Farewell to Summer: a report in several installments

Summertime in Washington is characterized by the profuse, Northern sunlight. Long days from 5:00 a.m. or so in the morning to 10:00 p.m. at night, help make up for the deficit of light during the rest of the year. Basically I have learned that you want to get outside as much as possible during Summer, and stay outside. If you have a young family, as I do, then you practically 'live' at the parks (of which there are many beautiful ones), at the pool, at the Farmers' Market and in hiking and other outdoor sports. Of course everyone takes their turn going on vacation.

Summertime at Saint Bartholomew's Parish has begun to take on its own seasonal round of activities. Those include our Patronal Festival & Parish Birthday, our Youth Camps and the Annual Parish Retreat. Amidst these activities the regular round of worship continues: Matins, Holy Communion, Evensong, the heart of Anglican spirituality. There is also a lot of work that goes on as well: the Garden Guild spent a lot of time around the Church this Summer, bringing much-needed color to the place; (NOTE: this photo is of an English rose that lives right outside my study window, called a "Climbing Handel"). The senior warden and junior warden put a lot of time into various repairs and improvements to the buildings and property. My wife and I and our Church School teachers put a lot of work into the Summer Programs for our young people.

In short, this Summer at Saint Bartholomew's Parish in Woodinville, WA consisted of work and prayer, some welcome rest...and profuse sunshine. Enjoy the next installments of my report, on our Parish Birthday, Camps and Retreat.