Recently, I had the joy of volunteering at the SMJ House for their Harvest Tea. It was one of those experiences that quietly lingers — reminding me that sometimes, when we step into something new, we end up rediscovering something familiar: the simple beauty of belonging.
As guests arrived, I found myself pouring tea, offering cookies, and chatting with women who, only moments before, were strangers. Somewhere between refilling cups and exchanging stories, I realized that this historic house — so full of echoes from another time — had become a place of new beginnings for me.
There was something deeply comforting about being part of something larger than myself… helping an event come to life, supporting the home’s preservation, and connecting with others through shared purpose.
Since moving here, my days have gradually filled with little threads of connection — moments that, when woven together, are forming a lovely new tapestry of belonging.
There’s my Town Walkers group, where we greet the mornings with conversation and laughter. A few book studies where ideas bloom into friendships. And now, the SMJ House — where serving tea became an act of joy and renewal.
Each group has added something gentle yet meaningful to my life. Together, they remind me that community isn’t found all at once… it’s built slowly, with open hands and a willing heart.
Sometimes the smallest gestures — a smile, a shared story, a cup of tea — become quiet doorways to something larger. Volunteering this season has reminded me that we grow most when we give of ourselves freely. And in doing so, we often discover we’ve been filled, too.
Today, I’m grateful for community — and for the gentle ways it continues to find me.
It seems to me that your willingness to serve, whether it is tea or your community, is
the proven path for allowing true bonding to occur!
Hats off to you