One of the shortest verses in the Bible is “Jesus wept.” Tears are part of our experience as human beings and if we bring all of ourselves to worship, then there will be times when we bring our tears.
Last night was our annual Romero service. With the Salvadoran community in Ottawa, Emmanuel United remembered and gave thanks for the life of Oscar Romero.
In the middle of the service, one of the worship leaders turned to me and said, “Sorry I could not speak there for a moment. I was thinking about my sister.”
Romero was not the only martyr to die in the war in El Salvador. Other innocent people were murdered because of their faith in God and God’s dream of peace and justice. Those are good reasons to bring our tears to our worship.
This morning there were more tears as we dedicated a plaque to recognize the McLeish family’s gift of a grand piano to our congregation. We have enjoyed this instrument for some years now but with the passing of Margaret McLeish in January, this gave us an opportunity to say thank you again. Remembering the ones who offered this generous gift, brought a number of us to tears.
Jesus wept at the loss of a friend and so do we. Which shows that we care.
Peter
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
An Evolving, Life-Enhancing Faith
On a Sunday when the lectionary invites us to reflect on the 10 Commandments, Dr. Francis Macnab gives us a list of the 10 new commandments by which he lives.
The first and ninth on his list offers fresh language to express what Jesus called the commandment to love God and others as well as oneself.
Commandment 1: Believe in a Good Presence in your life. Call that Good Presence: God, G-D and follow that Good Presence so that you live life fully, tolerantly, collaboratively, generously and with dignity.
Commandment 9: We often focus our lives on many things and pursuits that promise our fulfilment. Study the deeper things of the Spirit, and the things of ultimate concern for all human beings. Be part of an evolving life-enhancing Faith that will also bring a new resilience to the future.
“An evolving, life-enhancing Faith.” That’s a belief and faith that makes intuitive sense to me.
Peter
The first and ninth on his list offers fresh language to express what Jesus called the commandment to love God and others as well as oneself.
Commandment 1: Believe in a Good Presence in your life. Call that Good Presence: God, G-D and follow that Good Presence so that you live life fully, tolerantly, collaboratively, generously and with dignity.
Commandment 9: We often focus our lives on many things and pursuits that promise our fulfilment. Study the deeper things of the Spirit, and the things of ultimate concern for all human beings. Be part of an evolving life-enhancing Faith that will also bring a new resilience to the future.
“An evolving, life-enhancing Faith.” That’s a belief and faith that makes intuitive sense to me.
Peter
Monday, March 5, 2012
A Unique Way To Raise Money
It’s been awhile since a cell phone went off in our church but I have heard them going off at some recent meetings. That reminded me of a video that has been shown at a Westminster Presbyterian church in Burbank, California.
In the video, those gathered for worship are asked to turn off all electronic and messaging devices. If a cellphone goes off during announcements, the video says there is $25. fee. If it happens during prayer concerns, the price goes up to $50. If it goes off during the sermon, you go to hell.
Must be the minister assigning those fees.
Peter
In the video, those gathered for worship are asked to turn off all electronic and messaging devices. If a cellphone goes off during announcements, the video says there is $25. fee. If it happens during prayer concerns, the price goes up to $50. If it goes off during the sermon, you go to hell.
Must be the minister assigning those fees.
Peter
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