In celebration of the Season of Lent for
the year 2001, the congregation of St. David's
United Church is pleased to share this work
of its members. Printed copies are available
at the church for $3.00.In celebration of the Season of Lent for
the year 2001, the congregation of St. David's
United Church is pleased to share this work
of its members. Printed copies are available
at the church for $3.00.
This work of many people is rather large so below are listed the meditation summaries: one for each day of the Lenten Season. Just click on the Highlighted Day and Title to go directly to the piece rather than scroll through the document, and afterwards, click on the up arrow to return to this index. A little excerpt is given for each.
Introductory Remarks by the Committee
Our Lenten Book Committee was late in being formed. Many people had other commitments or responsibilities, and free time is always an issue in most of our lives. However, for the outgoing committee and others they approached, there was a strong feeling that this was an exercise that was valuable to our congregation and should not fall by the wayside. And so, when the new committee first gathered, the talk turned to why this Lenten booklet was so important. We talked of the value gained, at least once a year, from setting aside a few moments every day to think about our faith. We talked of the number of people of all age groups in our congregation, who over the years, have made the effort to contribute a meditation. Often it meant undertaking an exercise foreign to what they would usually do, it meant risking exposing their fears, doubts and beliefs to others.
And so we came to talking about the lives, about the joys and the pains, the enthusiasms and the doubts - and the role our faith plays in all of this. Out of this arose the memory of the old saying by Debenport that "Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace within the storm". It is our belief that serenity enables us to make the most of the good gifts of life, and also the peace to ride out life's storms. For us this serenity arises from our faith in God.
It is our prayer that the following Lenten meditations will nurture those who read them, and strengthen their peace amid the storms of life.
You are invited to make the language inclusive. The scripture selections this year were taken from the "Good News Bible" translation. The study follows the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C.
Special thanks go to those who volunteered their help in the following ways: to Dr. Ralph Spencer and Rev. Catherine Pace for providing us with their meditations as well as providing assistance to Lenten booklet contributors who needed a guiding hand; to Susan Stewart and Elizabeth Rae for their cheery manner and many acts of help when visits to the Church office became necessary; to Corey Rae, a talented 13-year-old, Grade 8 student, for drawing the Lenten Book cover page, which beautifully depicts our theme "Peace Within the Storm"; to Jerry Tumack, who brought all the paper used for this booklet, by bicycle, from downtown Calgary; to Sarah Lynch, who always returned Val's calls when technical information was desperately needed; to Kathy Tumack who assisted with the typing of this booklet; and to Joanne Ramondt for editing its contents.
In addition, appreciation to Sandy Irvine and his firm "By Design Services" for providing at an affordable price the formatting which was beyond our computing skills.
The Lenten Book Committee wishes particularly to thank those who contributed the meditations for this booklet. We continue to be delighted with the quality of the entries, and hope the authors have benefited as much as we know the readers will.
The blessings of the Lenten and Easter season be with you all. Margaret Bell, Marjorie Gibson, Brenda Guest, Val Montgomery, Nancy Slagorski, Jerry Tumack.
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Joel 2:1-2, 12-17 (key vs. 13) "Come back to the LORD your God. He is kind and full of mercy; he is patient and keeps his promise…"
God of Forgiveness
Frequently my life is like a barren, wasted desert. Life gets hectic or complicated or a health issue looms. Long before I am consciously aware I have let the world take me over - I have laid down the armour of my God. My mind becomes awash with and overwhelmed by everyday activities, actions, needs.
The weekly church event helps me in strengthening my resolve and helps me remain in companionship with my Forgiving Lord and God. I remind myself that my God and Savior is a forgiving God. And I ask Why? and Why Me? And then I hear a reminder that I do not need to ask or question. I just need to accept this. That it's okay. That I am worth it. That I am forgiven for my forgetfulness, procrastination, insincerity, lack of dedication with God.
The Lenten period is a special time for me to refocus on my needs. To be closer to my God. I welcome the opportunity for daily readings, meditation - growing closer. I am reminded of my early Christian roots where I was "encouraged, by very verbal requests", to attend pre-Easter services, especially Good Friday, and then the Easter Sunday morning with the pealing of the Church bells to celebrate the Risen Lord. While the full meaning was not at all clear to me at that time, I was left with the strong message that this was an important time to be present in God's house. In time I resented and rebelled at this "yoke" of must-dos. As time has passed and I have felt able to assert my own approach, I discover that I want to rededicate my presence and thoughts during the Lenten period. I welcome the encouragement to spend in meditation and reading. And again I am reminded that however many times that I regress/stagnate/create a desert, I am always forgiven by my God, my Savior, my Lord who is all forgiving.
Dear Forgiving Lord. Grant me your grace daily, that I may know and accept your forgiveness, and do as you do. Forgive all whom I know and meet. Amen.
Beverley Setterington
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Isaiah 58:1-12, (key vs. 7) "Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor."
John 15:9-12 "This is my commandment, That you love one another as I have loved you."
These passages leave no doubt that we are expected to share wherever we see need. Also we should do so with love.
In our society I think most people try to do just that. They share their many gifts in many, many ways. Some share their time and their talents, others give money to good causes. Some lend a helping hand and many offer their friendly smiles and kind words. These are all good and acceptable gifts, the "stuff" that makes the world a better place.
I believe that when we do our part with a caring heart we are fulfilling our God-given instinct to, "Love one another as we have been loved."
Having written that, I have to admit to frustration arising from an ever expanding population worldwide, and a system that allows the ever widening gap between the rich and the poor. We should aim toward a "just society, with equal opportunity for all people."
Many good people are at work trying to make a difference and they do celebrate some success, however it comes very slowly. This difference between "haves and have-nots", is detrimental to both. We cannot ignore it and have not been able to re-order our systems or theirs, to accommodate change. We cannot pretend that this is justice, because we are well informed today.
Until some progress is made to improve this situation I must pray for justice and peace.
Quite recently I sent a donation to Operation Eyesight Universal. Sometime later I received a letter of thanks. Included with the letter were three cards from three hospitals (two of the hospitals supported by Lions Clubs). These cards each named a patient and advised me that sight have been restored to that patient.
I felt that I had somehow been involved with a miracle. Along with hospitals, doctors' skills, many attending professional staff and the patient, I, through my small gift, had managed to make a difference! WOW!
I am always a "winner" when I share. I feel good to be helping and somehow I don't miss what I give. How could I lose when following the rule to Love one another as God has loved me?
Dear God: Bless us and keep us in Your way as we travel the ups and downs of this earthly life. We give you thanks for your Holy Word and Your enduring and unqualified love. Teach us to share that love with our fellow travellers. Amen.
Thelma K. Thompson
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Matthew 6:1-6 (key vs. 6) "But when you pray, go to your room, close the door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen."
Spiritual Solitude
I believe that every one of us is born with a God-centre, which is part of our being. This God-centre can best be discovered and nourished if we regularly retreat from the sounds and other distractions of our world to be alone with God in prayer.
My prayer life has been enhanced by activities such as: sitting in silence; focussing on my breath; meditating on a scripture passage; repeating a word, such as "peace"; visualizing a beautiful scene from God's creation; and imagining that God's spirit is filling my sacred centre. During my prayer time, if I listen, thoughts enter my mind about persons who, through me, might receive God's love and care. I also think about how I might be able to deal with problems in my life and overcome obstacles to my faith journey.
Edward Hays, in his book Prayers for a Planetary Pilgrim wrote:
"Jesus is the arch-pilgrim, the pattern for those seeking to become one with God. And nowhere in all the pages of the Gospels does he reveal the inside of his prayer life. We do not know what happened on the mountaintops or deserted places where he withdrew to be in intimate communion with his God. Rather we see in the words and actions of his life - in his compassionate behavior, his harsh attitude toward narrow legalistic observance of laws, his openness to outcasts and sinners, his delight in feasting and life - the results of his prayer."
I can grow in faith and love if the time I spend in prayer leads to my following the way of Jesus.
Divine Spirit, when I am alone with you in prayer, I can share my innermost thoughts, which you already know. Help me to listen so that I might be conscious of your presence and guidance in all that I think and do. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Glenna Gorrill
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Matthew 6:16-21 (key vs. 21) "For your heart will always be where your riches are."
Gifts Worthy of God
I consider my riches to be the beauty of God's creation, family and friends, memories, good health and my church family.
More than thirty years ago when I attended the University Presbyterian Church in Seattle, Washington, I heard our minister tell this story: "A church member who, although he attended regularly, was not actively involved. If he had been accused of being a Christian, there might not have been enough evidence to convict him. One Sunday he placed a $50 bill on the collection plate instead of the usual $5 bill he meant to contribute. He said that he had became very interested in the activities of the church and wanted to be sure that his money was well spent. He gratefully became a member of the community of faith."
H.W. Beecher wrote, "The strength and happiness of a person consists of finding out the way in which God is going…and going the same way."
Creator God: Help me to have a happy heart, knowing that the riches I have are worthy of presentation to you. Amen.
Audrey Thompson
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Deuteronomy 26:1-11 (key vs. 7) "…the LORD…heard us and saw our suffering, hardship, and misery…"
I no longer have a need to pray for a promised land; and I've never had to really consider the matter because up until now my own suffering and hardship has been inconsequential by comparison. But it was much different for my Grandmother Jensen. Over her lifetime I'm sure that she shed many a tear and uttered many a prayer to ease the burden…
In 1892, Margrethe left her native homeland, in Denmark, to marry her fiance, Rasmus Jensen, who was working in Toledo, Ohio. Rasmus had been there for two years saving what meager funds he could so that Margrethe could follow him over, get married, and together the two could start a new home. Margrethe had to struggle learning the new language, work in her trade as a seamstress to supplement their income; and give birth to two sons - all in the short span of four years. Then, at that point in time, for reasons not understood by her descendants, all of the family moved back to Denmark. Three more sons would be born to the couple before Margrethe's life collapsed. Tragically, Rasmus died of complications from tuberculosis at 37 years of age - to leave a wife and five sons: the eldest under eleven years and the youngest not yet two.
Grandmother moved back to the home of her parents after her husband's death and as each son reached his tenth year it became imperative that he earn his board and room and in succession each one was sent out to work. This, too, must have had its moments of anguish for Margrethe because each youngster ended up in the confines of complete strangers. The boys each worked (tending livestock) before and after school so that they could continue on with their education - "uprooted like the youth of our own native population who were separated from their families and sent to residential schools to live". In Denmark, anyway, this was the custom for those who were from poor families.
My dad often reflected about his mother's difficult lot in life. He'd shake his head, and with a quizzical look on his face, pose the question, "I don't know how she did it…!"
When the two eldest sons (American born) became old enough, they returned to the United States for more secure positions and a better living. And, we can only imagine it was Grandma's dream to reunite her family. This did happen not so long after the death of her parents. Her inheritance helped with travelling expenses to move the rest of them to America - "The Land of Opportunity".
…And now to the present time. Today, I think of the many people who long for - as little a thing as - their own space. A place to keep personal belongings, a place to sleep, a place to prepare their own food, and a place to have a bath in privacy. Do we even dare think of the privacy of prayer…?
Yet, I know, many have lost all hope…For millions of people all over the word; now, and for the many centuries past, the only hope for relief from suffering, hardship and misery was to cross into that unknown new world which begins with death.
Father in Heaven: Thank you for the privilege, the blessing of living in a land of plenty. Help provide our leaders with the insight to find ways to help those less fortunate near and far away. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Irene & Dave Ritchie
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Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16 (key vs. 2) "You are my defender and protector. You are my God; in you I trust."
I trust completely that this is God's world - he is still the ruler and that whatever happens in my life or has happened - I will feel his presence and if I don't feel this, I know I have to rethink and adjust my attitude, which is not always an easy task.
I'm not sure about the defender part, but I do believe, with all my heart, that God has protected me and has given me his blessings and that my belief and trust in him has carried me through life's ups and downs. When at Easter, long ago, I sat at a hospital bed for three days and watched my 19-year-old daughter die - I felt the presence of the Lord very strongly. Doctors, nurses and ministers came to assist and without fail, all mentioned that the moment they entered Cheryl's room, they felt a strong presence of energy, love and peace. This presence followed me home and in the immediate time following Cheryl's death, and to this day, I know that my trust in God's love has not been in vain and that life is what you make it - if I try it on my own without stopping and thinking, it usually turns out to be a complete mess. When I stop and think "What Would Jesus Do?", I do something very different and it works.
One of the gifts I've been blessed with is a very odd-ball sense of humour. When I laugh and should be crying or vice versa, I feel this is the Lord protecting me from quick judgments or actions, or simply giving me a harmless outlet for situations that are beyond my control.
My prayer for my family and friends and the congregation of St. David's is that, while some of us are short-sighted, and some are far-sighted, some see very well and others have great difficulty, is that we all walk in the dark with God and trust him completely and that none of us go alone by sight.
Gerry McVeigh
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Romans 10:8b-13 (key vs. 12) "Everyone who calls out to the Lord for help will be saved."
Faith
What a wonderful offer; what great love! When we receive an offer which seems too good to be true, we generally look for a catch. Sure enough, there's a catch here as well. But what we are asked to do in this case is confess our belief that Jesus is Lord, and that after his death on the cross, God raised him again.
We must truly believe, and live out that belief. It is faith in God's promise to us which keeps us going. Jesus told his disciples "Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith." (Matt. 21:22). And over and over throughout the scriptures, we're given this assurance.
I must confess to backsliding at times in my prayer life, returning especially when I need help for my self, family, or friend. The help I receive may be the strength to cope in a particular worrisome situation, which may not clear up immediately; but I feel assured that God is with me, and that, if I am still, and wait, help will come - sometimes in the form of an inspiration. For God, in his steadfast love, is always with us.
Dear God, Giver of all things: Thank you for always being there, even if we stray. We know that we are loved, and forgiven. Thank you for the message of faith by which we live. May we pass on this blessed assurance by the way in which we lead our lives. Amen.
Louise Taylor
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Luke 4:1-13 (key vs. 4) "But Jesus answered, 'The scripture says, Man cannot live on bread alone.'"
Bread or Chocolate
When I read this passage my first thought has always been, "Of course not, where would a person be without chocolate." I always feel this delicious stab of guilt, a feeling of being terribly witty and wicked at the same time. Then when I received these words as my Lenten selection, I started thinking about that feeling and have decided that there is some truth to it all.
Of course Jesus meant that our souls needed nourishment, too - not just the physical fulfillment of a meal. As we stretch out, learn and try to live the way God wants us, we will enjoy our lives more - we will truly live, not simply exist.
Now let's talk chocolate - we can have the $1.64, one pound Easter bunny from Walmart, but when we have a taste of Callabaut, we know there is something finer, richer, more desirable. We want more. Now substitute the word "life" for Walmart and "God" for Callabaut. Think about it.
Dear God: As I grow more and try to learn more about You, Jesus and my faith, I hope to have MORE Callabaut days and fewer chocolate-flavored days. Amen.
Susan Fache
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Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18 (key vs. 8) "But Abram asked, 'Sovereign LORD, how can I know that it will be mine?'"
I find Genesis a difficult part of the Bible to appreciate because its very literal images of a long ago culture are hard to translate into metaphorical meanings that are relevant today. This passage can only be understood by reading all of Genesis 15 and 16 to understand the context of Abram's question.
In these passages I see the dreams of Abram for the future and his doubts about whether his hopes will come true. Abram is concerned about having no children and no heirs, and the Lord provides a creative solution. The Lord assures him that his descendants will inherit the land around him. Abram doubts this promise, until there has been time for reflection and the Lord offers more explicit covenant. With that, Abram has faith and confidence in his dreams.
What does this story mean for today? I do not believe that my dreams will be met through the intervention of divine providence. But I do believe that we must each test our dreams against the Spirit within us. We must look to our values and our innermost hopes, and measure our dreams against these essential benchmarks. If our dream - our vision - passes this test, then we must commit ourselves towards working for that vision if we really want to achieve it. We must be open to the opportunities that will be there to advance that vision, while being patient when the opportunities seem to be a long time in coming. It has been my experience that most of my visions eventually become reality if the vision is truly in tune with the Spirit within me, and I am patient.
I wonder about those visions of mine that have not yet become reality. Are they really in tune with my Spirit? Perhaps not, although I cannot see that discordance. Or, perhaps not everything in our vision can be as we want it because our vision, no matter how valid for us, conflicts with the visions of others.
I believe Abram was communicating with the Spirit within himself and testing his vision against that Inner Spirit. That is the lesson from this passage for me in today's context.
In the Nepali language, the greeting "Namaste!" means "I greet the Spirit within you." My prayer is:
Namaste! May we each seek the Spirit within ourselves, be receptive to the sighings of our innermost hearts, and form our dreams accordingly, with faith in ourselves to see the opportunities to make those dreams come true.
John Peirce
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Ezekiel 37:1-14 (key vs. 1) "I felt the powerful presence of the LORD…"
Through the Eyes of a Child
My earliest memories of religion were through my mom and dad, who were from different denominations, having heated discussions when the topic arose. Therefore my religious instruction was very basic. My mother did say that it was important that I know the Lord's Prayer, that God loves me and will look out for me, that I should say my prayers at bedtime and thank Him for my family, friends and even the animals, if I felt like it. That was okay for awhile but it was hard to say I was thankful for my sister when we got into a fight and I told God "I hated her". Even though my sister was my best friend by the next day, I was scared that God would let something bad happen to me because I told him how I felt. I could no longer say my prayers at night because I felt bad. To my relief, in elementary school, we recited the Lord's Prayer each morning. I thought that was okay because now God should not be mad at me, but I was still not sure.
The child appeared to become a confident, self-assured adolescent who sometimes attended church with friends, but the feeling of uncertainty, of being a stranger, an outsider still persisted. Why could I not feel God's presence as I perceived others did? Why does God not hear me?
As an adult, strong relationships were built but the feelings of "aloneness" and "emptiness" still persisted. Where is God? Why does he not hear me?
With a feeling of nowhere to turn, I walked through the door of a church and asked to speak with a minister. Hours and days sped by as together we searched for and wandered through the vacuum of isolation which had been my safe zone. In time I realized that God had always been with me - pushing, guiding and permitting me to grow. It was simple, I had to break down the barriers of the past and openly speak to Him. There was no magic where I had to have the right words to say a perfect prayer. All I had to do was talk to God. I needed to let my questions come forth and ask for His guidance. I had to speak out loud so He could hear me. I had to get in touch with my anger towards those who had wronged me and for those I had wronged. I felt the powerful presence of the Lord when I asked His forgiveness. The miracle of no longer feeling "aloneness" and "emptiness" dissipated like a thin mist over the mountains.
Thank you Lord for opening my eyes and heart to your love and understanding and the realization that you are always with me. All I need to do is speak to you.
Marjorie Hales
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Psalm 27 (key vs. 11) "Teach me, LORD, what you want me to do, and lead me along a safe path, because I have many enemies."
Enemies
This Levite is praying in the temple where he lives. Following an accepted custom he praises God before he dares to present his petition. One can easily understand his wish to have God guide him and keep him safe but who or what are his enemies?
If we are praying along with our reading, then we must ask ourselves who and what are our enemies and how do we keep on a safe path?.
Long ago I decided that learning to live a life with God was a bit like learning to ride a bicycle. In the beginning it is hard to secure one's balance and very difficult to maintain it. We know when we are balanced and moving forward smoothly, even effortlessly, and we know when we have lost our bearing and are about to experience the resultant difficulties. I would like to suggest that the who or what that causes us to be out of balance (the enemies) include such things as anger, hate, jealousy, greed, selfishness and other deadly sins. These draw our concentration away from the place where God dwells and from which he guides us.
This inner sanctuary where God meets us, our heart, where we find corrections to our daily threats of unease is our balancing place. It is here that we find strength, peace and freedom from our enemies: our temptations.
Lord deliver us from evil and lead us not into temptation. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Lois Blair
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Philippians 3:17 - 4:1 (key vs. 17) "…Pay attention to those who follow the right example that we have set for you."
As I read this verse, I thought about what Paul meant when he said "the right example". The dictionary defines right as "required by or acting, being, or done in accordance with truth and justice". In the Bible, Micah 6:8 asks "What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy and walk humbly with your God". So it seemed to me that the "right examples" are actions that demonstrate truth, justice and mercy. Jesus' second commandment, Love your neighbour as yourself, also seems to echo the principles of mercy and justice.
I feel that in our hearts, we instinctively know what is "right". However, there may be a conflict between knowing what is right and actually doing what is right. Right action requires courage - the courage to stand up for your beliefs, and to take risks. Often, by doing what is right, you become a leader.
We were recently in Dallas and toured the Sixth Floor Museum, which is a memorial to the life of John F. Kennedy. I had not realized that it was President Kennedy who instituted Civil Rights legislation, guaranteeing equal rights for all U.S. citizens, regardless of race. To me, equal rights legislation is the epitome of justice - it seemed like it should be a "given" - and therefore I was amazed to learn how many had fought against it and hated Kennedy for it. At that time, (early 1960's), blacks were still subject to school, lunch-counter and bus segregation. Passing the Civil Rights legislation was a huge step for the emancipation of the African-American, and forever changed America society. Kennedy had the courage to address the injustice he saw, and was a powerful example of leadership and "right action".
I thought of another example of "right action" closer to home. Last year, in my sons' school, they implemented the "Dare to Care" bully-proofing program. One aspect of the program discusses guidelines for those children who are victims of bullying behavior, and for the children who are seeking power by bullying (about 15% of the school population). But what interested me most is the second emphasis of the program -working with the "silent majority". The silent majority is the remaining 85% of the population who stand by watching, doing nothing, when they see others being bullied. These children are often afraid to speak up or step in, for fear that the bully will then switch his/her attention to them. The "Dare to Care" program helps empower this silent majority to become a "caring majority", by telling them about ways that they can get involved and help to stop the cycle of bullying. Suggestions include going for adult help, including all children to play (avoiding exclusion), telling the child that bullying is not acceptable, etc. It takes a lot of courage to speak up and to act; and in learning to do so, the children experience, at an early age, the power of positive influence that they can have with their lives. A "caring majority" exemplifies principles of justice and mercy.
The far-reaching effects of this program are clear when one remembers Reverend Dale Lang's speech when his son was killed in a Taber high school in 1999. He asked the students to care for each other, to include those students who don't "fit in" - the same basic messages as the "Dare to Care" program. Justice and mercy have no age restrictions.
I think that we all need to ask ourselves if we are part of the "silent majority" or part of the "caring majority". If we strive to be part of the "caring majority", I think that we are closer to "follow(ing) the right example that has been set for us".
Lord: Grant me the compassion to know what is right; and the courage to act accordingly. Amen.
Sheila Andersen
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Isaiah 50:4-9 (key vs. 4) "Every morning he makes me eager to hear what he is going to teach me."
Perhaps the best part of a new day, for me, is not being ready for it. That then, makes every new day a brand new surprise. Imagine if every day was predictable and planned -what would be the excitement in waking up? Readers are probably saying that statement is ridiculous, but imagine the stress relief of not worrying about having everything absolutely organized. When I'm asked about future plans, invariably I will come back with "I don't know, I haven't gotten there yet."
I don't think that the Lord meant for me to be an organized person. I use that as an excuse for my rather haphazard, unorganized lifestyle. What happens, happens. And when life is good I rejoice, if it has bad times, I haven't spent time worrying about them! I likely became more that way because I am the mother of a child with fetal alcohol effects and there is, by nature of the brain injury, no predictability in any of his actions and therefore a high possibility of disruption of our daily routine. God has given me the ability to start each day as a new beginning and not worry about yesterday. This has helped me in my dealing with other fetal alcohol syndrome moms; to have understanding and compassion. Each night I ask God for guidance on the morrow and each morning I await new direction and strength.
My Dad never did, as they say, "sweat the small stuff", and he too, took life as it came. Some say he was a very lucky man, as his life always seemed to unfold in the right direction. I say he took advantage of life's flow and used it for his success. I'd like to think I follow in his footsteps. I think I, like he did, get up in the morning and await what God's plan is for me. I assume that though I am the "doer", that God is the planner and he will put things in my way he wants me to deal with. Therefore each morning I listen quietly for his plans for me and then try to put them into action.
God: Help me to be open and receptive to your word. Give me the strength to carry out your plans for me and the patience to follow them through. Amen.
Diane Wrubleski
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Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 (key vs. 1) "Give thanks to the LORD, because he is good and his love is eternal."
I have been attending St. David's for a little over a year. Prior to this time I would periodically wander in and out of whatever church building was the closest. I was not shopping for a church per se. I was simply unwilling to put down religious roots, to commit myself.
Gradually I came to realize that God was with me everywhere. A song would remind me of a church I had attended. A phrase would recall a sermon I had listened to. I decided to stop fighting and just get out of bed and get to church every Sunday.
Since I have been attending St. David's I have become even more aware of God's presence and love. Instead of satisfying my religious needs I have found that being at St. David's has increased my expectations. I grow every day in my knowledge and I am given true hope and strength knowing that God's strength, justice and everlasting love is present in my life.
Dear God: Thank you for bringing me to a place where I have been comfortable learning more about you and your plans. Please help me to maintain my commitment to you, the church and my family. Let me learn to reflect your love to those around me. Let me to continue to grow in my faith supported by your strength and everlasting love. Amen.
Kirsty Hunter
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Philippians 4:1 "…you should stand firm in your life in the Lord."
The Warrior That Goes Within To Find Peace
Ever had an argument? Resisted change in life? It seems the older we grow, the more we eat of the tree of knowledge. In so doing, we form strong opinions and lose our innocence. We surrender the blissful peace sensed in the Garden of Eden.
It is to this that Paul speaks in this portion of his letter to the Philippians. Two leaders are in disagreement over an issue in the community of Philippi. The conflict seems to be pulling members apart resulting in tension and frustration. Paul offers a new window of perception - that of 'standing firm in our life with the Lord'.
Earlier on in the letter, evidence is provided to indicate that Paul also experienced conflict in the world. He warns against the 'evil workers' in favour of circumcision. He cautions against the preachers who preach from false motivations. Paul's response to these issues is that of love. "What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in that I rejoice" (Philippians 1:18). It is through the lenses of love that one is to look through and in so doing work towards Christ consciousness. It is a process that requires courage to look within oneself and to avoid the temptations of condemnation and projection of ones' own inadequacies. The result is a state of peace that cannot be disrupted even if one is put in prison as Paul is as he writes his letter.
It is important to note that Paul doesn't want difference to be glossed over and ignored. Rather, the community with the attitude of seeking out and trying to understand each other should support difference.
God: Help us to find your peace, which passes all understanding and helps keeps our hearts and minds on Christ Jesus. Amen. (Philippians 4:7)
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Hebrews 12:1-3 (key vs. 3) "Think of what he went through…So do not let yourselves become discouraged and give up."
This verse reminds me of a familiar slogan in athletics, "no pain, no gain". I really identified with this slogan and as an athlete, I took it as my own. How true it is in life too! We all grow from painful situations. Yes, it takes time but we do become more knowledgeable about ourselves and we attempt to change, to be better than we were.
How does one gain from the pain of a loss? I had a miscarriage. I always knew something was wrong. Why was this happening to me? When the doctor confirmed our fears, I was broken. I wept and wept. The pain was great. I felt hopeless and discouraged.
Yes, when I think of Jesus on the cross, I realize my pain could not compare to His pain. But He knew the joy waiting for Him. What do I have to look toward? Another year without a child? It doesn't seem fair. All my friends have babies. Why not me?
Jesus did not give up although He knew He would be treated badly here on earth. He knew He would have to endure death. I find strength in Jesus. He really is my Savior. I believe that there is a reason for everything and a time for everything. I believe that I am a child of God and that as Jesus is seated on the right side of God's throne, so too there is joy waiting for me. When I feel discouraged and pained, those are the times I am most separated from Jesus. I need to stay focused on Jesus - be still, read scriptures, pray.
As an athlete I held on to the slogan, "no pain, no gain". My prize was standing on the podium, receiving a medal, running my fastest. In my life the slogan means yes there will be pain, but with my eyes fixed on Jesus I will gain happiness beyond my prayers.
Heavenly Father: I am Your child. You are my strength and my Savior. When I'm discouraged, keep me close to You. Help me to fix my eyes on Jesus. Strengthen me heavenly Father. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Sheryl Schoenthaler
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Psalm 27 (key vs. 1) "…I will fear no one. The LORD protects me from all danger, I will never be afraid."
Whew! This meditation clearly was chosen for me, as fear is my greatest challenge. I know that I am someone who can allow fear to drive my behavior. I also know that by bringing the discipline of daily meditation into my life and turning my life and Will over to God, I grow in knowing that I am deeply loved and cared for. I also know that I need to be in contact with God on a daily basis. Daily I can turn my fears over to a Power greater than myself.
Thank you God for loving me. Thank you for showing me over and over again, that as I ask for help, You are there gently guiding my behavior and protecting me. All I need to do is ask. Help me to let go of my fears, turning them over to Your care. Thank you God for Your gentle wisdom and Your loving embrace. Amen
Cathie Kernaghan
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Psalm 116:1-2 (key vs. 1) "I Love the LORD, because he hears me; he listens to my prayers."
God is omnipresent - it is a hard concept to grasp, but God truly is everywhere! A friend recently gave me a copy of a meditation in which is stated: "…I (God) am there when you pray…I am there when you don't pray…" I found these words especially comforting - knowing that God is with us ALWAYS - whether we pray to Him or not.
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My family life is hectic. I have three daughters (two teenagers, a 9-year old) and a hard-working husband and find the chaos to be overwhelming at times. It is during times like these where a place of solitude is hard to find.
It is important to my spiritual well-being to find a quiet place to pray and meditate daily. Prayer nourishes my soul - without prayer and daily reading of the Bible I am not living as God intended me to live.
I love the Lord because he listens to my prayers; He comforts me through my tears; He loves me and wants to help me do His Will. He knows my sins and forgives me when I confess my wrongful ways.
I am a fervent believer of answered prayer. I've found lost mittens, scissors, school planners, purses, books, toques, vests, car keys, etc. simply by asking the Lord "You know where it is Lord…please lead me to it" And more often than not I find myself looking for these things in the most unlikely of places and by golly…if I don't find them. "Thank you Lord!" and "Praise the Lord!" is uttered in my household several times a day as lost items are found. It is important that God gets the credit owing to him.
I pray for protection, for love, and when I feel burdened by responsibilities of family, debt, indecision or worry, I give Him all my worries, and let go…and Let God. A friend recently gave me a sheet stating:
You are not totally,
completely,
irrevocably responsible
for everyone.
That's my job.
Love, God
Isn't that nice to know.
Loving Lord: Please awaken in all of us the knowledge that you are always with us. Surround us in your love and protection, and guide us to your Will. Through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Val Montgomery
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Isaiah 55:1-9 (key vs. 3) "Listen now, my people, and come to me; come to me, and you will have life."
Come to the Lord
What a wonderful promise God delivers to us in these words! The journey to everlasting life SEEMS simple enough. We must "turn to the Lord", "pray to the Lord", "leave our wicked way of life", and "change our way of thinking". (Isaiah 55:6-7)
But we humans are not perfect, nor do we live in a perfect world. Our daily lives are filled with temptations and turmoil, and, in our "busyness" of living, we often do not take time to truly listen to the voice of God. This, in turn, results in our lives being less than God intended them to be.
God's message to us is clear. We must LISTEN to God and FOLLOW God's ways so that we will be BLESSED. This message is for everyone. May we all be up to the challenge of living by it, day by day.
Dear God: Help us take time to listen to You during our daily activities. Give us the strength and courage to always follow Your ways, not just when it's easy or convenient. Let us embrace Your many blessings. Amen.
Wendy Rae
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Psalm 63:1-8 (key vs. 4) "I will give you thanks as long as I live."
Giving Thanks
This verse tells of David, in the desert of Judea, and his continued faith and love in God.
By making a commitment to God, we are required to live the commandments. Our faith requires expression in our day-to-day lives with prayer.
God has created a fantastic world, given us beautiful families, and chosen glorious gifts for us to share with others. Let us remember God's constant and undivided love for us. Spend a few minutes to think of all the blessings God has bestowed upon you.
Dear God: We give you thanks for the gift of life. We are grateful for your bounteous love. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Diane Ohreen
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Psalm 32:1 "Happy are those whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned."
Who wants to be forgiven?
I want to be forgiven…a blank pardon for all my transgressions in the past, present and future. Well, does that say it all? I ask myself what is Sin? Sin or transgressions have changed and for me there are grey areas. Sin has to do with relationships with people and the environment. Personal sin for me is when I treat someone or the environment in a way without love, in a way that disrespects all parties. Structural sin or societal sin is when a society puts up barriers to create inequalities among people. I would like to be forgiven for hurts I have caused, but I want to hang on to hurts others have rendered me. Firstly, I want my hurt to be hidden, so I cannot be hurt again. Secondly, I want to have the hurt, as a weapon to retaliate with when I am in a vulnerable position. This passage makes me humble, as I want to be able to forgive freely and it is so difficult.
Dear Creator: Help me to let go of my hurts and allow myself to be vulnerable and to trust that I am safe in Your Grace. Allow me to forgive others as I wish to be forgiven. Amen.
Marsha Mah Poy
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2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (key vses. 16-20) "When anyone is joined to Christ, he is a new being, the old is gone, the new has come."
Lent is a journey inward into the solitude of our own heart, and outward toward solidarity with others. It is a high-risk journey, for in trust the traveler must leave the port and move forward. Leave-taking is never easy, but without it there can be no arrival.
Some things to give up for Lent:
Christ is never far from each of us. "For in Him we live and move and have our being."
Therefore we can confidently pray:
After the night comes a new day.
After the storm, sunrise.
After sin, forgiveness.
After defeat another chance.
And the courage to never give up.
Amen.
W.M.S.
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Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 (key vs. 32) "But we had to celebrate and be happy, because your brother was dead, but now he is alive; he was lost, but now he has been found."
No matter how far we wander from God's love, we will always and forever be welcomed back into the fold. God would not, could not refuse us. Knowing this amidst life's events, be they joyful or sorrowful, is comforting and reassuring.
Several years ago I experienced a life "storm". I had difficulty finding the peace amidst the storm. After a time I made the realization that the peace was there, had been there all along - all I had to do was embrace it. I returned to the fold, a little wiser, more mature in my faith and realizing that I had never been abandoned. I just needed to look up.
Lord: I know deep in my heart that you will never forget me or abandon me. I may wander off, get sidetracked, experience things that I think are best for me and yet you wait patiently for my return. I will listen for signs of your Will and will follow you home. Amen.
Margaret Bell
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Acts 10:34-43 (key vs. 35) "…God treats everyone on the same basis. Whoever fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him, no matter what race he belongs to."
It is hard to always do what is right. It is hard to see God in everyone when sometimes someone is mean or prejudiced. It is difficult as a teen as I struggle to figure out who I am, to be accepting of everyone when they won't accept me. There are cliques and groups at school that make being one's true self difficult. It takes courage and faith to follow my heart and to do what I feel is right regardless of others' opinions.
Lord: Thank you for always treating me fairly. I will try to do your will. I will try to treat everyone fairly, without prejudice or judgment as I would wish to be treated. Amen.
Emily Bell
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Isaiah 25:6-9 (key vs. 9) "…He is the LORD! We have put our trust in him, and now we are happy and joyful because he has saved us."
This is the Bible's basic formula: trust in God's Lordship and you'll find joy and salvation. Why do these nice Sunday Words make no sense on Monday? What do these old words mean? God is seen as a patriarch. Life is difficult. Failure is punished. But we are saved from Judgment Day, so trust and obey Him.
Confronting words we don't believe any longer makes religion a litany of what is not. But what is? What does make sense? What does the Bible mean today? What do we believe? What did the Bible mean to those who first heard the words? Can we find new life in these words by turning them over, like turning the dead earth over in springtime?
"There is a mysterious fact about the great words of our religious tradition: they cannot be replaced. …But there is a way of rediscovering their meaning, the same way that leads us down into the depth of our human existence. In that depth these words were conceived; and there they gained power for all ages; there they must be found again by each generation, and by each of us for himself." (Paul Tillich, "You Are Accepted", 1948)
We are a fortunate generation. There are thinkers and theologians, historians and archeologists, teachers and preachers all "turning the earth". New life is found abundantly! Much that is very old and was very lost is found again. We find the Jesus of History and the Jesus of Faith to be complementary aspects of a growing understanding. We find God present in creation, not apart from it. We find the Kingdom of God very much at hand and somewhat underfoot. When we discover we are neither lost nor alone, we are astonished by His Compassion. When we serve and study, we delight in Her Wisdom.
Like Isaiah we will find new words of power. Like Isaiah we will notice just how we came to be happy.
In the depth of our being
We learn to be silent
We learn we are not alone
We learn to trust the still voice
In the depth of our sharing
We notice new words
We notice we are not lost
We notice our joy
Jock McTavish
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Psalm 32 (vs. 5) "Then I confessed my sins to you…and you forgave all my sins."
Forgiveness
As I meditate on this psalm of King David I am struck by the fervor of his faith. He has a close relationship with God. He knows he is loved and his sins forgiven. Through the Gospels, Jesus' message is clearly the same. If we confess and repent our sinfulness we will be forgiven. What a message of hope and reassurance this can be for us!
I have always felt that sins were those of omission or commission. In beginning to study Bishop Spong's ideas on sin, he seems to say that our sinful state, not just actions, separate us from God's love. The way I think, as well as act, can certainly make me feel empty and alone and not in touch with my spiritual side. Still, I can be forgiven and feel connected to God again. The important thing for me to remember is that I must humbly, but actively, seek out this wonderful gift.
At a time when I was experiencing great personal distress I went out for a walk. This is often my way of approaching God in prayer. I brought my problems, made my confessions and sought His help. In that place I felt His presence. He not only forgave me but lifted the weight of my problems from me.
The memory of that spiritual touch links me to the promise of the love and peace available to us all.
Dear God: You know my sins before I acknowledge them. Keep me mindful of your loving presence. As I seek forgiveness, open my heart to others and help me be a forgiving person in my relationships. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Pat Greenaway
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Psalm 42:1 "As a deer longs for a stream of cool water, so I long for you, O God."
Water - the substance of life. Have you ever been without it? My wife and I were once blocked by flood waters in the Yukon wilderness. Water surged around us, black with silt. You could not wash in it, cook with it, or drink it. Ultimately, we had to cross those dangerous waters, linked together and steadied by a stout staff. Later, while dining in a hotel, we overheard a woman complaining in a mean-spirited way about what we thought was good food and drink. Had she ever suffered hunger or thirst, we wondered. What a new perspective on living this would give her.
The ultimate longing for God, for comfort and for a sense of order amidst the chaos around us is akin to the need for water, the life-giver.
When we become aware of God's well-spring of renewal, creativity and purpose bubbling up within our parched spirits, we are at peace.
Our God: We know that in You, we live and move and have our being. As a deer longs for and moves toward the cool water, so we move to our innermost being to find the waters of renewal. May we go forward with new energy and resolve to be instruments of Your peace in our every circumstance. Amen.
Dave Pawson
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Ezekiel 36:24-28 (key vses. 25 and 26) "I will…make you clean…I will give you a new heart and a new mind…and give you an obedient heart."
We can change our lives by simply "trusting" in God's word. Since the beginning there has been much evil, temptation and personal loss. By living our lives to the best of our abilities each day and living our lives in the way God has taught us, we can be forgiven for our sins and have everlasting life. This does not mean we will never have to face ongoing challenges, but by trusting in God we can deal with our challenges knowing God will always be with us - that we are never alone.
Dear God: Please guide us with our everyday decisions. Teach us to change what we can and accept what we cannot. Knowing we can trust in Your love and guidance - forever and forever. Amen.
Bernice Pascoe
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Isaiah 43:16-21 (key vses. 18 and 19) "Do not cling to events of the past…Watch for the new thing I am going to do."
Don't Reach Back
The biggest way that God helps me, is by reminding me not to cling. Sure when we're young we have a security blanket, but that is different. I mean, don't dwell on the past events of your life and reach out into the future to improve yourself in time. Look back at your past and laugh at the silly things you did, but don't cling to the good or bad times and enjoy what is to come. If you believe, the Lord will set your life in a new direction and will bring you change, a chance to make more of your life.
Dear God: You have allowed me to make a fool of myself, but forgiven me and let me start anew. Your guidance has brought me new opportunities and has allowed me to let go of the past and reach out. I hope that you can also help others to let go of their past and let them have new opportunities as you have for me. Amen.
H.B.
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Psalm 32:1-4, 15-16 (key vs. 1) "I come to you, LORD, for protection…"
As a young child growing up in Banff, I marveled at the Rocky Mountain sheep and mountain goats I observed on sheer cliff sides. I wondered aloud and was comforted to learn of the mountain caves where shelter was provided by a loving God. I became aware of the need for all animals and humans to seek and find shelter.
As a teenager on a school hike to Hole-in-the-Wall Mountain west of Banff (this mountain is named by the natural cave where, for years, mountain animals have found shelter), I became acutely aware of the absolute need to be a careful and agile climber. Here, on a warm autumn day, surrounded by golden colours, the Alberta blue sky and snow-covered mountains; it was very easy to accept, like animals, the loving concern, care and protection of a loving God.
What I have discovered, as "the white hairs of age" gather, is this protection is not a "once-in-a-lifetime" gift. But rather an almost daily act which must be performed. That of COMING to the Lord for protection, shelter and refuge during the storms of my life. Other versions of this verse do not have the same thought of the active participation need by me.
When dealing with hospice patients and their families where I volunteer, I know this protection extends far beyond our earthly journeys. So does God desert me? - or is God gently nudging me to risk and grow? "You can do it." I hear God saying. What a wise God we choose to believe.
Loving and wise Creator: Thank you for calling me "to Come" and yet allowing me to grow by risking. Your protection is vital to my life. Call me when I hesitate. Amen.
Muriel Dayman
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Matthew 27:54 "…the army officer and the soldiers with him who were watching…were terrified and said, 'He really was the Son of God.'"
What this passage says to me is that all people have times of doubting their faith as well as times of feeling confirmed in their faith. As one lives one's life searching for that faith (that relationship with God that keeps the meaning of life alive) there are events, ages and stages and insecurities that shake that faith. Events such as the earthquake in this scripture help us to confirm our faith.
I have had times in my life when I doubted that God was involved in my life. My teen years were one of these times. I had questions about how my church was living the faith that was being presented. I had uncertainties about how a relationship with God could make a difference to my life. I doubted that having a relationship with God could make my life more meaningful. I am thankful, though, that I kept my mind open. I was not convinced as a teenager, but I was still open to the possibility.
For me it was not one major event that encouraged and affirmed that my relationship with God was worthwhile. It has been many small events.
When I was travelling through Europe and Russia, I sometimes felt very far from my family and support. I did discover that I could feel this sense of support and calm by connecting with nature. I can remember standing on a huge sand dune in Israel by myself gazing at the sky, stars and moon and feeling a very deep sense of comfort and support from my loved ones - God included, for as much as I understood at that time. I have felt this comfort and support on other trips in my later years as well.
When my mother-in-law died I gained a new meaning for life on earth and life with God. My relationship with her did not disappear once she died. One way that I now feel her presence is when I am being hugged by the Northern Lights. To me that is confirmation of God's part in what happens in our lives. I feel blessed and thankful for the many ways I can feel God's presence.
Now that my awareness of God's presence has been assured many times, there are many incidents in my life that tell me that I have the support of someone that I cannot touch or see, but only feel.
I have experienced many times of uncertainty as well as many times of affirmation. I have found that as long as I am open and listening, the relationship can grow and mature. For the people back in the time of the bible writing, it took a major event to convince them to have faith because there were so many uncertainties at that time. I think that it is easier these days for those of us who wish to have a relationship with God because of the information we can acquire through books, scholars, television and radio.
I am thankful for my relationship with you, Loving God, and the many ways You have found to talk to me. Help me to keep aware and listening. Help me to keep working on my relationship with you. Thank you for the many special gifts and patience you give me. Amen.
Linda Michel
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Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 (key vs. 21) "I praise you, LORD, because you heard me, because you have given me victory."
The dictionary definition of victory is "defeating one's enemy in battle or war or one's opponent in contest." Do we have to wait until something really big happens before we say thank you to God - something like winning a medal or an award or a war? Why not say thank you in our actions and thoughts for the multitude of tiny, miniscule victories in our daily lives? I have learned that victory is a fleeting, transient thing and that it comes in small bits, often unnoticed or taken for granted. It can be something as seemingly innocuous as getting home safely from work through rush hour traffic or finding a parking spot downtown in the middle of the day (with time left on the meter) or simply waking up and getting up when living with a physical disease or depression. We often forget to acknowledge these types of daily victories and to be thankful for them.
I don't believe that life as a whole is a battle or a war, or that life is an opponent to be vanquished. Life is a journey, full of challenges and joys, hurts and pleasures. Certain life events or circumstances are often described as a battle - especially living with cancer. I've been there, done that and have the scars to show for it. At the moment of diagnosis in July 1994, I knew I wanted to live to see my sons grow up. I knew my work wasn't done. And it didn't take long before I knew that I had to wake up and learn something from this experience or I would die, both literally and figuratively. First, I learned how much I need to be in control - and how little control I actually had in my life. Next, I learned how many marvelous people there are in my life, especially my family. Third and still, I learned to learn about myself - and that journey is continuing.
Have I defeated cancer? Some would say I have won, that I am victorious. People often congratulate me on winning the cancer battle or they admire my courage in facing the disease and treatment. I suppose I am victorious, but I usually don't think about it in those terms. I think about it more with a sense of gratitude and sadness. Gratitude for the lessons learned and the lessons yet to be learned and sadness for the pain and fear that my cancer caused those I love. Although my body has healed, my spirit/soul continues to heal and grow. I am very grateful for the knowledge and skill of the doctors and nurses at the Tom Baker Cancer Centre and the support of friends and family. And I am very grateful that I am living on this earth. I wonder if I've learned about victory through surrendering to the healing initiated by breast cancer.
I don't believe that a capital "V" victory can be realized without a significant loss by the "enemy" - someone or something has to end up with less. If we are, as the saying goes, our own worst enemy, does this mean we have to defeat ourselves to experience true victory? On the other hand, I do believe that I have experienced the greatest victories in my life through lessons learned in times of adversity and difficulty, and I am thankful.
God: I thank you for the strength and calm you bring, for lessons learned and those yet to come, for small victories every day and the occasional larger triumph, for times of ease and times of adversity. I thank you for always listening to my pain and my prayers, and for guiding me forward through life. Amen.
Leslie Young
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Philippians 3:4b-14 (key vses. 10 & 11) "All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection…in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life."
What Would Jesus Do…?
I read and reread this passage and confirm. I DO know Christ. I'm a church-raised kid - I know Christ in the Jesus of my Sunday School stories - letting the little children come onto Him, and the baby Jesus of Christmas pageants. Later I learned of the Jesus Christ of Easter, and His promise of resurrection from death to life. I look up one of the meanings of the word "know" and find the one that fits - "to be familiar or acquainted with (a person)". Ralph's sermon this morning comes back to me - we need to always be focused on Jesus and His lessons for our lives. I decide, if I really "know" Christ and experience the power of His resurrection, I need live His lessons in my life.
On October 25, 1999 I was shocked to hear on the car radio that Payne Stewart had been killed in an airplane accident. Payne was a handsome, 42-year-old professional golfer who won the U.S. Open in the Spring of 1999. He was always distinguishable by his coordinated outfits, featuring colourful knee-length "plus-fours", reminiscent of a golf style of past times. He was a real individual and a popular competitor on the golf circuit with fans and fellow golfers. In the stories aired before and after his funeral services, I learned that he was an active Christian, had recently donated $500,000 to an Orlando church and since his adult conversion, had worn a little woven bracelet, featuring just 4 letters - WWJD. At the memorial service, similar bracelets were distributed to the golfers present. Those 4 letters stand for the words What Would Jesus Do? It's a tough question, and in the tragedy of the moment, was asked of millions of TV viewers. I marvel at the impact it probably had. A good man's final message.
I, like Paul, want to know Christ and experience the power of His resurrection, and those words have come back to me often. Sometimes the answer is not easy - Jesus would forgive; He would reach out; He would Love. Can I do less if I want the full life He has promised?
Dear Lord: Guide me as I measure my life by asking What Would Jesus Do?. Remind me to take time to reflect on Jesus and work to understand what He taught. Let me to be an instrument in spreading the glorious message by living His lessons. Lead me to know Christ, and to experience the power of His resurrection. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Sandra Follett-Bick
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2 Corinthians 5:16-21 (key vs. 20) "Here we are, then, speaking for Christ."
During this period of Lenten reflection, it is natural to compare our actions in the world with those of Jesus when he walked on this earth. Are we living up to his example?
In this scripture, Paul tells us that we are indeed worthy, by virtue of being part of the Christian family. In the section immediately preceding the text chosen for reflection, Paul remarks, "When anyone is joined to Christ, he (or she) is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come."
In the book of Acts, Peter describes a vision that that taught him that no person was impure or unclean. Paul compared the gentiles to wild olive branches grafted onto the stem of the original tree (i.e., Judaism). There are no gradations of worthiness, no gradations of holiness, no gradations of acceptability in the eyes of God. All persons are worthy. All are holy. All are acceptable.
We, too, are invited to experience our own worthiness. And when we see ourselves as worthy, we do speak for Christ. No one should feel a gulf between themselves and Jesus. Our own lives are the only way that we can witness Jesus' teachings.
Lent invites us to reflect on our lives. Are we living and experiencing the teachings of Jesus? Are we willing to accept that we speak for Jesus, and regard this not as a burden, but as something that brings joy?
Gracious and loving God: Let us pray, in the name of Jesus who taught us that we are worthy. As we reflect during this time of Lent, open our hearts that we may be surprised by joy, enriched by love, and alive to all the possibilities that you bring. The prodigal son was forgiven by his father, forgiven even before he could apologize for his many transgressions. Sarah was forgiven for laughing and doubting her God. They were your people; we are your people now. Grant that we may feel worthy to claim our birthright - the holiness and love that you have promised us. And grant that we may truly speak for Jesus, so that we are transparent to the Holy and surrounded by the loving presence of all that is good. We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus, who promised much and gave even more. Amen.
Geoffrey Simmins
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1 Corinthians 15:19-26 (key vs. 20) " But the truth is that Christ has been raised from death, as a guarantee that those who sleep in death will be raised."
Rogue Waves
Late in March of last year, a rogue wave suddenly surged over the rocks of a northern California coastline and swept to their deaths Calgarian chaperone Barbara Clement and two teenagers from William Aberhart High School - David Elton and Brodie MacDonald.
The victims were on a hiking party of 18 students and five adults. Ms. Clement was snatched by the sea and died without warning. David and Brodie, in spite of brave efforts to rescue her, instantly vanished. All three bodies were ultimately recovered.
Rogue waves are capricious and devastating. Waters may be calm; then bizarre swells can abruptly rise to capsize boats, knock over oil platforms and sweep people off the shore, even from apparently safe distances.
An ocean studies specialist observed: "These things do happen. If you assume waves of two or three feet, probability says that you’ll get a wave of 20 feet, just from smaller waves combining...They are impossible to predict".
St. David’s had a rare opportunity to minister significantly in the wake of this tragedy. Hundreds of classmates, teachers and other members of the community packed the church for two separate memorial services. Many of those attending may not have been accustomed to visit us. The ministry team offered a message of hope.
Human words fail at times like this, but the Gospel message about One who died, yet overcame death, can speak with great power to people on such occasions. Our confidence in the midst of utter despair is not grounded in any general claim about human beings, but in some very specific claims about Jesus of Nazareth. Those who believe that Jesus now lives and that their own future has hope have rightly understood the promise about which Paul speaks in today’s scripture.
The destiny of humankind is inextricably linked to the destiny of Jesus. That is true, whether or not people claim Him as their Saviour and Lord.
At awesome moments in the history of our congregation, all of us contribute to sharing this message we have in Christ to all who may come searching.
Lord: I cannot predict the rogue waves that may shatter my life, but I can be sure that you go before and know what is best for me.
Wayne Holst
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John 12:1-8 (key vs. 7) "But Jesus said, Leave her alone! Let her keep what she has for the day of my burial."
Perseverance
I agonized over this scripture all summer, and couldn’t think of a thing to write. In September, I asked Catherine Pace for advice and she asked me to think of it in terms of putting myself in Mary’s position, doing something which I believed was right, even if others scoffed or scorned my beliefs. The following is a reflection of the scripture based on her advice.
I have always believed that women should have equal opportunity in sports (and life). As a young girl, I was always encouraged by my parents and coaches to excel and achieve my goals and dreams. Like all young athletes I had a dream of going to the Olympics. In 1980 as a young cross country skier, I attended a meeting where my future husband, Veli Niinimaa was talking about biathlon. I asked if women were allowed to compete in this sport in the Olympics. When I discovered that they were not, I began a long uphill journey with the National and International Sport bodies to recognize equal rights for women in Biathlon. Being a "squeaky wheel" for women’s equality in a male dominated sport has provided many difficult obstacles and challenges for me. First of all, there was an attitude that only athletes who were a failure at cross country skiing would do biathlon, and thus they were treated without respect. Secondly, being in a male dominated and military based sport, it was difficult to have women accepted as participants; many of the ‘old guard’ thought that skiing with a rifle would be ‘too strenuous’ for women. Thirdly, as a member of a national team in the 1980’s, women were poorly funded, while men received the majority of the funding leading up to the 1988 Calgary Olympics. Although as a team, the women excelled better than the men, the men’s team continued to receive the funding, credit and recognition.
Finally in the summer of 1988, women were granted Olympic status, which gave them the opportunity to pursue their dreams. Myriam Bedard took this challenge and continued where the pioneers of the sport had left off, resulting in two gold medals in 1994 in Women’s Biathlon.
During that struggle for women to get into the Olympics, I knew that women deserved the recognition and were worthy of meeting the challenge of competing at the Olympic level. My faith and my beliefs created a strong foundation for me to continue working, despite the adversity which I encountered. only after women had been allowed into the sport did the rest of the sport community take notice and begin, for the first time, treating women as sports equals.
I knew that what I was doing was right, and I continued to lobby and fight for equal rights, knowing that it would not be for my own gain, as I was too old to benefit from any decision. The most important thing was for all young women to have the dream to do what they dared to do, and have the acceptance by others to achieve their goals.
Dear God: Please give others strength to do what they feel is right, even if they are faced with criticism and adversity.
Gail Niinimaa
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Philippians 3:4b-14 (key vs. 9) " I now have the righteousness that is given through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God and is based on faith."
Barriers to Understanding
The first time I read the verse which is the subject of my meditation, the word "righteous" stood out as being an incongruous word in the context of my New Millennium world. Worse than that, it is a word, which, when used at all, conveys a derogatory meaning…"he or she is a self righteous so-and-so". Each time I returned to this passage from Philippians, the word "righteous" or "righteousness" posed a barrier to my proceeding with this reflection.. I have looked at several versions of the text - The Good News Bible, the King James Bible, the Revised Standard, Phillips Modern English, the New English Bible and the New International Versions - and all use these words.
What other words might I substitute, which will ease a better understanding of what Paul is saying to the recipients of his letter? And what word or words will sustain a relationship with the word ‘faith’ which is also the focus of the text? Earlier verses reject the concept of living by rules, however successfully, as being what Paul wishes to convey. What word achieves a meaning which suggests that we fall short on an ongoing basis, that perfection has not been achieved?
Perhaps there is no one word. Perhaps, as is so often the case in life, we are left with approximations - love, justice, virtuousness, uprightness, relating to others and to God in a right relationship. Perhaps it is as we have faith that as we live in response to others in the situations in which we find ourselves, that Christ will confer on us a sense of being in relationship to God and others. Perhaps we will seldom have assurance of certainty as to the rightness of what we do or say. Perhaps we will frequently wonder how we should have acted or what more appropriately we might have said. Perhaps in so doing, we will live and grow in our relationship with Christ and with those with whose lives we interact. Perhaps we have no right to expect more.
Lord: When words stand in the way of my understanding, help me to find substitutes, however imperfect, which will open the door to a more meaningful life. Amen.
S. Noel Rea
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1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (key vs. 13) "But God…will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out."
God Provides the Strength We Need
If one regards the churches that Paul founded as his children, then surely the church at Corinth could be called his "problem child". In establishing a church in Corinth Paul bit off almost more than he could chew. Corinth was a port city. Even today port cities draw a very mixed bag of people, cultures, religions and vices. So it was 2000 years ago. While Paul established a strong, vigorous church there, when he left, the old customs and problems crept back in. So in 1st and 2nd Corinthians we find Paul writing passionate and detailed letters condemning once again sexual immorality, corruption, arrogance, bigotry and worldly pride.
In the passage quoted above, Paul seems to be countering those who said "But that is the way life is in Corinth! How can we be expected to live so differently from the society that surrounds us? That would require superhuman strength and we are only human!"
Sounds much like today's athletes who say "Everyone else takes performance enhancing drugs, how can we be expected not to?" - or - "Everyone else in my class lifts essays from the internet, how can I compete for marks if I don't?"
Paul pulls no punches in his letters to his flock in Corinth. He says that life is always full of tests, so being tempted is no excuse. He points out that it is the responsibility of those in the church at Corinth to remember that there is always help available and they know where it is. They only have to turn to God and they will find "strength to endure, and a way out". He didn't mince words. "Tough love" we would call it today, but it proved very valuable advice for those early Christians, and it is just as relevant today as it was 2000 years ago.
God: Help us to stop making excuses, and to face our shortcomings and temptations squarely. Help us accept the help we know you are offering, and so gain the strength to hang on and find the "Christian" way out when times get tough. Amen.
Marjorie M. Gibson
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Psalm 126 (key vses. 2,3,5) " The Lord did great things for us…Let those who wept as they planted their crops, gather the harvest with joy!"
God’s Blessings
Many wise people out there (authors, talk show hosts, counselors, loved ones close to us) have been encouraging the world to spend time every day remembering what they have to be grateful for. Indeed, it is a very useful exercise. We have so much to be grateful for…so much that we may overlook if we don’t specifically turn our minds to gratitude.
How has God blessed us? Health? A job with a steady income? People who love us? A special talent? Life in one of the best countries on Earth? A beautiful home? A million other ways?
I believe that God’s greatest blessing has nothing to do with improving our circumstances. It is his willingness to help us deal with the circumstances that we find ourselves in. When our circumstances are good, God’s gift is in helping us to remember that, and to share our blessings with others. When our circumstances are difficult, God’s gift is in helping us to find peace in the midst of torment, hope in the midst of despair, love in the midst of anger/hate, gratitude in the midst of resentment - to find a positive response to circumstances which may clearly justify a negative response.
I knew a man with a terminal illness. He said that it was the best thing that ever happened to him. Because of that illness, he had come to truly appreciate life in a way that he never had before. The blessing was not in the illness, but in his response to it. You may have heard other stories with a similar theme - finding a positive response to more difficult circumstances than most of us have ever faced.
We choose how we respond to our circumstances. We can choose to overlook our blessings, or remember them and share them. We can choose to treat a traffic jam as a tragedy, or a terminal illness as a blessing. Our chosen response has a greater impact than the circumstances we find ourselves in. God is there for us to call on as we look for guidance and strength in choosing our response.
Dear God: We realize the many ways in which you have blessed us. We ask for your guidance in sharing those blessings with others. We also have concerns. We seek your wisdom in how to deal with those concerns. Please give us the strength to follow through on that wisdom. Please grant us your peace. Thank you God. Amen.
Dave Guenter
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Philippians 2:5-11 (key vs. 8) " He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to his death - his death on the cross."
Walking the Path of Obedience
Obedience. Obedience invokes thoughts of the Ten Commandments, of love, and of honour. It invokes thoughts of faithfulness, respect and loyalty. Obedience also brings up thoughts of submissiveness, restrictions, and obligations. When coupled with other words, "You obey me, or else", the word obedience can take on a fearful or threat-filled meaning.
As Paul writes his letter to the Philippians, it is not this threat-filled obedience that is being spoken about or referred to. Jesus consented to His death on the cross. He freely chose to obey God’s will. Had He not consciously made His decision, no one could have killed Him. No amount of human strength or physical power is ever strong enough to change the will of God.
It is by God’s SPIRIT, and our own faith in Him that all things are made possible. It is through God’s wonderful SPIRIT and our attention to and focus on this SPIRIT that we find the positive message of joy in our daily living. It is by depending on His strength and not our own that we find peace. We find this peace even during times of great stress and when our faith is tested and pushed to the limits. Through our obedience to God, we are able to learn to be content with inward strength no matter what our outward circumstances. Let us celebrate and rejoice that Jesus was victorious over evil and His death on the cross. Let us walk the path of obedience to find glory in our full and abundant lives.
Dearest God: You are my guide and the source of my strength. In You I have learned to be content. I trust Your plan for my life. May I be ever obedient to You. And in so doing, may I serve You and my fellow human beings with love first of all, and then joy, kindness, consideration and forgiveness. Please give me the discipline and concentration that will allow me to grow further in Your SPIRIT. Amen.
Charlene Lazaruk
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Isaiah 42:1-9 (key vs. 8) " I alone am the Lord your God."
False Idols
In a world where success is based on the type of car you drive, and happiness on how much you earn, it is easy to lose yourself in the commercial world of wealth and power. False idols control lives, high school often feels like a big ocean of the ‘right’ clothes and ‘appropriate’ friends. I tend to get lost in this; it’s hard to fit in, to live up to the expectations based on a system I struggle to understand. When God said, "I alone am the Lord", he was speaking to this system, saying: ‘Step back. Take a look at what’s important. Lose yourself in something greater.’ When I see something created by Him - the mountains, the trees, the wind - I know where He is, who He is, and that He alone is the Lord, my God.
God: Give me eyes to see beyond, to look past and appreciate. Give me hands to hold on to, ears so that I may hear your song and feet so that I may dance to it. Help me to see the value in the people you have created, not for what they look like, but for who they are. Amen.
Bronwyn Bragg
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1 Corinthians 1:18-31 (key vs. 24) "…but for those whom God has called, both Jews and Gentiles, this message is Christ, who is the power of God and the Wisdom of God."
Postage Prepaid
This verse confirms my belief that religion is religion; sure there may be different sects or types of religions and beliefs, but there is one vital thing governing all of these trains of thought and making them similar - the belief that there is a higher power above us, that life did not just materialize from nothingness, or that if it did, there had to be something there to create it. What I mean by saying that religion is religion, is that yes, I may be a Christian and you a Muslim, but there are always going to be similar undertones to our beliefs.
Our religion holds Christ in high esteem, but it seems as though all religions have some sort of parallel. The Sikhs look to their Gurus as teachers of wisdom, and Asians have different religions like Shinto and Buddhism that have similar types of principles as ours and others worldwide. Of course there are going to be some differences in the style of worship and everyday lifestyles between our religions, but I think it can be attributed to different regions and environments the religions grow in. Just as the brown bear adapted to the Rockies, the polar bear to the north, and the panda bear to the east, religion grows and entwines with its surroundings, but the feeling of God runs through us all.
I think I can sum up most of my thoughts on this verse in saying that different religions pray to different Gods, but the important thing is that we are praying. God is like the post office. We may address our prayers differently, but they all go to the same place.
Lord: Give us the strength to have faith in you always for your essence fills us with love.
Tom Tumack
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John 13:1-17, 31b-35 (key vs. 34) " …and now I give you a new commandment: Love one another."
Love One Another
These words of Jesus were spoken to his disciples on the last night He was with them. He knew full well what lay ahead. Knowing what the future held would really accentuate the importance of getting down to the basics of what He had been teaching during His ministry. I think it remarkable that it could all be expressed in three words - "Love one another".
Eight of the Ten Commandments tell us what we are not to do. This new commandment adds a responsibility to take positive action, not merely to refrain from doing certain proscribed acts.
How do we show love for one another? What does it mean to love one another? I think this kind of love can be defined as wanting what is best for another person. Surely this can’t be all that difficult. Surely we should easily be able to do that. But we humans fail all too often. We show prejudice against people who are different. Some are a different colour. Some wear different clothes. Some speak with a different language, or even a different accent. It even gets down to the fact that some have different haircuts. Surely we can get to the point where we welcome and celebrate these differences instead of using them to scorn and belittle our fellows.
Dear God: We thank you for the new commandment you gave to us through Jesus. Be with us to strengthen us in our resolve to love our fellow man. Amen.
Sheldon Gibson
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1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (key vs. 23) " …that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke it, and said, "This is my body, which is for you. Do this in memory of me. In the same way, after the supper he took the cup and said, "This cup is God’s new covenant, sealed with my blood."
Grace
Jesus was not just a man. He was a man who was facing the end of His life. Even though He knew His death was saving mankind, how frightened and how sad He must have been! He went to the garden to pray. When He had completed his questioning and soothed His uncertainty, He shared a final meal with His followers, and asked them to use the symbols of a meal to remember the reason for His death.
Jesus gave up His life and rose again, an event I believe was designed to show the power of God. We are asked to remember this act and in doing so, remember what is taught about living a life of and for God. God promised eternal life to all who follow His teachings, and who honor the resurrection.
This verse goes on to say that before we eat the Lord’s bread, or drink from His cup, we should examine ourselves and understand the meaning of the act. Sometimes, I have difficulty really understanding why Jesus had to die to save mankind. Sometimes I have difficulty believing that my inadequate efforts are worthy of His sacrifice. I have no trouble giving thanks for a meal, though, and feel spiritual connection in quiet prayer.
Whenever we come to the table to eat, therefore, whether it is a gourmet meal, a lunch on the run or communion offered by the church, we can be thankful for life and the nourishment we are given - for our physical and our spiritual selves.
Oh God, as we prepare to sustain our bodies with the earth’s bounty provided through the work of men and women, we take this time to replenish our spirit by remembering the sacrifice made by the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Thank you for the food – for the body and for the spirit.. Amen.
Kathy Tumack
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Psalm 22 (key vs. 1) "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Good Friday: Our Expectations!
In January of 1989, I had the opportunity to go to Haiti. I went on my own to gain some "Third World" experience. I stayed at St. Joseph’s Boys Home, Port au Prince, where I worked with Mother Teresa’s nuns almost every morning, and most afternoons I spent in the slums working at a feeding clinic. It was there in the slums that I learned some of my most valuable lessons of life. There I learned that food was not a right, that water was valuable, that human life, although sacred, came with no guarantee. For there, two out of five children do not live past age 5; there, the people live with the highest AIDS infection level in the western hemisphere; there, water cost ten cents for five gallons, and families are fortunate to have one meal a day.
It was there as well that I encountered the love of God. A genuine love, not cluttered by positions or wealth or anything else. There, people shared. One young man who became a friend, offered to spend some of his money because I was yawning. ..because you see, when people yawn in Haiti, they believe it is because you are hungry and he didn’t want me to be hungry. The people there did not believe God had forsaken them. They believe that life is hard, and if some miracle happened that they had a trouble-free day and food to eat, then praise God in great ways. As I lived with these folks, I began to realize how we have twisted this view. How we think we are entitled to an easy, trouble-free life and when this doesn’t happen, then we cry out "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?"
God does not forsake us! We may think that from the way we look at life, but God is always there, waiting to listen, to walk, to hold us when the way is dark and the path seems dim. Perhaps it is God who really cries out on Good Friday, "my people my people, why have you forsaken me? I never promised you an easy life, just a full life with living to do and consequences to bear."
Loving God: My prayer is that I will always be open to Your word, always humble in assuming I know Your will, and always loving in the ways I meet Your children, for You are always present. Amen.
Rev. Catherine Pace
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Matthew 27:57-66 (key vses. 62 & 63) "The next day, which was a Sabbath, the chief priests and the Pharisees met with Pilate and said, "Sir, we remember that while that liar was still alive he said, ‘I will be raised to life three days later.’ "
The Courage to be Different
Many people did not believe - or want to believe - that the promises Jesus made would be fulfilled. When many of those promises were satisfied, it meant fear and confusion for the reluctant believers; Confusion because of their change of faith, and fear of the condemnation they would face if they expressed their trust and belief in Jesus. These people put up a front - they pretended to be insulting of Jesus, but in truth they waited for the events that Jesus promised to occur.
Acceptance and love are two very important parts of life. Especially in our teens we are afraid of criticism for being who we really are - different. We’re scared of being seen as wrong or stupid so we often put on a front for the rest of the world to see. We hide behind a mask of what we think others want us to be so that we won’t feel alone. Like the Pharisees, many of us may believe in something but pretend we don’t so as not to seem different from our peers. It is very hard to get the confidence needed to be different - we all want to be accepted and liked, and to have friends. We know that we should be ourselves and not care what others think, but like the Pharisees, we are scared of being condemned.
Jesus himself struggled with the decision he had to make - following God’s directions or changing to meet the expectations of the people around him. He was condemned and murdered for the decision he made, but because of his selfless acts we (as Christians) can now follow the word of God without being condemned. If we go through life with good morals and with God’s word as our law, we will succeed in life. All we have to do is trust in God that His word will lead us to happiness, acceptance, and love.
Lord: Thank you for the diversity in this world. Help us to accept and love the differences in ourselves and in others. Please give us the strength we need to be ourselves. Protect us from the condemnation and hate that Jesus had to face when He followed your word, and lead us to happiness. Amen.
Natasha Tumack
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1 Corinthians 15:19-26 (key vs. 20) "But the truth is that Christ has been raised from death, as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised."
A Guarantee
My father was a brilliant man, having graduated from university before he turned 19. He was the product of a Methodist parsonage, a Boy Scout, a better than average tennis player and golfer. He served as an innovative and dynamic administrator in the United Methodist Church for half a century. He was a voracious and eclectic reader, a member of the futurist association, the advocacy and support group of the United Nations, and a member of the Barbershop Chorus, The Dukes of Dixieland, just to name a few of his accomplishments. He wrote letters to the President of the United States and got replies.
He died four years ago last Christmas. In the intervening years, going through his papers, sorting out the ones to be forwarded to the Methodist Archives and those that could be thrown away, I discovered that he was also an incurable romantic, writing love poetry to my mother, an inventor of a board game, a prolific published author, and a song writer.
At the end of his earthly journey, he no longer could speak, was fed through a tube, and fought against the full range of senior diseases. His death was a merciful release. Standing giving his eulogy, I had no tears. All I could do was to praise God for the gift of this man and his achievements, his vision, his creativity. Running through my head were the words of the 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians, the one in which Paul spoke about death.
We sang songs at my father’s funeral. We had a little infant great-grandchild gurgling away throughout the service. It was a time of thanksgiving and of joy. Why? Paul put it for us so clearly and simply: "The truth is that Christ has been raised from death, as the GUARANTEE that those who sleep in death will also be raised." That is the promise I need for my life - that is the promise I give my life to - that is the guarantee I trust.
Dear Loving God, You have given us the hope of life today and for all eternity through the One who died and was raised from death. Thank you. Praise be Your name! Amen.
Dr. Ralph W. Spencer
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27 February, 2001