Christmas Morning

And the angels said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be for all the people.” Luke 2:10

Earlier this week, I joined others at the Blue Christmas service. It is a time of gathering during the longest night of the year and to reflect and feel God’s love embracing us. It is the light from the few flickering candles on that very dark night that filled me with hope, peace, love and joy for what was to come. 

By the time Christmas morn arrived, the Christ candle was lit and the sun was shining on a brilliant winter morning – the beauty of the candle and the splendour of the morning enveloped me with God’s love and great joy, which he gave us in the birth of his Son.

During the time with the children and mediation this morning, Karen told us the story about Nicholas and Hannah, and the gifts that they bought for Jesus. Along their journey they gave the gifts to those that really needed them, and then felt empty-handed when they wanted to give them to Jesus. We were reminded that when we give to others, we are giving to Jesus Christ.

As Christmas season draws to an end, may we remember what God has given to us and what we can do all year long to share God’s love, like Nicholas and Hannah.

Colleen G.

Lighting the Candle of Love

This morning during worship, Karen talked to us about Mary and Mary's prayer of praise, the magnificat. While talking about church over lunch, my parents and I marvelled at how that would have felt for Mary to be greeted with such unreserved, enthusiastic affirmation from her cousin Elizabeth. Even when you know what you feel is right (and Mary seemed quite certain in understanding the importance of the baby she was carrying!) to have that confirmation come would be a relief! To be with someone who whole-heartedly believed her unconventional story - little wonder Mary responded with such outpouring of emotion!

But what I really appreciated about the sermon was the reminder that the magnificat pushes us out into the world, shows us that something new is starting - but not yet here. In the magnificat, we wait with vulnerable people in solidarity, and we see God's work in the world around us. A beautiful, warm reminder of love in these dark cold days.

‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
   and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
   Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
   and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
   from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
   he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
   and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
   and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
   in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
   to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’

Maureen R.

Gift Giving

This morning, our sermon titled 'Gift Giving', was from Rev. Dr. Sandy Scott. He spoke from the heart, and in a way that opened up his own personal experiences to share with all of us. (Recommend giving it a listen). What resonated with me was the importance of acceptance and what being a part of a family gives us. How it gives us a history, a place and a home, things that we expect to have simply by being born. For many, being born is just not that simple, like the complication of Mary's pregnancy and what it meant for Joseph. The loyalty that was needed in order to believe Mary and step forward and offer family to Jesus was incredible.  Giving the gift of family.

I think we all know someone who was adopted, or maybe a few someones, and it's a different experience for everyone.  For my part, and really it's the only part I can speak to, being biologically related to a person does not automatically transcribe into a familial obligation or bond. It's by loving someone, by caring for them, and if they're children; it means by raising them that you build a family. If my daughters had been birthed by someone else and then given to me, I would love them just as much as I do now.

Sarah L.

Second Sunday of Advent

On this, the second week of Advent, we lit a candle for peace. This was done of course on Sunday morning, the morning after the church's annual "Round the World" potluck, which Rev. Dimock referred to in her sermon when she talked about family trees and how we are all part of God's family.  The sermon also referred to the lion laying down with the lamb. This made me think about how the radical ideas of Jesus relate to over-riding tribalism and going beyond the cruelty of the evolutionary survival of the fittest, about "do unto others" rather than "might makes right."

These themes resonated wonderfully with the historic commemoration of the 50 year anniversary of the ordination of women in the Presbyterian Church, with communion served entirely by women.  It was a great honour and an electric feeling to be part of this celebration of the Lord's supper and a wonderful moment to see all of the men in the sanctuary, larger then us, for the most part, and stronger, encouraging us to walk equally with them, and for us all to acknowledge the support by our church of the equality of women with men. It gave me a feeling, indeed, of peace. 

Rebecca B.
 

Gathering of Solidarity, November 20th 2016

Over the past 6 days, hateful, racist messages have been spray-painted on 5 places of worship in Ottawa:  Parkdale United Church (for the second time since January), a synagogue, the home of a rabbi, a mosque and a Jewish Community Centre.

Yesterday, Karen and I and other members of St. Andrew’s joined 100’s and 100’s of others at the Machzikel Hadas Synagogue for a solidarity gathering.  Muslims, Jews and Christians came together to respond together to this vandalism.  As Rev. Anthony Bailey of Parkdale United Church said:  “Such behaviour must never, ever, be the norm – for any group.” 

As part of this service of solidarity yesterday, the whole congregation stood and read these words together, affirming our united stand against racism and our commitment to love, peace and acceptance.

Today, congregations all over Ottawa will be reading these words together as well.

Please stand with me, if you are able, and let us here at St. Andrew’s read these words together.

Here are the words of solidarity, written by members of the congregation of the Machzikel Hadas Synagogue.                      

                                     Expression of Solidarity and Gratitude
                                          Congregation Machzikel Hadas
                                                     November 19th, 2016

We gather together as a united community to express in words what we feel in our hearts.     Painful events of the past week have proven a number of important points.
Words of concern and empathy are more powerful than graffiti.
Expressions of love are more potent than expressions of hate.
The power of togetherness is stronger than the power of divisiveness.
A community standing together negates evil intentions.
Words of comfort heal the wounds of verbal assault.
A common commitment to everyone protects against an attack on anyone.

We are strong because we are resolute in our togetherness.
We are even stronger because we are cooperative in our diversity
We gather to focus on the good that inheres in all of us.
We gather to extol the mosaic that defines who we are.
We gather to celebrate the beauty of our community.
We gather to express our gratitude for the wonderful people who comprise this great city, our Nation’s Capital.
We gather to be thankful for living in this caring country, Canada.

We resolve, individually and collectively, to do all within our power to assure that this
Is the Canada that our children and theirs will inherit. 

Amen.

What are you waiting for?

I think that, sometimes, we Christians use prayer as a bit of a cop out. We think that, in praying for something, we have done all we can and that God will take care of the rest. We can check that off the list. Particularly at this time of year... "Come, Lord Jesus!" we cry over and over again, into the darkness. And then we sit back and wait for God to come into our midst and clean up our mess.

And yet the mess is still there on Boxing Day, isn't it?

Karen suggested a different kind of prayer to us this morning, though. A different way to be people of faith in this time of waiting. Basically, we need to get moving! Like the spy glass in her story, Micah and the other prophets show us that a different world is possible. Despite the fact that we are a mess, they remind us of God's love and show us the possibilities for our world.

And so it is up to us to carry the light of the candle of hope with us this week. There is so much darkness out there (literally and figuratively!), but that light is shining in us. It is up to us to go out and do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with our God.

"You pray for the hungry. Then you feed them. This is how prayer works."
Pope Francis

Laura S.

Reflections on November 11

I sat beside a veteran travelling alone on the bus to the Remembrance Day ceremony downtown this morning. He seemed very old; in fact he was well over ninety, he told me in an Indian accent. Tiny and brown-skinned, he wore a Sikh turban and beard net. There were four or five medals hanging on the left side of his navy blue uniform. I noticed that his shoes were very well polished. 

I wanted to take and post a photo of this amazing character, but I worried that it might be disrespectful. I wasn't even sure from our discussion in which conflict he had served.  It sounded to me like he had been with a Sikh unit during Partition, but I suppose if he was far enough into his nineties it could well have been WWII. He said there were lots of deaths where he served and he came to the Remembrance ceremonies whenever he could. 

After getting off the bus at Metcalfe Street I lost sight of him for a bit in the crowd heading toward the War Memorial. I lost sight because I was worriedly checking for him BEHIND me when he was actually well AHEAD, and when I saw him next he was executing a flawless slow-motion sprint across Elgin to beat the traffic light. 

Today, November 11, I'd like to say thank you to my remarkable bus buddy, thank you to all our veterans and thank you to all our serving members. Huddled at the Memorial in a cold wind watching our Prime Minister and his wife, the Vice-Regal couple and this year's Silver Cross mother lay their wreaths in front of a beautifully diverse assembly of faces and uniforms, I was reminded yet again of how blessed we Canadians are. Thank you, Lord, for the incomparable gift of peace. 

Joan R.