GOOD FRIDAY OUTDOOR WAY OF THE CROSS WALK....This was through the inner city and took both dogs ( Nanuq of course tried to dig or eat every scrap she could find ) walking with about 1000 others, stopping at various sites, from the Bissell Center to inner city school to Haven house for immigrant families to the site of tent city for the homeless last summer which is now fenced off.The theme was on the disparity of the Alberta boom and those who have fallen through the cracks, from the working poor...the mother of 3 who is holding 2 jobs at minimum wage (now in Alberta just up to $8.40/hr) to university students which have on the average a debt load of $20,000 in student loans when they graduate to those struggling with addictions and mental illness. There was coffee and buns and fruit in the community hall afterwards.

For me it is often small moments...as I was putting the dogs back into the car a young aboriginal woman came up and asked if she could put the dogs because it was " therapeutic ". Told me abit of her story, just recently came from the west coast, living on the street, had lost her mother last year who had been a residential school survivor,  and had a hard time with Christianity so really didn't want to get close to the crowd. Told her there was coffee and food and no preaching in the hall so to come in. Saw her later and chatted briefly.

There is also the new developing comunity of meeting other dog owners with my walks in the ravine and Nanuq discovered another 4 month old border collie cross and much rough housing.

Other small moments were on Thursday when my plan was to go to the parish dinner, in the church basement, which included a hand or footwashing ceremony to commemorate Jesus' last supper with His friends and is followed by proceeding up stairs to the sanctuary for completion of the service, ending with stripping of the altar and leaving in silence and darkness in preparation for Good Friday.

Now murphy was alive and well in my plans to get to the church....an hour before the 12 yr old GD phoned wanting to know if I wanted to "hang out " because her sleepover was cancelled, I said she was welcome to come with me and yes she could bring a girlfriend. Dogs in car and battery dead, 2 neighbours later boosted and started, cell phone call from GD's "mom" stating she needed to be right home because had left house in a mess and not done chores, yes, okay to come back after church; arrival at the friends house to do pick up and encounter half a dozen young teen girls running between houses and muddying floors, the mom not home yet; enamoured with the dogs and offerred to take care of them, this okayed with the mom who just arrived; puppy jumped up on GD's white pants" no way" am I going like this, no other pants or skirts from others that fit or were liked; leave dogs and drive back to hill by her house; mad scramble and arrive at church about 35 minutes late with  hope there is still food as I am sick with a cold and hungry  because on a snowboard day at school and didn't eat.....my own concern about late arrival but 3 chairs scrunched around the end of one table and offerred plenty. a few questions from the girls as to what would happen next, including how to hold your hands for a blessing if not taking the Eucharist.

Small moments....from the frenticism of the arrival to calming of the meal and service, overheard from the friend as both girls kneeling, I am going to say a prayer. Our priest Eillen spoke on meals as welcoming and creating community and indeed I have experienced abit in the last 24 hours.