posted on October 31, 2011 in Columns, The Messy Table
Blue is building something. It might be the Eiffel Tower. It often is.
We are in the living room together, Beangirl and the Spouse have gone off to school, and we have the day before us. Of course, it’s Halloween – so costume ideas are a bit occupying. At breakfast, Blue was feeling inspired.
I’m going to be a witch. No, I’m going to be Mary. No, I’m going to be a pumpkin. No, I’m going to be a jack-o’-lantern!
Not sure what I did that my son wants to dress up as the mother of our Lord.
But it would be an awfully sweet costume.
posted on October 31, 2011 in Columns, Patricia Schneider
I met someone the other day
And saw in her my past
posted on October 24, 2011 in Columns, The Messy Table
Midway through visitor month chez nous and feeling very blessed with all the people coming through my house. I do like full tables. It’s so hard to have a full table and not do dessert. A few nights ago, it was an apple and walnut cake, slathered in treacle frosting and topped with golden candles for our visiting six year old and for my Blue. My soon-to-be three-year-old Blue.
Helping out where you can.
posted on October 24, 2011 in Columns, Patricia Schneider
“Can I do this?” I ask myself. Then making the decision even tougher, I chose the most miserable winter day I could find. It was -20 C and the snowfall at the sides of the roads was in windrows nearly four feet tall. But, I did it!
posted on October 17, 2011 in Columns, Miscellaneous, The Messy Table
Morning comes, and bedwarm cuddles for all. Then breakfast and the happy rush of places to go. I take Beangirl off to school and on the way, she runs to catch up with the boy down the street so that they can giggle their way to class together. Blue and his Daddy march off to campus together, where nursery waits with finger-paints, and a library then for the Spouse.
A video brings memories, but not tears.
posted on October 17, 2011 in Columns, Patricia Schneider
I hadn’t played the family movie for a few years so took courage one day and played it. We looked so young and as I watched I could see our baby girls grow into young adults in front of my eyes.
posted on October 10, 2011 in Columns, Miscellaneous, The Messy Table
October is visitors’ month in our new home. It’s happily inevitable when you move to a new place. Though, come to think of it, our summer was pretty full of visitors, too. And we rationalized that as being happily inevitable when you are moving away from an interesting place. Either way, I’m happy because it means that there will be more people around my table. That’s the stuff of thanksgiving for me.
Sometimes its hard to break out of the self-absorption.
posted on October 10, 2011 in Columns, Patricia Schneider
It is very hard in some ways to write about grief … mainly because it is about “you, you, you.”
posted on October 3, 2011 in Columns, The Messy Table
My key ring’s getting a bit bashed up. I bought it six years ago, when I had just completed the Camino de Santiago. As you can see, the yellow paint is chipping away. I liked the key ring a lot then – I’d just spent a month walking across Spain, following spray-painted yellow arrows all the way. They are there to keep the pilgrims on track. And, for the most part, they work.
posted on October 3, 2011 in Columns, Patricia Schneider
The last time I got a pet and it died, I vowed I would never involve myself again in that kind of grief. The years have slipped by and I still pat dogs and cuddle kittens, but they are not mine … no way, the last lost puppy nearly did me in.
posted on October 1, 2011 in People & Places
Glenbrook knows the value of organ and tissue donation, since congregant Donna Greenidge has been both a kidney and pancreas recipient. In June, the church raised awareness outside its walls, organizing a community breakfast at which 24 people committed to becoming organ donors. That’s a big deal—those 24 donors could save 192 lives!
From left: Nicole Poos, Donna Greenidge, Debora Lim, George Ryder and J.R. Dash.
posted on October 1, 2011 in People & Places
More than 36 seniors from Chapel Place celebrated the 72nd birthday of associate minister Rev. Anwar Hanna during their 18th annual seniors’ conference at Fair Havens in June. Besides cake and fellowship, the four-day conference also featured three speakers. The seniors group is grateful to the Presbytery of Oak Ridges for its continued support of Rev. Hanna.
posted on October 1, 2011 in People & Places
The Sacrament of Holy Baptism was celebrated at First Presbyterian on Mother’s Day and Christian Family Sunday. Here, Rev. Charles McPherson stands with
beaming grandparents Earla and Stan Mayich and their newly baptized granddaughter, Alyssa Rose Nadine Mayich Morrison.
posted on October 1, 2011 in News
St. Andrew’s, King Street, in downtown Toronto, was filled with overflow crowds from the state funeral of Jack Layton, which was held across the street at Roy Thomson Hall on Aug. 27. Thanks to funeral organizers, a live video feed enabled mourners to watch the service from inside the church. Layton’s wife, Olivia Chow can be seen on the screen.
posted on October 1, 2011 in Letters
Re Is Multiculturalism Bad for the Church?, July/August
Daniel Cho has demonstrated both a theoretical and practical understanding of “ethnic” and “multicultural.” This is an important distinction and his argument is clear and persuasive. It would improve the relationship of our congregations if we all understood this and helped one another become congregations with permeable walls and a flowing back and forth of people and resources. Presbyteries might want to study Daniel’s offering and move to enriched relationships and away from congregations that are isolated from one another.
Welcome our wide variety of ethnicities, but let’s interact at the round table of our mutual faith. Thank you, Daniel.
Honouring the elderly with bread and wine.
posted on October 1, 2011 in Features
A minister friend of mine from the city said it all began because of his mother – in – law. After he and his wife took her to the church service at her nursing home, he asked his mother – in – law if she had enjoyed going to church. Her answer was quite emphatic. She had not been to church in years! Afraid her memory was suddenly failing, my friend reminded her that she had just attended church. “No!” was the response. “That wasn’t ‘real’ church. I know the people at my church. We have music, an organ and organist and a long sermon. And the building looks like a church. I have just attended chapel and it is not the same as church.” After this conversation, my friend and his wife decided to enact the words of Proverbs 23:22 and they, “Listened to their father, who gave them life and didn’t despise their mother when she was old.” They decided long – term care residents and shut – ins should have the opportunity to attend “real” church.
Three times a year, at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, his church hosts a service for seniors. I had the opportunity to take three seniors to this Christmas service. As I drove into the parking lot, I had to slow to a complete stop as the lineup of wheelchair buses made it impossible to park. Seniors were helped out of buses, taxis and cars by family members or care staff. A doorman greeted us and helped us find our way to the sanctuary. Everyone was given a large – print edition of Our Daily Bread. We were treated to a carol sing led by one of the ministers on staff at the church, a wonderful soloist sang many of the old and dear hymns and then we were treated to a full gospel sermon by the senior minister. But the hospitality extended further. While we were enjoying the service, 30 – 50 volunteers were preparing a full Christmas dinner. All 200 of us enjoyed a wonderfully home – cooked meal with all the traditional trimmings.
I took many opportunities to “spy” on the seniors. I wanted to see how this event was going over. Some looked perplexed at all of the attention. Others drank it in like a sponge! I marveled at how little it really takes to bless the heart of a senior or shut – in.
Does your church lead a monthly service at the local nursing home, retirement home, rooming house or hospital? For the last 16 years, St. John’s, Bradford, Ont., has led the worship service at our local nursing home in the months that have five Sundays. Five to eight members of St. John’s come each time, along with a pianist and our minister. We sing the old favourites (sometimes more than once), read the scripture (very loudly) and hear a condensed version of the Sunday morning sermon. Although the staff invite and porter the Presbyterians to our service in the chapel, many more from other denominations and no church affiliation in particular come. It may not be their “real” church in our nursing home chapel but we do our best to re – create the church these seniors relate to. But it wasn’t until one elderly resident asked if we could have communion that we began to partake of this sacrament together. He said he hadn’t had communion in the six years he had lived in the home since only the Anglicans and Catholics served their members this sacrament each week.
What an honour it is to serve communion to someone with dementia. Someone who no longer remembers their name, how to use a spoon or where to find a washroom when they need it, will open their mouth to receive the elements and then say, “Amen.” In fact, on the first Sunday we served communion, a sweet, old Presbyterian woman glared at her daughter when she refused to allow her to have communion. The mother was unable to communicate verbally but that didn’t stop her from using her facial muscles. I was somewhat new to working in the home but realized the older woman was furious. I quickly went over to intervene and see if I could help appease her. Her daughter said, “My mother is no longer able to take food and liquids by mouth unless the food is pureed and the liquid thickened. How can she swallow this dry bread and little grape juice?” Mother won that day. The daughter relented and allowed her mother to have a little piece and an even smaller sip because she knew how much it meant to her—not just the partaking of the elements but doing so with her peers in our little church. You should have seen the look on Mother’s face as she savoured the bread and the wine!
Are we acting with honour toward these, our parents? Is the church forgetting this growing segment of the population? Or are we forgetting the continuum of care from the cradle roll to the grave? God bless the vision and the hardworking volunteers at the churches who do. May they lead the way. Hebrews 13:16 says, “And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God.”
posted on October 1, 2011 in The Other Six Days
Video Game
It’s called, El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron. Normally speaking, religious – based video games are terrible. Usually corny or poorly done, they are presented as Christian alternatives to popular games. But this one is different. Made for Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, it was released in August 2011 for the North American market and is winning over gamers and critics alike.
The game’s storyline is inspired by the Deuterocanonical book of Enoch (and quoted in the book of Jude). As the player you are Enoch—a priest searching for seven fallen angels to prevent the end of the world. Assisting you on your quest are four archangels as well as your own guardian angel known as Lucifel.
elshaddaigame.com
Website
Truth be told, this is just a waste of time. It’s silly and of no real value whatsoever. But then again, that’s why I love it. It’s called, Answer Me Jesus. On the site is a pink statue of Jesus that works just like that magic 8 – ball you had as a kid … only this one’s online. Just type in your question and wait for your answer. A good friend for anyone stuck in a cubical, Answer Me Jesus can answer any question. Just don’t expect them all to make sense.
answermejesus.com
The Barna Group
George Barna is a sociologist who used to gather data to assist with marketing and political campaigns. Raised as a Catholic and now a self – proclaimed born – again Christian, he founded the Barna Group, a research team that investigates all things cultural and spiritual. His group publishes hundreds of reports each year. Want to know how facebook is affecting church attendance across the map? They’ve got the answer. Want to know the top five things first – time visitors look for in churches? They’ve got that, too. You can even commission your own research project based on your church, city or anything else you want.
barna.org
Video
Controversial mega – church pastor Rob Bell recently wrote a book entitled, Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived. But it’s not the book I’m pitching. In one of numerous interviews, Bell met with Martin Bashir, a Presbyterian and not the usual pushover journalist Bell had expected to schmooze. The interview itself is good and fair and can be found easily on YouTube, but I’ll do you one better. After checking out the interview, search “Martin Bashir – Interviewed about Love Wins” to hear a radio interview recorded and posted online. It may not sound that interesting but trust me—it is.
youtube.com
Change is good - and necessary
posted on October 1, 2011 in From the Moderator
“…and Peter said to them, ‘You
yourselves know that it is unlawful
for a Jew to associate with or visit a
Gentile; but God has shown me that
I should not call anyone profane
or unclean. So when I was sent for,
I came without objection. Now,
may I ask why you sent for me?’”
Acts 10:28 – 29
I believe there is an extremely strong possibility that God intends a vital future for your congregation which may not look quite identical to its past. I also believe this: it might involve more than a little openness to change. (Ouch!) There’s that “c” word again. Frankly, haven’t we heard it enough already? Well, maybe not. And maybe, (just maybe), it will be the best thing we’ll have experienced in an awfully long time. I don’t mean “throw the baby out with the bath water” kind of change. I’m speaking of the thoughtful, intentional, planned yet courageous kind of change that indicates that what we say about the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives is actually being given space to live and grow. The kind of change that recognizes we can be far more effective disciples for Jesus Christ if we listen lovingly and attentively, as Christ did, to the real human experience which surrounds us every day. Yes, contrary to the “light bulb” joke, Presbyterians really can change, and our loving, gracious God continues to show us how and why we should.
In his insightful 2001 book, Good to Great, James Collins convincingly shows us that the enemy of achieving great purposes and results is the willingness to be satisfi ed with that which is “good enough.” The Christian church has been content to rest upon its history. We are much too comfortable with the familiar and the easy; as though the way things were done in the past will always suffi ce for what the present and future will need. In our time, many believe that the life and witness of the church is doomed to irreversible decline. But I believe our greatest years in mission still lie before us. Why? Because God is greater than our memories. We forget that the early church was among the boldest of all fl exible organizations, changing and adapting in its development to respond to a future that was unfolding in new and uncharted ways before it. St. Peter, arguably the poster boy for “all things status quo,” had the courage to hear the Spirit of God calling for change so radical that it challenged even the scriptures of his Hebrew ancestry, daring him to live and move among the Gentiles. As comfortable as he was in his tradition, Peter knew God was calling him to new ways of living, serving and worshiping.
Much of the church’s decline can be attributed to its failure to connect with the real lived experiences of women, men and children of our time. So let us no longer offer answers to questions which people are not asking. Let us not insist on passing out candles when people are starving for bread. Most of all, let us trust that our loving, embracing God will bless our courageous openness to change when change is evidence of truly listening for Christ’s voice and taking action in faith!
Grace and Peace,
posted on October 1, 2011 in People & Places
Three choir members at Knox can boast more than 160 years of service between them. Janice Small (over 60 years), Grace Rothwell (over 50 years) and Lois Wells (over 50 years) were recognized for outstanding (and longstanding) service at an evening that featured a congregational talent show and congratulatory messages from Premier Dalton McGuinty and MPP John Wilkinson, a former Knox choir member.
posted on October 1, 2011 in People & Places
St. Andrew’s had cake! The celebration on May 15th was in honour of the 60th year since Rev. Laurie Sutherland’s graduation and ordination. Rev. Sutherland, seen with his wife (also of 60 years), Elizabeth, has faithfully attended the church since his retirement in 1991.
