::: My Homepage :::

Upcoming
Events and
Meetings:

Mark Your Calendars!
On Saturday,
November 21st from 9
a.m. to 2 p.m., the First
Universalist Church of
West Chesterfield will
host its 29th Annual
Holiday Bazaar. The
Bazaar serves as one of
the primary
fundraisers for our
historic country
church. All items for
sale are hand made or
decorated by
congregation members,
and the food table is
always full of delicious
homemade baked
goods and treats.
In preparation for the
bazaar, our weekly
craft circle will resume
meeting on Friday,
September 18th at 9:30
a.m. at the Brooks’
home. We invite you to
join us in the fun and
perhaps learn a new
craft or two. In
addition, Mary
Maxwell invites you to
join a weekly knitting
circle at the
Chesterfield Library on
Tuesday evening, from
6-8 p.m. All skill levels
are welcome!
I f you don’t consider
yourself “crafty”, you
are welcome to employ
your culinary skills
with the donation of
homemade desserts
and delicacies for our
always popular food
and bakery table.
Please contact our
Holiday Bazaar
coordinator, Sylvia
Fairbanks, if you are
interested.

But these experiences were not just accidental discoveries that week. Many
happened because of the weather, just needing to be noted for their importance
along with the rain.
First, there were the times where the fireplace was lit and we all were so cozy.
We read or worked, and accomplished a lot. Twice we saw a heron, either on the
wooden dock or in tall grasses on the shoreline of the lake. We all saw a single
white swan swimming near our vicinity. We took a couple of car rides, and had
wonderful meals, very together, as we looked out on the rain. We were able to
have a special cook-out with other family members. We listened to the audio
book of Three Cups of Tea on our trip out and back .
Then there were the sunsets, and here is where faith comes in. On the first
night we were able to sit out to watch. It was not a spectacular sight to see the
sun set because of the thick gray-purple cloud blanketing the horizon. But, as
your eye traveled half-way up the evening sky from the horizon, the clouds
parted a little to reveal blue sky. Here you could see shafts of white sunlight
and pink-gold tracing edging around the hole in the thick clouds. That is the
point that is more than serendipity and points to faith, a more underlying
spiritual experience. When all seems dark, let yourself hang on to what has led
you and is still there. We had many serendipitous experiences. We did not
change the sky. But on our last full day there the heavy bank of clouds departed
along with the rain. It gave us enough time for a sunset cruise. It was like a
home-coming. And we followed that by stoking the outdoor fireplace and
watching the sun go down. It was glorious. There were stratus clouds lining
across the whole sky. As the golden sun went over the horizon [which you could
now see], the entire sky was lit with white light. The clouds across the sky were
pink-coral and a shade of purple.

When things seem bad, have faith.

Many of you might remember Art Linkletter’s popular television series "Kids Say
the Darndest Things" in which Linkletter interviewed school children between the
ages of five and ten. Very entertaining, the premise of the show highlighted the
unique, unpredictable, and sometimes profound perception of children.

During a lesson this summer, our own Sunday school students participated in a
roundtable discussion about friendship. They were asked “What is a good
friend?”, and you may be encouraged to learn their responses:

A Good Friend is…
“a person or living being – pets should count.”
“a good listener.”
“someone you can trust.”
“is patient.”
“is loyal.”
“sometimes fight.”
“is true.”
“is nice.”
“has similar interests.”
“someone who you share fun times.”
“likes adventure.”
“is giving.”
“you care for.”
“encouraging.”
“gives you gifts.”
“helpful.”
“we play together”
“makes you laugh.”
“someone you like.”
“forgives you.”
“love.“