Pastoral Letters
Lakeview United Church
Seeking Spiritual Renewal and Growth in a Caring, Affirming Community...
May/June 2026
SOME NEWS FROM YOUR PEWS (or, how I see it)
Greetings to all of you folks out there in ‘Lakeview Land’ and beyond. Hope all is well with you as we slowly ease ourselves into the summer period. And as we spend our time in so many ways during this wonderful season, may we always be mindful that through our constant ‘taking care of self and others’ our world will smile upon us and we’ll all come much closer to that peaceful co-existence with each other – healthy, happy, and together. And speaking of together, at Lakeview United Church we will begin Worship on the Lawn once again beginning on Sunday July the 5th (10:30). Bring your own lawn chairs and coffees and we have a great assortment of musicians to share with their gifts of song. (Horizon Ridge, Brian Pearson, Barry Luft, Jenny Allen, Keith & Land Floen, and Leanne Lightfoot) I know that folks have been looking forward to this so hopefully the weather is on our side throughout the summer.
I remember years ago when I had to write a paper, a short one by-the-way, on family and friends and the importance of this. And for this monthly message, I dug up what I had put together, and I had called a part of it “The 6 B.A.s for Family & Friends”. So let me know what you think of them when you read them:
Be Assured – Know where you are headed in your personal life. Your self-assurance will encourage and reassure your family & friends to follow your guidance.
Be Attentive – Keep alert to the persons inside your family & friends’ bodies with real and very important emotional, spiritual needs. Listen hard and keep in tune with who they are.
Be Available – Have time (make time) for your family & friends. Book their events into your calendar just as diligently as you do any other engagements (i.e.: birthdays, anniversaries, etc.)
Be Affectionate – You can never give too much love (even to sometimes family & friends who may be out of sync). Make sure you express your love in ways that your family & friends can receive.
Be Authoritative – Everyone needs to know how to identify the boundaries and limits of life. Without “fences,” family & friends may run scared or huddle in the middle, afraid to explore life.
Be Affirmative – Believe in your family and friends and value them for who they are. Encourage them – that is, “put courage into them.” Inspire them – that is, feed their own unique souls.
So, there you have the 6 B.A.s for family and friends. Maybe you could add more…just let me know…have an awesome summer and continue to give thanks for life…
Blessings of love and peace to all of you….The Rev. Jope Langejans