Lions and Children and Bears...
posted on July 25, 2011 in Columns, The Messy Table
Just because there are animals in a story doesn’t mean it’s a great story for kids. We tell some pretty horrific stories to children. I am not the first one to point out that most of the Bible stories we tell to children are not meant to be children’s stories. But mostly we do, I think, because of the animals. Kids like animals so we roll out the stories, two by two. (Althought, strangely, Elisha and the bears seldom makes it to Sunday School…)
posted on July 25, 2011 in Columns, Patricia Schneider
A year is gone and still I weep.
His memory fills my days … my sleep.
Yet aching pain has eased somewhat
And so God partly fills my cup
With things to do … my hands he uses.
Words to speak to those he chooses.
A gentler voice to those who grieve
Knowing now … when loved ones leave
How deep the hurt, how wild the cry
When your soul mate has gone to die.
I know the pain will slowly fade.
In the meantime Lord … let me someone aid.
Printed in New Hope newsletter, January 2009
posted on July 21, 2011 in Called to Wonder
It’s okay to get angry. God gave us emotions so we could share them with others and experience life together. It’s not good to let your anger take over and make you behave badly or hurt others. Look what happened to Cain! For some great tips on how to be the boss of your own anger, check out Noelle and Krista in their hilarious “how to do stuff” video.
I'm sure this counts as Christian stewardship...
posted on July 18, 2011 in Columns, Miscellaneous, The Messy Table
We are still about a month and a half away from moving, but already the kitchen in beginning to feel different. We’re beginning to think in terms of using up rather than storing away. How are we going to get through that bag of lentils?
Loss and hope, beginnings and endings.
posted on July 18, 2011 in Columns, Patricia Schneider
The autumn leaves, blazing golden just two weeks ago are being torn apart by the west wind. Exactly the same thing happened in September on the day my husband died.
posted on July 15, 2011 in People & Places
First, Stellarton, N.S., had a mission awareness worship in March. Representatives of the Atlantic Mission Society branches Florence Young and Maclellan Fraser conducted the service. Seen here are some of these mission driven worship leaders: Mary Arseneau, Olive Ross, Betty Dunbar, Colleen McPherson; back, Flo Ives, Catherine Kohlsmith , Vanessa Campbell. On our website, Stephen Allen, Associate Secretary, Justice Ministeries was the guest speaker.
Stephen Allen, Associate Secretary, Justice Ministries for the Presbyterian Church in Canada was the guest speaker. He’s seen with Rev. Charles McPherson, minister at First.
ONCE THE HEART IS READY, EVERYTHING ELSE IS EASY
posted on July 15, 2011 in Features, Life
BeBe and her husband, David.
The first time I met BeBe, she was in hospice care at Agape House, Hamilton, Bermuda. It was not a good day for her. She was in a great deal of pain and discomfort. In the following days I would drop by for a little chat. Initially that was all that it was, “just a little chat.” Perhaps it was on my third visit that I asked her before leaving if I could share a few verses from the Bible with her and have a prayer. She agreed and so every week thereafter we would always bring our visit to a close with a Bible reading and a prayer. I looked forward to our visits and I like to think that she did as well. We became friends. One day I opened our conversation with the question. “How are things today?” She replied, “I am getting ready to take the big step.”
We talked about death and what takes place after death. I asked her what she would like me to say at the service that would mark her passing. She had a sense of humour and replied; “Tell them she’s gone.” That was it! She’s gone. Her departure was usually a part of our discussion on every subsequent visit. She wanted to talk about it and I was willing to listen. I asked her if she was frightened and she replied in a somewhat uncertain tone. We talked about the afterlife and the possibilities that await us, both positive and negative. She had her doubts. I asked her if she would like to ask Jesus to come into her heart as her Lord and Saviour. She said yes and so the prayer request was honest and straight forward. I prayed and she consented to the prayer.
“Lord, I am a sinner. I am lost without you. Come and live in my heart. Forgive me my sins and allow me the peace of your presence.” Amen.
We talked about trust and faith and the promises found in Holy Scripture. I told her when the time was right, Christ would come and usher her home. “Trust him. He will be with you. You will not take that big step alone.” I also reassured her that God would give her the faith that would allow for trust.
We weren’t thinking of, nor did we ever ask for, a cure for her disease. We were much more concerned that she would experience the peace that the Bible speaks of even in the face of death. My next visit began as most did: “It’s good to see you and how are you today?” While I took note of her relaxed look I heard her say; “I’m not as frightened as I used to be, I just have to trust and have faith.” I said, “Yes, and God will give you that trust and faith.”
That visit was on a Thursday and before I left I asked her, “Would you like to make a profession of faith and join the church from your room, here at Agape?” She smiled and nodded yes and there was a sparkle in her eye. She asked me, “What will I have to wear?” I replied, “What you are wearing now is just fine.”
I told her that after she joined the church we could celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Communion together. She thought that was great. So, the very next day (Friday) her husband and two elders from St. Andrew’s (Joan and Bill Davis) witnessed our sister in Christ make her profession of faith and she was welcomed into the church. We shared the broken bread and the glass of wine representing the broken body and shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. We then presented her with a certificate of membership.
The following Sunday her husband told me she had slipped into unconsciousness and that time was running short. I visited her in the early afternoon. There was another faithful caregiver by her side. I spoke as if my friend could hear every word, which she probably did. I told her that God was coming very shortly for her and she would be home—free of her cancer, free of pain, free of grief, free of sorrow, free of tears. I shared with her Psalm 23 and verses from John 14 as well as Revelation 21 and 22. I offered a prayer and I left. Her heavenly father came for her early the next morning. My friend had finally taken the big step.
If you want to know what it is like where she now calls home, she and I would both say, “Read the Bible.” The initial place that Jesus was preparing for my friend was her heart and once her heart was ready she invited Him in as her Lord and Saviour. Now she was ready for her homecoming.
posted on July 15, 2011 in Letters
According to St. Paul, we are one in Christ. Our colour, culture and origin of country need not separate us from our brothers and sisters in Christ. When we become Christian we are not us and they, we are one family having different understandings and abilities. We are one in Christ and Christ is in us. This is what church needs to preach and practise, because in future our coming generations are going to worship in the languages of our beloved country CANADA.
posted on July 15, 2011 in General Assembly
Rev. Rick Horst, Moderator of the 137th General Assembly:
Rev. Rick Horst, Moderator
“In and of itself, there is nothing wrong with institutions, but the Presbyterian Church in Canada is not called of God to be an institution. Instead, we are called and empowered to be a ‘movement’ for Christ in the world, looking to live out the gospel in ways that will address human hurts and hopes in concrete ways. God invites us to be risk – takers in mission, and to be intentional about our ministries.”
Ms. Nora Carmi, from the Sabeel Centre:
“Today, there are approximately 14 million Arab Christians in the Middle East, belonging to a whole range of Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Protestantism, with 13 main churches having their See in Jerusalem. Though Palestinian Christians are less than two percent of the population of Palestine – Israel, they … have lived the same fate as refugees, and have the same aspirations of living in a democratic state where all citizens are treated equally and with respect, regardless of their faith or affiliation.
“The great achievement of the forgotten faithful is the Kairos Palestinian document, A Moment of Truth. It is a word of faith, hope and love from the heart of the suffering of the Palestinian people. Amidst all the pain, we discern at this opportune time that we all have to act together for a just peace for all.
“The call includes Muslims, Jews, decision – makers and the international community observing the exoneration of evils in the Middle East and the growing tendencies toward fundamentalism. We realize there is an urgent need for revisiting our theologies and condemning the distortion of sacred texts to promote ideological and political interests. We realize that the oppressive systems of demolition cannot reign eternally. It is our responsibility to stand up nonviolently against them.
“Standing with the oppressed is a Christian responsibility. We urge you to hear the Kairos call, to dare and speak the truth and stand for justice.”
posted on July 15, 2011 in General Assembly
When I first stepped up to a microphone on Thursday, my heart was pounding and my hands shook, yet beyond all my nerves there was a silence throughout the room. All the people in the auditorium had ceased side conversations and web searches to hear my opinion, my voice. I was later thanked multiple times for both my input and my willingness to speak. The words I said began as a whispered rant to a fellow young adult representative, yet it became vital at that microphone. Through the forum of General Assembly we saw the power and importance of youth voices on the listening ears of commissioners, and most of all we heard it in the words of thanks that followed when we offered our opinions. Many in our group felt empowered to speak and share, both with the assembly and with each other. Our discussions spanned our evenings and included a guest appearance from the Moderator. In our discussions of hot button issues, we represented many different opinions and many backgrounds. We learned there is no single youth voice, but a mass of opinions and goals, even within our small group of 12. We could not imagine what the hopes of the greater church would be.
Sometimes our experiences on the congregational level have been very different from our experiences at assembly. Though a few among us had been elected as elders in their home congregations, many had little chance to give their opinions. I, for example, juggle two churches—one in Waterloo, where I go to university, and another in Toronto where my family lives. Therefore, eldership is not an ideal possibility for me. Others were too new in their congregations, were children of the minister, or were members of a church unwilling or unable to elect a young person to such a high position. Instead, we have been approached about youth issues, but not much beyond them. One YAR even said she was afraid of returning home after having her words so appreciated by the commissioners. We quickly realized we would not be asked for our thoughts; we needed to stand up and make our voices heard.
We created Our Voice, a group that uses Facebook, forums and YouTube to share the ideas of youth across Canada and the Presbyterian Church—a new form for a reforming church. We hope that through these methods, youth will speak and the church will listen. It’s time to listen, for the future of our church is not its youth or children; we, and all its members, are the present. You can never reach a moment and say, “Here is the future.” Rather, you reach a never – ending stream of presents. It is time the entire church stood and spoke, including the youth and young adults who are so often afraid to speak out.
I would like to personally encourage you, the reader, and you, the church, to join us, speak your mind and be heard. We don’t care if you are in the church, beyond the church, 16 or 86; we simply want to make the church a place where all voices are heard and given equal weight. So take this article, our videos and our websites, pass them on, and use them to make all voices heard.
posted on July 15, 2011 in General Assembly
Rev. Rodger Hunter
Rodger Hunter of Boarding Homes Ministry, recipient of the E.H. Johnson award for being on the cutting edge of mission:
“Boarding Homes Ministry does not own or operate these homes but secures permission to join with the people who live there. Ten, 20, 30, 40 residents can live in a boarding home in a sad blend of overcrowding and isolation.
“Boarding homes can be found in all our cities, and sometimes in towns of just a few hundred people. There is a good chance you could find one close to your home congregation. Regrettably, because society does not always provide generous care for those who have a mental health condition, homes like these are simply part of the great Canadian landscape.
“Our ministry has the privilege of inviting members from churches to build relations with the people in a home. I think it will be a gift, for in the sparse environment of a boarding home the interactions are small enough to hold the enormity of the Divine. Pared away from the world’s distractions, that community in Christ can listen to all the cross – chatter of extremes: affliction and blessing, the chilling realities of enforced material poverty and spiritual riches, the whisper of Divine love, and the hard slap of stigma. It is our privilege to invite church members to become part of such a glorious holy communion.
“Team members who have visited for years, and have settled into these homes, say they have found new teachers in the residents. They have acquired, in the deepest sense, a new set of spiritual advisors.
“The residents are called in God to be our teachers and provide insights into the subtleties of how Spirit moves in community. Their call invites us to empty ourselves for a while, and rest in an afflicted space where holiness can be taken seriously.”
This is an excerpt of Rodger Hunter’s E.H. Johnson address.
The complete text will appear in an upcoming issue of the Record.
Matthew Sams
Matthew Sams, student representative, Knox College, Toronto:
“The key moment for me was a seemingly mundane moment. We are allowing, in certain circumstances, ruling elders and diaconal ministers to celebrate Holy Communion … In a very practical but deeply theological way, we’ve shown our sisters and brothers in Christ in remote congregations how dearly we love them; that we are willing to generously give to them what we have closely guarded for centuries: the privilege of administering the sacrament of Holy Communion. We are saying to them that their participation in Christ, that the growth of their faith, is more important than our grasping on to what has defined us as ministers. How generous is that?!
“We’ve done this wisely and responsibly. We’ve done this by respecting our traditions, respecting our subordinate standards, respecting scripture, but always looking to the Living Word to guide us to where we need to be.
“We’re beginning the process of no longer defining our roles in ministry by what we won’t let other people do. Almost 100 years ago, after Church Union, we began to define ourselves in opposition to the United Church, saying we’re not them. We became the antonym church. Now we are saying who we are as ministers of Word and Sacraments not by what we won’t let others do, but by what we bring to the church. This is an initial step in our long journey of allowing God to recast us into the church we are called to be in Canada. This is exciting!”
Bequest Makes Donations Possible.
posted on July 15, 2011 in News
St. Andrew’s, Toronto, decided to share $200,000 this summer when a large bequest to the church came in the midst of a lean season among the city’s missions.
“The money is the congregation’s to distribute,” said Rev. Will Ingram, lead minister at the iconic downtown church. “With the economic downturn in recent years, some organizations, especially in the Toronto area, have felt the crunch. But the needs continued.”
Thanks to the work of the outreach, and finance and stewardship committees, session decided to parcel out a total of $200,000 to nine groups with whom the congregation and its members had a relationship.
Toronto’s Evangel Hall, a large street mission, and Knox College in support of a fund to establish a chair of Pastoral Theology, each received $50,000.
The remainder was divided among Boarding Homes Ministry, recipient of this year’s E. H. Johnson award for cutting – edge mission, Portland Place, a non – profit housing corporation, Flemingdon Gateway Mission, which provides after school programs and leadership training for residents of the city’s Flemingdon Park neighbourhood, the George Vais Adult Christian Education Fund, which provides funding for Christian education opportunities, Presbyterian World Service and Development, the national church’s relief and development arm, Armagh, a shelter for abused women and children in Mississauga, Ont., and Out of the Cold, a program that helps feed and shelter the homeless during the winter.
“I know what these other organizations need, and we have lots of needs, too,” said John Matheson, an elder and chair of the board of managers. “We’re spending a lot of money on restoring our building, which was in bad shape. But you can’t keep everything for yourself. Personally, I was brought up to think about tithing, and that certainly was on my mind when I talked to session about this. I think generally the congregation and session feel very proud we’re able to do this, and we’ve had some fine reactions from the people who are recipients. It seemed to be the right time and was needed.”
A $50,000 donation from St. Andrew’s, Toronto, is presented to Knox College to help fund a chair in Pastoral Theology. Pictured are: Rev. William Ingram, senior minister at St. Andrew’s; Dorcas Gordon, principal of Knox College; John Matheson, convener of the board of managers at St. Andrew’s; Dr. Stephanie Ling, convener of the Knox College Board of Governors; Rev. Dr. Robert Faris, associate minister at St. Andrew’s; Ms. Fiona Smith, convener of outreach ministry at St. Andrew’s.
posted on July 15, 2011 in Letters
Re Rediscovering Women’s Voices, May
The significant work Nancy Calvert – Koyzis and others are doing in bringing to light ‘the work of historical female interpreters’ of the Bible is to be celebrated. To the list of women who engaged in the study and explication of the biblical text should be added the Canadian Presbyterian, Anna Ross (1848 – 1933).
Anna (Duncan) Ross was widowed in 1887 when her husband, Rev. John Ross of Brucefield, Ont., died. She raised her five children while writing six books and numerous articles. Her The New Covenant: A Lost Secret grew out of a debate she had with Dr. J. Edgar McFayden, professor of Old Testament at Knox College, about the meaning of the covenant. Ross was the first principal of Ewart College, and was a frequent speaker at Women’s Foreign Missionary Society gatherings.
In the wake of The Komagata Maru tragedy, in 1914, she mounted a biblical defense for Canada having a more open immigration policy. In the 1920′s she published a commentary on the book of Revelation that engaged some of the biblical scholars of her time. Following Church Union in 1925, she was often the preacher in the Presbyterian congregation in Strasbourg, Sask., where she then lived.
I look forward to the discovery of more Canadian women’s voices among the historical interpreters of the Bible.
posted on July 15, 2011 in Letters
Re Through Prayer and Action, Letters, March, and Seconding a Sentiment, May
I read with interest the exchange between Rev. Dr. Hans Kouwenberg and Mr. Bill Ashby both online and in the pages of the Record, and I enjoyed Andrew Donaldson’s reflection.
As convener of a task force charged with reviewing the health and vitality of congregations within the Presbytery of Hamilton, I have found myself more and more in sympathy with Dr. Kouwenberg’s call for more attention to be paid, and more support given, to the renewal and development of the church at the congregational level. My frustration, echoing Kouwenberg’s, has been to find such attention and support almost disappearing from the national agenda and budget just when it is most needed. At the same time, I have discovered in other denominations a growing emphasis (and spending) on support for congregational renewal that seems lacking in our own.
There are, of course, flashes of light in what sometimes seems a uniformly gloomy scenario of church decline. As we have discovered in Hamilton, there is a deep hunger for renewal in many of our congregations, and the Emmaus Project has been a catalyst for vision and hope. However, as their website declares, the Emmaus Project is focused on the renewal and transformation of presbyteries, which coordinator Harry Klassen describes as “the basic building blocks” of our church.
While presbyteries are certainly integral to Presbyterian governance, surely the local congregation is the basic and essential building block of any church. If so, then it becomes a clear priority for the national church to devote more time, attention and resources to the task of supporting the local congregation in becoming what theologian Otto Weber called “an outpost of the Kingdom of God, placed in a particular spot in the world to bear witness to the Lordship of Christ.”
Meeting with Women in Afghanistan
posted on July 15, 2011 in News
Since arriving in Afghanistan in April, there have only been two places where I have been free to uncover my head: my hotel room, and the offices of Presbyterian World Service and Development partner, Church World Service–Pakistan/Afghanistan with mostly international people at dinner. In public and in vehicles, my head must be covered—as is the head of every other woman I have seen. In addition, there have been times today when covering my face was advised, expected and appropriate—and when I saw the circumstances, I actually preferred it this way.
The author in Jalalabad.
I imagine that if I had been brought up in this culture it would be easier, but I struggled with all the fabric; trying to keep it in place and make it seem as effortless and graceful as those around me—though not successfully! Many, if not most women on the street are wearing blue burkas. There is clearly an unwritten set of rules for when it is needed and when it can be removed. Age is also a factor, as it seems that an older woman has much more freedom to go around with her face uncovered.
Today we visited a girls’ school near Jalalabad, in Afghanistan’s Laghman province. We arrived at the school unannounced around 8:00 a.m.—sometimes it is safer not to reveal your itinerary. The women (Camilla, the local interpreter; Ayesha from CWS – P/A; and I) were admitted without incident, but the men had to receive specific permission from the district authorities, which took more than 20 minutes.
We met with a female – only parent and teacher committee. Meetings are held on a monthly basis when everyone can afford the time to participate. The women discuss the problems they are having regarding getting and keeping their daughters in school, they encourage one another, and they talk about the benefits of education by comparing the relative lifestyle of educated and uneducated people. Despite facing meager economic means, the prospect of their daughters securing high – paying jobs in the future is a strong incentive for parents to send their girls to school.
One of the biggest challenges with keeping girls in school is the lack of female teachers available. Many families will not allow their daughters to attend classes taught by male teachers once the girls approach puberty.
We, the women, met privately with about a dozen female teachers (a small percentage of the total teaching staff of the school). They teach a variety of grades and subjects, often to class sizes in excess of 50 students; a significant challenge to productive teaching and learning conditions. It seems most teachers have limited training, and value the staff development offered by PWS&D’s girls’ education program.
As more girls attend classes, these teachers are seeing increased retention of girls in school, along with higher levels of preparedness for learning when girls begin school. Teachers try to involve students in a student – centred approach to learning. The teachers also mitigate the large class sizes through the use of group work and engaging capable students as group leaders to assist others.
Teachers also spoke of the importance of parental involvement, particularly their support and encouragement, in promoting girls’ education. Efforts to facilitate support groups and social infrastructure like the parent and teacher committee we met with earlier are important steps toward the goal of increasing and improving girls’ education.
I wanted to go into the classrooms but we were not invited to do so. In the courtyard, hundreds gathered as we prepared to depart and a strange thing happened: As I pulled out my camera they scattered and hid their faces! Never in all the schools and groups of children that I have met has this happened.
I have a few photos of the women’s PTC group to share but none of the girls—maybe on the next trip.
illustrated by Barry Falls
posted on July 15, 2011 in For the Journey
“Stupid wind,” I said, trying hard not to cuss out loud, which is real difficult when you are only 12 years old.
“Aaarrrggg,” said Bruno, sitting beside me as he put his Catholic back into his oar. Bruno was my best friend and a holy influence on me. He wouldn’t say poop even if his mouth were full of it.
“Boys, are you sure you don’t want me to row?” said Mrs. Andrews, from her perch in the back of the boat.
“Stupid wind,” I said, losing the temperance battle inch by inch with each cold wave that crashed over the front of the punt and washed my T – shirt clad back.
Mrs. Andrews was our teacher. She was generous in every way; as a mom, a friend, a community member, an educator and in physical stature. As a teacher in a one – room country school with a dozen country hellions with overactive imaginations dispersed through seven grades, somehow she managed to control us, teach us and at the same time be a generous friend to each one of us. It was as a generous friend that she was sitting in the back of the boat two – manning the tiller of our eight – foot plywood sailing punt. It was her generous stature that was resulting in about two inches of freeboard at the stern while at the same time making it difficult for Bruno and I to reach the water with our oars as we sat side by side rowing our fool heads off closer to the bow.
Bruno and I tended to go on about our sailing punt and the fun we had sailing her on the two – mile long slough back of the Wasa lumber camp. Mrs. Andrews told us she used to sail too and loved it. The next thing we knew we were all crammed in the little eight – foot punt, whizzing down the length of the slough at the pleasure of a pleasant zephyr. We got to the end of the slough, dropped the sail, unstepped the mast, dug out the oars and proceeded to row back the length of the slough to do it all over again. That’s when the Rocky Mountain Trench provided us with one of her usual weather tricks and the beautiful zephyr suddenly became an ugly gale.
Mrs. Andrews said, “Boys, I really think you should let me man the oars.”
It’s not that we were too proud, but I don’t think we could quite get our minds around how the punt would be able to manage the huge waves if Mrs. Andrews sat in the front rowing seat and the two of us sat in the stern. And so, we rowed all the harder right into the teeth of the gale. All that we were able to accomplish was to lose what little ground we had gained and get semi – swamped by the waves rolling over the bow. Suddenly we were sideways to the wind and in real danger of being seriously swamped by the slough. That’s when Mrs. Andrews suddenly showed up as teacher, exercised her authority, sat the two of us in the stern and grabbed the oars. In a few moments we were surging ahead, quartering the waves, driving hard like a determined destroyer albeit at very awkward stern to bow rake. Man, could that woman row.
I will never forget that experience, nor will I ever forget Mrs. Andrews. Much later, when I came to read the Bible, it was that image of Mrs. Andrews that came to my mind when I read the story of Jesus in the back of the disciples’ boat in Mark 4:35 – 41. Jesus didn’t row the boat in that story, but man, could he ever rebuke a nor’easter.
Boats seem to show up frequently in the gospel story. Lake Gennesaret or Galilee was the centre of life for the triangle of little towns that Jesus performed 95 per cent of his ministry in. Whether one lived in Chorazin, Bethsaida or Capernaum, one related to the lake and to boats and to wind on the water. And so, in the gospels Jesus frequently seems to be dealing with his disciples in boats.
I have spent a fair bit of my life in boats on the water, enough that the metaphor for a Christian life is certainly not lost on me. The formal idea seems to be as old as Tertullian and then Clement of Alexandria who said, “Let the dove or the fish or the vessel flying before the wind, or the marine anchor be our signets.”
‘A vessel flying before the wind.’ That can be kind of a warm fuzzy metaphor, until the wind blows a gale and suddenly, “Now luh, da arse is gone right out of er.” That’s when I need to know that Jesus is in the back of my boat. It’s not that he rows real good, it’s that he commands the storm.
He commands the storm? That’s what my Bible says; and it says it caused his disciples to be terrified, too. I’ve often wondered why. He just saved them, didn’t he? Well, I think that’s kind of the point. He didn’t just save them. If he had just saved them he would have pulled a Mrs. Andrews and grabbed an oar. Instead, he commanded the storm. The significance for me in all this is that Jesus, who travels with me in the back of my boat, is in command and control of the very thing that plummets my life. At first blush, that can be a bit of a scary revelation, for sure. No wind blows that he does not command. No seas roll that do not obey him.
But upon further reflection, if this revelation is true, and the Bible seems to insist that it is, what ever else it means, it means that in even the toughest sailing that I face in my life, the one who loves me enough to die to save me has complete control of it all. Who is this in the back of my boat? He is certainly my Saviour, and apparently much, much more.
For me this summer, this biblical truth has been instilling in me a new curiosity as to the storms in my life and divine providence. Perhaps more significantly, it is compelling me to risk praising the Lord in all things. The psalmist put it well:
Some of you set sail in big ships; you put to sea to do business in faraway ports.
Out at sea you saw God in action, saw His breathtaking ways with the ocean:
With a word He called up the wind—
an ocean storm, towering waves!
You shot high in the sky, then the bottom dropped out; your hearts
were stuck in your throats.
You were spun like a top,
you reeled like a drunk,
you didn’t know which end was up.
Then you called out to God in your desperate condition;
He got you out in the nick of time.
He quieted the wind down to a whisper,
put a muzzle on all the big waves.
And you were so glad when
the storm died down,
and He led you safely back to harbour.
So thank God for His marvelous love, for His miracle mercy to
the children He loves.
Lift high your praises when
the people assemble,
shout Hallelujah when the elders meet!
(Psalm 107:23 – 32, The Message)
posted on July 15, 2011 in People & Places
Rev. Dr. Herb Gale, moderator of last year’s assembly, and his wife, Rev. Dr. Shirley Gale, were guests of honour at Knox-Calvin in May. He spoke on creating partnerships and Knox-Calvin proved how to do it. Seventy guests, a roast beef dinner, a vocal ensemble, and an inspiring speaker all added up to proceeds donated to Canadian Foodgrains Bank projects in Harriston. That’s partnership and mission and it was also Knox-Calvin’s 150th anniversary.
posted on July 15, 2011 in People & Places
In a stew about stewardship?
Each year in the spring a new stewardship packet arrives from our national office. The Givings Magazine has its own insert that promotes a campaign idea for the coming year with bulletin inserts, cover and poster, a timeline, strategy and theological underpinnings to support it. Each year our congregation orders the materials which are free, orders the bulletin covers which are not and forms a committee to adapt and implement the new idea. With high excitement we pore over the gimmick that will transform what might be seen as a duty and obligation to fun and fellowship opportunities.
We have baked cupcakes to accompany our yearly budget mailings as we ate dessert first: a stewardship campaign that challenged us to do what the Wealthy Barber suggests, “pay yourself first” – – take your savings and charitable givings off the top before you set your own personal budgets! That way you never miss it – – it’s as if you are making ten percent less but with none of the downside! We have focused on the Generations of those who came before us and those who will follow, determining to leave a legacy for our children and their children to follow Jesus. We have focused on the Psalms, on Lamentations, on Epiphany and the bringing of gifts to the Christ child. We have tried each and every idea.
This year, for the “More Than Enough” Stewardship Campaign, we have given each group in our congregation: the Session, the Board, the Mission and Outreach Committee, the Choir, the three ladies’ groups including the WMS, and the Church School $250 dollars reenacting the Parable of the Talents, so that they might think of creative and fun ways to double or triple our money, reaching out to people who are not part of our church family. So far, we’ve held dinners, luncheons, organ concerts and there’s more to come.
More Than Enough our poster says, and more than enough turkey and beef pie orders came in than the Mission and Outreach Committee and the Ladies’ Association dreamt of! Not for over fifteen years had the women of our congregation even considered making meat pies! But when this challenge was presented to the Mission and Outreach Committee, two of the ‘ladies’ on that committee remembered a time when our church made and sold meat pies. The newly retired teacher and chair person of the committee said that he thought we might be able to do that if the Ladies’ Association could help with quantities, recipes, pastry making and their share of the Talent money. So with $500 and their expertise we placed order forms in the bulletins for a few sundays, bought turkeys and roasts on sale and stored them in members’ freezers, handed out measured bags of flour and bars of lard or shortening for the great pie making week that would lie ahead. We planned to make 1000 pies but nobody thought we would get over 800 orders right off the bat!
And look at the fun we had, figuring out the best way to assemble our pies!
posted on July 15, 2011 in People & Places
First, Stellarton, N.S.
Knox-Calvin, Harriston, Ont.
Laurel-Lea-St. Matthew’s, Sarnia, Ont.,
St. Giles, Sarnia, Ont.
Heritage Green, Stoney Creek, Ont.
Boston Marathon
A Reflection on Church and Ethnicity.
posted on July 15, 2011 in Features
So proclaimed German Chancellor Angela Merkel last year in a speech to her party in specific reference to Turkish immigrants. Similarly, British Prime Minister David Cameron earlier this year at a conference on terrorism declared, “We’ve allowed the weakening of our collective identity. Multiculturalism has encouraged different cultures to live separate lives apart from each other and apart from the mainstream.” Even in our church experience the meaning of multiculturalism is not always clear. What we do know is that these kinds of conversations can easily ignite strong passions and lead to unkind rhetoric. How did something that once sounded so ideal, equitable and noble become a hotbed of such intense disagreement? (It’s noted that both leaders were roundly criticized for using multiculturalism as an easy scapegoat for their respective nations’ economic and security problems.)
As I outlined in Part 1, I believe we need to reflect on what kind of Christian community we want to build as a diverse people called to unity. So it will be important for us to go beyond our cultural bigotries on the one hand and the pretentions of political correctness on the other, and connect with our prejudices and convictions in an open manner as befits Christ’s body. So I want to invite us all—white and ethnic – specific congregations—to a frank, respectful conversation about the possibility of a genuine diversity in the Presbyterian Church in Canada while steering clear of our preconceptions and agendas, lest we merely say, “We’re a very multicultural church … just look at all the ethnic congregations we have!”
I began to reflect on the question of multiculturalism and the church after reading an article by political philosopher Susan Okin entitled, Is Multiculturalism Bad for Women? As a feminist writer she sees the ghettoization of cultural groups as a bad deal for women because as it reinforces the traditions and practices of male dominance, it also cuts women off from the mainstream. Okin points to examples like forced marriage, female circumcision, and the toleration of oppressive and abusive treatment of women.
Whatever you may think of this provocative analysis for our purpose, I want to first highlight the aspect of the ghettoizing of ethnic – specific congregations. We know that “they” are out there somewhere—in that other city, in that other province, in that other presbytery, in that other neighbourhood. Sometimes we even run into them at General Assembly. It seems the usual way we relate to ethnic groups is from a distance. The downside of this is obvious—we lose out on the opportunity to foster culturally rich relationships. We’ve all heard that maxim about Sunday morning being the most segregated time of the week. The continued growth of ethnic Presbyterian churches is a good thing. But because we are structurally and even psychologically removed from each other, there is sadly little if any interaction. So in this sense, is multiculturalism bad for the church?
I’ve heard some people lament the fact that ethnic groups would rather start their own congregations than be part of existing ones. But we easily forget that a strong cultural cohesion exists with common beliefs, language, values and mindsets. A certain comfort is found in such communities, which is why they tend to be robust centres of faith. Whatever their language they can understand the Christian story as interpreted through their respective communities. It’s what shapes their identity in Christ and their validation as part of the ongoing redemptive history both as a people and as individuals.
My own family emigrated here from South Korea in the late 60s, as many others did, for a better life in Canada. That “early” church served as a critical haven for spiritual, social and emotional needs for many distressed and disenfranchised immigrants. As they were trying to cope in a foreign land with its difficult language, confusing structures and strange attitudes, they felt a certain validation as displaced people because they were among family. Like the Koreans, other cultural groups too found a home in the Presbyterian Church.
While many ethno – cultural members choose to join traditionally white congregations for various reasons, to arbitrarily expect this of all others can lead them to feel minimized and devalued with regard to their ethno – cultural identity. A person’s spiritual journey will not be as meaningful as it can be unless that journey is a familiar avenue by which to deepen faith and experience God in community in a way that resonates in the heart. So we need to be careful about what we might casually demand of another individual or group.
Does this mean then that we are further reinforcing the “cultural walls” that already separate us? Maybe so. Besides, theologians tell us that we don’t experience faith in a vacuum; rather, faith is firmly rooted in a particular cultural context which uniquely shapes our understanding of God and the spiritual life. But we’re also told that we should not remain confined to our cultural faith, for faith transcends cultures, rendering them incomplete. It’s the proverbial starting point, not the finish line. The essence of my early faith was profoundly challenged as I began to study Western theology and became more involved outside of my Korean church context. From the leadership of Martin Luther King Jr., white Christians as a whole were confronted with a dramatically different understanding of sin, equality and justice as seen through the social and spiritual struggles of the black community. Our task as Christians is to go beyond culture as we discern how our understanding of God can be enhanced through our relations with others who are different from ourselves.
Remember Okin’s claim that multiculturalism gives a green light to the status quo of group values at the expense of some members. Speak to any ethnic members candidly and they will tell you of difficulties, arising from the practice of certain cultural values, regarding serious matters of fairness, equality and mistreatment in their community. But the real frustration is that normally one must be resigned to this mistreatment or disempowerment under these segregated circumstances because “that’s just the way things are.” If this is the case, is multiculturalism bad for them?
Even though many in ethnic churches are aware they belong to the Presbyterian Church in Canada, they show a startling lack of knowledge about—or interest and investment in—this aspect. This goes for regular members, elders and ministers alike. But should we expect anything different? After all, they are self – contained communities that have the luxury of detachment.
Some find comfort in a familiar cultural church ethos but it is exactly this feeling of security that works against them sometimes. Speaking in the Record (May 2007), past moderator Rev. Cheol Soon Park said of his Korean congregation, “People come to feel secure, safe and comfortable, and once they find that, they don’t want to come out so we’re encouraging them to interact with other congregations and to be exposed to broader aspects of Canadian society … but it’s not an easy task.”
The call to Christian unity should compel us to go beyond superficial declarations of diversity and try to bridge the gap or surmount the wall between us. Otherwise we can easily become blasé about our multicultural context because we wouldn’t need to know anything about ethnic folks out there in the enclaves. We can feel good just knowing they’re Presbyterian. I believe this leads us to an unavoidable paradox: the better we feel, the more we’re encouraging separatism or at least tolerating the disconnect.
Our attitude should be one of permeability of cultural walls—intentionally engaging with others while in one’s cultural group but not clinging to culture as an end in itself. I don’t mean a simplistic view of bi – cultural identity based on convenience of food choices or dual sports team allegiances. Rather, this means a fidelity to real Christian unity as fellow Presbyterians. It involves venturing from the enclaves sometimes and sharing the commitment of the wider church. Likewise, white congregations can understand the positive force of cultural cohesion but need not regard ethnic churches as detached, uninterested groups. It’s important to make connections as spiritual kinfolks who affirm these ethnic ministries. This approach has to be a two – way street running between the enclaves and the wider church. The cultural wall doesn’t have to be taken down as long as it remains porous, as long as we all know that we stand with one another in common ministry.
We may now only see in a mirror dimly by our imperfect knowledge of God. But when we strive to see the reflection of Christ in a mirror that is coloured with the richness of all faces, then we can know the possibilities of his perfect love. We will come to discover true unity and there celebrate communion as brothers and sisters.
