A Wild Goose of a Time

(Must read to end to find out about the wild goose!)

The summer of 2016 has been and will continue to be a busy time at Deer Park United Church.

Thanks to Rob McKnight and a whole host of volunteers for an awesome Stampede Pancake Breakfast.

Two weeks of Summer Play had this place buzzing with energy. Fifty eight children were registered for the camp and fourteen Leaders in Training for a total of 72 youth and children. The Leadership in Training program began in June. It was a gathering of teens who prepared to be volunteer camp staff for the two weeks of Summer Play. They were a key component of a successful program. Other volunteers from Deer Park and St. Andrew’s prepared and served food and interacted with the participants.

Deer Park is very fortunate to have two summer staff to support ministry and outreach to youth and children during the summer. They are Julianne Fisher and Shae Solinger. Shae and Julianne are awesome! They continue to offer drop-in opportunities for youth and children. Kiran McKee, our staff social worker, has been the glue holding all things together. She supervises our summer students, coordinates the summer programming, and keeps things running smoothly.

If you’re reading this, you are a part of the digital age and internet. Laura Berry is another summer staff offering social media and information technology support. She is helping to update and maintain our website and to promote Deer Park through social media. It is awesome to have a resident expert in the house! Take a look around our website and if you have some suggestions or questions, please let us know while Laura is still around.

Positive energy abounds all summer.  Food Hampers are delivered each Thursday bringing out volunteers to support those in need. The youth cooking group continues through the summer. Food for Thought continues as a support community for many. Coffee and Chat still happens each Tuesday morning.  A Gathering of Men meet through the summer and enjoyed a great barbeque at Rev. Tom’s. Spinz Around, a free food program for those in need, happens twice each month.

The Community Garden is beautiful. Thanks to all the gardeners and especially to Don Stiles of St. Andrew’s who shares fresh produce for our various food programs.

And of course, worship and pastoral care for all continues. And so much more.

I want to thank Aspen staff Kim Howard and Sarah Johnson, Calgary Housing staff Raymond Njiku,

Alberta Health Services staff Tally Nixon and Jeannette Gilmour, and others who partner with Deer Park to make all of this possible. Also a big thank you to key volunteers of Summer Play who were part of the planning and execution of the program – Marnie Paterson, Pat Lunau, Jacqui Lane, and Marlene Ray, and to all others who helped out as they were able. And of course our very long-suffering

office administrator, June, who accommodates the needs of all!

For this wonderful and wild summer, “Thank you!” And thank you to Alberta Health Services for the

$5,000.00 grant that funded the Leaders in Training and the Summer Play and to the Canadian government who funded our summer students through the “Canada Summer Jobs Program.”

Speaking of wild and wonderful, in Celtic spirituality the wild goose is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Certainly, the Spirit of God has and is moving. I’m just hanging on for the ride and loving every minute!