Day 12

Today has been another good day for many and varied reasons. The first was that we worshipped this morning at St. Paul's in Cross Creek. It is another of our little gem-like churches, this time in the Parish of Stanley. It has a place in my heart, because it is the home church of one of my parishioners from Stone Church, Elsie Mosher. Elsie died in 2018 a few weeks short of her 100th birthday. She was born in Cross Creek and was orphaned as a baby by the Spanish 'flu. She was a delightful friend and never once did I hear her complain about her lot. Her heart's desire was to know Jesus better until the end of her days on earth.

Later in the day we walked from Stanley to Tay Creek. On the way I stopped to admire the beautiful phlox in someone's garden. They had the colour that Debbie and I have been looking for. Initially neither the person nor I recognized each other, it was only when I introduced myself that she said "I knew I recognized you". The good news is we now have a piece of phlox on its way to Fredericton to be planted, chez nous. I am very grateful.

Much of our life is about connection: connection to God and to each other. It is something we should cherish in our province. Being connected is God's plan for us and we need to be zealous in preserving it. I always feel better after a day like today, just because of the connections, which continued in the time we shared with the people here in the parish throughout the day.

Photos: Members of the Parish of Stanley at St. Paul's, Cross Creek; Walking photos include Archdeacon Kevin Stockall and Captain Nicholas Saulnier (who will be ordained deacon on June 11).