Another Verse

posted on December 27, 2010 in Columns, Patricia Schneider

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I had loved a man deeply for 54 years and lost him to cancer. My family, church family and friends were close by and were a blessing to me. I was ready to step back.

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How I Will Be Spending the 27th of December

Planning the post-Christmas peace.

posted on December 27, 2010 in Columns, The Messy Table

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I work 20 hours a week. So the theory and the job description go. But Christmas doesn’t work that way. Churches are busy places, and there are so many things to do. Which is fantastic and amazing and now I am tired.

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Christingle Novice

Oranges and candles and kids. Oh my!

posted on December 20, 2010 in Columns, The Messy Table

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I’m new to the world of Christingles. And a bit boggled by symbolic oranges.

Maybe this tradition hasn’t yet scaled the walls of Canadian Presbyterianism. Or maybe I’ve been sheltered.

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An Ever Faithful God

It was Christmas Eve and my daughter had just arrived.

posted on December 20, 2010 in Columns, Patricia Schneider

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“No lady, I can’t leave you here, it’s not safe”, the taxi driver advised.

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Christmas Tunes to Warm the Heart and Stuff in Stockings

Two reviews: Be Not Afraid and Noel

posted on December 15, 2010 in In Song

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“Tradition” is a word that’s as loaded as a Christmas stocking. These two CDs, each in their own way, shine their light on the traditions of Christmas – and deserve a spot in someone’s stocking.

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Surprise

“Do you like it sweetheart?” I heard Mom ask anxiously.

posted on December 13, 2010 in Columns, Patricia Schneider

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The key slid like butter into the lock and my eyes widened as the door swung open.

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Gospels and 3D Vision

Stereographic Advent musing.

posted on December 13, 2010 in Columns, The Messy Table

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I expected to open the typical virgin birth kettle of worms, but no one mention it. So I pushed a little bit, wondering aloud if maybe the non-parallel nativity accounts were at all feather-ruffling. But the group was nonchalant. No specific Yuletide troubles to be reported.

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Christmas Gifts

I waited impatiently as the line moved slowly ahead.

posted on December 6, 2010 in Columns, Patricia Schneider

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After weeks of shopping in heated malls, dressed in heavy boots and jacket, with perspiration clinging to me, I had finally accumulated the contents on my gift list.

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Jesus in Embryo

Reflections on a Christmas poster campaign.

posted on December 6, 2010 in Columns, The Messy Table

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There’s a new image on the streets in the UK this Christmas. It looks like an ultrasound. No, it is an ultrasound of a regular, healthy-looking infant. With a halo.

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Building a Culture of Song

It means singing. A lot. For a lot of reasons.

posted on December 1, 2010 in In Song

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The well-documented and sad state of community singing is thrown into sharp relief during this most musical of seasons. Building a singing culture is the same as building a hockey culture, but without the gaps in the front teeth.

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Sudan Could Become Another Rwanda

posted on December 1, 2010 in News

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Photo: Nicholas Belton / iStockphoto

A former general secretary of the World Council of Churches has warned that tension in Sudan ahead of a plebiscite on independence for the south of Africa’s biggest country could spark mass killings similar to the Rwanda genocide in 1994.

“We know it is possible these people could easily be massacred, if Khartoum is not happy with how the referendum will go,” said Rev. Samuel Kobia, an ecumenical envoy from the All Africa Conference of Churches. “We also wanted to sound a warning, that a situation is brewing up that could lead to another Rwanda and we don’t want the international community to say, ‘We didn’t know’ … As churches, we will hold the international community accountable for what happens.”

Kobia, a Kenyan Methodist, led the Geneva-based WCC from 2004 to 2009.

On Jan. 9, referenda are scheduled in southern Sudan and the oil-rich Abyei border region between the north and south. The result could see people from the south, where Christianity and traditional religions predominate, flee from the north, where most people are Arabs and Islam is dominant. The Abyei region will be choosing whether to join the north or south of the existing country. The referendum is part of a 2005 comprehensive peace agreement that sealed the end of a 21-year-long civil war between north and south in which more than two million people died.

“I thought up to 95 per cent would vote to secede. I want to revise that number upwards and say up to 98 per cent or more,” said Kobia. “For the people of southern Sudan, voting for unity would mean voting to remain second-class citizens in their own country.”

Kobia said there are between a half million and 2.5 million southern Sudanese estimated to be living in the north. He noted reports that Sudan’s minister of information in Khartoum had warned that southerners living in the north will not have any citizenship rights if their kinsfolk vote for separation. – ENI

Knox, Leamington, Ont.

posted on December 1, 2010 in People & Places

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In October, Knox celebrated Louise Bryon who has served as organist and choir director for 40 years. She has also served as church secretary for many years. In her honour, some church members wrote a hymn celebrating her service which was sung by the entire congregation as a surprise. Cake followed, of course. Pictured left to right: Dale Butler (elder), Rev. Scott McAndless, Louise Bryon.

People & Places – December 2010

posted on December 1, 2010 in People & Places

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Knox, Leamington, Ont.

Knox, Georgetown, Ont.

Mount Zion, Carberry, Man.

St. Andrew’s, Brampton, Ont.

Kitchener East, Kitchener, Ont.

Knox, Georgetown, Ont.

posted on December 1, 2010 in People & Places

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Knox topped their 150th year with a gala dinner, which was enjoyed by the members, government and church representatives, and past ministers. Here, Bill Karn, clerk of session for Limehouse Church, presents Steve McNamara, clerk of session at Knox, with a framed copy of the original session minutes of Nov. 1861, at which time the two churches agreed to join forces as a two-point charge. Since then they have worked well together, sharing ministers down through 150 years. Knox and Limehouse are still both busy and vibrant churches, and they expect to celebrate their 200th anniversaries still working well together.

This is My Beloved Son…

And he is ill.

posted on December 1, 2010 in Mental Illness

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“Mary With Child” by Deana Weyman, 69, St. Andrew’s, King City, Ont.

We’d known it for some time.

Our beloved son is ill.

More ill than we realized at first; more ill than he realizes himself yet.

His illness affects his whole life … and ours, too.

His illness affects the dreams and hopes our son had for his life – good friends and good success at school, a good job, a good life.

His illness affects the dreams and hopes we had for our son – success at school, graduations, a job, a future family of his own, a good relationship with us, his parents.

Our beloved son is ill.

Our beloved son is mentally ill.

Or better stated: Our beloved son has a mental illness. That’s one of the problems, you see, with mental illness. We would never say, “My wife is cancer,” or “My brother is muscular dystrophy.” But the mentally ill become defined by their disease. And their disease often defines how they are treated by others.

Our beloved son. We knew that something was wrong from his elementary school years. We tried many things: we worked with teachers and tutors, paid for supplemental learning courses, saw counsellors, got our son involved in extra-curricular activities and our church youth group. We sent him to our church camp and larger youth events. But the problems persisted. Behaviour problems, like lying and stealing, difficulty with friendships, with “fitting in.” Our son wasn’t invited to birthday parties much; and as he grew older, the problems grew larger and more difficult. He struggled in school, and grew more angry at home. There was risky behaviour, running away, police at our door, violence in our home.

We read the best parenting books, attended courses and seminars, wept and prayed. We worried when he was at home; we worried when we didn’t know where our son was, sometimes for days, sometimes for weeks. It broke our hearts to watch his broken spirit and sense of self. It broke our peace, with his wild ways of getting attention and his hurtful ways of getting back. Relationships with girls were always a challenge – it would start off well, grew serious far too quickly, and end more dramatically every time.

The community and the congregation we attended knew something was wrong. No doubt, there was talk going on about him, and about us. Some of that talk was, I’m sure, judgmental; some of it compassionate and concerned. As the problems became more obvious and more public, people gradually stopped asking much about our son. That was easier to do as he lived at home less, and rarely attended church.

Our family’s stress level increased; our other children suffered from the energy that we had to expend on their brother; our marriage felt the strain as we wondered what to do next, when the next episode would explode, what the short-term and long-term future would hold for the son we love. My wife and I are Christians; we believed God had entrusted this son to our care, the precious son we had held in our arms as a newborn babe, the infant son we gave to the Lord at baptism, the son we had waited for and prayed over. We brought our boy to church week by week; we prayed at home, read the Bible as a family at suppertimes, made sure he had everything, including loving parents and a good home.

For years we carried a heavy burden of guilt – that somehow, our son’s struggles were our fault. That we had made too many mistakes, had not parented the right way – had been too strict or too lenient, too Christian or not faithful enough. We asked “Why?” many times – asked our son, asked ourselves, asked God.

It has been a long journey, and the path is long and steep and rugged. The end is not in sight yet. But along the way, we have learned many things. Perhaps some of what our family has learned will help our churches learn about mental illness – because those who suffer from this disease need to find the acceptance and support of a faith community too.

We likely don’t realize that present in our pews or chairs on Sunday mornings are people who themselves struggle with mental illness: those who have depression or bipolar disorder, and who do their best to hide their illness because of the stigma attached. They hear the jokes about “crazy people” and “being off your meds” and so don’t feel safe in sharing their truth. In your congregation there may be a wife whose husband never comes to church or church events because he’s self-medicating his obsessive-compulsive disorder with alcohol. She would like to come to choir or attend the women’s luncheon, but things at home sap her energy, and Sunday mornings are about the only time she can slip away. She doesn’t have a marriage partner to bring to the couples’ retreat; she has a dependant to care for, and aches for his loss and her own.

The other truth, of course, is that absent from our pews or chairs are those with mental illness, and their families. They don’t feel they could fit in, measure up, or cope with the service or the fellowship potluck. People are often afraid of those with a mental illness, afraid of what they might do or say; people, good caring people, are often at a loss for words when talking with someone who has a mental illness or has a loved one who suffers from this devastating disease. Most have a greater comfort level with other debilitating illnesses, whether Parkinson’s disease or melanoma. Mental illness is a strange world, a frightening place, and people don’t know what to say or do.

Our family has heard this silence … we know what it is to be brushed off by others, including church folk, who don’t know what to say or do … or who simply don’t want to know, and found it easier to teach the Sunday school class or lead the youth group when our son was not involved. We understand. But it still hurts.

My wife and I didn’t know what to say or do either. But because mental illness became part of our family experience, we have learned.

We have learned that mental illness is a brain disorder, not a character flaw, not the result of bad parenting or lack of effort on the part of the mentally ill person. Yes, even Christians can have a mental illness, and can still seek to be faithful, to have a relationship with God, and find wholeness in their lives.

We have learned that diagnosis of a mental illness is usually a long process. An accurate diagnosis may take a decade or more to obtain; proper medical and pharmaceutical help longer still, as the waiting list for mental health care professionals is long, the treatment takes time and persistence and can be very costly. If a disability pension is warranted, that too can take a long time, endless paperwork, interviews, and phone calls, all in the effort to receive a small monthly cheque that would leave our son very little to live on.

We have learned that we are not alone, and that support groups like those offered by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill offer both help and hope for families like ours.

We have learned how to advocate for our son, how to support him and stay focused on achievable goals and be thankful for good days.

We have learned that it’s okay for people to ask about our son; to ask how he is and how we are. We can choose how much to share, and appreciate the care shown when people ask. Our son is ill, he is not a monster.

We have learned that to help our son, we also need to care for ourselves, our marriage and our family. Sometimes that means making hard choices about where our son lives and how he is incorporated into our home life.

We have learned that there is hope; that those with a mental illness can live productive, helpful, meaningful lives and make wonderful contributions to family and society – and yes, even the church.

We have learned how important a caring congregation can be; that prayer support and yes, even a casserole at the door or a gift certificate to go out for a meal is a welcome help during stressful times.

We have learned that grieving is important – to grieve what our son has lost and may yet lose, in relationships and experiences and milestones and success. We also need to grieve what we have lost and may well yet lose – that our son may never hold down a good job, support a family, bring grandchildren to visit us, advocate for us when we’re in the hospital or nursing home, be able or available to participate in our funeral service. That our other children may face bearing burdens for their brother in the years ahead saddens us now.

We have learned about being more compassionate and less judgmental, and about being sensitive as folks share their excitement and joy over successful children and wonderful marriages and happy families. We have a great deal of empathy for other wounded ones who listen to these good stories and have nothing to add – because their daughter has had another episode, their marriage is struggling, their family is fractured.

We have learned that God is big enough to love our son as he is, and to love us as we are, and to walk with us through the valleys of dark shadows, when the pastures are not green and the waters are not quiet.

Yes, our son is ill. He is our beloved son, and we have learned that our love for him is only a taste, a glimpse, of our Lord’s love for us and all His children.

Christian Music is Changing

Ten artists you don't have to like but should know.

posted on December 1, 2010 in News, The Other Six Days

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1. Phil Wickham What do you get when two band members from a popular 1960′s Christian hippie movement get married? Phil Wickham, that’s what! Good acoustic soft pop-rock.
philwickham.com

2. Skillet I love it when rock stars mingle with the symphony and Skillet does just that. This is a great industrial metal band with two Grammy nominations. Don’t be surprised to hear heavily distorted guitars with some violins added for good measure.
skillet.com/awake.php

3. JJ Heller With absolutely beautiful poetry and a voice to match, JJ Heller creates music as thoughtful as it is relaxing. She reminds me a bit of late 90′s star, Fiona Apple.
jjheller.com

4. Lecrae While I’ve never been much of a fan of rap, there is simply no denying the lyrical talent in Lecrae. Proof that rap music need not be offensive.
youtube.com, search “Lecrae”

5. Casting Crowns If your church does contemporary music, then these guys probably need no introduction. It’s a good mix between the kind of music you might actually hear on the radio and the church music we hear on Sundays.
youtube.com, search “Casting Crowns”

6. Switchfoot Maybe it’s just my 90′s grunge roots showing, but this alternative rock band does a great mix of music. This guitar-heavy band has especially clever lyrics, with both punk and jazz influences.
switchfoot.com

7. Jeremy Camp Contemporary Christian music fitting for your worship service or just for driving down the road, Jeremy Camp is kind of akin to the Jack Johnson of Christian music.
jeremycamp.com/home.html

8. Fireflight Gothic-metal, Christian and female, this vocally driven band is reminiscent of another great Christian band, Flyleaf as well as mainstream artist, Evanescence. Think: Christian vampire.
fireflightrock.com

9. Tobymac Originally from the Grammy-award winning 90′s group DC Talk, Toby Mac has been out on his own for a while now. Though perhaps a tad hokey when you think about a 45-year-old white Christian rapper, he still makes some great music.
tobymac.com

10. matthew west Mellow pop/country-rock sound out of Nashville. It’s worth noting that West has written music for secular artists, including Rascal Flats.
matthewwest.com

News – December 2010

posted on December 1, 2010 in News

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Sudan Could Become Another Rwanda

Christian Music is Changing, by Bradley Childs

Praying for the Maple Leafs

Presbyterian Elected in K-W

The Healing Continues

A Shift in the Wind, by Hans Kouwenberg

Work Continues on AIDS Day

Letter from India : Something Good is Going On, by Guy Smagghe

Responding in Hungary

Canadian Court on Face Veils

Did You Fast for Change?

More ‘Grey Hair in Pews,’ Survey Says

Travel and See, by Stephanie McDonald

Another Milestone at Wynford

Atlantic Presbyteries Look to Future

New Kids’ Book Tackles Truth

Eloquent Emily

posted on December 1, 2010 in Letters

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Re Spiritual Presence, September

I was moved by Rev. Emily Bisset’s article. She expressed so eloquently the way in which we observe the sacrament of Communion in the Reformed tradition.

Articles like this are surely one of the reasons that the Record is regarded as “top-rated.”

A Third Way

posted on December 1, 2010 in Letters

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Re Hymns to Feed the Imagination, In Song, Sept. 1

Many growing contemporary churches are tossing out all traditional hymns in their worship. I believe this to be as big a mistake as rejecting all contemporary hymns. As a denomination that prides itself on a balanced approach to theology, we should be able to navigate a third way in worship renewal (as opposed to either traditional or contemporary). Defining a vision that includes the best of a broad spectrum of worship expression is a very do-able objective. These hymns that Andrew mentions are a part of this vision.

Andrew Donaldson replies: It’s taken me awhile to realize that there isn’t a name for this “third way” because it isn’t a genre, a style or even a repertoire. I’m not even sure you can call it “ancient/future” because we don’t know what ancient music sounded like, and we can’t really sing the future. But, like you, I believe balancing musical traditions is possible. If we can’t literally sing the song of the whole church, I think we can sing much more of it than we sometimes (often?) do.

Finding God

A survey of experiencing the Divine

posted on December 1, 2010 in Features

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Jasmine Tracey, 11, St. Andrew’s, Streetsville, Ont.

For this past year, the Record‘s Theology 101 column has been asking the question, Where in the World is God? Throughout the year, Presbyterian theologians have sought to recognize the signs of God’s presence in suffering, nature, worship, art, scripture, Christ, neighbour, community and the written word. This month we turn the theological reflection to a few dozen active lay members of the Presbyterian Church, about half of whom responded during the summer months to a questionnaire. To say we were overwhelmed would be an understatement. They were reflective, prayerful, joyous, spiritual. They told some very powerful and personal stories, some of which are reflected here. Across the board, the respondents were eager to relate their sense of God’s call not so much as a call to a specific vocation but rather as a call to respond faithfully in each action and interaction of their lives. “I believe my faith in God is infused in every part of my life – from what I do, how I do it, what I think, how I interact with people.” 

“In my view you can recognize God’s presence from the moment you open your eyes in the morning until you shut them at night knowing that the day and the world are [God's] and we are participants on the journey.”

In this article I present several common themes that emerged from these reflections on God at work in our lives. All followers of Christ are to discern God’s call in our lives and to respond to this call through our work in the world – whether as family member, farmer, accountant, labourer or service worker. What we do in the world is intended to be a kind of worship – a responsive enjoyment and glorification of God in life.

All the quotations are from the respondents. 

God at work in Relationships

“I see God’s presence in the faces of my grandchildren.”

“When I had a baby and she was absolutely perfect – I was totally overwhelmed and knew that God was present then.”

The most common response to the question of what is most meaningful in life was relationships – with family, friends and church community. Some who teach described a sense of God’s presence in the faces of their students and the passion for learning. Several reported a sense of God’s presence in interactions between people when the flow of connection is felt.

“God’s presence is clearest to me in unexpected acts of kindness between people.”

God at work in Scripture and Prayer

“I have found the routine of reading my Bible every morning … as well as praying… has brought me closer to God, it gives me a positive start to the day, and it has given me a better understanding of what God has in store for me.”

Many identified the disciplines of scripture reading and prayer as a means of experiencing God at work in daily life. Passages of scripture intersect with experience and draw us to new ways of being faithful. Prayer is experienced variously. Some describe it as regular daily practice, some as an ongoing conversation through a work day – a prayer without ceasing. Interestingly, in most cases God is seen to be responsive to prayer, but most often in ways we may not want. “God has always been there through it all [through times of disappointment], patiently waiting for attention. My prayers, sometimes stunted and late, have been answered even though the answers follow God’s way, not mine.”

God at work in Us

“Whether it’s at the dentist’s office or gas station, part of seniors’ services, or providing care for the homeless, I hope that the people I deal with feel God’s touch.”

“God gives us opportunities to share [God's] love and comfort. We need to be open to God’s leading.”

God is at work when we follow Christ’s example – in kindness, care and compassion; in treating others with honesty, patience, respect, fairness and dignity no matter who they are or what they have done. In reflecting upon his work in a provincial jail, one respondent described his need to treat the prisoners with “honesty and respect … [seeking to] exemplify the same care and comfort that our Lord pledges.

“Christ has been my mentor and guide.”

God is at work through our conscience – the “still small voice” within urging us to respond in love and faithfulness. The challenge for many is to respond to this call of conscience in daily life. “My experience of God is not always positive. I am like one of the goats in Matthew 25. I see strangers in church and do not always welcome them. I am approached by homeless people and ignore them. I receive a request for help for the needy and I pass by on the other side. After each occasion I say, ‘Yes, God was there, but I did not want to interact with Him.’ I am working on being more of a sheep than a goat. God is always present in my conscience.”

God is at work in our service within the church – in the courts, in mission, in administration, in theological learning and Christian education. God is at work through a sense of responsibility for others. We are entrusted with relationships, with people to steward and care for on God’s behalf. God calls us to inspire others to be a caring and compassionate presence in the world.

God is at work in transformative experiences in our lives. “As an immigrant with low self esteem and very conscious about my strong accent, I often felt inferior to my colleagues and intimidated by others, especially my boss. [Then] I started … seeing people around me and myself through God’s eyes and mind. God taught me that we are all the same to [God]. Now I feel comfortable around and closer to most people. I look at people as God’s creation and I don’t look at their status, position, or possessions.”

God at work in Others

When we serve others, we serve God. In describing her work with needy people in the inner city, one respondent says, “Every day I serve these individuals with grace and dignity and in so doing I am serving my God with joy, compassion and love …” Several people identified that God is at work in those who are broken and oppressed. Christ comes to us in the faces of others; inviting us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the prisoner.

God is at work in inspiring acts of courage and compassion – in the stories of people taking in Jewish families in Europe between 1939-1945 at risk to themselves; in the passion and convictions of students seeking to learn, to understand, to care; in the companionship of others during times of desperation and loss.

God is at work in congregations in the care and love and support through difficult times. “Shortly after attending that church, my youngest son was killed in a tragic house fire. I was so thankful that I had that church and my faith to support me at that time. My relationship with God has been strengthened.”

In all cases, God’s work through others inspired receptivity. In receiving from others we are also opened to receiving God more deeply.

God at work in Creation and Art

God is at work in unexpected moments of grace, of overwhelming awe, in the midst of the intricacies of God’s creation. The gifts of God are seen in the delicacy of a hummingbird, in the growth and blossoming of a garden, in the mystery and wonder of nature’s beauty, and in the creativity of the human imagination.

“When I am outdoors and I look up at the trees and the sky, there is such beauty in nature; I always marvel … at how enormous the world is. And I feel grateful to God for the beauty and majesty of nature.”

“God is present in my garden. There are birds. There are trees. There is a view close by where the city can be seen on the backdrop of blue skies and ocean. God is present in St. John’s.”

“God’s presence is clearest to me in the awesomeness of works of art, be they drama, music, painting, architecture, sculpture.”

“I am drawn to [the arts and nature] – for they are keys to the mystery of life.”

God at work in Dark Times

God is at work in times of loss and agony. “My partner died in a terrible accident and I was overcome with grief and anxiety about the future. I had an infant son and felt very lonely. One particular night was extremely hard and I was distraught. Suddenly the biblical verse, ‘the Lord is my shepherd,’ came into my mind and I said the words out loud. By the end of my recitation I felt a profound sense of relief. God had been with me in this dark moment and I no longer felt alone.”

“Afterwards (when my wife had died), when I was experiencing the pure, raw anguish of unbearable grief, [I felt] God’s love and compassion most closely, and indeed, [it] saw me through.”

God is at work even when we don’t feel God’s presence. “I confess there are many times when I do not feel God’s presence, but recently I learned that one of the greatest and humblest people of faith of all time, Mother Theresa, experienced long periods when she felt abandoned by God … If such a spiritual great as Mother Theresa felt like this at times, then surely we need not be discouraged when there are times in our lives when we seem unable to feel God’s presence. And when we carry on trying to do God’s will, in spite of this seeming lack of affirmation from God, is this, itself, not faith?”

“Sometimes … my faith in God is challenged in my work. Teaching on the Holocaust and Nazism can be very difficult as the details of violence, suffering and terrible injustice of this era are often overwhelming. However, my faith gives me hope that beyond the inhumanity of this world there is peace, love and resolution for those who have suffered so much – especially the children.”

God is at work in retrospect giving strength in times of crisis. “My husband had his face burned twice in 11 years. We had four young boys … My husband was off work for three years and spent about half that time away for skin grafting. Looking back over that time, God had to be looking over us.”

Another respondent reflects on life: “When I look back I realize that God was present, not to heal, not to make things better, but to give me physical and emotional strength I might not otherwise have.”

“When things are difficult … I know God will give me strength to see things through.”

God at work in Gratitude and Humility

For many respondents, the opportunity to ponder God at work in their lives enabled a life review that inspired humility and gratitude. “Anything good that I have been able to do, I attribute to God’s grace.”

“I recognize God in my life because [God] has given me the wisdom and strength to make the most of every major decision throughout many decades.”

God is at work everywhere and when we see this we can “revel in the beauty of each day … and realize we are loved by a God that makes all things possible.”

In a final crescendo of gratitude and humility, one respondent quotes Micah 6:8 to sum up God’s call in life. “What does the Lord require of us? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God.”

Amen.

The journey to write this article for our denominational magazine began as another ‘to do’ in a long list of ‘to dos.’ Yet as I set down to work, to draw out the emerging themes, to honour the experiences shared by these siblings in faith and to reflect theologically on God at work, I have found myself caught up in their stories, transfixed by their testimony. Hours pass as minutes as I listen and seek to bear witness to the mysterious ways God works in life, in real peoples’ lives. I have been brought to tears by the courageous honesty and tenacious trust of many respondents in the face of anguish and devastating loss. I am inspired by their witness for justice and compassion for God’s beloved children and the world. I am humbled by experiences of grace, divine generosity and God’s abiding steadfastness. In reading and reflecting on these shared journeys, I find myself surrounded by the community of faith invited again to partake in Christ’s body. In the coming together of this wee article, my work of reading, thinking and writing has become a means to glorify and enjoy God in humble thanksgiving. Through no will of my own this work has become worship, blessing, a response of gratitude to God’s overflowing grace. Thanks be.