Pastoral Reflections

Greetings in the name of our God of Peace! 

On Remembrance Day this week many of us paused to remember those who died in military service as they fought for the freedom of their country, families and the values so important to them. We remember their commitment and courage as they sacrificially gave their lives in their fight for freedom. We also remember those military personnel who physically survived through war but live with trauma that continues to war within them.

As we remember them we also remember the many other causalities and victims of war. Many civilians also suffered physical death and many suffered other losses and forms of death. Loss of loved ones, loss of home and family, loss of security, innocence, hope, peace….

We remember, not only to recalling the past, but to learn from the past and allow the story of the past to help inform and shape our future.

As we remember, on this week of Remembrance Day, may we commit again to do the work that makes for peace. May we strive to deepen our resolve to walk the nonviolent way of Jesus in all our relationships. May we be reminded that all people are God’s people and that God desires that we live together in peace and harmony. May we pray for our world and all its leaders so that their interactions and conversations lead to more peaceful ways of living together on planet earth. May we pray that weapons of war will be transformed into instruments of justice, life and peace! May we pray for the day that war will cease and that God’s kingdom will come and God’s will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

As we pray these big prayers for our world I pray we are inspired to do our part in the small piece of the world in which we live. Maybe our world will be transformed one person at a time! As the old song goes, “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me….”   Will we do our part to understand those who think differently and live differently than we do? Will we make friends instead of enemies? Will we live sacrificially instead of selfishly? Will we work to build bridges instead of barriers and walls? Will we make the choices that lead to the health and well-being of all? Will we look out, not only for our own interests, but also for the interests of others? Will we begin a ripple of love, understanding and compassion that will result in a tidal wave of good across our neighbourhood, country and around our world? 

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deedsdone in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵ Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. James 3:13-18

Pastor Ray            

Greetings to those who love talking to God

Lately, life has given us a plethora of fresh new reasons (and recycled old ones) to walk through our days in fear, confusion, worry, and shame. We sometimes even borrow trouble for hard days that haven’t hit us yet. Can you relate?

I generally believe that pausing to reflect on life, especially in nature, is therapeutic. But even then my thoughts can turn dark. If I’m not careful to take these thoughts captive, blessed moments of respite can become riddled with anxiety and paranoia. I can fail to stop and fully enjoy the blessing God has given to me! I begin to take credit for all I have and get to do, while worrying about when it will end, and things will get hard again. I forget to prioritize time with God the way I do when I desperately need Him to relieve some real-life pain.

“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” – 2 Corinthians 9:8

This verse reminds me to let go and let God do what God does.

So today, we can smile especially when it’s hard and hurts. Our eyes see our Creator’s hand as we take intentional time to peacefully watch the world go by. Because this day, God made for us, equipping us for the challenges of the hour. So we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Let’s Pray: Father, your faithfulness is never-ending, your mercies new every morning. There is none like you. Calm my anxiety, worry, and fear over when the calm water will kick up again. Help me not borrow trouble for hard days that aren’t here yet. Increase my confidence in you, my wisdom, and my ability to let your love flow freely through my everyday life.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Pastor Lloyd

Greetings to my fellow-labourers who join with me in wanting to ‘Know Christ, and make Him known’!

This Sunday we have special guests, via Zoom, led by our missions committee: Dann and Joji Pantoja. Dann and Joji have been our special global witness workers for some time. Here is an introduction to their activities:

The island of Mindanao is known as a conflict zone in the Philippines. It is also the home of Peace Builders Community Inc. (PBCI), founded by Dann and Joji Pantoja. PBCI provides peace & justice training for Christian church leaders, Indigenous leaders, and civil society organizations. Their vision is that by the year 2030 each of the 81 provinces will have an established Peace and Reconciliation team. As part of PBCI’s sustainable development initiative, Joji works as CEO of Coffee for Peace, a social enterprise that works directly with local coffee farmers to ensure a fair return for their product and responsible environmental practices.

Dann and Joji Pantoja, are embracing their Indigenous names and identities: they are Lakan Sumulong and Lakambini Mapayapa from the Tagalog tribe of Southern Luzon.

Interesting facts about the Philippines –                                                                

• The capital is Manila, which is the second largest city
• The nation has a population of 111 million people
• The land area is 30 million hectares, composed of 7,600 islands most of which are uninhabited, it is the second largest nation archipelago, with the fifth largest coastline of any country in the world, and has no land border with any country.
• There are 184 languages, two official, (Filipino, English) 
• There are 300 volcanoes, 24 active, with 20 earthquakes a day, most never felt.
• average height of people is: 5’ – 1” 
• Though officially the Philippines are a secular state, Christianity is the dominant faith and over 80 percent of the population is Catholic.
• The national dish of the Philippines may well be the adobo, a stew of port or chicken cooked with soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, bay leaf and peppercorns.
• Rice is a food staple, and may be eaten at every meal.  The rice terraces of the Cordillleras remain has they were in pre-colonial times, and are considered by the Filipinos to be the eighth wonder of the world. They were built over 2,000 years ago and are a now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• The only place in the world where skunks are found other than America is Indonesia and the Philippines, where they are called stink badgers.

Please pray for Dann & Joji as they share their heart with us on Sunday.  Pray that God will continue to bless their ministry and work amongst the Filipino people, and that peace will come to the island of Mindanao.

We are also witness workers, in our homes, at our jobs, in our activities, let us work for peace, justice, and the good news that there is hope as our Saviour, Jesus, is active with us, and empowering good.

Blessings as you labour for Him.

Pastor Lloyd

Greetings in the Name of the One who came to help us with stressbusters!

Jesus told his followers: “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find much rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.” Matt 11:28-30

Nobody carried greater stress in life than Jesus. He not only carried the sin of the world on him while on the cross, but he also faced constant demands during his life. People frequently wanted to see him and be healed by him. They hounded Him for ‘signs’. He had no privacy. Other people tried to trap him and they sought to kill him.

But Jesus knew how to handle the stress. He had an incredibly attractive balance to his life. He handled pressure with peace.

That’s what I want to be like. I’m guessing you want the same. In the next weeks, let us let Him teach us.

As I’ve studied the Bible, I’ve noticed seven secrets of stress management that Jesus consistently demonstrates:

Identification: Jesus knew who he was.

Motivation: Jesus knew what he was living for.

Vocation: Jesus understood his calling.

Concentration: Jesus knew what mattered most.

Meditation: Jesus listened to God.

Collaboration: Jesus had a small group.

Recreation: Jesus took time to recharge. 

The Apostle Paul said, ‘Don’t be pushed into a mold’! (Rom. 12:2) I believe we are less stressed when we don’t try to be someone we are not. We are less stressed when we play to our strengths.  We are less stressed when we are not trying to win everyone’s approval.  May we focus on pleasing Him alone.

Isaiah says, ‘You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you. (Is 26:3)

May we, the weary & heavy burdened, learn to find His rest, and bust stress, as Jesus did!

Pastor Lloyd

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend! Give thanks!

¹ Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!…

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. 

Give thanks to him, bless his name.

⁵ For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations. (Psalm 100)

As we enter into Thanksgiving weekend I invite us to pause and ponder the faithfulness, goodness and steadfast love of our God. I invite us to give thanks!

To give thanks for God’s faithfulness expressed through God’s goodness, love, grace, courage, wisdom, endurance, strength, healing, hope, peace, comfort… and so much more.

I invite us to give thanks for the gift of the church; the community of God’s people that make up our family of faith at East Zorra.

I express my thanks to God for each of you!

Thank you for:

• faithfully reading our pastoral letters and announcement sheets
• weekly or regularly connecting for worship through Zoom
• praying together, and pursuing God’s will together, for the life of the church
• eagerly returning to our building as that has been possible for you
• faithfully giving of your financial resources to support the ministry of the church
• loyally serving each other by offering your various gifts in worship planning and leading, in technical support, in visioning, preparing and offering programming and doing ministry
• extending God’s love to one another and the broader community
• engaging conversation and helping to spur/encourage the leadership on
• regularly praying for your pastors, lay ministers, other leaders and each other
• responding to poll questions and taking the initiative to engage in conversation as we keeping working to further re-open our building and continue our ministries
• And the list could go on!

For these things, and for much more, I give thanks!

In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church at Colossi he writes:

⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rootedand built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught,and overflowing with thankfulness. (Colossians 2)

May we overflow with thankfulness this weekend, and every day of our lives, for God’s goodness, and for each other!

With thankfulness overflowing in our hearts may we keep seeking to be a church that is,

Rooted in Christ   Growing Together in Faith   Extending God’s Love

Pastor Ray