February 27, 2026
Greetings to Melville United Church,
As a child I attended Sunday School fairly regularly at my home congregation, Spring Park United in Charlottetown. I was confirmed when I was thirteen and wasn’t sure what was next as most of the other confirmands rarely attended church. However, I still attended church – mostly to keep my younger brother from fighting with my parents if I were to stay home – but the prayers, music and sermons seeped into my spirit.
It was in my Senior High School years that faith and life became more connected. The church had a long-running youth group (Grade 10 to first year university) that was run by a couple that were active in the congregation. They balanced one week of sports/games, and the next week would be a serious conversation about an event in the world. When I joined the group I really looked forward to the sports/game nights but as I matured, I realized that these difficult conversations were growth points for me in terms of how I saw my neighbours.
Though the conversations were rooted in current events and local needs, there was a faith based/God’s Justice component that was intertwined. We talked about poverty and food banks, we talked about racism and apartheid, we talked about relationships and respect, and much more. There were lots of questions, plenty of discussion. Why is this happening? What needs to change? What can we do? What does this say about all of us being made in the image of God? It is in conversation and questions that we learn and we grow – both in the knowledge of what is happening around us but also our own faith journey. Looking backwards, as I certainly didn’t see it at the time, it was the four years with this Youth Group led by Gloria and Don Norman that seeds of ministry leadership began to be nurtured within me.
When we hear the Gospel reading this week, it is a conversation between Jesus and a pharisee named Nicodemus. It is easy for us to go right to the end of the passage this week – a message of God’s love for the world – but before we get there, I think the questions/discussion that Nicodemus has with Jesus is important. Nicodemus wants to learn more from Jesus, but not sure what he needs, not sure the right questions to ask. But that night, even though Nicodemus doesn’t get all the answers he wants, he gets enough. He gets enough that he will appear again at the end of John’s Gospel bringing myrrh and burial spices to care for Jesus’ body after his death.
I know that my faith has continued to evolve over the years. As I read Scripture and offer weekly reflections, my life, my faith and the world continue to be different places. Yet, the message of God is eternal yet how it is lived is not static, and that is a key difference that we wrestle with as we seek to live faithfully in 2026 and beyond. Whether in worship – back to our regular service times of 9:45am in Ilderton and 11:00am in Melville — or in your own prayer life, it is my hope that we open ourselves to a God who shows us the many ways that God truly loves the world and invites us to do the same.
Steve
February 20, 2026
Greetings to Melville United Church
I grew up with cats as pets. Even though I did allergy testing when I was 10 and found that I was allergic to them (and a bunch of other stuff, the most serious being camels but no food allergies) we still kept cats around the house. When I was born there was Romeo and Sammy… then through the years we raised Tiger, Rascal and Sniffles. When I went away to university my mom and stepfather decided that they wanted to be dog people (I’m still confused by this) and over the years have had a series of Keeshonds to keep them company.
image from Wikipedia: A Keeshond
While Amanda and I were finishing our last year at AST (Atlantic School of Theology) there was a member of the cleaning staff who we had gotten to know and in conversation told us she and her husband were moving to England but needed someone to take care of her cat for a six month quarantine without other animals before the cat could enter England. We struggled with doing it – mostly the fear of getting attached to a cat and needing to send it away. But in the end, we agreed to take care of Trouble (a black panther like cat).
It took a few weeks for her to get comfortable, but she became more social with us. We watched the calendar days slip by as Trouble became more attached to me (and I to her). Six months go by and nothing from the family. Another six months, still nothing. Two years later we got the call we didn’t want to hear. The process was more complicated than expected, but they were ready to make arrangements for Trouble’s travel. Amanda and I share our sadness knowing this day was coming and prepared ourselves to send Trouble away. Three days later we got the follow up call. Expecting to get details of what we need to do, we were happily surprised to hear that it was going to be far more expensive than they thought to send her across and she thanked us and apologized profusely for the time we spent caring for her and we could keep Trouble or rehome her as we needed.
Well, there was no rehoming this panther of ours. For another 14 years she was our baby (I was clearly the favourite and Amanda knew it). She had toys. She had lounge cushions. Later in life we got her a heated shelter – that it took a long time for her to enter but became her cozy home. We had to put her to sleep a couple of years before we moved to Ontario, it was hard, but her body was failing. But lots of memories! By now you are thinking, what’s the point Steve?
As we enter the season of Lent the first set of lectionary readings deal with temptation. This year it is Adam and Eve being paired with Jesus in the wilderness. Temptations about in Scripture, but Scripture often echoes life and we know that we are surrounded by temptations as well.
But one of the first things I think about on this temptation Sunday are the Temptation cat treats. True to their brand, they were Trouble’s favourite snack – whether chicken, beef or tuna, like in the commercial, if you shook the bag she would come out of hiding! She couldn’t resist the sound, smell and taste of her treats! These readings gives me a chance to share some of her story this week.
Just a reminder as we gather for worship this week, the service schedule is flipped for this week ONLY. Melville will have service at 9:45am so that Ilderton can be at 11:00am to be followed by lunch and their annual meeting. Whether you are tempted to stay home and watch Olympic Gold Medal hockey (this is Thursday so we don’t know the finalists) or are in church, I invite you to ponder how the world tempts us to seek serve ourselves, but at what cost?
As we begin our Lenten journey let us remember that God in Christ shows us the way of life and abundant life for all!
Rev’d Steve
February 15, 2026
Greetings to Melville United Church
This note will cover a lot of things as the weeks go by, this week will be a little less about me… but I will get back to my story. This week, like many weeks or even days, is a mix of celebrations and wonder, and tragedy and pain. The two often go side-by-side and we can be overwhelmed with what we are feeling, confused about what we are supposed to be doing.
This week our nation has been impacted by the largest high school shooting in Canadian history with tragedy that unfolded in the rural BC community of Tumbler Ridge. We will never get the full story as to the “why” of this incident, but we know that there will be lifelong pain for those immediately impacted by death and injury as well as the effect on the wider community. Personally, and I don’t hold this up to level of pain that Tumbler Ridge is going through, this past week would have been my Mom’s 80th birthday, as many know she died in the fall last year, so for me and my family this is our first birthday without her and these special days bring their own loss and grief.
I contrast those two events with the love, joy and celebration of Wednesday night’s “God is Love” gathering – to welcome me and Amanda. The weather conditions, especially into the night, weren’t great but it was wonderful that so many came out to share food, conversation, games and laughter – across the generations. Over in Italy the Olympics are unfolding – athletes that have spent years training for this once every four-year moment and for me the pride and excitement of watching the (Canadian) athletes is always special.
Each of us can list on a day-to-day or week-to-week basis things that bring us lament and grief and those things that bring us joy and excitement…. As people of faith, we know that our lives have those mountain-top experiences, time spent in the valleys of loss, and more time living in-between the two. Life doesn’t give us directions, but we know that we can’t always stay in those places of glory and wonder and in faith we trust that we will find our way out of the shadows.
This brings me to this week, Transfiguration Sunday. It is the Sunday that marks the end of Epiphany and that next week Lent begins, and Jesus’ cross is quickly approaching. Jesus brings the inside group of disciples to the top of a mountain and is transfigured (no one is sure exactly what happens) before them and Moses and Elijah, great voices from the past, appear with Jesus. The disciples are confused and overwhelmed by what they see – and Peter proclaims a willingness to build tents so that this wondrous moment can continue. But, seemingly as quickly as this event begins, its over… and Jesus leads the disciples back down the mountain, back to the people where ministry is needed – but Jerusalem is clearly on the horizon. From the mountain tops of wonder to the deep valleys of sorrow and everywhere in between, we trust that God is with us, always giving us just what we need, even when we aren’t even sure which way to turn. Maybe it is rest and rejuvenation, maybe it is a call to minister, or a willingness to receive care. Let us come to worship this week, seeking to “listen to Jesus” as we share Jesus’ light in the world.
It will take a while to get up to speed with the two congregations, but if there are pastoral concerns/questions please feel free to reach out to me via email at slongmoore@hotmail.com or by phone/text 519-381-8282. I do have business cards at both churches with my contact information as well, share with others as needed. If I don’t get to my phone, please leave a message… and if you do send me a text (at least the first one) please include your name so that I am not just looking a phone number wondering who is writing to me!
May we know that in all our life events, we are not alone.
Rev’d Steve Longmoore
February 8, 2026
Greetings to Melville United Church
This note will cover a lot of things as the weeks go by, this week will be a little less about me…but I will get back to my story. This week, like many weeks or even days, is a mix of celebrations and wonder, and tragedy and pain. The two often go side-by-side and we can be overwhelmed with what we are feeling, confused about what we are supposed to be doing.
This week our nation has been impacted by the largest high school shooting in Canadian history with tragedy that unfolded in the rural BC community of Tumbler Ridge. We will never get the full story as to the “why” of this incident, but we know that there will be lifelong pain for those immediately impacted by death and injury as well as the effect on the wider community. Personally, and I don’t hold this up to level of pain that Tumbler Ridge is going through, this past week would have been my Mom’s 80th birthday, as many know she died in the fall last year, so for me and my family this is our first birthday without her and these special days bring their own loss and grief.
I contrast those two events with the love, joy and celebration of Wednesday night’s “God is Love” gathering – to welcome me and Amanda. The weather conditions, especially into the night, weren’t great but it was wonderful that so many came out to share food, conversation, games and laughter – across the generations. Over in Italy the Olympics are unfolding – athletes that have spent years training for this once every four-year moment and for me the pride and excitement of watching the (Canadian) athletes is always special.
Each of us can list on a day-to-day or week-to-week basis things that bring us lament and grief and those things that bring us joy and excitement…. As people of faith, we know that our lives have those mountain-top experiences, time spent in the valleys of loss, and more time living in-between the two. Life doesn’t give us directions, but we know that we can’t always stay in those places of glory and wonder and in faith we trust that we will find our way out of the shadows.
This brings me to this week, Transfiguration Sunday. It is the Sunday that marks the end of Epiphany and that next week Lent begins, and Jesus’ cross is quickly approaching. Jesus brings the inside group of disciples to the top of a mountain and is transfigured (no one is sure exactly what happens) before them and Moses and Elijah, great voices from the past, appear with Jesus. The disciples are confused and overwhelmed by what they see – and Peter proclaims a willingness to build tents so that this wondrous moment can continue. But, seemingly as quickly as this event begins, its over… and Jesus leads the disciples back down the mountain, back to the people where ministry is needed – but Jerusalem is clearly on the horizon.
From the mountain tops of wonder to the deep valleys of sorrow and everywhere in between, we trust that God is with us, always giving us just what we need, even when we aren’t even sure which way to turn. Maybe it is rest and rejuvenation, maybe it is a call to minister, or a willingness to receive care. Let us come to worship this week, seeking to “listen to Jesus” as we share Jesus’ light in the world.
It will take a while to get up to speed with the two congregations, but if there are pastoral concerns/questions please feel free to reach out to me via email at slongmoore@hotmail.com or by phone/text 519-381-8282. I do have business cards at both churches with my contact information as well, share with others as needed. If I don’t get to my phone, please leave a message… and if you do send me a text (at least the first one) please include your name so that I am not just looking a phone number wondering who is writing to me!
May we know that in all our life events, we are not alone.
Rev’d Steve Longmoore
February 1, 2026
Greetings to Melville United Church
First, I want to offer deep appreciation and thanksgiving for the welcome I (and Amanda) received at both services on Sunday…. With food and conversation before worship at Ilderton and the after church Birthday Lunch in Melville, I had a chance to touch base with many folks connected to the two churches. It will take me a while to remember everyone’s names (especially those who I primarily see on Sunday mornings) so please don’t be offended if I don’t remember your name, and please keep reintroducing yourselves! I will get there, just have patience as we grow into this relationship together! I also want to remind folks that our “welcoming” is not complete as we will gather on Feb 11th at Melville for a pot-luck God is Love supper event… all are welcome!
Between the food and fellowship of the past weekend, the language of fasting in the reading from Isaiah and being “salt” in the world in our Gospel reading, it seems like a good week to talk about food. There is a common thought that people will have a preference between salty foods and sweet foods. Many like both, but often there is lean. Amanda is both but leans towards the sweet table. Me, I am a salt person. Pass me chips (side story – I was at the Forest Curling Club a couple of weeks ago and someone brought in some Kettle Cooked Truffle flavoured potato chips after the game and they were awful. I can tolerate a lot of flavours but a strong never again from me and our table), pass me popcorn, pass me peanuts. pass me all those salty things that are bad for my blood pressure. It is those foods that make me happy, if you remember my question and your responses from last week! Really sweet things (like chocolate and ice cream) aren’t a favourite of mine so please don’t be offended at my pickiness. Also, I am not a coffee/tea drinker… though those were around our house growing up, I never acquired a taste for them even if as clergy there are lots of coffee and tea at events and social function. Instead, you will see me frequently with water, juice or Coke Zero on the go.
In the season after Epiphany, the themes of light and revelation abound. This week when we hear the prophet of Isaiah, speaking on behalf of God, calling out people for their worship and their lives being disconnected. The people were guilty of saying one thing in worship and failing to live that message in their day-to-day lives. If they change their ways, God’s light will shine forth. In Matthew’s Gospel the message of encouragement that started last week with the Beatitudes continues with language of being salt and light to the world… being salt and light is an invitation to impact the world so that the promises of God’s Kingdom can be revealed! The connecting theme of seeing and sharing God’s light in the world will be reinforced in our music. When we gather to worship may we ponder ways to let God’s light shine through us. In the words from the hymn (VU 509) Here I Am Lord, when God asks, “Who will bear my light to them, who shall I send?” May we proclaim, “Here I am, Lord”.
It will take a while to get up to speed with the two congregations, but if there are pastoral concerns/questions please feel free to reach out to me via email at slongmoore@hotmail.com or by phone/text 519-381-8282. I do have business cards at both churches with my contact information as well, share with others as needed. If I don’t get to my phone, please leave a message… and if you do send me a text (at least the first one) please include your name so that I am not just looking a phone number wondering who is writing to me!
May we amplify the light of God that pushes back the darkness.
Rev’d Steve Longmoore
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