Pastoral Reflections

Grace to you and peace!

In my morning Bible reading this week I was drawn to an amazing truth from the early chapters of Exodus. God hears our cries!

The Israelites groaned under their slavery, and cried out. Out of the slavery their cry for help rose up to God. ²⁴ God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. ²⁵ God looked upon the Israelites, and God took notice of them. (Exodus 2)

God heard the cries of the Israelites, look upon them and took notice of them!

Through all of history God has heard the cries of his people. God heard the cry of Hagar and her boy (Genesis 21.15-19). God heard the cry of Hannah (1 Samuel 1). God heard the cry of Mary weeping outside the tomb of Jesus (John 20.11ff). Jesus heard the cry of Martha, Mary and the friends of Lazarus, and Jesus wept with them (John 11). God hears the cries of his people and God responds!

The Psalmist David gave testimony to this truth in his personal song of praise,

¹⁷ The Lord hears his people when they cry to him for help. God rescues them from all their troubles. ¹⁸ The Lord is close to the broken-hearted; the Lord rescues those whose spirits are crushed. (Psalm 34)

The last year has brought various occasions for tears, crying and crushed spirits. We have grieved the death of friends and loved ones, felt the loss of in person connections with family and friends, experienced times of feeling so alone; we have longed to be with those who are hurting, aging, experiencing personal crisis, living through significant life transition, but this pandemic has keep us apart; we have watched the struggle and heard the cries of our children as they work at on line learning when in person learning at school is what they long for and need; we have faced our own daily challenges in the midst of this pandemic, at times we have thrived and at other times barely survived; we have felt the multiple losses over the last 10 months and we have grieved, and we have cried. And we still do!

The story of God’s people reminds us that when we cry God hears!

And when we weep God takes notice and God cares! Psalm 56.8 tells us that God keeps track of all our sorrows. Collects all our tears in a bottle, recording each one in God’s book.

Each time we cry, each tear we shed is remembered and is held by God.

And through a text, phone call, note or card; through an act of kindness by a neighbour or a friend; through a word of grace from a fellow traveller on this journey; through the hug from your child or grandchild; through a word of scripture; through the work of the Spirit in ways we may never fully understand; God acts to honour our tears, to restore our souls and to bring us to new freedom, life and joy!

⁴ Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert.
⁵ Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy. ⁶ Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves. (Psalm 126)

Pastor Ray

Greetings in the name of Jesus, who baptises us with the Holy Spirit and fire!

John, Zachariah’s son, out in the desert at the time, received a message from God. He went all through the country around the Jordan River preaching a baptism of life-change leading to forgiveness of sins…

(I share this recap from Sunday’s sermon, January 10, 2021)

The new year is an ideal time to do a bit of self-reflection and formally state our intentions – not just to lose weight or pick up a new hobby but to revisit and reaffirm our baptismal vows and recommit our lives to this purpose. To declare that despite the fear of the virus, despite the hatred and divisions that divide humanity, despite the despair and uncertainty of our world – we resolve to live lives that reflect Christ.

Last Sunday on Zoom, we recommitted to our baptismal vows and sprinkled ourselves with the water of new life. In doing so, we recognized that the promises that we make in baptism are not promises we make only once but promises we strive to live out every day for the whole of our life. It is important to return to these vows that we have made and continually renew our commitment to our God who remains faithful to us. And so we thought it was important for you to have a printed copy of our baptismal vows:

We confess our personal commitment to Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, trusting in his death and resurrection for the forgiveness of our sins.

In the power of God’s Spirit, we will turn from our own sinful desires and all that holds us back from God.

We will continue to be lifelong, daily disciples of Jesus Christ, seeking to deepen our relationship with God through prayer, scripture reading and friendship with God’s people.

We are willing to give and receive counsel from the members of this congregation and live in fellowship together.

With God’s help, we are ready to live as members of the new humanity created in Jesus Christ, offering our gifts and abilities to partner with God’s mission in the world.

Like new year’s resolutions, baptismal vows are easy to say but much harder to keep. How can we be more successful in staying true to our vows? Like New Year’s resolutions, it’s best to create a plan.

1. Mentally prepare for change by doing a personal inventory. What habits do you need to turn away from?
2. Set a goal that motivates you. What aspect of living out your faith do you really care about?
3. Break big goals into smaller goals.
4. Be specific.
5. Write down your goals.
6. Share you goals with others. Send your pastors an emailJ
7. Automate your goals. Put it in your calendar. Use notifications.
8. Review your goals regularly.
9. If you fall off track, get back on quick.

Remember, it’s not about getting it right. It is about being in right relationship – a loving relationship with God, who sees us trying and says: “this is my beloved son, this is my beloved daughter, in whom I am well pleased.”

Pastor Tanya

Portable CMU 2020-21

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

² For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.
³ Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. (Isaiah 60)

This passage of scripture from Isaiah is often used to mark the day of Epiphany celebrated by Christians around the world on January 6. Epiphany has been celebrated since the 3^rd or 4^th century CE as a reminder that the purposes of Advent and Christmas have been fulfilled. Epiphany marks the high point of the Advent-Christmas season and is an experience of a sudden and striking realization. The light of Jesus has come! And the light is a light for all people! The coming of the Magi, from a distant land to Bethlehem, to worship Jesus unveils this truth.

Epiphany makes clear that the light of Jesus has come to us and that this light is not a light to be kept hidden in our church buildings, homes and hearts. The light that has come to dispel darkness is a light meant for all people and for all nations of the world.  

As the pandemic continues; as cases of Covid increase through our community, across our country and around the world; as violence and unrest simmers and erupts; as health challenges increase; as mental health struggles intensify; as pressures on parents, students and teachers rise; as uncertainty continues; as the isolation of winter deepens; as “darkness covers the earth and its people”, we are reminded that we need light! The Christmas season proclaims that the glory of the Lord has risen over us, that the brightness of dawn is upon us, that the light of Jesus has come! And if this light that is Jesus is for all people and all nations then our invitation and challenge is to let it shine. Our calling is to live as people of light wherever light is needed.

As we pack away our Christmas decorations and enter into a New Year may we be reminded that the work of Christmas continues. That is true all the time but maybe especially true this year. A poem called “The Work of Christmas” composed by Howard Thurman, an African-American theologian, educator, and civil rights leader reminds us that as the Christmas season ends the work of Christmas begins.

When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among the people,
to make music in the heart.

Our communities, our nation and our world, more than needing churches that defiantly insist on gathering in a building on their own terms, need a people of God who scatter under the direction of God’s Spirit to shine the light of Jesus in their homes, schools, neighbourhoods, and places of work. Our communities and our world need followers of Jesus who will commit again in 2021 to be the church, to be the light, to be people of healing and hope who extend God’s love wherever they are and wherever they go! How is God inviting you to be the light?

As we each shine our light we will discover that increasing light comes back to us too!

Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!
May you receive the light of Jesus! And may you share it where it is needed right now!

Pastor Ray

Hope, comfort and peace to you as we enter 2021!

³ Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

2020 has been a year like no other!

As I reflected on this year I was drawn to the story of Simeon and Anna told in Luke 2:25-38. Simeon and Anna were two elderly and devout people of God who were waiting and longing for the arrival of the Lord’s Messiah. About 40 days after his birth Jesus was brought to the Temple to be presented to the Lord in an act of dedication. Simeon was guided by the Spirit to the temple that day, and Anna was already there. Luke says she never left the temple “but worshiped there with fasting and prayer day and night.” (v.37)

Simeon and Anna immediately recognized the significance of Jesus. Simeon saw Jesus first and took him in his arms. We can imagine an elderly man, with a white beard and failing eyesight, reaching out his wrinkled hands to gently touch the newborn child. Mary hands him the baby the old man cradles new life. Simeon may have had failing physically sight but his spiritual vision was 20/20. As Simeon held Jesus Anna came close, praised God and began to speak about the child. Both Simeon and Anna saw Jesus for who he was!

As we read the story we are reminded of who Simeon and Anna spiritually see. They see Jesus as the one who will console their people. Simeon and Anna, along with the nation of Israel, was longing for consolation.  They needed comfort, relief, compassion, and hope! When Simeon held Jesus he knew within his being that the comfort needed had come. That comfort, embodied in the human baby Jesus, became God’s gift of salvation! Simeon and Anna could clearly see, that in and through Jesus, redemption, deliverance, rescue, salvation had come! And would continue to come. They realized that in Jesus light had come to invade the darkness!

 ²⁸ Simeontook [Jesus] in his arms and praised God, saying,

²⁹ “Master, now you are dismissing your servantin peace, according to your word;
³⁰ for my eyes have seen your salvation, ³¹ which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” (Luke 2)

Like Simeon and Anna we have longed for consolation and light this year; we have longed for comfort and hope. Much of that longing has come because of the restrictions and health challenges caused by the current pandemic. The pandemic has resulted in a struggle to maintain physical, social, emotional, relational and mental health. It has felt some days like the journey through 2020 has been difficult and long. We have longed for freedom from this virus and all its impacts.

But that longing for comfort and light has come for other reasons too. We have grieved the death of loved ones this year. We have faced the challenges of sickness, disease and aging bodies. We have struggled with relational conflict. We have all needed consolation/comfort for one reason or more.

It’s my prayer that you have been reminded through this Christmas season that God has come and continues to come as one who brings comfort, salvation and light! Jesus was and is who Simeon and Anna, and so many others, believed he was! Jesus is, “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  (Isaiah 9.6). Jesus is “Emmanuel which means, “God is with us.” (Matthew 1:23). Jesus is our comfort/consolation! (Luke 2:25)

As I reflect back on this year that has reinforced our need for comfort, hope and light I realize how that comfort has come to us in so many wonderful ways. It has come through the extra phone calls and video chats we made and received. It has come through Zoom worship that we have faithfully continued to join even when we experienced Zoom fatigue. I know seeing the faces and names of the members of our family of faith has brought so much needed comfort. Comfort has come through driveway, porch, garage and backyard visits, whether those visits were a surprise, or planned in advance. It has come through the care package placed at the door of someone who was struggling. It has come through that recorded piece of music shared with the congregation. It has come through those kind words and actions freely shared. It has come through the thought or pray that was offered for you or by you.

All our efforts, as imperfect as they may have been, were transformed by the Spirit of God and used by God to bring comfort where it was so needed. Whenever we follow the lead of the Spirit and offer light and hope we help others receive comfort and we help each other to see Jesus!

God continues to come to bring comfort, light, salvation and hope. As we leave 2020 and enter into 2021 the pandemic continues. But so does the good news of God’s comfort! The message, light, hope, presence and consolation of Jesus continues! The Holy Spirt of comfort continues to move among us and through us.

Whenever we extend God’s love to those around us we share the comfort of God. Through our actions we speak about Jesus to all who long for comfort, salvation and light! As you enter 2021 may the peace of “our God of all comfort”, comfort you and make you a channel of comfort to others!

May the comfort of God, who took of human flesh in Jesus, be your comfort as you enter 2021!

Happy New Year!

Pastor Ray

Christmas Greetings 2020!

• 

…the Lord appeared to [Joseph] in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

²³ “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.”  (Matthew 1:20-23)

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and lived among us…. (John 1) 

In ages past the prophets spoke of it. 2000 years ago Jesus fulfilled the prophet’s message. Today we continue to live in the truth of the fulfilment. Jesus the saviour, conceived of the Holy Spirt, entered this world through the Virgin Mary and brought God to us in human flesh. This is Christmas! And the truth of Christmas forever changes our world and our lives!

God came near in Jesus and continues to live among us now. God comes bearing gifts. Gifts of hope, peace, joy, love, light and so much more!

In this year that has been so unusual, and through a Christmas that will feel so different from what we know, may you receive the gifts of Christmas.

HOPE to anchor you when the present and future seem unclear!

PEACE to fill you when anxiety and fear, violence and injustice overwhelm!

JOY to lighten you when the pressures and challenges of life weigh you down!

LOVE to enfold you when the hard places of life cause hurt and pain!

The LIGHT of Jesus Christ to shine in you and dispel the darkness all around!

May you receive these gifts of Christmas through the Spirit of God within you and the people of God around you! And may you share these gifts freely with all!

We wish for you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a hope filled New Year!

Pastor Tanya and Pastor Ray