The joys of summer are bountiful, enjoy a fresh picked strawberry

#UpliftingMessage

Charles Dickens in Oliver Twist wrote: “Summer came… in the full glow and luxuriance of its richness. The earth had donned her mantle of brightest green; and shed her richest perfumes abroad. It was the prime and vigor of the year; all things were glad and flourishing.”

Summer begins in earnest with June’s promise of sunshine and sand, of heat held at bay by dripping ice cream cones, and of travel and vacations to places familiar and unknown. It is that too brief season when routines are set aside reminding us of the joy outside our regularly scheduled lives.

What better captures summer’s joy than fresh-picked strawberries? Sweet and tart, firm and juicy, their rubied fruit encapsulates this season’s exquisite evanescence. One particular local variety, the Hood strawberry, is only available in the first two or three weeks of berry season in June. Legendary for its high sugar content and deep red color, its ripened texture is softer than other varieties and more perishable. These berries need to be eaten fresh or used in jams or pies within hours of being picked. Imagine being gifted fifty pounds of these treats; what would you do? Their superb flavor, limited availability, and rapid perishability would invite sharing amongst family, friends, and neighbors.

There are several local summertime treats being shared this month.

• Why not drop by the City of Beaverton Library on Saturday, June 10th for the Volunteer Fair? With 28 different organizations onsite, you can discover how your gifts and neighborhood needs intersect.
• Prefer connecting with fellow Minor League Baseball fans? Come to the City of Beaverton Night at Ron Tonkin Field on Wednesday June 21st.
• Interested in a parade, circus, music, food court, vendors, and an ABBA tribute band? You’ll also not want to miss Pride Beaverton on Sunday, June 25th.

Rev Sybrant has a Masters in Divinity, Social Work, and a Doctor of Ministry. For more information, visit us at 15050 SW Weir Road www.murrayhills.org | 503-524-5230