He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

He's Got the Whole World In His Hands

Today we talked about loving care for us all. Our first hymn was 190 You Thirsty  Ones where God fill our belly with food and , our thirst is sated with the water of the everlasting and our souls are filled with His spirit. A very nice start to a service of blessing for the gifts he has given us, including his only son.

Our prayer of confession cleared our hearts and souls to receive the blessings of Jesus Christ that we may live in his way and word. A truly joyful hope for the future.

Our musical approach is without a doubt one of my favourites. He's got the  whole world in his hands. I always loved the positive upbeat message and the comfort of knowing that God is always with us as he cares and protects us. To know that God is with us in our toughest times and greatest joys.

He's got the itty bitty baby in His hands

And so it follows that the Baptism we enjoyed today is the first step in feeding,watering and filling his soul and ours. The taking up of an itty bitty baby in his hands. God IS with us.

The scripture readings furthered this idea when they talked about the sabbath.

Mark 2:23-28
23 One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” 25 And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? 26 He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” 27 Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; 28 so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”

The Sabbath was about the compact that God gave the people and the promise to honour Him by showing respect for the Sabath.

Exodus 20: 8-12
8 Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 10 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it. 12 Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

King of glory, King of peace,
I will love Thee;
and that love may never cease,
I will move Thee.
Thou hast granted my request,
Thou hast heard me;
Thou didst note my working breast,
Thou hast spared me.

God is with us always and it is for US to remind that we are also always with God. The Sabbath is our time to set aside to honour what has been given for and to us.

In Jesus Name.

Amen

Noral R.

Be still and know ...

Rev. Dimock used the words from Genesis 28: 10-22 for today's sermon.  Sadly, the story of Jacob seems very modern - conniving, lying, cheating, inheritance and family estrangement. 

How often are we still?  Do we take time to be quiet and reflect on the blessings in our lives?  The fact we are not alone?  We are loved?  How often do we feel vulnerable?

This Sunday is a difficult time as we are confronted with the hatred and violence in New Zealand.  We pray for our Muslim neighbours who were physically vulnerable in their houses of worship.

'God was in this place and I did not know.'

In some reading about these words,  we have to ask if this is when Jacob suddenly becomes aware of the potential divinity with himself, the place where God can reside? Or, does it mean that only when we are not filled with our egos can we truly experience God’s presence? Both remind us how ever-present God can be and how easy it is to say “But I did not know.”

Jeanie H.

Time change

As we started the day with a time change (regardless of how you feel about Daylight Savings Time), we are also coming into a time of change in the church.  It is a time to consider God's invitation to leave our comfortable lives and hear His call given to us through Jesus.  It is a time of reflection, of deep internal consideration of how best to follow Jesus' teachings.  Are we able to take those teachings on board?  Are we able to work with the deeply uncomfortable changes He calls us to make?  How can these changes be reflected back into our community and into the world community?  Without the knowledge of the love which will never let us go, we can only struggle as individuals but with the knowledge of that love, we can conquer all challenges.  It is indeed a time of change and challenge, temptation and false promises but in turning our eyes away from these temptations, we are able to focus on what is true, what is whole and what will lead to a life everlasting.

Laura M.

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.