Zion Calendar

Thursday 26 September 2013

General Secretary's Weekly Letter

September 26, 2013

Dear Friends,

Last week, as our Moderator and many United Church people were gathered in Vancouver for the sixth of seven national events sponsored by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the generosity of a residential school survivor in Yellowknife made local headlines in that community.

The CBC North headline read, "Street person donates $2K to youth centre" I was on the board of the SideDoor Youth Centre when it was getting started in Yellowknife, but moved to Iqaluit the next year so I never made much of a contribution to that worthy work. I certainly never made anything like the contribution Charles Delorme has made.

I didn’t know him by name, but from the photo on the CBC website, I realized he was a familiar face to me. He would be a familiar face to most people who had walked down the streets of Yellowknife in recent years. The news story describes him as having spent most of forty years on the street. Last week, he walked into the youth centre and handed a crumpled piece of paper to the director. It was a certified cheque for $2,000. Mr. Delorme (known to most as Charlie) was sharing money he had received as part of his residential school settlement.

Charlie’s words to the kids at the centre were simple. “You know, I'm 64 years old. I'm getting a little old and tired. And I just want to say I love you all and God bless.”

The director spoke of having tears in his eyes. I felt tears, too, as I read the story.

We often speak of Jesus Christ being here and active in the world today. I’m grateful that so often we see evidence of that active presence in the work of our church communities. I’m humbled and grateful when I recognize that God’s work stretches so far beyond our churches, too. Just as in Jesus’ time, we are reminded of the gifts to be found in unexpected places, and the Godly work that is offered by unexpected hands.

Thanks be to God.

Nora