Describe the communities you have lived in and your role / involvement in them.
*sigh*
really?
okay . . .
I would say that there are four main communities than I have lived in.
From the age of four till eleven I lived in a village of four hundred in rural Cape Breton, NS. This was my Father's first pastoral charge and had four points (four churches in case you wondered what that meant). Even though I was a young child I was as active within our church(es) as I would imagine any ministers child would be. I have a long history of performing Christmas Pageants in every role but Jesus and Joseph. I sung solos, was a member of the Sunday School and did all the jobs they let little munchkins do within the church. I remember being very proud the first time I took collection, nervous too. This is the village my Mother now lives in again and so I have the opportunity to reconnect with the people I knew then, each time I visit. It is funny to see everyone still sitting in the same place on a Sunday. I still consider this to be where I am 'from' and miss the rural life often.
In my Father's second charge we went from four small churches to one large one of seven hundred fifty families and team ministry (two full time ministers) in a town of ten thousand. I graduated from High School here. At this church Sunday School continued all the way through to grade twelve, and in our last year we spent time visiting other denominations. I sang in the youth choir and was a member of the youth group. I participated in other churches youth retreats as well, including one called "18 hours to Save the World"
I went to UC camp in the summers for three years as a camper and two as a counselor. I loved being at camp and I connected well with my campers,with my mantra "Weird is wonderful." I still have lots of pictures that my campers sent me after camp, hanging out with their friends sticking their tongues out at me, which was part of the mantra. I attended Maritime Conference Youth Forum for four years, as well as General Counsel in 1992. These weekends charged me up in a way I have never experienced anywhere else. It was a place to connect with other youth who were as engaged in their relationship with God as I was. I still maintain friendships made during youth forum. It was, awesome!
In school I was in the environment club and we went to elementary schools talking about recycling and doing our part, even as kids, to help our environment. I taught swimming lessons and was a lifeguard from grade seven to twelve, first as a volunteer and then as staff.
My next major community was university, I chose Mount Allison because I had fallen in love with it while there for youth forum. I didn't even apply anywhere else. This is the time in my life when I felt the least connected to God, and in hindsight when I needed to be connected. In typical student fashion I chose sleep over church. I gave everything I had to Theatre, a techie, stage manager dressed in black. I was a poor student, emotional and damaged. I had been bored by school, had poor study habits and did as little as necessary to get by. Anything outside of the subjects I liked got no attention and those I did didn't get enough. I studied Theatre, Religious Studies, and Classics mostly. I did manage to get into a fourth year creative writing class which I enjoyed more than any other class. I made mistakes and alternated between trying to figure out myself and heal, as ignoring myself all together.
Lastly is Richview. I had been shopping for a church in very Urban Toronto for about a year. My Mother found Richview while she was here visiting after Mira was born six and a half years ago. The sense of homecoming when I began to go to Richview was amazing. I was so physically relieved to be back in a church community, and their acceptance was swift and deep. It was less than a year before I was recruited for the youth group, and have been working with the youth of Richview ever since. I have been active within Richview since I walked in the doors. I sit on several committees and have been the custodian there for a year now. My heart beats stronger there. I am a Registered Massage Therapist and Reiki Master with a private practice in Etobicoke. I love that people within my church come to me for help and information. As this time in my life has been filled with two beautiful young children and running a new business, my involvement outside of the church and work has been nil. What I am doing now consumes all the time I have.
Being a member of Richview, and having the gift of Rev. Michelle Robinson as our minister for the past two years has made ignoring the call I felt for the past decade or more impossible. So with Richview's blessing and support, as well as that of my friends and family, I am now in the role of inquirer.
Hmmmm
Beki
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