It feels like summer is in full swing! Whether it’s the thirty degree temperature, plants blooming, or long days, there are many signs that summer is upon us. As a church, we had the opportunity to enjoy the summer and serve our community during the barbeque we hosted last weekend at the 415 Willowdale community.
While you may have heard about the small barbeques we run at 415 Willowdale during Food Hub distribution days, we had the chance to host a larger event last weekend. We partnered with some of the local organizations that we’ve built relationships with over the years, including Neighbourlink North York, Toronto Community Housing (Toronto’s subsidized housing corporation), and Willowdale City Councilor Lily Cheng. It was a great time to get out and enjoy summer with some of the church’s neighbors we’ve gotten to know. We even had Jamaal Magloire (former Toronto Raptor) come out, and help to serve some of our food! That was definitely a highlight.
Looking ahead, we have another two Food Hub events lined up for the summer, as well as our Family Weekend which will be focused on learning trauma care tools that are helpful for work with refugees. As these things begin to take shape for the summer, I’m reminded of a message I shared back in August 2020.
My message was based on Genesis 12:1-4. God is speaking to Abraham and directing him about what to do. There are two big commands in the passage. The first comes in Genesis 12:1, where God starts His speech by saying to Abraham, “Get yourself up and go.” The second is in Genesis 12:2, where God tells Abraham to “be a blessing.” When we put those together, the big command to Abraham is to get yourself up and go, and be a blessing.
Back in August 2020 when I gave that message, it was actually right before the pandemic lockdown in Toronto. Needless to say, there wasn’t much “going” that was happening then! But as I think about the summer, it certainly feels like things are “going” now. Whether it’s in Willowdale with 415, or our Family Weekend, refugee sponsorship, or the Greece mission trip in October, it seems like God is opening doors for us to get up, and go and be a blessing.
During this year of fruitfulness, the season seems right. I pray that as a church, but also as individuals and families who make up the church, we would be sensitive to God’s voice as God calls us the same way He did with Abraham in Genesis 12–“Get yourself up and go and be a blessing.”