![]() |
|
Articles |
|
|
|
|
Minister's Message Dear Friends, Ezra Tull, a character in one of Anne Tyler's novels, had a very rugged existence. His father abandoned the family when Ezra was a small boy. The one woman he loved, and to whom he was engaged, jilted him and married his smooth, rich brother, Cody. Even his mother failed him, offering only discipline and venom when what Ezra needed was warmth and encouragement. Toward the end of the book, having somehow survived life's continuing disappointments and losses, Ezra states the homespun philosophy that had kept him sane and alive: Life is a continual shoring up. (1) Sometimes, life in the church in this post Christendom era – feels like one task of “shoring-up” after another. But while we are all at times trying to problem solve, improve, or tweak, various corners and relationships in our lives, I also want to affirm one of the most basic beliefs that we proclaim in the United Church of Canada. It is embedded in our signature -- A New Creed: “We are not alone we live in God’s world… In life, in death, in life beyond death, God is with us, we are not alone.” We say this because it changes the equation – it changes life. God is, and can be, active rather than passive in our lives. In our times of “shoring up,” God is with us and for us! God’s Spirit coaches, encourages, informs, and comforts us as we shore things up – calling for the best in us, no matter the circumstances. Yes! Believing in God empowers us. Discovering that God believes in us, also empowers us! And maybe we also discover that it all doesn’t have to be shored up, tidy, perfect and orderly, because God uses imperfect vessels and situations all the time! God works in and through us -- in spite of the imperfections and mishaps of life. God loves us and profoundly, in spite of our having it all neatly together. Hallelujah! With you on this marvellous journey! -- Jim Cairney
A Short Christmas Sermon: Keeping Christmas ROMANS 14:6. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; “It is a good thing to observe Christmas day. The mere marking of times and seasons, when men agree to stop work and make merry together, is a wise and wholesome custom. It helps one to feel the supremacy of the common life over the individual life. It reminds a man to set his own little watch, now and then, by the great clock of humanity which runs on sun time. But there is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day, and that is, keeping Christmas. Are you willing to forget what you have done for other people, and to remember what other people have done for you; to ignore what the world owes you, and to think what you owe the world; to put your rights in the background, and your duties in the middle distance, and your chances to do a little more than your duty in the foreground; to see that your fellow-men are just as real as you are, and try to look behind their faces to their hearts, hungry for joy; to own that probably the only good reason for your existence is not what you are going to get out of life, but what you are going to give to life; to close your book of complaints against the management of the universe, and look around you for a place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness--are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas. Are you willing to stoop down and consider the needs and the desires of little children; to remember the weakness and loneliness of people who are growing old; to stop asking how much your friends love you, and ask yourself whether you love them enough; to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear on their hearts; to try to understand what those who live in the same house with you really want, without waiting for them to tell you; to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you; to make a grave for your ugly thoughts, and a garden for your kindly feelings, with the gate open--are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas And if you keep it for a day, why not always?
PRESBYTERY REPORT More or less coincident with this report; representatives to Presbytery will have received a Communications Policy and Strategies Report on a study commissioned in June 2009. Expected outcomes of the work included a) a schedule of existing communications activities and methods used, b) a summary, where possible, as to effectiveness of (a), c) a summary of how information and successes is shared, d) description of and recommendations for new tools and protocols that could be used, e) recommendations for communications protocols that will be user friendly and enable ongoing or “live” collection of information that may be used to promote the United Church in the Halton. The consultant met with and interviewed 26 ministry personnel in that number of pastoral charges. Similarly 14 Lay Presbyters and/or other lay people were interviewed. Top line review of the Presbytery and Pastoral Charges web sites was an informative exercise that contributed to analyses of all the information that had been gathered. As is often the case in endeavors such as this; the study produced some interesting but challenging findings and identified a few gaps for consideration. Significant among the findings is that the Presbytery mission statement “To Strengthen Congregations to be Christ for the World” is not used as an active basis for actions and decision making. The report contains twelve recommendations, each with considerable supporting comments. The first three:
sound simple enough. The challenge is; to action each in such a way that the mission and purpose become “alive” and get reflected in the ongoing work of Presbytery. Structural and attitudinal change will need to take place. Not surprisingly; for Presbytery to achieve its mission and purpose will involve some attitudinal, inspirational and perhaps organizational changes at the congregational level. There will be more to report later. Creation and staffing of the committee mentioned above will be central to achieving a number of other recommendations in the report. The collective gifts such a committee will require do not all exist with the members of Presbytery. However, these gifts do reside within the congregations as a whole. The mandate for the new committee of say six to eight people will represent interesting opportunities to be involved in information technology and the application thereof. Look for a proposed committee mandate and staffing criteria in the near future. There may be someone at Christ Church who would like to make a contribution of their skills and knowledge by becoming a member.
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN THOUGHTS
|
|||
Return to Top |