Pastoral Letters

April / May 2026

SOME NEWS FROM YOUR PEWS (or, how I see it)

Hello everyone, as spring explodes everywhere around us in its wonderful creative force. And one thing which many of you look forward to is the migration of the countless birds which come back to us once again from places far away. I am not really a ‘birder’ as many of you may be although my partner is keener, but I do pay attention to the ones who come and go and keep track in our book when we first spot them on our properties. One thing which we’ve been keeping tabs on is the migration of the hummingbirds and where they have been sighted. There’s an app which shows their progress and just recently, one was spotted in Diamond valley so this is a good sign for us – we should be seeing them soon. Last year was May the 6th. And they are such wonderful little birds to watch.

So, here’s my little comments on the hummingbirds. We have taken many trips to Vancouver Island - sometimes going to Victoria, other times to Nanaimo, and then comes those times where we leisurely take the Sunshine Coast. Most of these trips have us end up on Quadra Island and then eventually back home. One trip along the Sunshine Coast had us catch a ferry to Gibson’s Landing and staying overnight at relatives. The following morning, we caught the next ferry north of Sechelt at Earl’s Cove where we would eventually arrive in Powell River and then catch a ferry there to get across to Comox. But it was at Earl’s Cove where my first real hummingbird experience ever happened. We had an hour or so wait for the ferry to arrive and there was this tiny coffee bar with little tables outside under beautiful trees and all around were these hanging planters from the branches and the building. The planters were filled with countless little red flowers and if red attracts hummingbirds, they sure did! There were hundreds of them flying all around and they can be quite aggressive. You sometimes had to duck when they whizzed over your head. But…they were so much fun to watch and the colours of them shining in the morning sunlight took your breath away.

So, keep your eyes open for these little spring gifts which our Creator God gives to us…freely. They will truly brighten your day!

Prayer time:

O God of many surprises we give thanks for the wonders which you set before us…may we continually find the awe in all of your creativeness and look after all of your creatures in the best way that we are able…as the spring develops all around us, may be marvel at how the newness comes to us once again and opens our hearts to your song of creation…we give deep thanks… Amen.

And as the season of spring comes upon all of us, may it bring a newness across this world of hopeful peace, flowers blossoming, trees budding, hearts being

   Blessings of love and peace to all of you….The Rev. Jope Langejans

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