HELLO!

Big news! Woodlawn has a new member, Carlyle Augustus Allen Webb. The next time you see Lisa or Gus (or James), please send a not to Gus’ email (he checks his more than Lisa does): gus.webb@gmail.com Nancy and Jim are also thrilled. Bethe is already gearing up for her next baptism…

The Dinner Theatre practices continue. Last night we were hard at work and laughing as we moved from scene to scene. The singing and dancing are much better than you might expect (except for me). Lori, Barry, Barrie, Rick, are offering great solos. And the dancing…everyone seems to know what the 50’s were like, again, except me. Bethe says my dancing looks more like a Charlie Brown Christmas. BUT…I am the only cast member who was not told to project my voice or face the audience.

Today ten members of our choir joined June and I at Glasgow Hall, in the Parkland residences on Baker Drive. Frank Hartman sang a heartfelt solo, which the residents loved. Twenty-five residents worshipped with us. They loved the music and sang along. I noted a familiar face smiling from the back, Martin Zwicker, former Pastor at First Baptist Church in Dartmouth. I had not seen Martin since he retired in the middle of the COVID lockdowns. Funny story, when I started my work as a navigator, 17 years ago the non—profit who hired me did not yet have business cards printed for me. Nor had they reached out the foodbanks to ensure it was acceptable to have a navigator come to these foodbanks and meet clients. The United Church and Anglican church foodbanks all knew me from my work as a minister. They had no issue with my being there. However, First Baptist Church (then in downtown Dartmouth) had never met me before. Martin asked me to leave, to return when I had the proper credentials. I completely understood, Martin was protecting the clients, he was using “best practices”. Martin and I laugh about it now, we became friends, I invited him to speak to our Men’s group in Tantallon.

These stories come together around the theme of “knowing your community”. I can celebrate with Lisa and Gus because they are church kin to me. I can enjoy these Monday practices because the other actors are kin. I can speak to these 25 Glasgow Hall residents because their familiar faces are now known to me, their stories make them kin. And the clients I meet each morning, 730-9 am, at various foodbanks, are kin to me as well, 17 years later. There is no substitute for knowing your community. Despite being “tossed” on my first day in August 2008, I ended up making First Baptist a home, the volunteers and clients/guests became kin. One of the first persons I met, Helen, became kin to me. When she died Martin asked me to speak at her funeral. I met her extended family, including a daughter from Louisianna. She told me then, “I am so happy mom had this extended family in her life.” And now Carlyle is joining such a family, with many, many kin. What a blessing.

Peace, Kevin

PS Today I visited 102 year old Phyllis Beaman. We’ve shared many visits together, the saddest after her daughter Lynn died. In 19 months, I have visited 190 of our 470 households, many are new to us. If you know someone who would like a visit, please let me know. I love new kin.

PPS 22 showed for our Holy Envy Faith Study tonight. We are learning about our kin in other faith traditions. Lots of room for others to join us.