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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)
 
Is life a continual shoring up?  For some people, that is a fairly accurate interpretation of (their) life.  Life can be difficult -- even interminably difficult for some people. Some people contend with far more disappointments, set-backs and losses than do others. Sometimes it is “catch-up” and “renewal” after being over-extended.  For some us, it’s a season we come through, and eventually emerge from.

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.
 
Jimmy Hopper writes, “One of the points that I think gets left out of the story of Job in the Old Testament is that it is also an example and affirmation of God’s faith in us. The Accuser and Job’s friends do not believe in Job the way God does.” (2)

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
by Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)

 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
.
Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world--stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death--and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love? Then you can keep Christmas.

And if you keep it for a day, why not always?
But you can never keep it alone.”

PRESBYTERY REPORT
by John Fargey  For Happenings January 2010

 “Volunteers do not get paid – not because they worthless but because they are priceless.”

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:

1. Embrace the Mission Statement
2. Establish “Growing Disciples” as the primary purpose of all that is done
3. Create and staff a Communications and Technical Committee

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

We all know that thinking takes time. A number of people at Christ Church have been thinking about some physical needs and the implications of what that means.

Some thoughts involve hard facts while others are more nebulous. A hard fact is we need to replace the roof over the sanctuary and Merigold Room. Not so hard is steeple renewal, although we have been told occupancy by raccoons and bats in the last year or two has contributed to serious deterioration. We have talked for years about the need of a washroom in the lower hall area. There is still some windows and frames where replacement would diminish heat loss. More flexible is replacement of the front doors or the timing for resurfacing the parking lot. Overall building accessibility is an issue that needs to be looked at in regards to future legal requirements.
Implication of doing even one of the above includes the cost of same and how to respond. In the past, when a need was identified, we reached out to the congregation to raise the funds and we have always been successful in filling the need. Sometimes large amounts feel a bit overwhelming to raise.

Some investigation of other Halton Presbytery churches reveals that Maple Grove has succeeded in raising a lot of money for major renovations. Wellington Square in Burlington have raised over $2 million for expansion and renovation. Then there is East Plains in Burlington. In 2003 they raised $120,000 to change their entrance and lobby and add a small kitchen in the lobby they now call their “gathering place”. Later, in 2007, they set out to raise $80,000 for a new roof and received $95,000.

So, how does this affect Christ Church? It is part of where thinking comes in. In 2000 (our 175th anniversary year) we engaged in improvements, the first in many years, that included  new windows in the Merigold Room, repairs to the organ console, renovations to the chancel, electrical work, sanctuary and chancel painting, carpeting in sanctuary and narthex, installation of air conditioning and other sundry items. Total cost was projected at $139,500. The annual report 2000/2001 indicates that 10 months of fund raising produced $100,000. There have been modest appeals since, for example the piano, the bells, the chimes, but nothing as serious as what we now need to consider.

It is now 10 years later and we are again looking to our church family to upgrade elements of our church building so it can continue being a valuable asset to our community.

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