November 13, 2016

As I listened to Dr. Rev. Dimock’s meditation this morning my first thought was “Wow! I picked a tough week to write a blog post.”  But as I continued to listen, the idea that some parts of the Bible are a mirror in which we see ourselves while others act as a guide really resonated with me.  I often struggle to reconcile the violence in some of the Old Testament stories with a merciful and loving God.  I struggle to see God in the story of Esther which ends in the death of thousands of people. 

But as Dr. Rev. Dimock went on to discuss the tension between power and vulnerability it occurred to me that although we live in very different times, in some ways things are not so different.  Our own times are far from peaceful.  There is still hatred and intolerance in the world and it is still all too easy to let fear, anger, resentment and mistrust guide us rather than the lessons Jesus taught. 

When we feel threatened and vulnerable it is far too easy to begin thinking in terms of “us” versus “them” and to use what power we have to lash out at those who threaten us.  If Esther is the mirror, Matthew is the guide – “Let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."  As I left church this morning, I left with a renewed resolve to work harder to apply the teachings of Christ in my own life, and the belief that in such a time as this His message of love, patience and forgiveness is more important than ever.

Melanie A.
 

Mustard seed, Moominmolly on Flickr.

This reformation Sunday, our guest minister, the Rev. Dr. Sarah Travis, preached to us using the parable of the mustard seed.

As it grew to unprecedented size, the mustard seed was able to shelter all manner of beings.  We are challenged to work so that the Kingdom of God is able to grow within and outside of us to similar unprecedented size. Sometimes we feel that God’s Kingdom is simply a seed—not yet showing the potential growth and strength it has.  At other times, we see it growing in small and large ways, but have we yet (or will we ever in our lifetime) see its full growth?

As Christians, we look to the Kingdom of God for hope.  We are daily reminded of the results of natural and man-made disaster.  Yet always, our peace is found in the surety that God is with us always.  There is hope in spite of the hopelessness so often seen around us.  We are called to plant, protect, and then wait.

The Kingdom of God surely is our strength.

Billie S.

Sunday October 16

It is Anniversary Sunday at St. Andrew's and we celebrate 188 years of worship here. I wonder what the theme was at that first sermon?

One of the readings this morning was Ruth 3:1-5 and 4:13-22.  What an amazing story! The Book of Ruth is one of only two books of the Bible to be named after women.

Ruth lived in a patriarchal society and as a widow she was vulnerable.  It reads like a rom-com but in reality, Ruth and Naomi 'made it' in a man's world and made liturgical law work for them.
Rev. Sandy Scott sees Ruth's story as a protest statement - a story of gender, power and politics.  Have things changed in 3000 years?

What did I take away from the sermon this morning?

God is concerned about all people regardless of race, nationality, gender or status. Ruth was not a Jew. She was a Moabite.  Although many discriminated against her God did not.  Everyone is important in God's eyes.

Jeanie H.

World Communion Sunday

Image: John Stuart

I like World Communion Sunday. I like the idea of Christians across the world joining to share a meal together (even if we are separated by distance). When I worked with Presbyterian World Service & Development's partners in northern Malawi, home felt pretty far away most of the time. Not during communion, though. This meal, this ritual was carried out in a way that was familiar to me and reminded me of my nearness to the family of God. Even moving to Ottawa - I came to this city 10 years ago and knew almost no one. Joining in worship and communion at St. Andrew's, though, offered me a feeling of comfort, a feeling of being close to home. I like the idea of our Christian family gathering together symbolically, being united in this meal.

In the midst of this somewhat comfortable, familiar ritual, I felt a challenge in Karen's words from Archbishop Desmond Tutu. We are made for good, for togetherness, for compassion. There is a lot of division and fear in our world today - even in God's church. And so, having been strengthened in our meal together this morning, I was challenged to go out into my world this week to look beyond fear and division. God's uniting love is more powerful. It is up to us to spread the message that we are all made for good.
 

Sunday, Sept 25

I find myself writing another blog post from afar after having reviewed the bulletin online.  This weekend took Matt and several of our kids to Cub camp and the rest of us to Montreal.  I notice that Karen's sermon this week was about "the journey of Faith" - how appropriate that I am reading and writing this using the wifi on a ViaRail train!  I would have expected to feel more spiritual certainty and clarity, and feel like I have "arrived" somewhere by now in my life, but it is interesting that I do not.  I still feel very much like my faith and my life are works in progress. 

Watching the fall colours fly by through the train window, I was heartened to read this Morning Prayer from the bulletin:
God of radiance and glory you give life to all things and call us to life everlasting. Show us the treasure of your grace so that we may take hold of the life that really is life; through Christ Jesus, Lord of lords. Amen.

Best,
Rebecca B
 

Sunday, Sept 11

This is the day that the Lord has made.

That was the thought that bookended the beginning and end of the service this morning. Karen painted us a picture of her beautiful peaceful sunrise yesterday up at Gracefield, then to contrast this morning - the images of the fifteenth anniversary of the tragedy of Sept 11. But both these days were days that the Lord has made.

We are beginning to look at Genesis together and this morning Karen spoke to us about being made by God, and being brought to life with God's spirit. I was especially moved by the reminder that we are fashioned by God, like a potter making a vessel. It's work and you get dirt under your fingernails, but in the end theproduct has a little bit of the maker in its essence.

What really struck a chord with me was when Karen said the potter makes a vessel which is then used to serve others. We are given these beautiful days (and difficult ones too) but we are made in God's image to serve. It is one thing to be grateful for all the beauty and goodness around us, but we also have a responsibility to serve one another.

We ended this morning with the hymn, Joyful, joyful we adore you, and the words and music (and the chimes of the organ!) filled my heart. This is truly a day that the Lord has made, and I rejoice and am glad in it.

Maureen R.

On the road again

The last week before school starts found us in New York. This was the first trip there for Emma and a long overdue return for Christelle and I. We found a great place to stay on the Upper West Side and were blessed with good weather.  As we were only a few blocks away from Redeemer Presbyterian Church I attended both a classical - grand piano and string quartet - service on Sunday morning and a jazz service in the evening with full jazz band, saxophonist and all. I lucked out as Tim Keller returned to preach after his summer vacation. The auditorium was almost full in the morning, circa 700 people, with “only” maybe 500 at the evening service. Mind you there were about eight different services at the three Manhattan locations of Redeemer that day. 

If I was only to hear Tim Keller preach once in my life then Sunday’s theme of “patience” couldn’t have been more apt. The prospect of having to try to balance my interests with the wishes and desires of my two intrepid travelling companions could tempt me to say that on its own however patience is more fundamentally something I haven’t been too well-endowed with during my life. Anyway Tim didn’t disappoint with his message, I thoroughly enjoyed both services and we survived the week. So much so in fact that we certainly will not be waiting another twenty years to take a bite out of the Big Apple.  More info on Redeemer can be found at redeemer.com and on Tim Keller’s work at gospelinlife.com. 

Bruce F.