Minister's Message for Saturday, August 16th
2 views
Skip to first unread message
Rev Alison Mock
Aug 16, 2025, 2:10:30 PMAug 16
to ykuc...@googlegroups.com
Dear YKUC Friends:
--
It's been a near-perfect week in Yellowknife, and I can't say enough how refreshed, restored, and rejuvenated I feel. I've had James and Finn with me, and we've gone paddling and camping at Mosher Island, Tibbit Lake, and even a day in Whati' (we saw so many bison! I LOVE bison!) This place is spectacular - I can't believe I get to live here! The teen boys are getting a bonus day in Yellowknife today. Their Air Canada flight was cancelled, but has been rebooked to early tomorrow morning. As for me, I'm supposed to fly home at midnight Sunday/Monday, but I'm secretly hoping I'll get a few bonus days here as well. (Did I mention it's still over 30 degrees and way humid in Mississauga?)
On Thursday, we welcomed Rev. Beverly Brazier to Yellowknife and the Manse. Bev will be here from now until September 21st, leading worship with you and covering for me while I'm on vacation and study leave. She and I are "overlapping" this week and will cross paths again during the week of September 15-21st, leading worship together on Bev's "first and last" Sundays. Permit me a fan-girl moment: I have known and admired Bev's ministry since I was an intern in Alberta Northwest Conference in 2014. She joins the ranks of amazing ministers who taught me how to preach (along with Ken Gallinger, Norm Seli, and Paul Scott Wilson). I remember one day, Bev and I had a conversation about biblical interpretation and sermon-writing over breakfast, during a retreat we were both attending. She talked about how she enters deeply into the biblical narrative by asking "sensory questions" - what did the mud in the Red Sea feel like between their toes? What did the wind and the rain from the storm feel like on their faces? What did the air smell like?" I've never forgotten this approach and use it all the time. To this day, when I am stuck on how to approach a sermon, I hear Bev's voice asking me, "what did it smell like?" Since Bev's arrival, the Manse has become an ad-hoc ministers' retreat, and she and I have been geeking out together on all kinds of theological, biblical, pastoral, and social justice issues. I'm so excited to be working with her, and can't wait for you all to have a great month together.
Speaking of Bev, we'll welcome her to Yellowknife tomorrow after church with a potluck lunch on the back deck of the manse, 5612 50A Avenue. Join us at 10am for worship and stay for some visiting time. A word of warning: Bev and I have been tasked with the job of making the punch. I'm not sure this was wise, as ministers drink a lot of punch, but usually don't make it! We conquered the beverage aisle at the big Independent, and we think we have a recipe - but you may be taking your taste buds in your hands!
Speaking of church-geeks, the 45th General Council of the United Church of Canada met last week in Calgary. It looks like it was a week of passionate discussion on topics ranging from an apology to LGBTQIA+ people, to proposals asking for action on Palestine-Israel, the formation of a National Youth Council, better supports for the ongoing mental health crisis, the ongoing formation of the Indigenous church, and many more important issues. A new moderator, Rev. Dr. Kimberly Heath, was also elected and installed. Karen Wilford served faithfully as a lay representative from Northern Spirit Regional Council. If you'd like to learn more about the outcomes of the General Council, you can look at a couple of documents:
If you'd like to see some of the actual proposals and how they were discussed and turned into "Way Forward" documents, you can visit the General Council webpage here:
See you tomorrow, if not before.
Cheers
Alison
Rev. Alison Mock
Minister, Yellowknife United Church
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages