Chinese restaurant, it was off to bed since we were going to be leaving Columbia relatively early in the morning.

At 7:30 a.m. (Friday, August 12),  we left for home. The 10-hour drive took us through the states of South Carolina, Georgia and into Florida. One aspect about living in South Florida is that when you enter the northern part of the state you still have another 5 hours to drive  depending on how far south you are. But it was a good drive, stopping every 3 hours as usual. We arrived home at 5:30 p.m. and believe it or not, we (Judith, Ian, and me) were still energize, so much so that we unpacked the car and cleaned it, unpacked all the bags, and then brought in dinner from Chili’s. After 3,000+ miles of travel, Ian and I also went shopping because of a sale we wanted to cash in on before it ended. Imagine that!

All in all, we had a wonderful and enjoyable vacation with family and friends. It was time well spent.

Packing and Dining

Judith and I always planned before we left for vacation to spend the penultimate day of our vacation in Canada packing and not venturing out. We did that somewhat… until the evening. We awoke late in the morning, knowing that we were going to rise early the next morning for our trip. My brother, Ian, returned from Montreal in the afternoon and my cousin met him at the bus terminal. The next day, Ian was about to make the longest road trip in his life thus far.

In the evening, we had dinner with our cousins and my brother at a favorite restaurant of theirs and ours named The Keg. It is a steakhouse and bar, where I have been dining with my cousins when I am in Canada. I have done so for the past 15 years. In fact, although I have dined at various restaurants in Canada, when I am there I always dine at the Mandarin and the Keg. As usual, we had a fantastic time at the Keg – wonderful fellowship, delicious food and drinks, great conversation, and an intimate atmosphere.

After returning home from dinner late in the night, it was off to bed for what will be a long 2-day trip back to South Florida. The fun and relaxation were over and it was time to get back to reality.

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Tuesday morning, August 9, began with heavy rain. Originally we had planned to visit a friend, Janet, in Hamilton, Ontario, but that visit did not materialize. We particularly wanted to visit her since the passing of her husband, and my long-time friend, Father Charles. Then we thought of taking the children to Center Island, an amusement park we had taken the children for the past two years. But the heavy rain prevented that from happening. I guess the Almighty knew that I needed the time to relax and to get ready for the Task Force Meeting which I ended up spending the day doing. I wanted to have the Order of Service for Worship finalized and therefore, I did that among other things.

In the evening, friends of both my cousins and ours, Winston and Phyllis, came over to my cousins’ home for a barbecue. Incidentally, I have known Winston and Phyllis for many years through their son, Brian. He and I attended the same elementary school and were in the same class before he migrated to Canada to join his parents. The friendship between the families continued, resulting in one of Brian’s aunts becoming my youngest brother’s Godmother. In addition, Brian and his wife, Wendy, were married by me in Barbados in May 1996. So every time we visit Canada, Winston and Phyllis visit us and we always have a great time… and this time was no exception. We enjoyed reminiscing about old times and talking about my new ministry at Holy Sacrament Church. We enjoyed Phyllis’ culinary ability and we grilled at my cousins’.

After dinner, I excused myself from the table to join, via Skype, a meeting of the Task Force organizing the Leadership Workshop. This team of professionals were planning a workshop for the Vestry, Lay Leaders of Ministries, Organizations, and Committees and the Office Staff so that we could listen, share and dream together as we chart a way forward for our parish family. This Committee has worked very well together – one of the best of which I have been a part. After the completion of the meeting, I was able to rejoin my family and friends for dessert and further conversation.

…more of “O Canada!”

On Monday, August 8, the children awoke with excitement because it was a big day for the family since we were going to visit the Canadian National Tower, more familiarly known as the CN Tower, in downtown Toronto. It was the fulfilment of a promise made to Tadhg since last year. He had waited patiently for that, and those who know Tadhg know that patience is not one of his virtues. Aleksi was also thrilled as well since Tadhg had previously enlightened her as to the kind of place the CN Tower was.

We got off to a lazy start and although we wanted to leave before 11:00 a.m., we never left home until after midday…those who are saying that was late – remember we are on vacation (smile). We tried not to let time dictate our lives. Nevertheless, on arrival at the Tower, we decided to do the “Total Tower” tour, which had five different parts to it.

After purchasing our tickets, we went into the base of the Tower to go to see the first part of our tour, which was the “Look-Out.”

The “Look-out Level” is 1136 ft high (113 building stories). At this level, we were able to enjoy some incredible views of Toronto and beyond. It is a large area in which many people can see the gorgeous view.

Next, we went to the “Sky Pod,” which is the highest part of the tower anyone can go. The  – “Sky Pod” is 1465 ft high or the equivalent of 147 building stories, and from that level, one will see an awe-struck 360 degree unobstructed view of Toronto, Lake Ontario, and the surrounding region. While waiting in the line to go up to the “Sky Pod” we bought hotdogs, patties, and drinks, to tie us over until dinner time.

Then, it was to the “Glass Floor.” What was amazing about the “Glass Floor”was the fact that you can look right through the floor and see outside of the Tower. If you are afraid of heights that may be a bit unnerving. It was interested to see children, including ours, lie on the “Glass Floor” to take pictures. The “Glass Floor” is 1122 ft (112 building stories).

We decided to go and see a 3-D movie at this time. The name of the movie, “Ultimate Wave Tahiti,” depicts the beauty of an island paradise in Tahiti where professional surfers are on a quest to find the perfect wave-riding experience. The time period of the movie is about 25 minutes.

The last of the five-part tour was a motion theater ride named “Himalamazon.” This for me was the “best” part of the tour. This is not to say that seeing the beauty of Toronto was not good but the motion theater ride was a first time experience for my family and me. The ride comes with special effects and you can feel the wind and experience getting wet on the theater ride. The scene depicts a jungle theme like the Himalayas or the Amazon Rainforest. Hence, the name “Himalamazon.” It is one of these things that you cannot explain – you have to see and experience it to really absorb it.

We spent 5 hours at the CN Tower and it was worth it. The children had a marvelous time and it was educational for them and us. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, we drove home after having an exhausting afternoon but a well-enjoyed tour of the Canadian National Tower.

“O Canada!”

Having driven for about 13 hours and nearly 800 miles, the family decided to spend Thursday, August 4 at home with our cousins. My cousin, Eddie, is retired, and his wife, Lee, who I refer to also as my cousin, is recuperating after surgery. My brother, Ian, was also at our cousins’ home when we arrived in Toronto, the previous night. He had spent a week with us in Florida before flying to Connecticut to visit a former youth group friend and then on to Toronto, Canada.

As expected, we awoke rather late in the morning. We spent the day enjoying the wonderful Toronto summer weather (the temperature was in the 70sF), sitting on the patio while the children played on the lawn, and catching up on a number of topics. Judith, Ian, and I also played some games with the children. These included: “Red Light, Green Light, One, Two, Three,” but our son, Tadhg, created a variation to the game, calling it “Sly Fox.” What a sly guy (smile)! We also played several rounds of “Scavenger Hunt.” We were amazed at how well the children, particularly Aleksi, played the game of “Scavenger Hunt.”

All in all, it was a wonderful, relaxing and fun day. It was delightful to spend a day where I did absolutely nothing. Those kind of days do not occur too regularly for me.

On Friday morning, August 5,  Ian left for Montreal, Canada, to visit friends and to join our youngest brother, Hugh, who was visiting from Barbados. We were sorry that he had to leave. However, later in the morning, the men of the house (my cousin, Eddie, and me) went to do some shopping. It was great seeing some of the old familiar places. We love the Toronto area but not the cold weather in the winter. If Illinois’ weather is colder, Toronto is colder. Nevertheless, it is the perfect place to be in the summer. Hence, why we go to Toronto at this time of the year.

In the evening, we visited the home of our friends, Michael and Erna, on the west end of Toronto. We like to see them when we are in Canada. We met over 15 years ago when I was invited to preached at their church, St. David’s Church. It was an interesting and enlightening encounter. While speaking with them on their way out and learning they were originally from Barbados, I soon discovered that she and my mother walked to school together in Barbados. From that time, we became close friends. They prepared us some wonderful “Bajan” delicacies. After spending a great Friday evening, we arrived back at our cousins’ home after midnight.

Saturday, August 6, the children and I decided to go for a walk in our cousins’ neighborhood. Judith remained at home. We left home at 9:00 a.m. and it was interesting to see the stamina of the children as we walked about 2 miles. We enjoyed ourselves – greeting people along the way, my children asking me “20 questions” as they see various things they were unsure about or did not know, and observing different styles of houses. But it was a great Dad – children time together. Next, it was off to visit a religious store which I visit every time we are in the Toronto area. While in the evening, we had dinner at our favorite chinese restaurant, Mandarin, with our friends, Violet, Vida and Stan. It is a standing annual arrangement for my family and these three friends to dine at this restaurant.

Afterwards, we spent the evening at their home. After a long day, it was time to return to our cousins’ home.

On this day, I also don the vacation clothes for the clerical, at least for a few minutes, and administered holy communion to a few persons and anointed those who were ill. It was a wonderful and spirit-filled Liturgy.

Although, we are on vacation, we always try to attend the Eucharist on Sundays. This year, we attended The Church of the Epiphany on Sunday, August 7, at the 10:00 a.m. It is the church home of Violet and Vida. We previously visited this church, attending the Eucharist back in the late 1990s. At that time, I preached. Father Brian, the Interim Priest, gave a children’s sermon with Tadhg and Aleksi sitting on the chancel step with a couple of children. He also preached about the story of Joseph, the man with the coat of many colors, whose brothers disliked him and wanted to kill him.  We were warmly welcomed during the reading of the Notices and Announcements, by the People’s (Junior) Warden, and received an invitation to preach the next time we are in Canada. After the service, we attended the Coffee Hour where we met and spoke with a number of people, before going home.

In the evening we attended a party for Lee’s granddaughter, Amaya, who celebrated her 1st birthday. It was a fun time for our children since they were other children with whom to play. The party was held on the 16th floor of an apartment building in downtown Toronto. The “older” or “old” people, like myself, sat around and chatted with each other while the children had a blast!

Off to Canada!

It is Wednesday, August 3, we awoke earlier than usual for our trip to Toronto, Canada. The drive took 13 hours and 15 minutes including stops for lunch, gas, and restroom breaks, rain, hilly terrain, winding roads, and road construction. We traveled through the states of North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and then into Ontario, Canada. On our journey, we played games in the car like, “I spy with my little eye…” When it got to my turn I said, “I spy with my BIG eye…” and we all laughed.

The drive through parts of Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia revealed a beautiful aspect of the east coast and the country in general. It meant slower driving, at least for me, due to hilly and winding roads, intermittent rainfall we met on the way, and not having driven this side of the country before. It was an interesting cross-country trek and an opportunity to admire a picturesque part of America, but it was also a long and exhausting trip. But believe it or not, the children handled it well in spite of their saying from time to time, “This trip is long,” or “Are we there yet?”

On the journey, we also passed through Erie, Pennsylvania, for the first time. I had traveled to Pennsylvania on several occasions while studying in the Pittsburgh area for four years. Another interesting feature of the trip was that when we entered the state of New York, heading towards Buffalo, we saw a road sign marked 497 miles from New York City. We didn’t realize that the state of New York was so vast.

However, we arrived safely to our cousin’s home in Canada and as expected went to bed after an exhausting drive.

Beautiful Asheville!

On Monday, August 1, we spent most of the day at home just relaxing, and enjoying the mountainous area of Asheville. During the day, the children played with the dogs, ‘Kera’ and ‘Lila,’ and games with their Mom and Auntie Elisabeth while the men engaged in conversation on various topics. Later in the evening, Judith and I went for a walk with our children to admire the natural beauty of the area. Asheville is definitely a gorgeous area and one of the best places to visit in the summer. In the evening, Father John, Elisabeth and our family went to dinner at an Indian restaurant – “India Garden” – which specializes in genuine Indian cuisine. The food was absolutely delicious. There was even roti (for all those roti lovers like me).

On Tuesday (August 2), Judith and I and our kids went to a garage to double-check that all was in order for the long drive to Toronto, Canada. Afterwards, we went to downtown Asheville, particularly Biltmore Village. This is another beautiful town established in the late 19th century. With its brick sidewalks and several trees which give shade, Biltmore Village is an incredible shopping area with fine restaurants. It is also located near the Biltmore Estate, built by George Vanderbilt. Downtown Asheville is a city of museums, art and beautiful attractions. The weather was wonderful and just the perfect temperature.

We returned home to spend a relaxing evening and then went out to dinner with Father Tony and Elisabeth.