March 23, 2024 · 3:21 pm

Holy Week

It is so early this year. The snow is still on the ground, although it wont likely be around for long. When it comes around each year, I think back, and reread some of the poetry I wrote along time ago. I’ll post it here.

This is always a busy week with special services and events. Easter party on Wednesday for Family Journey Night, including an egg hunt that the kids enjoy a lot. Then Good Friday joint service, a possible Easter sunrise service early on Sunday and then the Easter celebration at the regular time.

The family will bee here for Easter dinner again Some can’t come so we’ll be fewer than 20 I’m sure. I will try and get the eggs ready for the hunt in the coming week. It is so much fun to see the little kids chase around the house looking for eggs full of chocolate that they certainly don’t need!

I’m going to post this poem written most specifically for Maundy Thursday.

Betrayers All

Jesus called his closest friends to share a final meal; 
Friends, remembering God’s story of covenanted love.

And the betrayer ate. He was invited too. Loved as deeply. A traitor among them; treacherous heart of stone.   “The one to whom I give the bread…”

Did their hands touch?  Did Judas see the love filled eyes? Did offered Body and Blood choke his swallow as he ran,
Leaving to do his evil task?

We gather at this table too,  Betrayers all. Our hands receive the Body given;  Lips drink the offered life.  We see his eyes of love and we remember.

“Is this New Covenant table not a participation?” Make us to be your body, Christ. Pour your life blood ‘to us.  Heal us of our betrayer hearts.  
Raise us to this participation; Let us be Reborn in you to bless the world.

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February 12, 2024 · 11:39 am

Sabbath

Our congregation is studying the Sabbath, what it means and how we need this time of rest that God designed for his creation. One of the things we need to do is to stop and delight in the creation God has created and placed us in. It reminded me of some of the poetry I wrote several years ago. Those were days when it seemed easy to express my delight in God. In many ways I want those days back.

Winter Pleasures

God,
Does your great majesty
Keep you from
The cold softness
Of tongue caught snowflakes?
The tingle of frost reddened cheeks?
The dazzle
A million crystal diamonds
Brings to the eyes?
The light shush
As wind calls
Through branches of spruce?

Perhaps these winter pleasures
Reserved for the likes of me
Were breathed into being
As hints of eternal glory.

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February 12, 2024 · 11:26 am

Rough start

Beginning again is just not as easy as I thought.

And life has been tough. A lot of uncertainty surrounding family issues. But right now things seem to have settled a bit.

I saw my cardiologist yesterday and the old ticker is beating away without signs of wear. There has been some adjustment of my medications that may help with my cold tingly feet and my sweating episodes. We’ll see.

On another topic altogether, I am enjoying the Bible study Terri has set up for a group of women. They have their personal struggles and I have mine. Its good to share together, find strength in God and in these sacred relationships.

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November 8, 2023 · 2:47 pm

Winter

Well, it has arrived. It’s come, not with a vengeance as it does some years but rather has come dribbling in. Bits of snow over 3 or 4 days. Sky low and grey. Cold and miserable. No nice fluffy snow. The small amount of snow started out as freezing rain so a bit slippery but not excessively so. Still the atmosphere has changed. Days are so short. The beginning of a five or six month season. Can’t say that I enjoy this time of year – I’m too old and don’t move with enough agility anymore for winter sports. I do love fireplaces and books and the weather gives a good excuse for staying inside.

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October 28, 2023 · 3:07 pm

My Senior Moments

I used to blog with words and images but now its been years. Its hard to believe that its been about eight years. Lots of reasons I guess but mostly that writing sermons and cooking for the homeless takes a lot of time. I hope that retirement will free me up for more creative things. Reflections, opinions and poetry should show up here.  And pictures. I have taken so many of those that need to be shared.

I think you’ll see that our family has grown. Grandchildren are great! Some of them may show their faces here from time to time. My own children laugh at how I blogged about them often. And I think they still love me!!!

Now to just figure all this web site stuff out again so I can do that.

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June 13, 2015 · 8:52 am

Help Needed – With Love

Sometimes it is so obvious that God is moving that it is almost frightening. It is sort of like being invited into an event that is already orchestrated, being told where to stand, what to do. It is evident that what is happening is not being done on my own initiative.  At the same time my role seems to be vital to the event. Although the opening of the outreach centre for Gateway is still pending, waiting for the nod from the health board, it seems as if this is going to happen. It makes me wonder, “Why me, God? I am not really the best qualified person for a job like this. Don’t you think a social worker or an addictions worker would be better equipped?” Maybe it is because I am available and can see the needs. Maybe God just wants to show up in ways that are definitely not dependant on my adequacy for the job. I know already that I will have to rely on the wisdom and grace of God to run this drop in centre. I want it to be a place where some of the neediest in our city will encounter the love of Christ. But that is in itself a huge responsibility and necessitates my reliance on God for help. Which in turn means that I have to spend time with God listening to God. Already there are demands on my time that encroach on that time so I need to make it one of my highest priorities.

One of the realities of helping people, of loving them enough to want to help them, is that they make demands on my time – rides, a need to talk, sick people to visit, financial help needed, driver’s lesson practice. I think these are tasks I have been called to help with. Of course I can’t take care of everyone’s needs so I need discernment and wisdom on what to do. I think that setting appropriate boundaries is going to be a challenge – setting boundaries on what I can do without setting boundaries on the love of God that I reflect. I suppose part of this will be directing these folk to agencies and other people who want to step in and help too. It was a good reminder reading the account of Jethro’s advice to Moses in Exodus 18 that others need to be enlisted to help.

So, God, give me wisdom and an ability to discern where to use my time and resources and lots of love for the people I will meet and send others also gifted with love to join me in this work.

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May 25, 2015 · 7:50 am

We Begin Again

I need to take up journaling again. Studies done, there will be time for reflection on the day’s events – and time to write these reflections down.

I am beginning to read a book by Jan Richardson, In the Sanctuary of Women. In the introduction she tells the story of prayer books being found during the renovation of an ancient convent. She speaks of the image of a woman with a book of prayer in hand, of this being a way for these medieval women to participate in the Word and pass the Word on to others. I like that image. I do pray that my study of the Word will allow me to participate in the work of God in the world, passing onto others the good news that God actually wants to be involved in our daily lives.

The author goes on to state that prayer was “intertwined” with the “daily life (of these women) and with significant events such as giving birth and entering into death. She believes that “We have struggled to know our lives as sacred texts, to perceive the ways that God has written God’s own story within us, to understand how the Word still seeks to take flesh in and through us.” Perhaps in returning to my blog as journal, I may share some of the text of my life’s journey so that others can see ways in which the Word is taking flesh in me.

Most of my life I consider rather routine and mundane till others point out the amazing places this journey of participating in the Word has taken me. God still continues to allow me breath to continue the journey and as I begin to enter into a new phase of that journey and the challenges that will come, I know I will need all the strength God will give me. By sharing this part of my journey, may you also develop eyes to see God in the places you go.

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April 20, 2014 · 5:33 am

Christ is Risen

And very early in the morning . . .

Gateway Covenant Church and friends gather on the river bank – or wherever we can in that direction as snow permits – and we remember and begin the celebration of this glorious event.

And then we come inside to enjoy the warmth and breakfast.  I must go and begin the preparations.

Happy and Blessed Easter

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April 18, 2014 · 10:45 pm

Two More to Go

Tonight I e-mailed off my final paper in Church History I.  Greek final was written on Monday and so half of my classes are now finished for this semester.  It feels good.

Of course I am still finishing up the last two of my online classes.  Two research papers, one book review and one final exam.  That is still enough to keep me glued to the books for the next three weeks.

Out of my reading tonight comes this quote from Basil of Caesarea:

” A single plant, a blade of grass is sufficient to occupy all your intelligence in the contemplation of the skill which produced it”

 

Hoping we begin to see some blades of grass soon – although there is a marvelous lot of wonder to be seen in ice-coated branches.

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April 5, 2014 · 9:47 pm

Nine more days – but who’s counting

These days I practically live in my carrel at the library.  Although, truth be told, I went out this morning to a seminary women’ brunch and had some great conversation and some very delicious cinnamon buns. So it is not all, 100% work.  I still eat and do laundry too.

But, things are coming down to the wire.  In nine days I write my Greek final.  I’m almost past caring how I do – but if you know me you know that means I still care way too much.

I turned in my next to last Church History I essay and today I completed a good chunk of my research paper for that class. My essay was on the devotio moderna and the Brothers and Sisters of the Common Life.  Such a fascinating group of people – spanned about 300 years. Died out with the Reformation and with the printing press since they mostly earned their living by copying books. Their raparia were journals they kept of devotional sayings and of how they lived out their faith in the midst of daily life trying to imitate the early church. Most people have heard of The Imitation of Christ – this is the group out of which came such writings.

Now I’m on to the Christological controversy between Nestorius and Cyril.  Poor Nestorius was likely more misunderstood than a real heretic.  And Cyril was more a bully than a saint I’m afraid. Hope I can wrap this one up by Monday.

Then with a deadline of May 9,  I will only have 2 book reviews, 1 ten page essay, 1 more twelve page research paper and one more final and this year will be done!

Hoping it doesn’t finish me off.

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