Preparing for Lent

As we are preparing to enter the Lent season, I believe God is giving us an opportunity to reflect on what this concretely means to our life nowadays. Nowadays we have so many distractions basically linked to the interconnected world in which we are living. It can therefore be challenging to follow Jesus day by day and hour by hour. But this is exactly what God wants us to do, and more to trust him. I deeply belive that the Lent season is giving us the opportunity to learn how to imitate Jesus' discipline and more to follow him day by day, minute by minute. 

Laurentine M.

Do Unto others.

Luke 6:31

31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Our New Testament reading today had many incarnations this weekend. Luke 6:27-38

Of course it is a lesson well worth repeating every single day.

On Saturday many members of our congregation took the long cold walk in Support of the Ottawa Mission. Coldest Night of the Year Walk. Our congregation was putting into action the words we were taught. Funds raised go towards those that are hungry, homeless and hurting at the Ottawa Mission. St. Andrew’s All Saints Team were our representatives showing our Christian faith in deeds. May we all be able to follow such an excellent example.

Saturday night we connected with our past and honoured those who gave their all including their lives for us. Remembering and Understanding the Heritage of African Canadians – Part of Canada’s Heritage All-Year Long. This event explored the military heritage of African Canadians during the First World War and how the voices of minorities are heard in the telling of Canada’s history. Adrian Harewood of CBC Ottawa moderated presentations by Anthony Sherwood, Blake Seward and Kathy Grant. First it was a huge thrill to have the chance given to us by our Memorials committee to honour these heroes. What was very nice is that we were able to have the event covered by our committees. Admission was free but donations of non-perishable food items for the Centretown Emergency Food Centre were encouraged. Honouring our African Canadian Heroes and raising food for the food centre was pretty special but the reception afterwards was the icing on the cake. A remarkable group of our ladies with Central African backgrounds prepared an absolute feast of African cuisine. I can personally never refuse the beignets these ladies make. This was such a joy, a celebration of Heroes, an outpouring of support and effort by our congregational ladies.

Sunday morning Karen based her Sermon on our reading. Love those who......

Luke 6: 32-38

32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return.[a] Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.

A very strong message of support to all, not just those we would see as friends. A tough lesson but ultimately very fulfilling.

Finally, we had our annual meeting. It has been a tough year, but we are slowly looking to improve the situation. We have learned what we need to do , we need to work together to gather our resources and build the future.

Luke 6:38

38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

We have been blessed with a very strong show of the lesson of the Day. We are more blessed that many members of our congregation live the words.

 A blessing in Jesus name for all these amazing examples.

Noral R.

The Lord bless you and keep you

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the Israelites: You shall say to them,

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

So they shall put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.” - Numbers 6:22-27, NRSVA

This day is brought to you courtesy of.....

How would you complete this sentence? Rev. Dimock's sermon this morning gave me food (or fish?) for thought. Like Simon in the scripture reading from Luke 5:1-11 we have all had days when we did not catch any fish. We must not forget that the largeness and generosity in life is only available to us thanks to God so there is always time.   As Rev. Dimock pointed out, we may not always be ready for those moments when God is near.  Perhaps this happens during a time of stress or grief or when we are faced with a decision about what is the 'right thing' to do.  Help us to feel and welcome those moments when God is near.

Jeanie H.

Kirkin of the Tartan

Today we celebrated the celebration of the legend of the Kirkin of the Tartan.

Legend goes like this,

On July 25, 1745, the young Prince Charles Edward Stewart, “Bonnie Prince Charlie” returned from exile in France and landed at Lochnanaugh in Scotland where he began to enlist the Highland Clans for an unsuccessful attempt to dethrone George II of England and to restore the Scottish throne to the Royal House of Stewart.

Following Prince Charlie’s defeat, the Act of Proscription — to subdue the vanquished Highlanders — banned the wearing of any sign of the Tartan, forbade any speaking in Gaelic, outlawed Scottish music, dancing, or the playing of the pipes.

During the 36 years following the Disarming Act of 1746 when the Hanoverian English government strictly enforced this ban, during the Sunday service Scottish Highlanders would touch the hidden piece of tartan cloth under their clothes when the minister gave the benediction or kirkin’, thus rededicating themselves to God and their Scottish heritage.

The likely actual story is perhaps more interesting.

The Kirkin’ o’ th’ Tartans service was created or “revived” during World War II by Reverend Peter Marshall, perhaps best known for the biographical book and film A Man Called Peter. Marshall was originally from southwest Scotland, and at one time pastor of the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C. In 1943 he was the first Chaplain of the U.S. Senate. To encourage Scottish-Americans to sign up to fight on behalf of Great Britain, Peter Marshall recreated the Kirkin’ o’ th’ Tartans ceremony to instill pride among Scottish-Americans in their Scottish homeland. The ceremony was at that time held in Presbyterian churches of Scottish heritage across the US.

Our Church has always celebrated the roots that tie us back to Scotland. It is always a pleasure to have opportunity to enjoy the fruits of that connection. The Scottish Society of Ottawa helped us celebrate in style. With Tartans worn with pride, the lilt of the pipes and the sweet treats from Scotland.

The day was a celebration that enhanced our love of our varied and impressive history and roots. This coming month we get to further celebrate our diversity and roots. Feb 23, we celebrate Black History month with food from some of our newer members. If you have not tried their previous offerings you are in for a treat.

The nice thing is our reading this Sunday puts this very diversity into Christian perspective. 1 Corinthians 12:12–31

12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by[a] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.

25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

So we see in Christ that we celebrate our different origins as they bring about the whole of the body. It is in this we take pride, the strength of our roots makes the melting of our cultures the strong tree we remain.

Take this pride in Jesus name as we strengthen the ties that bind.

Noral R.

Gifts to share

We got a taste of today's sermon from Rev. Dimock's weekly congregational email:
"So think of it like this: that as we use our gifts together, giving ourselves for each other, then our common life, lived for the common good, is like a beautiful piece of music, soaring to the heavens and giving glory to God."

The message in 1 Corinthians 12: 1-11 is a favourite and resonates with me every day.  Like Corinth, Ottawa has diverse communities.   We all have gifts.  Our gifts are not tied to our status - although I wonder about that as I write it. 

I think of the gifts of students who don't believe they have any - or any status.  I think of the l'Arche communities around the world.  People with and without intellectual disabilities who share life in communities.  Mutual relationships and trust in God are at the heart of their journey together. They celebrate the unique value of every person and recognize their need of one another.  There is much to learn from their experiences.

Jeanie H.

All of our relations

All my relations is an Aboriginal saying which loosely translates to "we are all related/connected"

Today, we were privileged to hear reflections from Rev Linda of St Marks Presbyterian Church Orillia and of her work with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Her thoughts tied nicely with the Gospel of Mark  that was read - a story of conflict, where Jesus was accused by his family and teachers of the law. This story of strife is not too different from the current state of our church.

The Presbyterian Church was responsible for 11 Residential schools prior to the 1920s. An institute that was supposed to love and be Christ’s example was responsible for so much strife among our brothers and sisters in the Indigenous communities.

A house divided against itself cannot stand. We must right the wrongs and seek forgiveness of our past. We must acknowledge the extreme hardships that we caused, learn from our mistakes. 

When we have compassion for the wounds of others, we will get closer to Jesus. And then we might hear him say "This is my family, all my relations".

Koko B.