From Rev. Dana

From Rev. Dana’s Desk

August 13, 2026

As most people are aware this is Vacation Bible Camp Week. A huge thank-you to Liz Brandt who spends countless hours organizing and preparing for this week. She does that as a volunteer. This year we have 23 children, and 9 teen/preteen leaders, as well as the adult leaders at each station. It is an amazing and tiring week.

One of the things I enjoy about Vacation Bible Camp is the sense of hope I receive from these young people, hope for a better world. Our bible story on Monday was about Joseph (the one with a multi-coloured coat) and his gift from God of dream interpretation. As part of our time together we talk about dreams and specifically dreams for this world. I asked them if you had one dream for this world, one dream that would make this world a better place, what would it be. There were of course fantasies about chocolate oceans and being able to fly, which when pushed were about making the world a better place. But the majority of their dreams for this world, were truly inspiring: stop polluting/pollution, peace, eliminating racism and other forms of prejudice, basic needs like gas and food being affordable for all, and a better balance of nature and humanity (half the world for houses and humans and half for nature). As well, when asked what gifts they could share as Joseph shared his gift, they talked about kindness and friendship, especially to those who are bullied or seen as different. And all of that was just the first day!!

As well, we have challenged them to donations for the Food Bank and by Wednesday morning they had collected over 100 items already. There is an incentive, in that the group that collects the most items get to soak me on Friday. In talking with some of the kids that is not the primary incentive though, they already understand that these items will help others, including other children like them who may not have the same advantages as them.

If you ever need your faith in humanity restored, talk to children like these who dream about a better world, and who I believe will help to make it happen. I highly recommend volunteering for bible camp if you are able. Come and hear and see these amazing kids who give me hope for the world.

August 7, 2026

God’s timing can be mysterious, sometimes we only understand it on the other side of some moment or event. One of the things I had intended to do last summer was to read a book I had found on my mother’s side table after she died, “Becoming a Matriarch,” a memoir by Helen Knott. Mom had taken a keen interest in her later years in everything Indigenous, reading and joining various study and discussion groups, taking very seriously her commitment to reconciliation. She was also a fierce advocate for issues related to women, including her time as a delegate to the UN Commission on the Status of Women which led to being the co-chair of the North American Ecumenical Advocacy Committee to the UN. So, when I found the book last spring, I assumed it was a melding of these two passions, indigenous and women’s rights. I took it with me last summer on vacation, with every intention of reading it as my “summer social justice reading.” Something that has become a tradition the last number of years, to tackle harder topics as part of my vacation reading when I can devote more time and concentration, which is necessary for the often-dense, like racism and Israeli-Palestine relationship which have been topics in the past. The book returned home last summer unopened, because even the best of intentions does not always lead to action.

As I was packing for the cottage this year, my eye caught the book sitting in a corner of my office, so I threw it in my backpack. Maybe this would be the year. The second day, after finishing a project I had planned to do (repainting chair), I grabbed the book, my hat and a cold drink and headed out on the upper deck to read. I was immediately captivated, this was no bland or dense scholarly work, as I’ve expected but a riveting personal story of grief and identity. One of the primary catalysts is the death of her mother and then grandmother in a short span of time, and how their lives, legacies and deaths shaped her and her identity. As I read her story there was much that resonated with me and my experience of grief last year and half. I like how she described Death as a visitor that comes at unexpected moments, the ebb and flow that is grief. She describes Death as a conversational partner who helps process the grief. In one conversation, Death reminds her that because of the losses she has experienced, she is not the person she was before she experienced them, which is neither good nor bad, but a reality, and the more she holds onto the who she thinks she was or should be, the more she becomes stuck in her grief and stunted in her growth as a person.

As I sat there reading, I realized I had not been ready for this book last summer. The grief was still too raw, but here I was sitting on her deck, wearing her Tilly, and reading her book. It felt like it was meant to be. I felt her there with me as I read, because now was the time I could hear the wisdom, as opposed to last summer. Timing really is everything. I am reminded of the words of Ecclesiastes 3:1, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven,” before going on with a list of opposing experiences. A reminder that everything, every experience, every emotion has its time and place. We want all the goodness, the love and the joy, we want life, without the sadness or grief, without death, but life is never all one or the other, and the sorrow makes the joy that much sweeter.

All of us experience grief in our lives, whether it is the death of a loved one or the loss of a relationship, or simply some change that means letting go of what was for what is or will be. Even our happiest moments like marriage and children, come with some letting go of what was. Letting go can be challenging, but we are not letting go of the love and relationships that are important to us, rather we are letting go of who we were before, of what was before, in order to become whom we will be. Loved ones, relationships, experiences all help shape who we are becoming, and so they become a part of us, who we are and are always with us. Grief will be a regular visitor throughout our lives, the choice is whether we are willing to open the door and allow it in, to make peace with it and learn from it or do we fight it until the fight is what shapes and defines us. God’s timing, as surprising as it can be at times, encourages us to find that balance in life that embraces the sorrows and the joys, because they all shape us into who we are becoming, who we were meant to be.

July 2, 2026

What marks the beginning of summer for you? What activities, events, or traditions do you look forward to or associate with summer? Our winters tend to keep us indoors and more isolated, so summer is a time we can get out and enjoy, whether that is with others or on our own. Whether it is gardening or yard work, or sitting outside or even hosting others outdoors, we tend to interact with our neighbours more as we spend more time outside. It’s also easier and more enjoyable than when we are all bundled up shoveling the latest dumping of snow. There also tend to be more outdoor festivals and events that draw us together as a community. Summer sometimes means road trips, whether to visit family and friends, or exploring new places or familiar haunts.

One of the things I have come to associate with summer is fresh local produce, whether that is at a Farmer’s Market or stand, a produce box or from backyard gardens. I get excited as markets and roadside stands start to pop up, a sure sign that summer is coming. Each week the selection and variety grows until tables are laden with vibrant, fresh vegetables and fruit. I still remember, when we signed up for a vegetable box, and the first time we received a head of romaine lettuce that was the size of a small baby and broccoli the size of my head. The taste was also so different from what we often bought at the grocery store. I discovered I like some vegetables I had not liked before because of the difference. I was also amazed by the variety of vegetables we received that first summer, some of which I had never heard of before. It was an adventure in learning new recipes and trying new things. I have become much more aware of the seasons for different produce and trying to take advantage of those to have the freshest items. I think we ate asparagus almost every night for a month earlier this year because the season is relatively short and it is just so tender when freshly cut. Most weeks now I try to start my shopping with a trip to a Farmer’s Market or stand as the basis for meals that week. These days it seems like big salads and berries. I had developed a deeper appreciation over the years for both the joy and the challenge of farming. It has given me a deeper appreciation for the Israelites when they entered the Promised Land and their learning to live by what the land produced, a combination of their efforts and trusting in God for the right conditions. While modern advances may help there is still an uncertainty that comes from needing to rely on the right conditions. That is something we can apply to many aspects of our lives, learning to live with a deeper respect for the rhythms and uncertainties of life.

Another thing that I associate with summer is spending time in, on or near the water. Having grown up on a lake, water is a part of my soul. When we are at the cottage, I love to get up early in the morning, often when the lake is like glass and all is quiet and just sit there basking in it. While we had a boat growing up, we didn’t spend a lot of time out in it. It was only after I met Stewart who had just bought the fishing boat that he had always dreamed of that I started spending more time on the water. In the early years I sometimes fished, but I never quite got the same joy as Stewart. These days I am content to simply float, often with a book or podcast. It is slowing down and stepping back from the often frantic pace of life. When you are floating on the lake there are fewer distractions, especially when I stop scrolling on my phone and put it on “Do Not Disturb.” The other thing about being near the lake is the front row seat to the wonders of creation whether it is an amazing sunset reflecting off the water or a storm moving across the water as rain approaches or lightning splitting the sky. On a rare occasion there are also the Northern Lights, which are more visible in the night sky. Water reconnects me to creation and the Creator and helps me to slow down and appreciate life.

These are just two things I associate with summer. As we enter fully into this season, however you enjoy it, may it be a time of enjoyment, of reconnection with others, with the world around you and with God who made it, and us. Blessings for your summer.

June 11, 2026

The 2^nd Bradford West Gwillimbury Anti-Poverty Summit took place Friday May 29, bringing together representatives from social service agencies, local organizations like Helping Hands Food Bank, WOW Living (Clothing Room, Out of the Cold Café etc.) and their volunteers, members of town council, churches, and the general public, including those with lived experience of poverty in our community. The first Summit last year led to the creation of an Anti-Poverty Strategy for our community, which Councillor Jonathan Scott spoke to us about in January. As part of his opening remarks, he celebrated the progress that has already been made on that strategy, highlighting the seed funding for School Fuel, a food program based in schools to ensure children are fueled up to learn.

The Summit itself and the work that has already been accomplished are examples of what can happen when we as a community choose to work together to address the pressing needs of our community. It is also a sign of being a community who recognizes our interconnectedness, that our individual well-being is connected to the well-being of others, and of the community as a whole. This is a biblical concept as well, as Paul writes about in his letters using the analogy of a body. While this analogy has often applied to the Church, it is also applicable to the geographical communities that we are part of, where we live, work and play (which may be different). When a community thrives those who are part of it also thrive and when there is suffering or decline in members of the community it affects the whole community. When people feel seen and cared about, a part of their community, they give back to that community.

An analogy that comes from the Church Health and Growth Literature is that of a wooden bucket with staves (wooden slats that are held together by a ring). Each stave represents a significant and measurable aspect of health, in that case, of a congregation. The analogy goes that the bucket can only hold as much water as the lowest stave. In Church Health and Growth that means addressing the factor(s) that are weakest or lowest, creating more potential for growth and vitality, spiritually and numerically. When it comes to the health and vitality of our local community, this image reminds me that we are only as healthy and vibrant as a community as the most vulnerable among us. That poverty does not just affect those for whom it is a daily reality, it affects everyone who is part of that community. When we seek to deal with factors contributing to or exacerbating poverty, we build stronger, more resilient communities.

If we take the School Fuel program for example, when children are hungry or worried about where their next meal will come from, their ability to focus is limited. This leads to teachers spending more time repeating lessons, impacting the learning for everyone. School Fuel levels the field, helps everyone in that school environment and beyond, the circles around them like their family and community groups. This is just one example of how addressing one of the aspects of poverty can have a positive impact on the whole community. In our bucket analogy, by addressing the stave of childhood hunger, we allow the community bucket to hold a little more water, to be a little healthier overall. The challenge in this analogy is that there will always be another lowest stave or factor of healthy and vibrant communities to be addressed. But each one creates a positive impact for the community. We can either become discouraged and cynical about the never-ending challenges, or we can be encouraged by the impact small changes can make.

Throughout the Summit we were encouraged to think about the small ways we individually and as part of community groups and organizations, can make a difference in our community. Seeing a room filled with people and knowing the many others whom they represented was encouraging. Together we dreamed dreams of what we as a community could do and be by being a community. As Christians, the kind of community that God envisions and calls us to, that is invested in each other, building up and honouring the weaker members, recognizing our mutual dependence, and the interconnectedness that makes us community.

June 4, 2026

June is a very busy month as far as official celebrations. June is designated as Pride Month, Seniors Month, Indigenous History Month and Men’s Health Month, along with other specific weeks and days that are designated, marked and celebrated. I know there are others I have not mentioned. I suspect that most months, I was paying more attention to are similar as we try to raise awareness and celebrate our diversity. It can be a little overwhelming at times trying to ensure we do not leave anyone out or minimize their identity or the challenges that many face.

I suspect that I was aware of the Pride and Indigenous History because those are causes that we as a Church community have particularly focused on in recent years especially. When it comes to Pride, as a congregation we were very deliberate in the process we undertook before declaring ourselves an affirming congregation three years ago. I think that process helped to shape our identity, how we see ourselves and how others see us. As I recently said, being affirming is often the first thing that new people tell me that drew them to Trinity and that people outside of Trinity mention about Trinity. At our Vestry meeting in February, I asked you to think about what someone five years from now who had never been inside the church would say about Trinity. That is already happening when it comes to being affirming. At the Bradford West Gwillimbury Pride Flag raising on Monday June 1, Trinity members showed up and were a visible sign to our community of inclusion and being a safe space. The mayor recognized us in his remarks, invited me to speak and invited us to receive the official proclamation for Pride Month. That happened because we choose to be a visible presence in our community. The official proclamation is now on display in the Upper Room along with two photos from the day. See photo on page 5.

When it comes to Indigenous History Month, this is something that is at the heart of our weekly Treaty Declaration as part of our commitment to reconciliation with all Indigenous people. As Canadians over the last couple of decades we have become increasingly aware of the dark history of our country regarding our Indigenous siblings, as history that sought to erase their culture, language, way of life and even them as a people within the land that is now Canada. As stories were told and listened to at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission starting in 2009, then compiled in the report and more recently as unmarked graves were identified associated with many Residential Schools, we have had to face that the history we learned in school or as part of citizenship tests was a bias history with large gaps in it. As part of reconciliation many have tried to educate themselves about the truth. A few years ago, our study group watched and discussed the documentary “Doctrine of Discovery: Stolen Lands, Strong Hearts” created by the Anglican Church of Canada Indigenous ministry, which was an eye-opening experience and challenging for all of us (if you have not seen it, I highly recommend it). A couple of years ago we heard from some of our own members who are indigenous about their experience. These are just a few ways we have tried to learn about this important history that was suppressed for far too long.

For me one of the core reasons that Pride and Indigenous History Month, along with the other celebrations and days are marked, is important is they reflect our baptismal promise to respect the dignity of every human being, and to strive for peace and justice among all people. When we seek to celebrate our diversity, we recognize the diverse ways that God is made known to us through others. When we seek to be inclusive, we are demonstrating God’s love for all, especially those who may differ from us. When we seek to bring to light the truth about history, we are honouring those who came before us and those among us, because we are all shaped by that history in some way.

A few upcoming related events to take note of:

Sunday June 14, 7 pm to 8:30 pm, on Zoom, Bishop Andrew will be sharing what he’s learning on the journey of re-establishing the Diocese of Toronto’s Treaty relations with Indigenous nations located within our diocesan boundaries. Sign up online to receive the Zoom link from the Diocese.

Sunday June 21 we will celebrate National Indigenous Day of Prayer and there is also a celebration by Bradford West Gwillimbury at the Leisure Centre and Celebration Square starting at 12 pm, with a flag raising, dancers, and other events to mark the day.

Wednesday June 24, All Saints King City is hosting a Deanery Pride Service, “Fully Known and Fully Loved” at 7:00 p.m. in their chapel. All are welcome.