Sunday January 18

Huda started her sermon this morning with an anecdote about a job applicant who listened carefully, figured out hidden cues and got the job.  As a retired educator, I was pleased to hear Huda reinforce the 'art' of listening - not just hearing but actively listening, waiting and giving of ourselves during the process.

In the Old Testament reading, Samuel was sure it was Eli calling him in the middle of the night in the temple but it was the Lord summoning him. In the New Testament, Nathanael was more of a cynic when Philip spoke to him and said they had found the one Moses wrote about - in Nazareth. He did follow Philip to 'come and see'.

It would do us all some good to slow down, hear the cues and really listen.  Daily noise can overwhelm us and then how attentive are we? Prayer can help us 'tune in' and maybe then we can hear God calling us to do something.

What word does God have for you?

Sunday January 11

At Christmas, Karen almost warned us that in the church year, we see and enjoy Christ the baby and child for just a fleeting moment.  And already today we were shown Christ the young man being baptized by John.

We recognize Jesus as Beloved of God. And today we were challenged to think of ourselves as Beloved of God. Does God love what is the best in each of us or are we loved for all that we are?  And do we love all of one another or do we pick and choose the "best" bits?  We are reminded that to love means encompassing all that each one of is.

When have you felt confident that you are a Beloved of God and a Beloved of humanity?  When have you felt that you have received blessings?  And how are we called to ensure that those around us feel our love and through us, God's blessings?  God is delighted with each of us. I pray that I may be confident and worthy of this delight.

Billie S.

January 4 - Epiphany Sunday

Epiphany Sunday, this week after the rush of Christmas, feels like looking back over our Christmas and Advent journey with the advantage of hindsight.  Kind of like watching a trailer for a movie you've already seen, it's an overview of a familiar story.  Singing, "O star of wonder, star of light" has a special meaning when we've just spent the last weeks talking about all aspects of light in the darkness.

During her sermon, Karen spoke to us about the Magi, these vaguely described "visitors from the East." But she also talked about two other Kings, Herod and Jesus.  The contrast between one: conniving, calculating, ruthless, self-serving, inciting fear; and the other in whose presence one feels joy, hope and welcome.

As the delicious smell of the youth baking the galettes de Rois wafted up from the kitchen, we were reminded that we have been kindled by the Christ candle and are called to let God's light shine through us. I felt commissioned by the verses from Isaiah in the opening call to worship:

Arise, shine; for your light has come,
   and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

Sunday, December 21

At this week's service, what I was thinking about most was the season of advent as a time of preparation. This week's candle is for love. The children's choir sang about advent, and love. And Christmas is very much about love, even the secular Christmas celebrated in films like "Love Actually," where it is pointed out that "love, actually, is all around.  Just go to the arrivals gate at the Heathrow Airport."

I was struck also this week by the following phrase in an advent hymn: "these days of adventure." Advent is a season of preparing ourselves, our lives, our homes for the arrival of our saviour. And, I think it's highly appropriate for us to think of that as an adventure.  Advent, after all, for many of us involves adventures.  Before we had kids, my husband and I used to travel back to Calgary for Christmas every year, and that was always an adventure of delayed flights, lost luggage and many storms.  Now, various of our relatives come to see us - and our kids - at Christmas, and they undertake their own adventures to do so.  For instance, this year, my father is driving from Calgary to Ottawa to see his grandchildren.  I learned this morning that his car had broken down outside of Thunder Bay and he is now waiting for a mechanic's office to open up Monday morning so he can get the truck repaired and continue on his journey. 

Advent so often involves the adventures, sometimes arduous ones, we undertake for love, whether they are geographical or emotional journeys.  And that's beautiful, and painful.  A prayer for safe passage on your adventures; blessings to all on their holiday journeys.

-Rebecca B.

Blue Christmas

In gathering together during the darkness and cold of winter, we wait expectantly for  the Christ Child and open our hearts to God’s loving presence and healing power.  Join us December 21st, at 7:30 p.m.

A Service of Light in the Midst of Darkness

There are many of us who approach the days of Christmas with mixed feelings. During these weeks of December as we are bombarded by preparations, gift buying, colourful decorations and endless “holiday” music, we may find ourselves remembering with sorrow times past and loved ones lost. It can be a hurtful and lonely time in the midst of a celebrating world.

In response and care, The Pastoral Care Ministry is again honoured to host The Blue Christmas, a moving service of quiet worship traditionally held on the longest night of the year. Through peaceful meditation, scripture reading, prayer, singing and the lighting of candles, we are invited to open our hearts and souls to God, and prepare to receive the Christ child — the greatest gift our world has ever seen — a gift of hope and healing, love and redemption.

Following this candle lit service in the Sanctuary, we gather together in Grant Hall to enjoy some warm cider and comforting treats while finding assurance and strength in the company of friends.

This special service is a welcome retreat for everyone and especially for those who are experiencing bereavement and other challenges in life. Please come by yourself or with a friend and be with us during this time of peace, encouragement and consolation.

Sunday December 7

I appreciated what Karen said today about taking a stand against injustice and how difficult that can be. As John the Baptist did, we are called to speak truth about the gaps between our present world and God's dream for our world. Like Karen, I have been finding the news particularly hard to take recently - the racial tensions in the US justice system, and sexual harassment and violence against women in Canada as just two examples. There is profound injustice in our world - but it is hard to stand up to that. Very powerful people and systems have caused that injustice.
 

I am thankful for those who are willing to speak out - who find the strength to stand up to those who are often much stronger. And yet sometimes it is hard for me even to listen to those messages. It can be uncomfortable, as Karen said, or God's kingdom on earth can seem just so far away. I have heard the messages before, calling for action and justice... but that fair, equitable, loving world seems too impossible sometimes.
 

So that is how I am going to try to prepare my heart for the coming of the Christ child this year. To listen anew and to be open to stories I have already heard - both the good news of Jesus' birth, and the hope of those who are working to make this world a more just place. Maybe I will hear in a new way, and maybe I will be changed. And maybe that will be just a beginning step in this new church year in striving to realize God's kingdom here on earth.

"Courage, my friends - 'tis not too late to build a better world." - The Honourable and Reverend Tommy Douglas

Laura S.

Sunday Nov 30 - Beginning with hope

It was such a pleasure to be able to listen to the first sermon for the Rev. Dr. Karen Dimock at St. Andrew's Ottawa. This is the First Sunday in Advent and we lit the Hope candle.  The light burst forth and provided illumination for a while.  I liked it when Karen said wherever there is laughter there is hope.  The ability to laugh in the midst of our foibles is witness to God's presence - perhaps that is why I love to laugh!

There is beauty in the candle flame yet it is fragile - one small puff of air can blow it out.  Hope can be like that for many; just when they feel they have turned the corner something else happens to squash that sense of hope.

Karen also pointed out that when we look at a candle it can make us more aware of the darkness around it and not the light.  We need to focus on that half-full cup!

Christmas is often a time that opens up old wounds or hurts and makes our hearts cry.  As in Isaiah 64:1-9: "Oh that thou wouldst rend the heavens, that thou wouldst come down, that the mountains might flow down at they presence."

We need Hope for all parts of our life journey,  Advent is the beginning of our journey at St. Andrew's with Christmas at the start of the year!  Church time is not linear but circular with endings merging with beginnings.  Our hopes and fears come together.  For some they may feel God's absence more than His presence.

How will we take this message of Hope with us this week? Will we grumble less?  Will we reach out to someone? Will we laugh a little more?

As we are vulnerable so is a flame - so is Hope. Yet that same flame is strong as others are lit from it.

We are blessed to have Karen with us this Advent as she begins her journey with us.

Jeanie H.