South West Norfolk Pastoral Charge

     Come to  Coffee & Conversation:)  

Join Pastor:   Rev. Ted Smith   WEDNESDAY'S at 10:00am , bring your coffee for great conversations on ZOOM

Click on the ZOOM MEETING Link Above

ANNOUNCEMENTS

A WELCOME INVITATION TO ALL WOMEN OF THE CHURCH to U.C.W. Meetings

Meeting Dates for 2026:   Meeting the 1st Wednesday at 1:00pm at Courtland United Church

October 7, 2026               &            November 4, 2026

December 2026 -- NO MEETING:)

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                                                            Back to School, Back to Schedules, Back to the New Reality!

Wow! Where did the summer go? It seems as life goes on time moves along more quickly, reminding me of just how precious time is. We find ourselves now in September, students of all ages and teachers are back to school. The familiar site of the school busses on our country roads is back.  The mornings are cooler. The days are shorter the corn and beans are ripening, the tobacco harvest is half over. I find the change of seasons wonderful and mysterious and predictable.

After a very restful and refreshing summer vacation I am delighted to be coming back to work and experiencing the rhythm of preparing and delivering Sunday worships, Committee meetings, joining our Wednesday morning Zoom Coffee and Conversation group, Hospital and Nursing Home visits, Gypsies for Jesus worship services, Roots of Empathy Program, in-house visits and telephone visits.  

Once again with joyful anticipation in my heart I ponder, where and when will we experience the wonder and the mystery of the Spirit in all these things we do as part of our day to day, week to week, and month to month routines. Whom shall we meet along the way as we rediscover who we are and whose we are?

For me it’s always been a bittersweet experience as we shift from the lazy hazy days of summer back to the busyness of our fall routines, I find myself drawn to these words of wisdom revealed in sacred text and find myself both strengthened and encouraged….

 In the book of Ecclesiastes, we are told to everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven;                           a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant, and a time to pull the plant, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to let go, a time to search and a time to give up,                                        a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,                      a time to love, and a time to hate, a time for war, and a time for peace.

God has made everything beautiful in its time. God has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know there is nothing better for people to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing will be added to it and nothing taken from it. (Ecclesiastes 3: 1-15)

 A promise from God. We are not alone.  

As the coming days and months unfold, may we be blessed abundantly in all our experiences and expressions of faith. May we be reminded of the common thread that brings us together and always brings new life and strengthens us, our Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. Thanks be to God!   

Yours in Peace .................... PT