Pentecost 5 – July 1, 2007

Our second reading for this Sunday, Galatians 5:1, 13-25, concludes, ‘By contrast the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control’.  As I reflected on this oft-quoted list, I found an interpretation which was new and refreshing for me, a former produce clerk in a small food store:

“It recently occurred to me that we hardly ever see blemished fruit any more.  In an age of environmental concerns and pesticides and pollutants, we have forgotten how precious it is to have an unbruised peach or an apple without worms.  In some ways, the presence of so much ‘perfect’ fruit in the marketplace places us at a disadvantage; we are conditioned to think that producing good fruit is an effortless endeavour.  The people who heard Paul’s words would be well aware of the vurtue (and the desirability) of good fruit.  Those who tilled the soil were well acquainted with the amount of work required to produce a good harvest.  Lest we forget — good fruit, umblemished fruit, takes great care. We are called to live in the Spirit and to bear godly fruit.”  Preaching Helps. Copyright © 2007 The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church, PO Box 340003, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Worship website: www.umcworship.org.

This will be my last posting for several weeks.  May God bless you and keep you, until we meet again in this special place.  Pastor Matthew

Pentecost 4

In our second reading for this Sunday,  Galatians 3:23-29, the writer tells us that all those baptized in Christ have been ‘clothed’ with Christ.  that is, ‘there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ.’   What a beautiful, powerful image! 

Today, Thursday, June 21,  participants in the national conventions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and Anglican Church in Canada are taking time to meet together to celebrate this unity, and to explore concrete ways of expressing it.  For 6 years our two denominations have had full communion, as a joyful response to God’s gift to the world revealed in Jesus Christ.

As part of these joint sittings,  our two churches are also marking National Aboriginal Day.  Part of this will include a gathering with 10 Christian groups to challenge each other to show this unity in action. A ceremony will mark the 20th anniversary of the signing in 1987 of the document entitled ‘A New Covenant: Towards the Constitutional Recognition and Protection of Aboriginal Self-Government in Canada’.  Following this, a news conference and the release of a commemorative poster and a statement calling on all Christians to work ecumenically and collaboratively with Aboriginal peoples will take place.

We have been given unity in Christ.  God’s Spirit continues to show us the wonderful and challenging diversity of paths this unity takes us.

Pentecost 3 – June 17, 2007

Who was this woman, seen at the begining of Luke 7:36 – 8:3? She has no name, no future.  Society of the time knows her past and present time all too well.  She is a ‘woman of the city’, a prostitute.  She is a sinner, cut off from respectable, God-fearing people, except possibly for her clients.  Many even  feel that she is outside of God’s reign of love.  They know how God would judge her, and so they do likewise.

Showing much courage, and much determination, she washes the feet of the One she has heard will forgive her, will welcome her.   Tears of embarassment mingle with ones of hope, and of joy.   Even when Simon the Pharisee debates Jesus, we do not hear that the woman stops.  She keeps on serving, beginning to follow, sharing her love in a new way. Finally, she hears Jesus tells her she is forgiven.  She goes on her way, in peace.

Jesus tells us today that there is more than enough room in the kingdom of God for all those seeking something more from life, for all those captured by the ways of life, for all those living without hope of love and grace.    God sees us, God knows us, God sends us on our way, in peace.

Pentecost 2 – June 10, 2007

I’m not preaching this Sunday!  The one congregation I serve has cancelled its service, and we are holding a joint one at Our Saviour’s at 11 a.m. I’ve been told to show up and sit with my family.  Apparently, there’s going to be a lot of suprises, including guest pastors and special cake.

That reminds of a story about surprises (you really didn’t I coud keep quiet, did you?!), told me by Pastor Paul Bosch.  It seems a yong man desparatedly wanted to discover what God desire him to do with life.    One day week during a vacation, he came to look at the Crand Canyon everyday.  Perphaps its was hiding a  serect about God’s creation.   However, by the 3rd day, he had had enough.  He complained to God that he was being left in the dark.  H e demanded a response.  After a few moments of silence, he headr God coming.  He said again, ‘Help me, what should I do?’  God replied, ‘I don’t know; suprise me!’

God puts all kinds of opportunites in front of us.  Let’s get’s seivingl