Still here!

Hi team. I know it’s been a while since I last wrote here, and for that I apologize. Summer always seems to get away on me– I’m finding it hard to believe that we’re more than halfway through July!

As things open up, regulations loosen, and the general anxiety around COVID seems to wane, we find ourselves wondering what this next chapter will look like for The Dale.

Since we don’t own a building, some of our next steps as a community are contingent on the owners of other spaces around Parkdale. I say “some” of our next steps, because having an outreach van and being very comfortable meeting outdoors means that we are able to do a surprising amount without walls and a roof 🙂

One element of our schedule that has been missing during COVID is our weekly discussion-based Bible Study. Before the pandemic we would gather at St. Francis Table, a restaurant-style meal program run by a group of Franciscan brothers, every Tuesday evening. We would each pay $1, enjoy a delicious dinner, and then migrate to the sitting room for our discussion/study time. I recently learned that we will be able to start using this space again soon, which feels a bit surreal but exciting!

We are also in the midst of trying to discern what indoor drop-ins could look like in this new chapter, and are adjusting to the reality that some of our previous spaces will no longer available to us. We would really appreciate prayer/good thoughts for wisdom and creativity during these ongoing times of flux and pivoting.

That’s a little bit of what’s going on at The Dale these days! I continue to be very grateful for our community here in Parkdale, and for all of you who tune in here. Peace be yours on this summery day.