Comments for Presbyterian Record

Comment on Worship – First Things First by Beth Cluff

Beth Cluff — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:58:32 +0000

While reading this article, I was reminded of “The Screwtape Letters” by C.S. Lewis. Distraction from essential matters was a key strategy used by Screwtape and Wormwood to keep “the Patient” from knowing God’s peace which passes understanding. So ….

… thank you for this clear and convincing reminder of the centrality of worship – and our need for worship renewal and reform – in the life and witness of the Christian church. I appreciate your realistic yet optimistic tone. The starting line for change – “developing a culture of openness to what is good and meaningful, and what might be effectively incorporated into a distinctively Reformed interpretation” – is supported with practical suggestions.

There can be no real doubt about the human need for the Christian message of hope and purpose across the ages. Scripture teaches, and experience supports that God honours our sincere step by step efforts – our “intentional week – by – week implementation of worship renewal at the local level.” Let us pray that each one might listen for God to direct our steps as we learn new ways to worship individually and together. Worship is a meeting place with God which is vital for our spiritual health

Comment on Lent Reading – Matthew by Katie Munnik

Katie Munnik — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 20:56:41 +0000

I couldn’t find it in Salem’s lists, but you can get it online. I found used and new copies at amazon.ca and chapters.indigo.ca. The Bookroom will order copies as well, but warn that it may take some time to arrive. You can find them here: http://www.presbyterian.ca/bookroom/pcc/pcc.html
Hope you can get your hands on a copy.

Comment on Lent Reading – Matthew by Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:33:50 +0000

I’m in. Maybe my “Dance as Peacemaking” class (St. Andrew’s Ottawa Winter Wednesday Evening Studies) can contribute a dance or movement reflection. I’ll just have to figure out how to use YouTube…

Comment on Lent Reading – Matthew by sharon stewart

sharon stewart — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:32:18 +0000

Thanks Katie! I will follow! Do you think that commentary would be available at Salem?

Comment on Lent Reading – Matthew by Lorna

Lorna — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 12:06:15 +0000

Katie
Wow! Thank you for the book reference. Awesome to find a new commentary and meditation book on the Gospel According to St. Matthew. Co-incidentally enough, the Synod of Manitoba and North Western Onario is doing their yearly devotional on St. Matthew. Each day’s Devotional can be found at prairie-retreat.blogspot.com We dig into the Gospel Monday to Friday and keep Saturday and Sunday for days of specific prayer.

Comment on Catching Fish… and Toddlers by Katie Munnik

Katie Munnik — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 09:46:17 +0000

Thanks, Chuck! Great to hear the fishing example drawn out a bit more.

Comment on Gaps and Doxology by Katie Munnik

Katie Munnik — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 09:44:35 +0000

I’m so glad it was encouraging for you, Kelly. All the best, K.

Comment on Gaps and Doxology by Kelly R.

Kelly R. — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:24:17 +0000

Beautiful post, Katie, and just what I needed for today. Especially these lines: “This week, I am praying to remember that God’s glory is abundant. A glory so vast that it fills the hollow spaces and brings enduring love. Remember with me that where there is fear and an uncertain future, God can bring radical peace.”

It was one of those worrying type of days (and not so much about frivolous stuff), and I needed this reminder!

Comment on Respect the Back Rows by Millie

Millie — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:04:17 +0000

Oh please! Get upset, start writing letters about things that really matter. You may not have found the humour but I know many who did. Heard the saying “you can’t please all of the folks all of the time”? The comic strip is there to get you thinking – ‘Is there a possibility that we are stuck in our ways and therefore fossilized?

Comment on Blessings Old and New by Rae Weniger

Rae Weniger — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:50:17 +0000

Never had a neighbor since that compares with my “Mother/daughter/sister/friend”, Pat!

Comment on Catching Fish… and Toddlers by chuck french

chuck french — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:54:27 +0000

That was indeed “catching”.
I’m a fly fisherman and the
first rule of casting is
this, “the weight of the
line carries the fly”. It
is good when the leader is
last, tied on to the tippet
so that the line can deliver.
We are community. Some are
the hooks that hold, and
here in B.C., we have to
use barbless. Sound a bit
more friendly, right?
Especially in your notion
of not “trapping” but
“catching”. Thanks

Comment on And a Little Child Shall Lead Them by Evelyn Witmer

Evelyn Witmer — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:27:58 +0000

i grew up on a farm in Grey Co Ontario and when it came hunting time my father who had 200 acres put up signage on several places around on the farm NO HUNTING and the game warden was aware of it as this is where they used to watch for illegial hunting but my father would go back to the bush and outside of the bush would be a whole herd of deer he could walk among them and they would glance at him but that was it he was sure they must have been able to read because as soon as those signs went up NO HUNTING there they were by the bush all safe and they new he did ot carry that stick so they trusted him amazing really

Comment on Catching Fish… and Toddlers by Evelyn Witmer

Evelyn Witmer — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:21:28 +0000

Yes as a Grandmother it frightens me that a child hides we have a granddaughter who at about that same age would hide on her father especially in Canadian Tire would find an empty shelf and crawl in when one day her dad could not find her and he screamed my daughter is missing and that put the TOTAL store in lock down security ran to the door so nobody could get out and all staff were hunting for her when she was found she was so innocent but the shelf was empty so i think your boy has to know that Moms and Dads and grandnparents really do get frightened when a lovely little one goes missing.

Comment on Speaking Up When it Matters by David Rekker

David Rekker — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 02:38:45 +0000

Great article. This message needs to have a widespread reach.
I suspect the church remains quiet on many of these issues for fear of creating division within its own congregations.
General Assembly has PCC finances as a main point of the agenda. Surely this is no time to speak up!

Comment on Community – Sanctuary Off Limits by George Shillington

George Shillington — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:37:16 +0000

I visited St. Giles in Ottawa recently, and found a warm welcome there. The people were upbeat, the singing was good, and the sermon by Rev. Wayne Menard was first class. I would gladly return to St. Giles again for fellowship and spiritual wellbeing. I wish the congregation and presbytery well during this time of transition to new life and hope.

Comment on And stay by my side… by Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:50:30 +0000

* goosebumps *

Comment on Community – Sanctuary Off Limits by Jane Pope

Jane Pope — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:01:50 +0000

I have been continually astonished at the strange interpretations of what has gone on at st. Giles in the last two years.

My views and those of the majority of congregants have never been listened to by many of the combatants or the peacemakers.

I can only hope that the current truce will continue to allow longtime friends to work together to rebuild our shattered congregation.

Comment on Theology 101 – Soli Deo Gloria by Gord McCrostie

Gord McCrostie — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:44:58 +0000

I enjoyed Glen’s insightful theology in this piece. It is clear that the Presbyterian Church’s strength is its very solid theology. Where it stumbles is in its praxis regarding the communication of this theology to 21st century Canadians. Far too many groups of people in our culture are uninterested in our telling of the most important, profound (and exciting) story in human history (i.e. in our worship). As much as I enjoy Glen’s theological writing, I would much rather see Glen’s gifts as an inspiring worship leader be used by the Record to help articulate a practical vision for effective communication of the gospel in our churches’ worship today. Glen hints at this new way of communicating in worship, but we need more. Until we can get our worship to engage with these missing groups of people, it’s just about theology rather than about the living gospel.

Comment on Behind the Wall – SPECIAL: Moderator’s Trip to Israel-Palestine by Barry Mack

Barry Mack — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 14:30:43 +0000

re: “Well, ‘when are Christians going to stop specializing in making apologies and start standing up for the gospel up front, so we don’t always have to apologize for having messed it up.’”

But ‘messing it up’ to some extent is inevitable this side of the New Jerusalem. The historical record is always a mixture of wheat and tares, so confessing our individual and collective sins to God (ie. the gap between our high calling and our actual deeds) is always always necessary and why we have a common prayer of confession at worship every week.

It is not always wise, however, to confess our sins and shortcomings to our enemies – if the inevitable result is, at best, an ungenerous and, at worst, a malicious forging of our confessions/apologies into political weapons to be used against us or to extort silence in the present.

We are called to be as wise as serpents as well as harmless as doves. And Jesus nowhere calls us to be politically naive. He certainly wasn’t.

Comment on Behind the Wall – SPECIAL: Moderator’s Trip to Israel-Palestine by Elizabeth Phillipson, St. Andrew's Ottawa

Elizabeth Phillipson, St. Andrew's Ottawa — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 19:04:13 +0000

I went to Palestine-Israel with the PCC Mission Trip last May, so this confirms that my opinions of what I saw, what I felt have been shared over and over again with fellow pilgrims.Our trip was focused around the same KAIROS Document; we were able to meet with some of the authors of the document, and get first-hand knowledge of what it is like to live in a land of constant conflict. Over and over we were told, ‘Tell everyone in Canada what we are going through, how we are treated daily; tell Mr. Harper!’ Even through all of this, the Palestinians are warm, wonderful people, full of hope that the world will help them regain their dignity.
I came back with much more of an understanding of the situation, and a little despair, but being in Bethlehem, standing on the shores of the Sea of Gallilee, walking into Jerusalem through the Garden of Gesthemene, singing under the dome of the Church of the Beatitudes: those days brought me great inner joy, and a renewed hope for Peace in this ancient land. The next trip is in November: yes, go, become involved, have an experience that will change your life.