Being willing to sprout

"Ready to spring" by Mike Lewinski on flickr

I feel fortunate to live in a part of the world where spring is just beginning to come around during the season of Lent.  We considered darkness during the beginning of the Prayer of Thanksgiving and it was so vivid, with the darkness of winter still fresh in my mind. Even though this morning was a snowy one, we could feel spring in the air.  And when Huda talked about seeds during the children's story, I knew that outside beneath the snow, the tulip bulbs were gathering their strength to make their appearance soon.

What brought it together for me was the liturgy we read at the end:

Like the Israelites, we foolishly complain. We love the darkness rather than the light.  God challenges us to live in the light rather than in darkness. God challenges us to stop indulging ourselves and ignoring the needs of others.  God challenges us to do the work that we are called to do, willingly and cheerfully.

As Jesus explained to the disciples (John 12:24), unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. We weren't made to be seeds.  We were made to stretch outside of the comfortable dark soil, and to grow into plants feeding on the light. Huda talked about how our aversion to pain makes us want to protect ourselves and so we forget to look at those around us.  But Jesus taught us that we need to stretch and grow and look at those around us, to be willing to be uncomfortable in order to show God's love to those around us.

Maureen R.

All part of the body of Christ

Today, a special little girl of our congregation was baptized. Baptisms are always an emotional moment for me in the life of our church - they are so hopeful and such a good reminder of our role as a faith community. This one especially so, because of the unique story of this family.

I was also mindful that today is International Women's Day, and so the baptism of this little girl seemed very apt. And it made me realize that in our tradition, the baptisms of little girls and little boys are no different - no different words are said, no different prayers are read - they are the same whether it is a boy or a girl, a women or a man being baptized. 

To me, this is a true and right way to show that we are all called equally to grow and participate in the body of Christ, which is the church. We are all called to participate in the ministry of the church, regardless of whether we are male or female. And indeed, Jesus' ministry demonstrated the full respect and compassion that he had for all people - both men and women.

We are lucky to be members of a denomination that recognizes the leadership of women. (Just as we are lucky to be members of a church led by two wonderful women leaders!) On this International Women's day, it is my prayer that the holy catholic church (note the small c - in which we professed our faith this morning by saying the Apostles Creed following the baptismal prayers) embrace the leadership of women in all its forms. This, I think, is a necessary step for the global acceptance of women's rights and the respect of our bodies.

But I know, at least, the little girl that our community baptized today will be able grow and flourish within our church into the women she is meant to be, contributing her talents to the ministry of Christ. I pray that she will be able to do the same in all the realms of her life – and we have a role in making that a reality, in Jesus' name.

 Jessica C.

Sunday March 1

Starry Night by xllukins

Following God's covenant with Noah we today meditated on Abraham's call.  In what many would consider old age Abram is called to leave all things secure and follow God to a land unknown to him.  Then at the age of 99 he is told that Sarah will bear him a son and he would be the father of many nations and have descendants. This call is unique because God wants to enter into a relationship with Abraham and he experiences communion with God.  Abraham discovers that God is with him.  Even when he fails to trust and tells people that Sarah is his sister to save himself God still is with him. Even when Sarah tries to rush the process of having a son by letting Abraham get her maid servant pregnant God is with them.   The communion reached its climax when God tested Abraham.  I could not help thinking about the fact that Abraham was willing to obey God to the point of sacrificing his only son on the alter.  This was the thing he was promised. This was his future. Through Isaac his name would continue and the promise God made fulfilled. Abraham's obedience thrilled God.  His delight is expressed when God swore by Himself that now He knew he could trust Abraham and that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky or the sand by the seashore. 

God's relief in that passage of scripture is palpable.  His deliverance immediate.  With alacrity he provides a ram to sacrifice on the alter instead of Isaac.  God tested Abraham to the limits and Abraham passed with flying colors because of the communion they shared.  Nothing else could have enable Abraham to endure such a trial.   

It is an honor to be counted as one of those stars in the sky or one of those grains of sand in the seashore - to be one of the many descendants of this father of many nations.   The reason we can enjoy communion with God and each other is because Jesus was obedient unto death.   It had always been God's plan to save us.  God's covenant with Abraham proved that His work could be carried out in human flesh. 

The communion that Abraham shared with God is the same privilege we enjoy.  Thank you El-Shaddai.  

Sharon W.

40 Days and 40 Nights

40 days and 40 nights mark the time of preparation leading up to Easter, what the church calls the season of Lent. Rev. Dimock marked the first Sunday of Lent discussing that we as community of faith work at saying NO to temptation by giving up luxuries, but we also start to say YES to God.  Lent, I think, is the spiritual “On Season” in the year of the Church, a time of more intense training and commitment through prayer and study before Easter.

Rev. Dimock fittingly in this training plan began by discussing the Covenant that God made with Noah after The Flood. The Bible story tells us that the rains came and it rained for 40 days and 40 nights and one year had passed before Noah, his family and the animals on board the Ark settled on Land. Rev. Dimock reminded us about times when seemed to have God had forgotten us, as Noah and his family had likely thought that God had forgotten them, we were reminded of how painful it can be to feel forgotten. But, we were also reminded that while it may seem that God has forgotten, but He does not stay hidden forever. God revealed Himself to Noah once more establishing His Covenant by laying down his bow and promising that The Flood waters would not return. The rainbow in the sky is the sign of that Covenant. And to this day we find beauty and comfort in the sight of rainbow, marking the end of a storm. The rainbow serves as a reminder that God loves humankind and so, will not despite the wickedness of humanity blot it off the face of the earth again.

I think that reflecting on the Covenant with Noah gives us opportunity to think about times when we have felt that God forgot us but then, after sometime God revealed Himself and showed that He was always with us. Reflecting on Covenants between God and humanity I think is a part of our training plan for the season of Lent, culminating in the New Covenant in Jesus.

Alex F.

Sunday February 15

Today's scripture reading from Mark 9 and Karen's sermon have left me thinking of the power of human empathy. The Oxford dictionary defines empathy as, "The ability to understand and share the feelings of another." 
The passage from Mark comes after Jesus spends six days with Peter, James and John. In the chapter before this morning's reading, Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." In the scripture reading this morning, immediately following the transfiguration of Jesus, we hear a voice say, “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” This is the time when the disciples truly understand, when they can become empathetic to what Jesus, the Son of God, is sacrificing by dying in the most heinous way possible to cleanse the sins of humanity. It is only through this deep empathy that they can continue to preach about Jesus after his death and resurrection.
Is it easy for us to say, "yeah, but God doesn't talk directly to me"? Alternatively, especially as we enter the season of Lent, do we need to look around us and hear how he is speaking to us all the time?

This week kicks off Winter Wednesday Evenings with three great tracts of study. The one that spoke most to me was one that Sheila S. did a great job explaining during the service. The track she described is Native Landscape, which is focused on aboriginal life and culture. It is so easy to blame the issues facing aboriginal peoples on government policy. It is equally easy to go to sympathy or "feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else’s misfortune." The answer was pretty clear to me. Transfiguration (change) comes from empathy. Empathy starts with understanding.

Kirk M.
 

Sunday February 8

This morning's Bulletin featured the central panel of Michelangelo's "The Creation of Adam."  The panel, called "The Hand of God," shows two hands reaching out to each other, their fingertips not quite touching.  One hand is God's and one is Man's. 
 
Hands were the dominant imagery we considered throughout the service.  Mark recounts how Jesus touched and healed a feverish woman and then many others who were afflicted with disease and demons.  And so we prayed for the touch of Jesus and the promise of ultimate wellness that the Bible brings. 
 
In her sermon, Karen posed the questions: "Can God still heal us?  Does God still intervene?"  She recounted a story of Botswana during the depth of the HIV-AIDS crisis, wondering how people could relate to Mark's gospel when a single healing touch was not available to those who were suffering.  They were people who were marginalized and isolated just as the sick were in Jesus' day.  But although physical healing might not have occurred in Botswana, where there was togetherness and touching and talking, care-givers found that isolation was defeated and people found hope.
 
I was struck by Karen's statement that for some people we will be the only Jesus they ever know, the Jesus who comes upon us and pushes us to overcome division, to practice friendship and to touch one another.  Perhaps that is the message of Michelangelo too.  People must reach out to God just as He reaches out to give us life.  And sometimes God requires His people to bridge the final gap between outstretched fingertips to bring healing and hope to those who need His touch.
 
Rob R.

Sunday January 25

I liked Parker Palmer's two images of a broken heart that Karen described for us this morning. It strikes me that one - using the sharp remains of our broken hearts to confront others - is much easier than the other - opening our broken hearts to healing, compassion and empathy. Obviously the second is more loving, more peace-building, but I think that is a pretty uncomfortable place to be. If, as Karen imagined, the Ninevites heard Jonah with open, compassionate hearts, it was probably a little uncomfortable to hear him telling them to repent or turn away from their lifestyles.

It reminded me of a feeling of discomfort I had just a few days ago, while reading some articles in the most recent issue of Maclean's magazine. Scott Gilmore talked about recent incidents in the U.S. where racial tensions have resulted in violence, and how there is a certain smugness amongst Canadians as we observe our neighbours. We say to ourselves that the events of Ferguson or New York or Cleveland wouldn't happen here, that that kind of racial tension doesn't exist in Canada. Gilmore challenges this, and argues that Canada's race problem is, in fact, even worse than the U.S. Another article details Winnipeg's experiences with racism. These things are uncomfortable for me to hear. It is uncomfortable for us to open ourselves to those stories of injustice, to hear about how our Aboriginal sisters and brothers are treated.

To their credit, political and Aboriginal leaders in Winnipeg held a press conference after the magazine came out. They admitted that racism is evident, not just in Winnipeg but across Canada, highlighted some of the anti-racism work that is taking place, and committed to continue to work for justice.

To me, this is what Karen was describing this morning. Thinking about how those who are oppressed or who are victims of injustice see us. It is listening to those stories and opening ourselves with compassion and love. And it is repenting - turning from current ways of living that are unjust - and seeking justice and love instead.

(Just a small side note... We in the church have been working for right relationships with Aboriginal people for some time now, but we are still not there. If you're interested in learning more, in opening yourself up to these stories, one of the study sessions being offered with Winter Wednesday evenings will consider how the church can better relate to Aboriginal communities.)

Laura S.