This morning, after the worship service in the church hall, there was a crowd of people circled around a couple of large posters. The invitation was to put a sticky next to the fund-raising idea that you would be willing to support. I wondered how this very busy and active group would respond when faced with a host of new volunteer activities, either offering a service or purchasing one.
Last month a cover story in Newsweek announced “The End of Christian America.” A Lutheran minister responded, acknowledging the decline in attendance at Sunday services but also commending those who do manage to make time to participate in faith communities.
He writes, “ There are still many families and individuals who are committed; they still manage to make it to worship on most Sunday mornings, they juggle their schedules so their kids can attend Sunday school and youth-group meetings while still playing sports or taking violin lessons, they make quilts for Africa, build homes for habitat for Humanity, service in local soup kitchens or food banks and spend their own money to go on mission trips.”
That sounds a lot like our community. Pretty hopeful stuff.
Peter
with thanks to Newsweek and Rev. John W. Futterer
You may also submit your comments to the assistant webmaster, assistant.webmaster@emmanuelunited.ca and I will ensure they are posted
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
United For Peace
This morning our worship service celebrated the United for Peace Campaign of the United Church of Canada. I always feel more engaged in these international programs when there is an opportunity for a face to face encounter with key players.
That happened already not long ago when we heard about Susan’s time of accompaniment in Palestine and Israel at an Emmanuel Cafe evening. The ecumenical accompaniers had some fascinating insight into life on the other side of the Wall in the West Bank.
This morning we were able to hear from Lilia Solano and her perspectives on Canada’s relationship with Columbia. Lilia has serious misgivings about our government’s mantra that Canada’s free trade agreement will be beneficial to her people. she challenged us over these last couple fo weeks to consider the consequences of the business choices we make in our country. Lilia encouraged us to embrace and express the voice of the Church. A letter from a church in Canada can make a huge difference to a Colombian village facing exploitation or violence.
Our connection to United for Peace has one further dimension. We remembered in prayer two young people form our congregation who are travelling to Palestine. Meghan and Jesse are being commissioned in a Toronto church today and will soon be immersed in communities a world away from our experience. Our prayers accompany them and we eagerly await their return and their learnings and challenge to us.
Our engagement with the church around the world deeply enriches our community’s journey of faith. Being involved with such genuinely caring people, how can we be other than grateful.
Peter
You may also submit your comments to the assistant webmaster, assistant.webmaster@emmanuelunited.ca and I will ensure they are posted
That happened already not long ago when we heard about Susan’s time of accompaniment in Palestine and Israel at an Emmanuel Cafe evening. The ecumenical accompaniers had some fascinating insight into life on the other side of the Wall in the West Bank.
This morning we were able to hear from Lilia Solano and her perspectives on Canada’s relationship with Columbia. Lilia has serious misgivings about our government’s mantra that Canada’s free trade agreement will be beneficial to her people. she challenged us over these last couple fo weeks to consider the consequences of the business choices we make in our country. Lilia encouraged us to embrace and express the voice of the Church. A letter from a church in Canada can make a huge difference to a Colombian village facing exploitation or violence.
Our connection to United for Peace has one further dimension. We remembered in prayer two young people form our congregation who are travelling to Palestine. Meghan and Jesse are being commissioned in a Toronto church today and will soon be immersed in communities a world away from our experience. Our prayers accompany them and we eagerly await their return and their learnings and challenge to us.
Our engagement with the church around the world deeply enriches our community’s journey of faith. Being involved with such genuinely caring people, how can we be other than grateful.
Peter
You may also submit your comments to the assistant webmaster, assistant.webmaster@emmanuelunited.ca and I will ensure they are posted
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
