Happy New Year

I'll be away for a week of holidays (December 29 to January 5) - the Rev. Richard Golden is available for any emergency pastoral situations.

Continued wishes for a merry Christmas (8 more days, you know!) and a happy new year.
~Kenji

sermon excerpts: "A Bouncing Baby Boy" (Luke 2: 22-40)

Jesus, even as a newborn, was fulfilling destiny and bringing hope. As he grew in the tradition of his faith, he was presented at the Temple with an offering. Following in the steps of Abraham, he is circumcised and blessed. Just like any other Jewish boy.

A pious and faithful man named Simeon just happens to be there and is incredibly moved. He speaks words of wonder and we find out that he has lived to see the fulfillment of his lifelong wish – to witness the consolation of Israel, Christ the Lord. How many other people at the temple that day simply went about their business not knowing that their Saviour was there? How could they know that the one that all the ancient prophecies spoke of was squirming over there, alongside two turtledoves?

But it is a time of mixed messages. While proclaiming praise and glory, such that people would remember Isaiah’s promises, there is assurance that great things are ahead for Jesus. But then Simeon further says to Mary, “by the way, great and terrible things will happen and it will feel like your soul’s been stabbed.”

While Jesus the Messiah would deliver God’s people to a new, more profound relationship with the divine, ushering the kingdom of heaven, he would also divide nations and families, causing conflict and turmoil. This is a lot of expectation to place on a baby. Yet there is something that rings true in this double-sided message.

It is true that our own actions work to unite and divide, to bring solace and pain – a mixed blessing that is our own existence. I’m guessing this might not be unique to me, but shortly after our kids were born came the thought, not quite a regret: what have we done? Is this a world that I want to raise my children in? What pain and heartache and loss will they suffer in life? What kind of life will be left for them given the state of the environment, freshwater and air quality, and market-driven food supply? I was feeling all the panicked doubts of a new parent.

But that is not what we focus on if we are to maintain our sanity – instead it is the promise and potential that each of us, children or not, have to offer. Going back a couple thousand years, the hopes and fears of all the years are wrapped up in the form of a bouncing baby boy.

A colleague of mine mused thoughtfully about some thoughts he had during one particular baptism. What if this child is the one who finds a cure for cancer? What if! What if we treated all of our children like that? All people like that?

What if we saw each other as bearers of great and wonderful news? What if we saw one another with the eyes of Simeon and Anna, to speak truth about what is needed, and to allow for other viewpoints? What if? Then we wouldn’t need Christmas to remind us that Christ is already here. Until then, we hope and dream, struggle and strain, live and love. Merry Christmas.

sermon excerpts: "Scared by an Angel"

It isn’t like that God is asking Mary's consent to agree to this venture. ... I emphatically believe that we all have free will, but it appears that Mary has little choice in this matter. So much of it was out of her hands already, her betrothal to Joseph who was of King David’s line, her own family relationships connecting to her cousin Elizabeth and Zechariah, a priest at the Temple in Jerusalem who were expecting their first child, to be John the Baptist.

It was a perfect opportunity of factors coming together. Who was she to stop it? It must have been a little bit terrifying.

Why is it that messages from God more often than not include the assurance, “do not be afraid?” I remember in Grade 7 my teacher trying to teach the point that the reason why people say “don’t panic” is because there is something worth panicking about. So God tells us to not be afraid, even though something very scary is happening.

For all of the cherubic, peaceful happy, glowing presentations of trumpets and light, the idea of an angel visiting is a bit unnerving. Never mind sitting on your own, minding your own business, when a glorious presence of power suddenly fills the room and overwhelms you, it is the notion of being presented with God’s own personal message that is a daunting and unnerving experience.

And I wonder, what if Mary said, “No. Not me. Somebody else can incubate the Saviour. I’d like to live an ordinary life and just fit in.” Would Gabriel accept that? Even though it reads like everything is in place and ready to go. Thankfully, we don’t have to wonder what if? Until we turn that critical lens upon ourselves. And how often is it that we get in the way of God’s work?

We are like Mary, given news that we are to give birth (figuratively) to a new expression of faith. We are facing the news that will change the way the world looks at faith. Mind you, the angel Gabriel didn’t arrive with news that we shouldn’t be afraid. The news comes to us in the grim financial reality of our times. When the expenses of our church outstrip its income by several hundred dollars every month, the message is clear. And frightening.

Where, then, is the accompanying promise of glory and success? As we have come to know, things are not as they seem. Our message seems to carry more doom and gloom than any promise of birth and new legacy. Our job is to craft our response, to chart our course of action, to make the preparations for the new arrival that is the United Church of Canada in southwest Middlesex in 2009.

Our inspiration comes from Mary, barely begun puberty, but called to develop and nurture the life within herself. Maybe she didn’t know any better, or maybe she knew better than to resist God’s plan. From this extraordinarily ordinary young woman, we find a response of faith and trust that inspires scripture and song.

Let her life be as an angel’s visit: a message of hope amid fear, of risk amid chaos, and life, light and love in our world.

for Dec. 21: Luke 1.26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.’

But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.’

Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’

The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing will be impossible with God.’

Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed from her.

* * *

What feelings, questions, thoughts and prompts to personal action arise from this scripture?
What about hymn suggestions or ideas for Children's Time? Share them as Comments below or in an email, and help shape Sunday's worship service.

sermon excerpts: "Advent of Uneasy Peace"

I’ve quoted Oscar Romero before in worship and that same remark is found in our Voices United hymn book, #683: “Peace is not the product of terror or fear. Peace is not the silence of cemeteries. Peace is not the silence of violent repression. Peace is the generous, tranquil contribution of all to the good of all. Peace is dynamism. Peace is generosity. It is right and duty.”

The coming of the Messiah was thought to bring peace as he delivered the people to the seats of power and conquest. It was assumed that the peace that would reign would be the enforced peace of military victory and dominion over one’s defeated enemies.

Instead we find the prophet in the desert is calling us to a profound, soul-affecting peace of right relationships and equality. What we have is a call from Isaiah, repeated again by John that this world is not as it should be, that our own self-interest has harmed the well-being of others?

Alone in the desert, reminding us again that a life of faith, of following God means moving out of our comfortable areas and into uncertainty, reclaiming our heritage, following in the steps of a saviour. But real peace is uncomfortable because we all have a part to play. And much like being environmentally responsible, we’re all for it … as long as we don’t have to give up too much.

Leveling the playing field means that we have to give something up. No wonder the underprivileged were drawn to John the Baptist, and Jesus. For the poor and dispossessed, these men called for equality and justice, representing hope and a chance to gain.
...
Following in the way of peace does not mean peace of mind, but it does mean we do what we can to bring peace to others. Knowing this, we venture forth anyway to lift up valleys, bring low the mountains and hills, level out the uneven ground and smooth the rough places. We go forth down a highway for the way of peace, justice and faith.

for Dec. 7: Mark 1.1-8

The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” ’,

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

* * *

What feelings, questions, thoughts and prompts to personal action arise from this scripture?
What about hymn suggestions or ideas for Children's Time? Share them as Comments below or in an email, and help shape Sunday's worship service.

December Letter to the Congregations

For those that can't wait for paper copies to be picked up at church, or mailed out:

Dear friends and supporters of our congregations,

As we work to get ready for a Merry Christmas, the Advent theme of preparation echoes in churches around the world. Yet, in these uncertain times, what do we prepare for? With each passing year, commercial interests and advertising campaigns overtake the Christmas message. The church seems to be a relic and reminder of a time gone by that we can no longer claim.

This fact is not lost to the leadership of The United Church of Canada. “I dreamed of leading our church for a time from a place of strength, wisdom, and creativity. Instead I have been offering my weakness to the church,” says our Moderator, the Rt. Rev. David Giuliano, speaking candidly about his cancer. While he admits this journey is not by choice, “I cannot deny that it has been a gift to me and to others.”

Perhaps this is the Christmas gift of our current situation: a gift of diminishing resources and humility. Such is a dubious blessing, but one that echoes of a Saviour born to in a stable to an ordinary family of a defeated people. From this is born a new revelation of what faith in the world means. From this is born our own future.

In the meantime, we hold fast to the lights of hope, peace, joy and love. Is that enough? Yes, with God, it is more than enough and the only way to change the world.

The blessings of the season to you and yours,
On behalf of Appin and Trinity United Churches,
Kenji

This Week

The funeral for my adoptive Dutch grandfather is today, so I will not be in for office hours, but Janet, the Administrative Assistant, will be there. I will be back for tonight's Official Board meeting in Appin at 7:30.

A reminder that this Sunday is a "Regional" worship service involving 7 United Churches in the southwest Middlesex area. Hosted by Appin United, there will not be services at Trinity. See you there at 10:30! Lunch follows.

However, on Sunday after the regional service at Appin, people will be gathering at Trinity to decorate the church and sanctuary for Advent/Christmas – come and join in the fun and preparation.

for Nov. 23 – Ezekiel 34: 11-16, 20-24

For thus says the Lord God:
I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel.

I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice....

Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.

I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.

* * *

What feelings, questions, thoughts and prompts to personal action arise from this scripture?
What about hymn suggestions or ideas for Children's Time? Share them as Comments below or in an email, and help shape Sunday's worship service.

sermon excerpts: "Bulls and Bears in the Market of Faith"

(Matthew 25: 14-30)

A talent, according to different sources, is fifteen years’ worth of a labourer’s wages. It’s the biggest unit of money mentioned in the New Testament. In today’s world for someone at minimum wage, that is more than a quarter-million dollars. Imagine your boss giving you $275 000 before going away on a business trip.

In the language of the stock markets, we have the image of bulls and bears that describe the prevailing investment climate. Bulls represent a market that is on the rise, aggressive and charging forward. Bears represent a market that is sluggish, slow and on the downward slide. One way to keep the two straight is to think of how these animals attack – a bull goes in with its horns and swipes up, a bear stands back and swiped down with its paw.

Given today’s economic climate and the volatility of the market indices, I can understand the caution and prudence the one servant who did not invest but buried his talent. It was safe. It would not lose value. It would not be lost. At least he could return the principle whenever the master returned.

But this lesson is not about Eastern Mediterranean economics of two thousand years ago, it is a vision of what the kingdom of heaven is. Think of a world where everyone could fully be who they were, using their interests and gifts to their fullest, where our strengths could compensate others’ weaknesses, and vice versa. Jesus teaches that life and faith requires our participation. Hiding ourselves, waiting for a better time, is what separates us God’s purpose and vision.

Once again the story ends harshly for person who did not live up to this standard. Last week it was the foolish bridesmaids, this week it’s a worthless slave/servant. His talent, his gift, was not put to use; it stagnated. Even in those days, the notion of “use it or lose it” held some truth. Even then it was “nothing ventured, nothing gained”.

In our day and age of a declining bear market, money can still be made. But it is not so much about profits and losses as it is about being connected in the world. Even the stock markets teach a lesson that we are connected to others in the world – even in the impersonal buying and selling of corporate shares – we are doing business, if somewhat anonymously, with people who have lives, dreams, families and friends, troubles and triumphs.

We do not have the benefit of seeing the twists and in turns in our fortune. All that we know is that our lives are lives of opportunity. Our faith requires our action and involvement. We cannot bury it and brush it off at the end of our life and expect to be satisfied that we have done our work well.

We may not have the thousands of dollars to invest in other people, but we do have relationships that are valued beyond measure and will only increase in worth over time and years. This is our true investment: time spent with one another in community and commitment. Truly we are not alone. Thanks be to God.

for Nov. 16: Matthew 25.14-30

[another parable from Jesus]

For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money.

After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.”

His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”

And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.”

His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.”

Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.”

But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

* * *

What feelings, questions, thoughts and prompts to personal action arise from this scripture?
What about hymn suggestions or ideas for Children's Time? Share them as Comments below or in an email, and help shape Sunday's worship service.

sermon excerpts: "Be Prepared" (Mt. 25: 1-13)

The wise bridesmaids could be faulted for not being more generous and charitable to their foolish counterparts. After all, what is a little bit of oil between friends? Oil is a multi-purpose product: not only in cooking and lighting but also in the anointing of leaders and priests. The act of anointing is one of setting a person aside for a specific role or duty. Despite my call as a minister of Word, Sacrament and Pastoral Care, I take great care to explain to people that I do not live other people’s faith for them.

We cannot fulfill someone else’s call, we cannot believe another person’s beliefs, and we cannot live someone else’s faith. Scholars tend to explain that in this parable, oil, like faith, cannot be borrowed from someone else. It’s an all-or-nothing kind of deal; either you have it or you don’t.

Returning to the selfish, and wise bridesmaids: perhaps they calculated that there wasn’t enough oil to light the path for the whole procession if they gave some oil away. In this case, having 5 lights for the entire journey was preferred to having 10 lights for half of it. The fault of the foolish bridesmaids is not their failure to plan for the arrival of the groom, but their failure to plan for his delay. Make whatever jokes you want about men being late for their own weddings, or foolish bridesmaids being left in the dark, the story ends with one group being left out and excluded because of their own inaction.

While the parable ends with this rather abrupt and judgmental note, I would extend the story beyond that night. There is no indication that for the foolish bridesmaids, this was the one and only chance to enjoy a fancy reception. There will certainly be another wedding party another time. The true sin would be not learning from their mistake.

If we consider our own lives, we find that God appears many times. There are many opportunities to express our faith, to do the right thing. It never is a one-and-done deal. We find life is filled with second and third chances. Because if God is present in every situation, then each moment represents a time to choose faithfully, to prepare and to trust in our preparation.

Yes, the foolish bridesmaids dropped the ball on this one. They are soundly rejected by the bridesgroom at the reception and left in the dark. They will not make this mistake again. Next time, they will be the wise bridesmaids. They may even bring enough extra oil so that everyone would be ready. Or they may tell the others to be sure that they have enough.

And I find it hard to embrace the lesson about “keep awake” when earlier in the parable all of the bridesmaids, wise ones too, got drowsy and fell asleep. The Greek could just as easily be translated as “be prepared” which would actually let us get on with living our life while we await the inevitabilities to come. Be prepared. It’s the motto of the Scouts Movement. Be ready to learn.

Thank you Scott Woods and everyone!

It was an entertaining of fiddle music, song and corny jokes as Scott Woods and his band kicked off their Christmas Tour in Glencoe.

The turnout was better than the small crowd we had feared a couple weeks ago (another lesson about trusting in our preparation?) and people enjoyed the chance to get together as much as the concert itself.

Many thanks to Scott Woods and his band, and to the numerous behind-the-scenes workers, and volunteers of the church that helped make it happen.

St. Nicholas Hotel

While tending to Office Hours in Appin today, someone from the Brantford area dropped by asking if I knew the site of the former St. Nicholas Hotel. One of the Donnellys owned and operated it after the massacre near Lucan in 1880.

This person was particulary interested as a descendant of the Donnellys, and I was sorry that I couldn't have been of more help. Anyone out there know of which he speaks?

for Nov. 9 – Matthew 25: 1-13

[Jesus tells a parable:]

Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, “Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.”

Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, “Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.”

But the wise replied, “No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.”

And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, “Lord, lord, open to us.”

But he replied, “Truly I tell you, I do not know you.” Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

* * *

What feelings, questions, thoughts and prompts to personal action arise from this scripture?
What about hymn suggestions or ideas for Children's Time? Share them as Comments below or in an email, and help shape Sunday's worship service.

sermon excerpts: "A Place for the Displaced" (Joshua 3: 7-17)

... we see the great and awesome power of nature is curbed once again to God’s will. In a mirror miracle to Moses leading the people out of Egypt through the parted Red Sea to begin a 40-year voyage, we see Joshua his successor deliver the people into Canaan through a divided River Jordan, and thus concluding that epic journey.

The scripture lesson tells us this happened so that the people would know that God was with their new leader, Joshua. This was some cosmic seal of approval and a guarantee that he continues with the same spirit and strength that Moses had. This might say more about the fickle nature of a crowd’s mentality than it does about anything spiritual.

In the scripture lesson, we see that there are limits to our world. There is only so much water, there is only so much space. We’re finding out that there’s only so much oil. When the reality of our living is that we don’t have the time for Sabbath, we find that we are pushed to our limits.

God is without limit, and we find that is something hard to imagine. ... So as people of faith, followers of God, disciples named Christian, spiritual beings all of us, we are caught in the paradox of searching for an unlimited purpose with limited resources. We are finite creatures with a call to infinite living.

Yet in our world, we have discovered that the church has been dislodged, displaced, shoved aside to make room for numerous other things. ... the neighbourhood church no longer holds the central role in community, recreation or spiritual education. It’s a postmodern echo of what happened to our First Nations; they were driven from the broad and fertile lands of this Creation to substandard enclaves of second-class citizenry, by powers and tactics they did not expect or understand. Is the flaw with the human understanding of conquest, of occupation, of living with land as a possession?

Is there any way that we could measure success that doesn’t depend on someone else’s failure? ... Could we ever live in a fashion that is fruitful and abundant but does not diminish those who do not have enough?

Because somewhere, the love of God for all people and the encompassing passion for justice and right relationships is lost in translation for the Canaanites, Hittites and all the other displaced tribes. God loves everyone, but seems to be acting in an unloving manner through the sanction of warfare and conquest.

Yet it is to this same God that we seek to gather the nations and be united in common cause with everyone who strives to live faithfully and in right relationships with one another. It is the same people of God who are the church of today. And even as we struggle against the tide that pushes the congregational church to the margins of society, we try to build a safe place for all the many displaced people who are seeking a spiritual home.

As a church we hope that this is a place where all can be accepted, welcomed, embraced for who they are, not what they have, what they represent or who they could or should be. We know in life that there will be times of rejection, of being cast aside, evicted or ousted. In response, can we not be a place of invitation, inclusion and hospitality?

In a world of limits and boundaries, the path lies before us, leading us to a Promised Land of endless goodness and grace. But we do not travel alone, the displaced people of many places and situations go with us, not just refugees or the homeless, each of us has experience rejection and everyone of us is searching for a better way. In this we know that we are not alone, we live in God’s world. Thanks be to God. Amen.

Some Reminders

Don't forget that the clocks go back an hour tonight - that much more time to prepare for an exhilarating worship service tomorrow! Everyone should be well rested, no?

At Appin United, it's the first Sunday of the month and we will collect loose change for the Benevolence Fund to support local families in need.

Remember, also that Scott Woods visits with his 2008 Christmas Show on Wednesday, November 5. Get your tickets for only $20 and support Trinity United Church.

Your Input

The word "liturgy" often refers to the elements of worship: prayers, litanies, songs, etc. but its true definition is "the work of the people". In this light, I've been working to invite and involve as much input into the creation of what happens during Sunday worship.

To help support the Sunday School in its planning and coordination with the congregations' worship experience, a working document has been posted here for you to see what the next few weeks have in store. I think everyone can view the document, but special permissions need to be "granted" to add comments and suggestions so send an email and that will get set up for you.

A permanent link has been placed in the "Worship Plans" section of this blog's sidebar, and I'll do my best to keep it updated and current. I look forward to your feedback and participation in this webventure!

~ Kenji

for Nov. 2 – Joshua 3: 7-17

The Lord said to Joshua, ‘This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so that they may know that I will be with you as I was with Moses. You are the one who shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, “When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.” ’

Joshua then said to the Israelites, ‘Draw near and hear the words of the Lord your God.’ Joshua said, ‘By this you shall know that among you is the living God who without fail will drive out from before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites: the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is going to pass before you into the Jordan. So now select twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. When the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan flowing from above shall be cut off; they shall stand in a single heap.’

When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests bearing the ark of the covenant were in front of the people. Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water, the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, while those flowing towards the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho. While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan.

* * *

What feelings, questions, thoughts and prompts to personal action arise from this scripture?
What about hymn suggestions or ideas for Children's Time? Share them as Comments below or in an email, and help shape Sunday's worship service.

sermon: "List of Thanks" (Luke 17: 11-19)

Thanksgiving is supposed to be an easy sermon. You count your blessings, 100 of them daily, remember God is at work in our lives and that Christ offers healing and hope for our spirits. Amen. Off to turkey and stuffing.

And if I actually thought that I could get away with this, we’d be done. But as with Jesus himself, nothing is every as straightforward and certain as it appears at first glance. When Jesus heals the lepers, he is upsetting the social dynamic, disrupting countless lives and generally kicking over the apple cart of society’s rules.

In the days of the Middle East 2000 years ago, having leprosy was a sentence to exile. Anyone exhibiting any skin irregularity was fearfully shunned and labeled ritually unclean. These people, whether they had Hansen’s disease or a rash, were forced to live in colonies apart from the uninfected population.

In this particular story of scripture, ten people were condemned to this banishment with little of hope of reintegrating into society. So their family, friends and neighbours would have grieved and mourned, but also would have moved on, adjusting to their new life without the leper.

So for the newly-healed, returning lepers to their old lives, there would be awkwardness and suspicion and stigma as everyone had to reshuffle their lives to accommodate these ten miracles. In the aftermath of what happens, we don’t know if anyone involved would have wished that they hadn’t been healed.

Even so, the lesson is pretty clearcut: you can’t go wrong by saying thank you. So we give thanks for many things, sometimes for contradictory things. We can’t list 100 items without some of them infringing on others. Here’s a quick list:

Give thanks for Samaritans. For those outsiders or foreigners that remind us of our common humanity despite the differences that arise from geography, slightly different religion.

Give thanks for listening and obeying. For the 9 lepers that heeded Jesus instructions and presented themselves to the priest, no questions asked. They followed through on what Christ asked them to do.

Give thanks for spontaneity and bending the rules. For the 1 leper that decided it was more important to say thank you and to praise God by returning to Christ. For trusting that the healing spirit is greater than any rule or regulation.

Give thanks for gratitude. For the expression of appreciation, for remembering that we need the work and support of others to get through life and that we value such connections.

Give thanks for ingratitude. For the reminder that we do not do good for the sake of reward or thanks. We do good because it is the right thing to do. That Christ taught us to love and serve out a desire to help one another, not for glory or attention.

Give thanks for leprosy. For how often is it that we take our health for granted until we are faced with disease or death? And we give thanks that medical progress has increased our knowledge and developed antibiotic therapies to cure leprosy.

Give thanks for community and common causes. That even in the most dire of situations, on the fringes and margins of society, we can find common cause with one another, that our common experience will bond us together. And we hope that it wouldn’t take leprosy to bring our church into genuine community.

Give thanks for faith. For the trust in something greater and beyond. Faith that makes us well. Faith that compels us to get up and go.
For these, and so many other things, we give thanks.

A Fall Letter from the Church Office

Fall Blessings to you:

It has been a number of months since the last letter of this kind. I am not entirely sure where the past year has flown to; only that since September, there have been a number of special services and events as well as renewed focus directed towards the Sunday School children’s ministry.

To that end, we have been reconfiguring the “flow” and style of worship, trying to make it more interactive and kid-friendly. More time is devoted to educating our children (and ourselves) about faith and belief; although we are still seeking that fine balance between being too boring or too juvenile. Such is the gift and challenge of public worship and community gathering!

The ongoing mission of our churches has become a venture of “connecting to one another and to God” as we realize that maybe we don’t know each other as well as we thought, especially when it comes to the generational gap that all communities struggle to resolve.

This winter, the churches will be publishing a photo directory and there is no cost to have a portrait session and receive a copy of the directory. Of course, you can purchase a portrait package, if you wish, but there is no obligation to do so. Sign up for your appointment (Fri., Oct. 17, 2:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sat., Oct. 18, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) during coffee time after church or by contacting the church office who will, in turn, forward the information.

As we face the busy times ahead of harvest, winter preparation and settling into school routines, we continue to hope and imagine the many possibilities that our Creator has in mind for our lives and our church. In this time of election and decision-making, we also face choices about how we will be a faithful expression of God’s love in this changing world.

Despite all that is uncertain about our future, we remain steadfast and assured of God’s love made real in the ministry of Christ’s teachings and the attentive presence of the Holy Spirit. Let this be our thanksgiving as we consider all our blessings!

for Oct. 12 - Luke 17: 11-19

On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus went along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men with leprosy came toward him. They stood at a distance and shouted, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" Jesus looked at them and said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." On their way they were healed. When one of them discovered that he was healed, he came back, shouting praises to God. He bowed down at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was from the country of Samaria.

Jesus asked, "Weren't ten men healed? Where are the other nine? Why was this foreigner the only one who came back to thank God?" Then Jesus told the man, "You may get up and go. Your faith has made you well."

* * *

What feelings, questions, thoughts and prompts to personal action arise from this scripture?
What about hymn suggestions or ideas for Children's Time? Share them as Comments below or in an email, and help shape Sunday's worship service.

Away from the Office Today

Just a quick note that today Janet will be late into the office because she's driving for a school field trip and I'm home with Kai who has a fever (and that type of thing isn't welcome at daycare). You can still leave a message on the office voicemail or call my cellphone.

Blessings,
Kenji

Worldwide Presence at Worldwide Communion

Hearkening back to this January when we hosted a group of South Korean students, the United Church mission personnel that led the trip are leading worship on Sunday.

David and HyeRan Kim-Cragg have completed their term in South Korea and are back in Ontario sharing news of their work overseas. On the occasion of Worldwide Communion, we thought it would be appropriate and exciting to have them share in worship with us.

They will preach and co-preside over communion with me; the music will be international, lively and a key component of the message they bring.

We look forward to sharing this experience with you!

for September 28 - Matthew 21: 23-32

Jesus had gone into the temple and was teaching when the chief priests and the leaders of the people came up to him. They asked, "What right do you have to do these things? Who gave you this authority?"

Jesus answered, "I have just one question to ask you. If you answer it, I will tell you where I got the right to do these things. Who gave John the right to baptize? Was it God in heaven or merely some human being?"

They thought it over and said to each other, "We can't say that God gave John this right. Jesus will ask us why we didn't believe John. On the other hand, these people think that John was a prophet, and we are afraid of what they might do to us. That's why we can't say that it was merely some human who gave John the right to baptize." So they told Jesus, "We don't know."

Jesus said, "Then I won't tell you who gave me the right to do what I do."

Jesus said:
I will tell you a story about a man who had two sons. Then you can tell me what you think. The father went to the older son and said, "Go work in the vineyard today!" His son told him that he would not do it, but later he changed his mind and went. The man then told his younger son to go work in the vineyard. The boy said he would, but he didn't go. Which one of the sons obeyed his father?

"The older one," the chief priests and leaders answered.

Then Jesus told them:
You can be sure that tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you ever will! When John the Baptist showed you how to do right, you would not believe him. But these evil people did believe. And even when you saw what they did, you still would not change your minds and believe.

* * *

What feelings, questions, thoughts and prompts to personal action arise from this scripture?
What about hymn suggestions or ideas for Children's Time? Share them as Comments below or in an email, and help shape Sunday's worship service.

Wondering Where September Has Gone

It has been a very busy month in the church with special Sunday School events and special worship services (Decoration Day, Glencoe Fair) as we all try to settle back into the swing of things. I haven't updated the blog beyond tending to the Upcoming Events section and the Google calendar, mainly because the thought of more time on the computer tired me out.

Looking ahead, we continue the whirlwind until November. In October, there's Worldwide Communion with special guests David & HyeRan Kim-Cragg who brought a group of South Korean university students to our area this past January; Thanksgiving Sunday; Appin United's Anniversary with UWO Chaplain Rev. Michelle Down preaching.

Worldwide Recap

It was a treat to have HyeRan and David with us on Sunday. The kids' story of SooMee and the fighter planes reminded us of the value of peace in our living, without an active military presence in our background.

HyeRan's sermon about congregations being a "gathering of the flock" that feasts together, rests together in sabbath, and travels together (through songs of worship as well as justice work) showed us what the basic principles of a faith community should be.

In reading the Mandate magazine article of Berlin Guerrero who was recently freed from prison in the Philippines, I was amazed that he managed to continue his theological training in his context. Now, that is making lemonade out of lemons!

"Mass" Confusion

With apologies for the delay in posting these details for this Sunday (car trouble, modem problems and a touch of a summer/autumn illness conspired against me the past few days), here is what's happening.

At Appin, the start of Funday School begins as we trace the journey of Jesus Christ Superstar, beginning with his toddler/newborn exodus into Egypt. This Sunday features a pony ride, my kids are very excited about that!

At Trinity, the Super Sunday School Start-Up Service will begin with the service beginning downstairs of the church where some conversation and nametag-making will happen within the structure of the worship service. A lunch will be provided after worship.

I've been reconsidering the flow of the worship service itself over the summer, and taking to heart the comments that we, as a congregation, don't know each other very well - across the generations, or even across the aisles - I will work to try and build stronger connections through conversation and discussion as part of the worship experience.

It will be rather chaotic at first, but I promise that we'll find a workable routine in due time. Maybe not this month, because it's always hectic in September, but soon. I welcome any concerns or questions that you may have; and thank you for your graciousness and patience as we seek to engage the spiritual needs of today with respect for the traditions of yesterday.

See you tomorrow!?
Kenji

What of Prayer Group?

At the prayer group meeting, we faced some of the same questions that the congregations of the pastoral charge, and the national denomination are facing. Why aren't people coming? Is the time too inconvenient? Are they afraid of prayer? What can we do?

I'm not writing this to send anyone on a guilt trip, just commenting on the parallels that seems to manifest themselves in all aspects of our church.

Clearing Cobwebs

Getting back to the church routine, I was tending to Office Hours and after a month of being away, found myself brushing away cobwebs that had formed in the church.

It's an apt metaphor, personally, as I feel a little foggy and fuzzy-headed coming back to work after a couple weeks of vacation and a week of intense pastoral focus with the people at Kairos 2008.

It's also a telling metaphor for what the church is seeking to do - shake free of dusty, antiquated doctrine that clings like tradition. For this reason, I've been working on a "new" worship format for Sundays that hopes to be more interactive, engaging and less one-directional from the pulpit to the pews. Whether or not this meets a need, flops famously or is totally unnecessary, we'll find out soon enough. When I have a better picture of what all of this entails, I'll be back with a post to introduce the ideas.

Kairos

Every few years, a national event for young adults of the United Church occurs and it's happening right now at 5 Oaks Retreat and Education Centre in Paris, ON. Ninety people from all across Canada arrived yesterday and we've begun the journey of building community and engaging the theme of "It Matters". Even though I fall beyond the 18- to 30-year old age range, I'm working as one of the chaplains for the event.

For those who like words, kairos is defined in church circles as "God's time" which is very different from chronos which is "chronological time". So in this week when the days are crammed full of program, worship, workshops and meeting new people, the time will seem to fly by but also convey a sense of longer history together. Kairos is that sense of combining "It's Friday already?!" with "I feel like I've been here/known these people for ever!" It is in these moments that God's work can happen most fruitfully.

In that vein, it is hard to believe that summer is almost over, we're getting back to school/September routines and that our congregational life will recommence with new energy. See you next week.

Study Leave Report

Before beginning a couple weeks of vacation, I thought I'd offer a quick summary of what my Study Leave has yielded.

I finished reading The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier by Tony Jones, who I heard speak while at Princeton this spring. He identifies some characteristics of the "emergent church" movement (namely an open, fluid, and relational gathering of friends rather than adhering to strictures of doctrine or organizational bureaucracy) and describes the work of some congregations that operate in this fashion.

I began reading Gretta Vosper's controversial With or Without God which was given to me last month. While I agree with many of her points, such as the need for the church as an expression of faith and spirit to change, I find her tone off-putting. She comes across as self-absorbed and is rather rigid in her characterizations (which is ironic considering how open to change she might profess to be). Granted, I haven't finished the book yet and these are only initial impressions.

I've written, submitted and modified an article for Mandate Magazine of The United Church of Canada about missional youth ministry based on the conference in Princeton.

I've done some planning for the upcoming fall and winter Sunday services to the end of 2008 and done some thinking about an Order of Service that might make worship more interactive and engaging for youth and children while preserving the form and function of tradition. (Yes, it is as easy as it sounds).

An outline of themes and scriptures are available here. I'm open to hearing of any suggestions or ideas.

And now it's holiday time.

On Study Leave

Again, because of the timing of my tenure with the church, I have a week of Study Leave before August 1.

What does Study Leave mean apart from not leading worship on Sunday? Generally it is used for conferences and continuing education opportunities. These days I'll be getting caught up on some reading and preparing for the fall and Advent because that time will be fast upon us.

For this week, Office Hours will be staffed by the Administrative Assistant and I can be reached by my cellphone number.

Sunday worship in Appin will be at the Presbyterian church at 9:30. In Glencoe, Trinity United will continue to host worship, led by Presbyterian personnel for the first couple Sundays of August because of construction delays at the Glencoe Presbyterian.

sermon excerpts: "The Secret World"

(1 Kings 3: 5-12; Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52)
The LORD appears to Solomon in a dream and offers to grant his next wish, we wonder what the punchline will be. It takes a wise person to know exactly how much they don’t know. And to his credit, the young king seeks a gift that prevents him from becoming a cosmic joke.
He wants wisdom to help him rule. Wouldn’t that be something if our political leaders had such self-awareness?

Solomon wants the knowledge of Good and Evil, which you might recall is the exact same thing that Eve and Adam desired in the Garden in those first days after creation. It should be noted that, here, Solomon wants this knowledge to better serve his kingdom in his ministry as king. Adam and Eve were tempted to gain knowledge for personal gain.

It is a common desire that fuels our faster-paced society that some describe as The Information Age. Knowledge is power, yes, but it is also difficult to understand. Throughout the history of the Bible, people want to know and understand more about God, about the kingdom that is to come.

Jesus’ arrival on the scene didn’t make things easier. Now the rampant questions were about the Messiah, interpreting the ancient prophecies, what will happen next. For the moment, Jesus focuses not on who he is, but on what is at stake. He is directing us all to a way of living and being that would redefine our world.

In thinking of the parables, a comment by musician Peter Gabriel came to my mind. During his Secret World Live tour of 1994, he introduced the title track with the teaser: “Sometimes when you look around, everything seems still and calm on the surface and then you detect a little disturbance. You know for sure that underneath the surface lies some other secret world.”

This is the intent of Christ’s stories – to direct our attention to some secret world that is just beneath the surface of our existence. This is the kingdom of heaven, the Promised Land, just beyond our comprehension.

In all of this, we see that the ordinary and mundane give rise to potential and promise. That hidden within these everyday items is the simple lesson that God’s kingdom is not some distant, heavenly place. It is here, among us and within us. The trouble is we’re not exactly sure what to do, or what it means.

In the parables, we find that these items are tossed aside, buried in the ground, thrown into water. We do not hoard them or keep them to ourselves, they are used, planted, hidden away. This is the life of faith: used and useful, fulfilling a need, active in the present while planning for the future.

That which we are seeking is in front of our faces. It is there closer than we are to ourselves. The kingdom of heaven, of God’s justice, of equality and blessing is hidden before us. As in the revelation of some secret world, the stories of a pearl, of a net, of yeast, of a seed point to another way of being.

Our faith is not some initiation to some secret society with arcane and mystical rites and rituals. We do not enter this secret world to keep it a secret, rather we seek to bring its truth into everyday awareness and consciousness. As in the example of Christ, we bring together the spiritual and the ordinary, the holy and the profane. When our politics and economics and recreation can reflect a full measure of justice, compassion and love, the work of the Messiah is finished and the Kingdom of God has arrived.

In Peter Gabriel’s 2002 concert tour, he introduced the same song with a slightly different understanding: “Sometimes you can see a couple so close together it gets hard to distinguish which one is which. Bits of them disappear into a space that forms between them. This I would identify as the secret world.”

And so too would our understanding of God’s kingdom evolve, mature and change. The heart of our faith is finding closeness and communion with another. This is what Christ modeled for us. Jesus opens a gateway to a secret world that we might glimpse and know, so that we would be inspired to work and change our world to a better one.

As we seek the knowledge and truth, not only of good and evil, but of God’s kingdom, our baptism reminds us of one unchanging, immutable truth: we are not alone, we live in God’s world, secret or not. Amen.

for July 27 - Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52

He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’

The Parable of the Yeast

He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’

Three Parables

‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Treasures New and Old

‘Have you understood all this?’ They answered, ‘Yes.’ And he said to them, ‘Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.’

* * *

What feelings, questions, thoughts and prompts to personal action arise from this scripture?
What about hymn suggestions or ideas for Children's Time? Share them as Comments below or in an email, and help shape Sunday's worship service.

sermon excerpts: "Knowing What We Know"

In the scripture from Matthew we hear the rumblings against John the Baptist, that because he didn’t eat or drink much of anything – apart from honey and locusts in the desert – he was possessed, unbalanced, and a lunatic. So when Jesus appears on the scene and actually does eat and drink, maybe goes up for second helpings, he comes under fire for being a glutton and pig.

So if we’re waiting for Sunday worship and church involvement to become mainstream and popular again with society, these verses suggest even that would not make a difference. People will always find something to find fault with anything of value, although not without consequence....

It is said that true wisdom is knowing how little we know. Jesus goes so far as to offer a unique prayer that seems to give thanks for the confusion and dull-mindedness of his followers. He praises that the learned and wise do not have the answers, that truth lies with children.

Children live with wonder, with open minds and vivid imaginations. These are the qualities that Christ wanted his followers to embrace and adopt. Children are ready to learn because everything is a new and valuable experience. Even though we know that answers are fleeting, human knowledge is flawed and that there will always be more questions.

... We all know how unpredictable life can be. We all know that we don’t know how our day will turn out. Sure, we can make pretty accurate guesses based on our past patterns and our established plans. We don’t know for sure exactly where we’ll be or what we’ll be doing this afternoon.

As the disciples of Jesus kept learning, a life in Christ is no assurance of answers or benefit or blessing in the way that we can understand. We can ask God for signs, for some hint of a plan or attempt to make sense of things, but we likely won’t understand or appreciate the bigger picture. Because often we’re asking our questions centered on a very small part of creation, a single person maybe or small community. Even the wisest and most learned of scholars cannot untangle all the connections that we have through time and space through families, friends and chance acquaintances.

The lesson concludes with the promise of Jesus that there is rest, that burdens will be eased and that loads will be lightened. In him, we do not face life alone but are teamed with a spirit of care and compassion, a source of strength and guidance that walks with us as a partner in life. This is what we know, this is what our faith tells us.

Still there is much that is kept from us. As Jesus mentioned, it is the infants and children that have knowledge of God and spiritual matters. Children know a lot. They sleep when they’re tired, they eat when they’re hungry and they know if they are in a good place or not. By being so connected to the simple needs of their lives, they are connected to God’s spirit. These are things that we do not do as well when we get older. We have other priorities to tend to, we push and extend our limits. (This says the guy who stayed up too late last night and woke up too early this morning).

So what is the church doing? How will it be able to share what it knows? How can we offer a lighter yoke, a place of genuine rest and restoration? How might we truly to be an expression of Sabbath in our topsy-turvy world? These might be some of those that things that are known unknowns.

Maybe we don’t have the words to explain this vision of our faith community. Yes, we have mission statements that are corporate expressions of who we are, but they’re often wordy and hard to remember or share with others. Maybe it is turning to our children and seeking their knowledge to shape our time together.

Former US Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld, followed up his now-famous comments about what is known and unknown to the government, the very next day: “I believe what I said yesterday. I don't know what I said, but I know what I think... and I assume it's what I said.” Here’s hoping that we know more than that.

for July 6 - Matthew 11: 16-19, 25-30

"But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market-places and calling to one another, 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn.'

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon'; the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is vindicated by her deeds."
...
At that time Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

* * *

What feelings, questions, thoughts and prompts to personal action arise from this scripture? What about hymn suggestions or ideas for Children's Time? Share them as Comments below or in an email, and help shape Sunday's worship service.

Off the Clock

I'm on holidays for the week, returning to work June 30. In the meantime, for any pastoral care emergencies, contact the Rev. Deb Dolbear-Van Bilsen. Sunday worship on the 29th is at Melbourne United Church, 10:30 a.m.

See you when I get back,
Kenji

sermon excerpts: "Young Wisdom"

(Job 32: 1-22)
Three of Job’s friends spend entire chapters with no one convincing anyone of anything. Job thinks he is innocent and undeserving of such pain and loss, but will not curse God’s name. His friends think God is obviously punishing him for a terrible misdeed or moral crime.

Into this stalemate comes a new, fresh voice. Elihu expresses his anger with everyone: to Job, for being so self-centred, “poor me” and justifying himself instead of God; and with his 3 friends for being so inflexible and judgmental, presuming Job to be wrong even though they had no proof.

When it comes to public forums or debates, we may defer speaking our own piece until someone more qualified or educated speaks. But what happens when this person we’ve been waiting for doesn’t really say anything that amounts to anything? We can nod politely and go about the business at hand, or speak up and offer an opinion.

This is what Elihu does. Youngest of Job’s friends, he’s well-versed in the social order and permits his elders to speak first. When they miss the point, he is like a wine skin about to burst and has to pipe up. ... Elihu suggests wisdom comes from the spirit not from experience. We find wisdom in many places and many forms, not just a university degree or a mountain-top guru.

If we go by today’s numbers: 18-30 is the definition of youth, according to the World Council of Churches. At the end of this summer, I’m going to be one of the chaplains at Kairos 2008 which is a national youth and young adult conference held every 3 years for people in that age range. The Emerging Spirit ad campaign of The United Church of Canada attempts to connect with people 30-45.
Yet, if we consider the baby boomer generation, the focus of the population is going to be on the so-called “silver tsunami” as this sector retires from the work force with great effect on pension funds, the health care system and real estate. I’ve heard it described as a “rectangle shoved up the age pyramid”.

I’ve heard arguments and questions about why the church doesn’t throw all its resources at this renewable resource of retiring and aging people who have far more disposable income and discretionary time to the church than children, youth and young families. (I’m just repeating what I’ve heard).

But we value the fragility of youth and children – 3 years is an entire generation for a young person. When we consider how deeply the formative influences impact the rest of their lives from these early years, it is little wonder why the church devotes so much time and attention to nurturing these developing souls. Unless we reach them as youngsters, it’s going to tougher to find them as baby-booming retirees.

Based on the popularity of YouTube videos on the Internet, any number of on-line discussion forums and news comment features, kids have the ability and inclination to participate and get involved. Much like Elihu, they’re bursting to offer their ideas. From a lecture by Princeton Theological Seminary’s Kenda Creasy Dean: “Kids want to produce culture, they want to consume it, they want to respond to it. They are partners in creating their own experiences of culture. Which means, if they are not partners in creating their own experiences of church, the church doesn’t register.”

...Sure, we can fiddle with the order of hymns or style of prayers, but until we make stronger connections across the generations and pews, kids won’t want to partner in creating their own experiences of church.

... No church community is ever going to get it right, it’s never going to be perfect. There will be conflicts, personality clashes, differences of opinion, and outright mistakes made. But if we can include and engage people, younger or older, who are seeking a safe haven from the criticisms of the world, a place to ask questions, to wonder about God, to feel included, we can be the church as it was meant to be: the hands and feet of Christ, bringing the power of the spirit to all in need.

Sunday School Sunday

This Sunday will feature potluck lunches after worship as we celebrate the ministries of the respective Sunday School programs at Appin and Trinity United.

At Appin, 9:45 a.m. worship service reflecting on Job's young friend, Elihu, (Job 32: 1-22) and Jesus as a boy in the Temple (Luke 2: 41-52). Picnic and lunch follow - bring salad and dessert!

At Trinity, we will welcome our neighbours from St. John's Anglican Church to an outdoor (weather permitting!) worship service led by the Sunday School; bring lawn chairs for seating. Special guests Dora the Explorer, Boots the Monkey and Dr. Indiana Jones will undertake a search for God. Potluck picnic lunch follows the conclusion of their quest.

sermon excerpts: "Faith as a Legacy"

(Genesis 18: 1-15; Matthew 9:35-10:8)
Abraham and Sarah had no children. This was the ultimate insult for a successful family who obeyed God, uprooting their lives on a divine say-so. There was no one to pass the torch to, if you don’t count Ishmael, Abraham’s son that he had with Sarah’s maid, Hagar.
...
The spotlight shifts to Sarah; yes, even on Father’s Day, we need to acknowledge the mothers. If anyone felt the stigma of being childless, it was her. After all, it was her body that was barren, she was the one to blame. She’d already lived a full life and settled firmly into her golden years. It is outrageous to think that now, finally, she would have a child. Presuming she and her baby would survive the ordeal, because birth was a literal life and death situation, but you don’t question the Lord about these things.

God had promised them this truth and three chapters of Genesis later, Isaac was born. From this family came the Jewish faith and relationship to God, YHWH, and its great people. Fast forward a few centuries and Jesus, as one born into this identity, seeks out the lost people of his faith.

Jesus sends out the twelve to the lost people of Israel, those who claim Jewish faith but were not part of the community – because of illness or hardship or social exclusion. This was Christ bringing faith to the people where they were, not waiting for the people to come to him.

It’s a good lesson for our church. We need to take the good work that we do to those who are in need and go out beyond ourselves, instead of waiting for them to come to our building and fit into our set routine of praying and singing, sitting and standing.

Compare and contrast the approaches of Abraham and Jesus: do we sit and wait for God to come us, or do we get out into the world and find the divine by doing God’s work? Both methods work to a degree, but is there a way to combine them?

One of the measures of church success is to see what people unconnected to the church think of or know about your ministry. The mark that Christ made is the legacy that we follow and that we ourselves leave. Just as we have to recognize that the memory of fathers may include abuse and neglect and more harm that good, we also have to admit that the work of our faith has not always been good or pleasant.

This past week, the apology to the First Nations for the racist philosophy and abusive reality of residential schools serves as another reminder of this unfortunate fact. ... Just because we were not directly involved with the residential schools, as teachers or administrators, doesn’t mean that we are exempt. Just like people used to grumble, and still do, in the United Church around the time we made our apology about the residential schools. I’ve heard many debates about why they, as individual members, have to apologize for something the United Church did as a policy.

It is individual members and supporters of the local United Church congregations that bearing the brunt of criticism and questions from neighbours and friends and other churches in town when it’s reported that the moderator said he doesn’t believe in that Jesus is God, when same sex marriages are permitted by the United Church. We are the ones who live with the reality and consequences of such statements.

But these are part of our legacy as a denomination; this is the work of our ancestors, mothers and fathers of faith who wanted to leave an honest and justice-seeking church for their children, biological or spiritual. It is not for lack of effort or vision that our churches are suffering – maybe we’re trying too hard, or not delivering what people want, or not recognizing that the world has changed too much for our way of being a faith community. Like many parents, the church is scratching its collective head, trying to figure out what it is with kids and young people these days.

... So yes, we know that something has to change or be different. As a church we wonder what the future holds, what the particular legacy of our involvement in the congregation might be. This past week, I’ve been giving a great deal of thought to my own mortality, wondering how a young and healthy father can suddenly die. But in the end, what we have is not going to last. What we teach and share with those around us, who we are, will persist and live on.

As Christians who came from the Jewish tradition that owes its birth to Abraham, the story of faith continues in us. That same spirit is what calls us to want better things for the world. Even if the expression of how that might happen has been locked up into pulpits and pews for the past few centuries. We go forth from this moment as people of hope, possibility and faith.

The Meaning of Death

Recently at Trinity, we grieved (and still do) the loss of a veritable pillar of the congregation. Her rapid, cancer-related death raised the question of why good people have to suffer.

As if this wasn't tragic enough, I'm still reeling from the news of the very unexpected death of a young father from Appin. He leaves behind two young children the day before his 26th birthday - and Father's Day is this Sunday. How does one make sense of this? I have no answers and don't pretend that our belief in God's love or the hope of resurrection are any real comfort at a time like this.

I'm thankful that a colleague from his family's church will be assisting with the memorial service; the situation hits a little too close to home for me and I'm not sure how I'd be able to hold it together. Sorry if this post is too self-indulgent or therapy-seeking, but I needed to put something out there.

for June 15: Genesis 18.1-15

The Lord appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day. He looked up and saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent entrance to meet them, and bowed down to the ground. He said, ‘My lord, if I find favour with you, do not pass by your servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. Let me bring a little bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on—since you have come to your servant.’

So they said, ‘Do as you have said.’ And Abraham hastened into the tent to Sarah, and said, ‘Make ready quickly three measures of choice flour, knead it, and make cakes.’ Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to the servant, who hastened to prepare it. Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

They said to him, ‘Where is your wife Sarah?’ And he said, ‘There, in the tent.’ Then one said, ‘I will surely return to you in due season, and your wife Sarah shall have a son.’ And Sarah was listening at the tent entrance behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; it had ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women. So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, ‘After I have grown old, and my husband is old, shall I have pleasure?’

The Lord said to Abraham, ‘Why did Sarah laugh, and say, “Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?” Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time I will return to you, in due season, and Sarah shall have a son.’ But Sarah denied, saying, ‘I did not laugh’; for she was afraid. He said, ‘Oh yes, you did laugh.’

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What feelings, questions, thoughts and prompts to personal action arise from this scripture? What about hymn suggestions or ideas for Children's Time? Share them as Comments below or in an email, and help shape Sunday's worship service.

sermon excerpts: "Relating to Hosea" - Trinity Anniversary Sunday

... Hosea was attributed as the first person to use the metaphor of marriage between God and Israel. All around him he saw the people of God as the unfaithful partner in the relationship, worshipping other gods, treating each other unfairly and unjustly. To further make his point, Hosea himself married a prostitute in an act of social symbolism.

Cheery stuff, isn’t it? Is it appropriate for an anniversary? After all, this is a time of remembering history through rose-coloured glasses, lauding the church’s achievements and praising its people. Which I may still do, once I figure out why Hosea’s message is so compelling to me.

Hosea imagines God is speaking to the northern kingdom, mockingly confessing repentance and renewed faithfulness, knowing full well that nothing was going to change. Here the people of Israel were caught in that not-so-unique place between knowing what the right thing to do is and actually doing it.

It’s a common theme in the Bible but consider in our own lives all the times we say the right things but actions or inactions speak louder. Our intent may be pure but the result is as permanent and lasting as morning dew. I do not offer this as a personal accusation aimed at anyone of us individually, but as a challenge to the wider church. How often do we initiate a program or attempt to make a change but revert to old ways at the first sign of resistance or setback?

In 1925, three denominations came together to form The United Church of Canada (although the many times I’ve typed “Untied” instead might mean more subconsciously than a simple slip of the fingers). A lot of political maneuvering had to be done for such a feat to occur with graciousness and cooperation from all parties needed to make this denominational marriage work.

Eighty-three years later, we’re facing declines in membership, energy and effectiveness. We’re trying to imagine our way to viability as an institution again by adopting the latest innovative strategies (like computer projection technology!) or public awareness campaigns when instead Hosea pinpoints the genuine plea of God: “I want your constant love, not your animal sacrifices. I would rather have my people know me than burn offerings to me.” It is who we are that matters more than what we give or do.

I know of a minister in a big city church who unashamedly proclaims: “I don’t care if you ever come to church, just send your money.” Well, at least he’s honest. I would offer the exact opposite message, “I don’t care how much money you have to give to the church, just show up.” There is greater richness to be found in people gathering, if only for the fact that it offers hope and encouragement to everyone involved.
...
So as we remember and pay tribute to 116 years of the God’s mission at work as Trinity United Church in Glencoe, we honour the relationships that link us together through our history and tradition. We look around us in the moment of right now to see what the future might bear, how we might better know ourselves and be the church.

It is not our sacrifices and offerings that God desires, it is our commitment to love, honour and cherish; yes, like marriage. As Hosea alludes to, being the community of faith requires dedication, patience, forgiveness, stubbornness, love and delight. May it be so.

for June 8 - Hosea 5:15-6:6

I will return again to my place until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face. In their distress they will beg my favour:

‘Come, let us return to the Lord; for it is he who has torn, and he will heal us; he has struck down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; his appearing is as sure as the dawn; he will come to us like the showers, like the spring rains that water the earth.’

What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes away early. Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have killed them by the words of my mouth, and my judgment goes forth as the light.

For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt-offerings.

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What feelings, questions, thoughts and prompts to personal action arise from this scripture? What about hymn suggestions or ideas for Children's Time? Share them as Comments below or in an email, and help shape Sunday's worship service.

sermon excerpts: "The Church Is Sinking"

I ask the question, is our church built on a solid foundation? It seems that a great deal of energy and effort goes into maintaining the systems of governance and bureaucracy. We have a great commotion over the move to a new mandatory payroll service or the keeping of our church archives or who the President-Elect will be, while overlooking earthquakes in China, cyclones in Burma, the crystal meth drug crisis in Perth County, not to mention the increasing pressure put on decreasing numbers of church-goers in our communities.

Sometimes, often, as an organized religion we spend too much time worrying about ourselves rather than the world around us. Is our house built on the sands of self-preservation or the rock of service and action to which Christ calls us?

This is the point Christ is making when he challenges us with the notion that not everyone that calls on his name is known as a faithful follower. The core of our actions, the motivation needs to be rooted in humility and service, out of genuine concern for others and not for gloryseeking.

Again, what is the foundation of our faith? There have been times when swinging at my golfball stuck in a sandtrap, the ground seems quite hard and solid. So how do we know what we are standing on? It all comes to bear when we find ourselves in a time of storm and turmoil.

When life is raging all about us, what do we find under our feet? Is it sand, like God’s conditional favour, suddenly shifting, resettling, slipping away? Or are we planted firmly on a belief system of God’s eternal love that withstands the whims and fancies of the world?

The ritual of communion is built upon the ageless tradition of breaking bread with family and friends. Sharing a common meal is the foundation of our time together. It has been reduced to a single wafer or cube of bread and a shot of grape juice, but at its heart is a remembrance of a feast that Jesus shared with those closest to him.

I have a friend who once offered a communion service with pop and Doritos, which unnerved many people, including the youth for whom it was designed. But the intent was there – sharing a common meal with common food with common people. It was something that was special in the ordinariness of it. You’re likely relieved that this morning we celebrate the sacrament with traditional bread and grape juice. Regardless, it is in moments such as this, we find unchanging foundation of God’s love. For this we give thanks and praise. Amen.

London Conference News

The 84th Annual Meeting of London Conference was held in Aylmer, ON this past weekend. President Bruce Cook presided over the meeting and its theme was "Sing Your Song of Faith" referring to a theological statement of faith recently adopted by The United Church of Canada.

Presentations were made about poverty reduction strategies, the Healing Fund, the incoming centralized payroll system, religious and political unrest in Israel's West Bank, and many new resources available for congregational use on a variety of topics.

The youth initiative against bottled water, which first surfaced a couple years ago, now has T-shirts bearing the slogan/logo: "Tap Water - Suck It Up!"

Business-wise, there were 7 proposals submitted for the Court's consideration:

1. establishing an Archive Capital Fund that would accumulate 2% of all Real Property (churches and manses) sold in London Conference. Such a measure prepares for 2015 when a new Archive facility will (likely) be needed. - CARRIED.
2. educate and increase awareness of the situation in Darfur. - Referred to Executive (I think, I'm not sure).
   
3. calling on the provincial government to improve and follow through on its Poverty Reduction Strategy - CARRIED.
   
4. calling on the federal and provincial government to sustain current programs that support Affordable Housing - CARRIED.
5. create a Church Structures Task Group to examine and review our current Conference/Presbytery governance structure - Referred to Executive.
6. ask the provincial government to provide a mandatory ethics course for all elementary schools - Defeated.
7. ask all Presbyteries and pastoral charges, and General Council Executive, to register concern and displeasure over uranium mining in Eastern Ontario - CARRIED.
   

Ten candidates for ministry were received into The United Church of Canada (7 ordained, 1 commissioned as a Diaconal Minister, 2 recognized as Lay Pastoral Ministers) on Saturday evening.

Susan Cameron was installed as President of Conference and introduced her theme for the year: "The Fabric of Prayer".

for June 1 - Matthew 7: 21-29

Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord", will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?" Then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers."

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!

Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

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What feelings, questions, thoughts and prompts to personal action arise from this scripture? What about hymn suggestions or ideas for Children's Time? Share them as Comments below or in an email, and help shape Sunday's worship service.

sermon excerpts: "The Ecology of Faith"

(Genesis 1:1 - 2:4a)
Here in the creation story is where God sets limits and boundaries. The Creator carves out a little space for our human existence in the formless void of the universe. Amid the swirling and storming dark chaos that was the nothing from which creation came, God speaks and there is light, land, and life.

That is the task of the church, carving out a sanctuary of love, care and acceptance in a world that is driven by appearance, status and frivolous measures of success. As a faith community, we support people on the frontline of life, parents, children, spouses, friends, neighbours; and in return we find that same support offered to us.

We know that the rest of the Genesis reading will fill the land with animals and people, with the final day set aside for Sabbath and rest. Included is a command to humanity to be fruitful and multiply, subdue the earth and have dominion over all life. It is the short-sighted pursuit of this verse that has put our world into the tenuous environmental situation that we find ourselves in.

... After receiving an honours degree in Environmental Biology, one of the first of its kind in the country, I’ve learned something that is both frightening and reassuring at the same time. The green movement, the environmental movement does not want to save the earth. I say this because the earth does not need saving. We do. It is a push to preserve our lifestyle in light of the degrading and declining integrity of the global ecosystem. It is a selfish and self-centred campaign.

We would all like to do things to help the environment: reduce, reuse and recycle. But we are unwilling to make radical lifestyle choices that would make dramatic and effective differences. We want to keep our personal automobiles, our air conditioning, our variety and supply of groceries. Our present environmental movement is preoccupied on finding a way to have our cake and eat it too.

Still, life will continue on this planet, of that I am sure. We know from the Genesis story that this will be the case. Now, as to whether or not it is human life, that is another question.

Ecosystem theory asserts that our actions have an effect and impact that go beyond our little corner of creation. One change to the habitat or diet of any species will ripple through the food chain until a new balance is achieved. This connectedness is mirrored in our faith. What we say and do as people of God echoes and ripples through the lives of others.

As we study nature and discover the intricate and unexpected connections between diverse plants and animals, we can draw parallels in our lives as a community of faith. It is the connections and links to one another that bring meaning and learning into our own experiences.

Our faith tradition tells of a life-giving power inserting a little order into the primordial chaos and confusion. In the shelter of these boundaries, we find some solid truths with which to ground our being: we are blessed and good, we are part of something bigger and greater than just ourselves, we are not alone. We live in God’s world. Thanks be to God.

for May 18: Genesis 1.1-2.4

Apologies for the delay in updates, it's been a busy set of days lately! For this Sunday, the scripture lesson is Genesis 1:1-2:4. Rather than posting it all here, you can click on the link to read again, God's creative power at work.

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What feelings, questions, thoughts and prompts to personal action arise from this scripture? What about hymn suggestions or ideas for Children's Time? Share them as Comments below or in an email, and help shape Sunday's worship service.

sermon excerpts: "Fire and Water: Faith in Formation"

(Acts 2: 1-21, John 7 : 37-39)
With baptisms at one church and not the other, I had prepared two slightly different sermons to suit the particularity of the respective situations. What follows is a hybrid version of this morning's messages:

Our readings this morning relate the traditional story of Pentecost, the rushing wind and tongues of fire filling the household enabling the disciples to speak every language on earth so that the gospel story might be told to new people. And earlier in the gospel story, Jesus is telling of lifegiving water that was the spirit. And the literalists reading the lessons for this Sunday scratch their heads and wonder, is the Spirit water or fire?

But we should know better than to try and limit or define the working of a holy presence into a simple symbol or image. The fullness of God’s goodness and grace defies description. So while the marvel of Pentecostal tongues of fire is a dramatic and evocative attention-grabber, we are still limited by the inability of words to capture the real meaning of faith in Christ.

It is not the fact that we can speak and describe our story with words and language that is the miracle of this day. It is the wonder that that God’s own self, the Holy Spirit rests upon us and within us. It is the fact that we speak and describe our story with spirit and energy. In this way, the church is born each time we share of ourselves.

Jesus in the gospel lesson is defending himself from some of his critics, suggesting that because the Holy Spirit had yet to arrive, people would not understand what he was talking about. In a crowded house in the middle of a crowded city, the promise of the spirit come has been fulfilled in a way that no one expected and with a purpose that should not have been a surprise.

What have we done with the spirit? We’ve boxed it up and tried to contain it in a box of the church. It is fairly safe to say that the institutionalization of the church has distracted us from the Holy Spirit’s call to purpose and passion expressed in our faith. The spiritual leaders of our denominations are more bureaucrats and politicians more than pastors and preachers. That sounds a lot harsher than I intended, but the fact is that we lose many gifted ministers to administrative positions because that is how the ladder of success is seen in the church.

At the heart of the matter, is the truth of Christ, God’s very self come to earth, continuing to guide and support us through our days in the form of the Holy Spirit. In Pentecost we see the Spirit equipping the disciples with the tools to share their passion and story with the wider world.

The only way the Spirit’s work could be done is if they left the building. They needed to get outside and among the people of the world, risking ridicule and physical harm, with hearts and tongues aflame offering news of lifegiving water. And if that’s a mixed metaphor, it confirms the fact that in a complicated world of conflict and pressure many different visions, images and stories need to be shared.

So we work within the knowledge that our faith continues to grow and refine. Our spirits are shaped and formed continually. At no point can we profess to have all the answers, to know everything. God, as Father and Mother of us all, assures us by spirit, family and faith community that we are not alone.