(Ir)Reverend Ramblings

With the wonder of modern medicine we have known for sometime it was to be a little boy we were expecting. A great-grandchild has come to our family. He arrived in the night last night. He lives in Nova Scotia so we won’t get to meet him in person for quite some time but we are over-the-moon happy to know he is here safely. As his mother said about a month ago, “It’s hard work making a human being.”! And the last month of waiting has been long for us, so I can only imagine how impatient the parents were these last few days.

A new generation, a new life, it is quite miraculous. Of course science can explain the process of procreation, but it is impossible to explain the welling up of emotion that comes when a baby is born. The delight, the wonder, the mystery, the awe, as we count ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes, stare into two perfect eyes and trace the folds of tiny ears, kiss a button nose and watch little lips suckle for the first time. It is beyond science to explain the love that washes over, as a newborn steals your heart.

I read in the paper that expectant mothers that have fled Syria are giving birth in the refugee camps and at way-stations along the way. I wonder how it feels for them to hear the cries of life, as their infant takes breath for the first time. How does it feel to hold a baby when you have had to flee your home and have no home to go to?

Today we are saying prayers of gratitude for the safe arrival of our little one and prayers of intercession for mothers who give birth everywhere.

I admire the Queen. There I have said it. I have outed myself as a royalist. Yesterday marked the day when she became the longest reigning British monarch, surpassing her great- grandmother Queen Victoria. In her usual style she spent that day at work, taking a train up to Scotland to make a royal visit.

I know you could offer me many, many reasons why the monarchy is outdated, stodgy, expensive, etc. etc. but I still admire the Queen and all she stands for. She takes her role seriously. She does not draw attention to herself but goes about her duties with determination, some might say doggedness, despite her advancing years. She is, as her anthem says, ‘our gracious Queen’ and loyalty and duty are not words but a life-style. We would all do well to emulate her in this regard.

She sees her role as a calling from God, a serious responsibility for which she took vows, pledging her life to one of service to the British people. I understand the taking of vows. As someone mentioned recently I have taken two sets of vows – one to my marriage and one for my ordination. I balance them in the way I live my life, sometimes disappointing, but always endeavouring to be faithful in my calling and my commitments. Vows mean covenant, covenant means we don’t quit even when the going gets tough. The Queen has exemplified her commitment and dedication to service.

I understand The Queen likes to have a glass of Dubonnet each day. I hope that yesterday she was treated to a double!

Last night I went to the movie, Mr. Holmes, now playing at our local theatre. It stars Ian McKellar as an aged Sherlock Holmes. He is magnificent. His young counter-point, a clever boy named Roger, makes a wonderful foil for the old man. Holmes is loosing his memory, while Roger is inquisitively trying to gain knowledge from the shrewd detective.

There is a moment in the film that I found quite stirring. Roger is very clever. His mother (played by one of my favourite actors – Laura Linney) is a hard-working housekeeper who, as Roger announces to Holmes, in an outburst of anger, “can hardly even read”. She is stunned and hurt by her son’s shouted statement. Holmes is shocked that the boy would speak so cruelly. She leaves the room and Holmes tells Roger that he “must apologize or he will regret it all of his life”. Roger replies, “They always say that.” Holmes responds, with passion, “Because it is true.”

The movie could have been called “Regret”. Holmes is living a life of regret and it is through the unravelling of the story that we see what a powerful force regret has become in his life and how he needs to be freed of it.

I have been thinking of regret this week as the story of the many migrants fleeing Syria fill our news media. The powerful photo of the little boy who died a tragic death, drowning in the sea, as his family tried to escape, has mobilized people in a way no speech could. People are quick to blame and want to be able to point fingers to find the guilty party, but, the truth is, we will all live with the regret of doing too little too late.

The people of Syria are caught in a war that has been going on for about five years. The world is finally taking notice of the tragedy that abounds. How we respond is something we will have to live with.

Today the calendar turns to September. In many ways September has always felt like the beginning of a new year. It signals ‘back to school’ and this always means for students … a new teacher, a new classroom, new classmates and a settling into a routine to replace that lazy, relaxed days of summer.

Here at the church it feels like a new year too. Last week I met with Barb, our Office Administrator, to plot out the various events being planned through the fall season. Yes, we went right to Christmas Eve planning the various services and activities through the fall and early winter. Things are underway. In fact many of our planning teams have been meeting through the summer to be sure that events are organized in time.

I LOVE the relaxed atmosphere of summer time but I welcome the return to routine and the stepped up pace of being the church. We all need Sabbath time but when the first day of the week rolls around it is good to get busy. Now, when I say this, I sometimes get chastised by Muskokans who earn the bulk of their livelihood through the summer season. Summer is not a slow-down time for everyone but can mean long hours and working weekends to keep the tourists coming back.

What does September mean to you? Do you welcome it or do you long to hold on to the summer time mood? Does September mean back to work or finally a slow-down of the pace? Has your soul been nurtured over the summer season?

Hello, dear readers. Did you think I had forgotten you? Not so. But some weeks come with overload and writing a blog gets dropped to the bottom of the list every day. Such was last week. After returning from General Council I was plunged into the last minute preparations for Vacation Bible Camp.

We had a GREAT week at VBC despite crummy weather. As one person put it – it was like four days of indoor recess; yes, she is a retired teacher. We hold our camp at a local park. The only building is an old barn that has been retrofitted for group activity. It is a great building but fill it with 49 kids, along with 22 adults and teens and it is LOUD! Thankfully, I had excellent leaders who would change plans with the drop of a raindrop – and we had plenty of raindrops this week. So, our plans were fluid (pun intended) and flexible. We learned to be adaptable and we changed the order and activity to match the weather.

That said, the weather is just the understory. The main story was what an amazing group of campers we had. 49 children aged 3 to 12 and they were polite, cooperative, engaged and so much fun. What more could a Camp Director ask for? Our theme was “Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power”. Each day the children learned an aspect of God’s love – God … provides, comforts, heals, forgives, loves. It was wonderful to end each morning with the children telling me the stories, crafts and activities they had that morning to underline the theme. And it is delightful to watch our teen leaders, many of whom have been campers themselves, interact so kindly with the children.

It was a wonderful week of growing in God’s love and we have the pictures to prove it.

Well, Thursday has drawn to a close here in Corner Brook. There is one day remaining to our 42nd General Council. Have you been following the news on www.gc42.ca? If not check it out. You will find some great video news by Elizabeth Macdonald, as well as articles, and lots and lots of photos.

Yesterday we spent the morning working through the Comprehensive Review, considering how to move forward with changes in our church structure. Then, yesterday afternoon we were given some time off to enjoy Newfoundland culture and landscape. There were a number of options and I took advantage of the offering to travel by bus to Western Pond in Gros Morne. This is described as an ‘inland fijord’. It is not really a fijord, but it was 6000 years ago when it was still attached to the ocean. Now it is an inland lake, or, as the Newfoundlanders would call it, a pond. There were two busloads of us. Once arriving at our destination we took the 45 minute walk into the dock where we boarded the boat for a two-hour tour. The scenery is breathtaking, even through the drizzle … that soon turned to rain.

After our boat tour and hike back to the bus we were driven to Rocky Harbour United Church, where we enjoyed a home-cooked ‘Jigg’s Dinner’. This is a traditional Newfoundland feed of salt beef boiled with potatoes, cabbage, turnip and carrots and it is served with peas pudding. Accompanying this is duff – a steamed pudding and, of course, tea. It was “some good byes”.

This morning we heard very moving and inspiring speeches from Marie Wilson, one of the three Commissioners on the Truth and Reconcilitation Commission, followed by the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, Perry Bellegarde. They each encouraged the United Church to keep faithful in its work of reconciliation with the Indigenous people of our land.

Today was decision day – in more ways than one. We made several important decisions as we continued to work through the Comprehensive Review. We passed, unanimously, a motion to enter into full communion with The United Church of Christ, USA. At this decision we sang both national anthems, O Canada and The Star-Spangled Banner. And we agreed to enter into mutual recognition of the ministries of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines and The Presbyterian Chuch of Korea. There have been representatives from all of these denominations with us for our Council.

We also made the very important decision as to who will be our next Moderator. It was a nail-biter but one filled with constant prayer. Throughout the day we cast our ballots as the field of nominees was narrowed. The first vote eliminated 4 names from the list of 12 and then three names were dropped, then two, then one, until we were down to two candidates. John Young and Jordan Cantwell, each highly qualified and incredibly gifted. The final decision was announced just prior to our dinner break at 7:00 with Rev. Jordan Cantwell being named the next Moderator of the United Church. There is confidence that she will lead the church well.

Tonight the Local Arrangements Committee provided us with a “Kitchen Party” in the gym of the local High School. There were lots of treats along with music and stories. It was a fun break for the weary Commissioners as we prepare for the last day of the Council.

I sat on the boat yesterday looking around at the folks I was sailing with and I felt a wave of gratitude for this interesting and diverse church that I am a member of. So many interesting and dedicated people make up this denomination, and I thank God that I can be part of this company of witnesses.

I mentioned in yesterday’s blog that the arena is surrounded with prayer fish sent by congregations. We also have paper fish signs indicating our table groups, and each Commissioner was given a gift when we arrived of a hand carved wooden fish, sized to fit in the palm of your hand, to hold during times of prayer and decision making. It leaves a lovely wooden scent on fingers and for those of us that fidget it provides something to fiddle with.

Many held their prayer fish on Monday, as each of the 12 nominated for the position of Moderator made a five-minute speech. The speeches were as varied as the candidates as offered a very small glimpse into the kind of leadership that person would offer to our church. It is a difficult decision to know who will best provide leadership at the helm of our church through the next triennium. Difficult because we have such excellent leaders who have offered themselves.

We also were introuced to the International and Ecumenical guests who are present for this meeting. They come from many different countries to observe and participate as visitors in our meeting.

Perhaps the most intense work of the day was listening to, and dicsussing, the presentation made by the Sessional Committee who has worked over the past week to distill for us the recommendations of the Comprehensive Review Task Group. The decisions made around the Task Group’s recommendations could have sweeping impact on the church. We have had many discussions as to the long-range and short term effect. We will continue to work on this is the day and days ahead.

I will just add here that the worship and preaching has been outstanding. It has been both inspiring and transforming for the Commissioners and Visitors in the court.

More later…

Well, okay technically this is Day 2 of General Council. We began last night with a very moving opening worship service but today was the first full day of Council and … a full day it was.

The Council is meeting is a large arena on Grenfell Campus, the Corner Brook campus of Memorial University. There are over 60 tables set up with 6 to 8 people at each table, plus extra tables for visitors and staff around the perimeter. There are large screens, two at the front and two at the back, projecting the people and/or action on stage, so no matter where you are sitting you can see what is going on. The symbol for the Council, a stylized fish with waves underneath, is prominently displayed on a banner at the front and there are paper and cloth fish and fish nets hanging all around the arena. Some of the fish are colcouful creations for decoration but most of them are prayer flags that were sent from each congregation across the country, so that, while we make our decisions we are surrounded by the prayers of the people of the UCC.

Today began with a wonderful worship service, it is Sunday you know and we church people gotta do church! The Moderator, the very Reverend Gary Patterson, preached the sermon, and he spoke to the theme of change. Through the day we heard accountability reports from the Moderator, the General Secretary and several of the Committees of the Church.

This evening, after a dinner of moose meat, the General Secretary introduced the 12 people who have been nominated for Moderator. They were each presented with a beautiful hand-made stole. The election will be held on Thursday. The rest of the evening was devoted to celebrating the United Church’s 90th anniversary as a denomination. There was a fun and meaningful play, presented by Commissioners from London Conference, and a slide show marking significant events and activities of the United Church through the decades.

Throughout the day there has been outstanding singing led by a lively band of musicians.

The Local Arrangement Committee has done a wonderful job of making us feel welcome. And the delightful Newfoundland sense of fun is sprinkled through the events of the day.

We are off to a great start. Now the hard work begins. I will keep you posted.

I leave early tomorrow morning to catch a flight to Deer Lake, Newfoundland. I am a Commissioner to the 42nd General Council of the United Church of Canada. This General Council meeting happens every three years. United Church folk from across Canada come together to consider proposals that have been submitted by members, Presbyteries and Conferences. These proposals might reflect a social concern, or a direction for the church, or changes in governance and policy. Whatever comes to us will have been carefully thought out and prayerfully presented.

Over 700 people will be gathering for the Council by the time you count in the Commissioners, the presenters, the organizers and guests. We are meeting at Grenfell College in Corner Brook. The Council starts on Saturday afternoon and runs to next Friday. It promises to be a jam-packed week.

Among the decisions that will be made is who will be the next Moderator of the United Church of Canada. Twelve people have offered their gifts and commitment to take on this Leadership role. There will be prayerful reflection as we hear them speak and also have opportunity to interact with them over the days before the election.

We do get one afternoon off. On Wednesday there were a number of options presented to select from so that we might get a bit of local flavour while we are on “The Rock”.

Along with the discussion at the Council and connecting with old friends I have met over the years, I look forward to meeting new people from across the country. I am also keen to hear from the Youth Pilgrims. One young person was selected from each Conference to participate in a pilgrimage from British Columbia to Newfoundland. They have been travelling together for these last few weeks, learning about the United Church of Canada, as they crossed the land from ocean to ocean. It will be wonderful to hear their comments and observations.

I will try to blog on occasion while I am at the Council. They assure us that there will be good wireless connection and I am taking my laptop. So … I will do my best to keep you posted. You can also watch the Council as it will be live-streamed on www.gc42.ca and as well daily updates will be posted there.

This week, as you say your prayers, please include the people who are attending General Council.

Since I wrote my last blog connecting, or more accurately contrasting, gratitude and entitlement I have read two blogs on humility. Coincidence? I think not!

Richard Rohr, in his daily blog writes “John of the Cross understood the true meaning of humility, which is not self-deprecation or low self-esteem, but a simple acknowledgment that I am very small, quickly passing, and insignificant as a separate self. That is just objective truth. Our dignity and sacredness precisely comes from our connection [to God].”

The teaching of humility is one that parents must engage in while at the same time insuring that their youngsters have solid self-esteem. I can remember an occasion when I was a teenager and feeling pretty cocky. I was helping my mother in the garden as I rattled on about how important I was to a particular group. My mom had a bucket filled with water near by. She asked me to put my hand in the bucket and then remove it. “How big a hole is left?” she asked. “That is how big any hole will be when you leave! No person is indispensable.” It was a powerful object lesson and, obviously, one I have never forgotten. It taught humility.

For me one thing that is connected to humility is the fleeting passage of time and our role in the BIG picture. In Genesis 3:19 we read “You are dust and to dust you shall return.” A reminder that life is entrusted to us for a few years and then civilization continues without us. To this end, I keep in mind an old Arab proverb. “I will set my face to wind and scatter my handful of seed on high.” To me, that is the call of life – to do our best – to make a difference – to contribute but to remember we are small and quickly passing.

Mac Davis warbled the words, O Lord, it’s hard to be humble, when you’re perfect in every way. I can’t wait to look in the mirror, when I get better looking each day!” Do you find it a challenge to balance humility with self-esteem? Are they opposite ends of a continuum for you or, as St. John of the Cross says, completely different things? Does your spiritual self enter into this continuum? Ponder this while you are sitting on the dock enjoying a loooong holiday weekend.