Pastoral Reflections

Greetings in the name of Jesus who invites us to pray, and taught us to pray…

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread… (Matthew 6:9-11)

“Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. ⁹ Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? ¹⁰ Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? ¹¹ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11)

Jesus invite us when we pray to ask for what we need! And the context of Jesus’ teaching on prayer is a communal context. We ask not only for ourselves but also for others; for all our neighbours near and far. And even our enemies if we take the whole teaching of Jesus seriously (Matthew 5:44). 

This week, and over the past year, we have prayed much, for many of our family, friends and neighbours. This ministry of prayer for others is often referred to as intersession. Intercessory prayer is so important in the life of God’s people. Dietrich Bonhoeffer believed that, “Intercessory prayer is the purifying bath into which the individual and the fellowship must enter every day.”                

Richard Foster in his book, Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home writes: “If we truly love people, we will desire for them far more than it is within our power to give them, and this will lead us to prayer. Intercession is a way of loving others.” May we continue to love one another as we pray for and with one another! Thank you for joining this important ministry of prayer.

I invite us to continue to pray for Dann & Joji Pantoja. Knowing more about them can help to enhance our intercession for them.

In a statement published on their website waves.ca in March, LakanLakambiniIndigenousNames.pdf (waves.ca) Dann & Joji explain the colonial history their birth names represent and why their Indigenous names are significant to them.

“OUR RESPECTIVE INDIGENOUS NAMES ARE LAKAN SUMULONG & LAKAMBINI MAPAYAPA.

We, Luis Daniel Alba Pantoja and Joji Felicitas Francisco Bautista-Pantoja, are from the Tagalog tribe of Southern Luzon, the region where Manila is located. We lead a peace and reconciliation team who works among the various armed-conflicted parts of the Philippines. We are currently based in Davao City, Mindanao, Philippines.

The Spanish colonial powers almost erased our Tagalog tribal identity and gave us the names of our former colonial masters. The American colonial power converted us into Protestants and made a big gap between our parental families and the Catholic majority members of the clan. Our Tagalog tribe was used by the Spanish and American colonial powers in their wars to fight against the tribes of Mindanao—both the Islamized and non-Islamized Indigenous Peoples. The Tagalog language was eventually imposed as the Filipino national language throughout the archipelago, ignoring the varying concerns, and later resentment, of other Indigenous Peoples.

One of the most respected tribal leaders in Mindanao and a fellow peacebuilding leader, Datu Migketay Saway, advised us to consider using our Tagalog indigenous names as we interact with Indigenous Peoples to bridge the cultural and historical divide between our Westernized tribe and the still relatively preserved Indigenous Peoples of Mindanao.

We went to our Tagalog elders and requested for indigenous names. I was given the name Lakan Sumulong—”a proponent of progress.” Joji was given the name Lakambini Mapayapa—”a woman of peace.” Now, our awareness and appreciation of our Tagalog cultural identity is getting deeper. This somehow opened our hearts and minds wider as we continue to seek deeper relationships with the Indigenous Peoples of Mindanao. This aspect of our journey are reconciling and healing factors as we deal with the wounds of the past violent conflicts between the mostly Westernized peoples of Luzon and the Indigenous Peoples of Mindanao.

Meanwhile, our Tagalog elders appreciate that we identify with our Laguna-based culture, yet willing to engage with other Indigenous Peoples of the Philippines to advance peace and reconciliation. This also helps us and our peacebuilders community as we establish Peace and Reconciliation Communities in many conflicted areas in the Philippines….

Although we have been trained, through our colonial educational system, to ignore and even to forget our tribal identities, we are now realizing that our indigenous identities can be a redeeming factor—in healing our being (the process of our psycho-spiritual transformation); in determining the priorities of what we ought to be doing as a nation (active non-violent radical transformation); and, in determining how we will prioritize what we will be having (inclusive growth and national development based on peace-and-reconciliation principles). Peace and reconciliation seem to be advancing in the Philippines as the Spirit of God continues to transform us and our small community so we can be a transforming presence of Christ in this beautiful but still conflicted land.”

Let us pray with, and intercede for, Lakan and Lakambini as they continue to work for peace and reconciliation in the Philippines!

Pastor Ray

Greetings in the name of God, creator of the earth and Lord over all that God has made!

The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it; ² for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers. (Psalm 24)

The Psalmist David in Psalm 65 reflects on God’s commitment to care for the good earth that he had made.

⁹ You take care of the earth and water it, making it rich and fertile. The river of God has plenty of water; it provides a bountiful harvest of grain, for you have ordered it so.
¹⁰ You drench the plowed ground with rain, melting the clods and leveling the ridges. You soften the earth with showers and bless its abundant crops.
¹¹ You crown the year with a bountiful harvest; even the hard pathways overflow with abundance. ¹² The grasslands of the wilderness become a lush pasture, and the hillsides blossom with joy. (Psalm 65)

Our sovereign God who created the earth, called it good, and is committed to care for it, also created humankind and invited us to partner with him by being caretakers of the earth and all that God has made. 

April 22 was Earth Day. Earth Day gives us occasion to reflect on how we are doing as caretakers of the earth. Earth Day invite us to deepen our commitment, through all our daily choices, to join God in caring for the earth. 

One of the actions suggested for Earth Day, on one website I visited this week, was to organize a group of volunteers to help restore a green space. The encouragement was also given to plant trees! I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the East Zorra group that came together in March of this year to create and bring life to our recently purchased green space behind our church building. Much good work has happened in the last month. And in the last week 30 trees have been planted! Thank you to Marilyn Zehr (Chairperson), Tyler Yantzi, Jon Witzel, Katie Wagler, Russ Schumm, Sheryl Leis and Todd Bender for all the dreaming and work you have been doing as the green space team. Below is one of the pictures from the PowerPoint Presentation shared in our worship gathering last week.

Psalm 96 highlights God’s reign of justice and righteousness over the earth. It calls us to sing to the Lord a new song and it invites creation to join the chorus of praise. When to do our part and take action to care for the earth, we help creation to join in the praise. Last week, as trees were planted, 30 members were added to the tree choir of praise!

O sing to the Lord a new song; Let the whole earth sing to the Lord!

Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day….

Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice! 

Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!

Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy! 

Let the trees of the forest [and the trees of EZMC’s green space] sing for joy!

(Psalm 96:1,2,11,12)

Pastor Ray

Greetings in the name of the Lord our God who accompanies us! 

It has been another one of those weeks that remind us that we are still on this pandemic journey. I have felt sadness as I sense the disappointment that our children, parents, teachers and communities have felt as the result of the decision to not return to our school buildings after the Spring break. I invite us to pray for our children, parents and grandparents, teachers and staff. This has all been so hard.

I was encouraged on Tuesday evening as we meet for our mid-week sharing and prayer time. It was good to be together, share and pray with each other. Ken Ruby shared with us a few verses of scripture that have been a source of encouragement to him through this past year.

 ⁶ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

⁷ Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. ⁸ The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:6-8)

Ken reminded us that these words of encouragement and promise come in the context of a wilderness experience for God’s people. The wilderness journey was hard but there was hope of a better day to come. This Covid pandemic has been its own kind of wilderness experience, which just keeps going! I hope and pray, along with Ken, that these verses can be an encouragement to you! God goes with us and before us and will not leave us or forsake us no matter what our wilderness experience is. And a better day is coming! “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid…” 

Thank you for sharing these words of encouragement Ken!

This word of encouragement from Ken on Tuesday evening got me thinking of ways we can be a continuing encouragement to one another. Is there a passage of scripture, a bible story, a song, a piece of poetry or…. that has encouraged and blessed you? I invite you to share the blessing. Share the scripture, song…. with me and in the weeks ahead I will pass them along through these letters to the whole congregation. In the realm of God’s kingdom blessings of encouragement are meant to be shared, and multiplied! I invite us to receive, and then share, the blessings that come our way! God will do the multiplying.

“The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

Pastor Ray

“Peace be with you.” 

These are the words Jesus used as he began to greet his disciples following his resurrection on that first Easter morning. They are words I invite us to continue to receive in the weeks ahead as we live in the reality of another “stay at home” order. While this is not the post Easter news we had hoped for may we find hope in the truth that the spirit of the risen Christ continues to move through closed doors to enter our homes and fill our lives. I pray we can receive the peace that Jesus continues to extend to us in the difficult times of life.

I was drawn to another promise this week that comes from Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi. Paul reminds the church of the gracious provisions that come from God through our relationships with each other and through the work of the Spirit and then he writes:

¹⁹ And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰ To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Philippians 4)

This Wednesday I was privilege to spend time Lloyd Oakey. I am thankful that Lloyd has accepted our invitation to come and share in ministry with us as our supply interim pastor. I look forward to team ministry with him. His coming to us is one way that God is working to meet our needs. Welcome to East Zorra Lloyd and Margaret!

I invited Lloyd to share a few words of introduction in our letter this week.

“It is with excitement that I accept the position of supply pastor at East Zorra.  East Zorra has a great reputation as a congregation determined to follow Jesus and has been faithful many years in making disciples and extending God’s love.  I am sure I will learn many things, and I hope to be a blessing while serving the Lord here.

I have held credentials with MCEC for fifteen years.  I was a pastor in New Hamburg for eighteen years with another denomination, before being called to Calvary Mennonite Church, Ayr, where I served thirteen years. Just recently, I completed an eighteen month role as supply pastor at Zion Mennonite Fellowship, Elmira.  

My wife Margaret is my faithful partner in ministry.  We have been married almost 44 years.  We have five children (three girls, two boys), and eight grandchildren (six girls, two boys).  Our children are located in south central Ontario except for the oldest who is in Calgary Alberta.  Margaret was an Administrative Assistant at the MCEC office for about 13 years.

Becoming a Christ follower, starts a person on a wonderful path of adventure with God.  While we don’t know what is around the corner, the Word is a ‘light to our feet’, and we ‘need not fear’, for God is with us!  God has plans for us which include a ‘hope and a future’!  Jeremiah 29:11” 

Next Sunday April 18 we are planning for an Installation Service and time of blessing as Lloyd serves in his pastor role with us.

 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” (Philippians 4.23)

Pastor Ray

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” – Jesus

These words spoken by Jesus and recorded in John 13:34 became the bases for naming this Thursday as “Maundy Thursday.” Maundy is derived from the Latin word for “command,” and refers to this commandment from Jesus to “Love one another as I have loved you.” These words are spoken by Jesus following a meal he was sharing with his disciples the night before he laid down his life for his friends. During the meal Jesus offered a profound act of service to his disciples.

And during supper ³ Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, ⁴ got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. ⁵ Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him (John 13).

This act of washing the feet of his disciples was so startling for them because it was the task expected to be performed by the slave of a household not by the leader and Lord of their lives! It was so startling in fact that Peter resisted, “Lord…you will never wash my feet.” Jesus challenged Peter’s resistance, and although Peter did not fully understand he did consent and opened himself to receive this act of service from his Lord. “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 

¹² After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? ¹³ You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you (John 13).

Profound acts of service, in order to do their work in our lives, need to be both given and received. Jesus had graciously, in the weeks and days prior to this evening, received a washing and anointing of his feet both with tears and perfume (Luke 7:36-50; John 12:1-8). In the John 12 story Jesus interprets Mary’s anointing of his feet as a preparation for his burial. Now Jesus, in a humble act of service, washes his disciples’ feet. His act of service becomes a profound sign pointing to the greatest act of service he is about to perform by taking up the cross and dying upon it.

Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. ²⁸ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Jesus in Matthew 20)

The Covid restrictions of the past year have kept us from the practice of gathering around buckets or bowls to wash each other’s feet or hands. But the restrictions of Covid, while preventing us from this ritual, cannot prevent us from the act to which the ritual points; the act of serving each other in love. It can restrict the way we do that service but it cannot prevent the attitude of service that leads us to serve and love each other as Jesus loved us!  

 “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” – Jesus

As we reflect on the act of service and love that took Jesus to the cross may we receive that gift of love and be empowered to love and serve one another as Jesus loved and served us!

Pastor Ray