Well, this morning in church the absolutely sweetest thing ever happened. I'll never forget it.
A little girl, maybe around 4 years old, has been coming to church with her grandmother for 3 or 4 weeks now. I baptized her a few years ago, I'll be baptizing her baby brother on the Sunday after Christmas. As I was making my announcements before the service started she made her way up the aisle and when I was finished she was standing in front of me and asked "Where's Baby Jesus?" I said he'd be coming in a few weeks, meaning when we decorate the church for Christmas and get out the ceramic nativity. I thought later, what a perfect question. I don't know if her question was that profound but how many people do come to church looking to find Jesus? And in our scripture readings, hymns, sermons, and meal, do they find him?
Well, that wasn't the sweetest thing yet. A few minutes later, after singing the gathering hymn, lighting the first candle on the Advent wreath, praying a prayer of blessing and the prayer of the day, I sat down on the chancel steps and called the children forward. The same little girl sat right in front of me, maybe four feet away from me. I was trying to talk to them about today's gospel reading, about being prepared, ready, anticipating, expecting the coming of Jesus and how we might find him in some very ordinary everyday things. I used examples of doing something nice for a friend, sticking up for someone on the playground when they're being picked on, or the love we get from our parents when they hug us, kiss us, and tuck us into bed. In those ordinary instances, I said God is there.
While I'm talking she keeps whispering, *pastor,* *pastor.* I tried to ignore her and finish my talk, figuring I'd see what she wants when I'm done, before I send them off to Sunday School. Well, she wouldn't be ignored and all of a sudden she was standing in front of me. So I stopped and asked what she wanted and she leaned in and kissed me on the forehead. Everyone who could see couldn't help but say "Awwwwww!" I was so touched, so flabberghasted, I lost my place, must have blushed profusely, it was so totally unexpected. When I got back to what I was talking about I said that in just that kind of action, God is there and if we're on the lookout then we'll notice God's presence in loving acts.
I haven't been able to forget that moment. All day long it has come back to mind. It was a wonderful, unexpected, sweet and touching moment that I'll really never forget.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
HAPPY BOBUNK!!
Tonight we’ll be celebrating Bobunk. What is Bobunk you ask? It’s the holiday that disappeared.
In an episode of Sabrina the Teenage Witch she has no Christmas spirit and she inadvertently does away with Christmas. People wonder why anyone would cut down a perfectly good tree to stand it up indoors. It seems nobody has any recollection of Christmas at all. Her cat, Salem, tells her that the same thing happened to Bobunk. "What’s Bobunk?" she asks. "See!"
I won’t ruin the ending by telling you whether she manages to save Christmas or not. I’m sure you’re in suspense now.
Anyway, our family designated November 12 as Bobunk. We’ll have a Bobunk cake and watch that episode of Sabrina tonight. The boys have a day off school tomorrow so they can stay up late and everything. The girls still have school so they’ll have to get up at the usual 6:30 a.m. to catch the bus at 7:09.
So again, Happy Bobunk!
In an episode of Sabrina the Teenage Witch she has no Christmas spirit and she inadvertently does away with Christmas. People wonder why anyone would cut down a perfectly good tree to stand it up indoors. It seems nobody has any recollection of Christmas at all. Her cat, Salem, tells her that the same thing happened to Bobunk. "What’s Bobunk?" she asks. "See!"
I won’t ruin the ending by telling you whether she manages to save Christmas or not. I’m sure you’re in suspense now.
Anyway, our family designated November 12 as Bobunk. We’ll have a Bobunk cake and watch that episode of Sabrina tonight. The boys have a day off school tomorrow so they can stay up late and everything. The girls still have school so they’ll have to get up at the usual 6:30 a.m. to catch the bus at 7:09.
So again, Happy Bobunk!
Monday, November 09, 2009
...about faith and fear
It seems we can’t look at a newspaper or turn on a TV or radio without hearing about the H1N1 flu. For the most part the media has presented a fairly consistent message. Beyond simply reporting the facts and statistics of the number of people becoming ill and some even dying from this flu, they are doing a good job of pointing out the risks and providing information about how to protect yourself and your loved ones.
But then you start talking with friends and neighbours and colleagues and you get a whole different picture. Some people are concerned about the safety and long term effects of vaccines. Some figure this will be no worse than a regular seasonal flu. Some see a conspiracy between drug manufacturers and governments. Some think the whole saturation of the media is just hype or that we’re not getting the whole story.
It can all be very confusing. And then when you hear about people dying including children, some who were otherwise normal and healthy, it can all be very frightening. So what do you do? Do you give in to the fear? Do you cower behind closed doors, never to venture out into public again? Or on the other end of the spectrum, do you ignore or disbelieve the risks and go on as if nothing is wrong and nothing harmful is out there?
I would suggest living our lives with common sense and faith. The medical community have told us what the best practices are to reduce the risk. Wash your hands frequently. Don’t touch your face more than necessary. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve. If you are sick, stay home so that you don’t spread germs to others.
Even in church we’re encouraging people to stay away if they are sick. When we share the peace we are telling people that it’s perfectly acceptable to speak the words of blessing with a nod or another gesture and they may refrain from shaking hands. For those concerned with drinking wine at communion from the same cup as others people we offer the option of individual glasses that are filled from a pouring chalice, or people are free to receive just the bread. We also have hand sanitizer pumps in a few locations in the church.
That’s the common sense part, but what about the faith part? We believe and teach and trust in the grace and love of God. In baptism we are sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked forever with the cross of Christ, who is health and salvation for the whole world. That doesn’t mean we’re magically or mystically protected from all illness or even death. It does mean that God is present with strength and comfort in time of suffering.
Does this mean that Christians are never afraid? No way! What it means is that in the midst of confusion, doubt, and fear we can live in faith, trusting in God’s promise to always be with us. It means we can depend on God to bring us through times of difficulty. It means that we are part of a community of faith that walks with us in good times and bad. It means that even when illness leads to death, God accompanies us and our loved ones, holding us in his loving embrace no matter what.
So, my prayer is that we can live and walk and perhaps even struggle through this flu pandemic with faith and common sense. God be with all of you.
But then you start talking with friends and neighbours and colleagues and you get a whole different picture. Some people are concerned about the safety and long term effects of vaccines. Some figure this will be no worse than a regular seasonal flu. Some see a conspiracy between drug manufacturers and governments. Some think the whole saturation of the media is just hype or that we’re not getting the whole story.
It can all be very confusing. And then when you hear about people dying including children, some who were otherwise normal and healthy, it can all be very frightening. So what do you do? Do you give in to the fear? Do you cower behind closed doors, never to venture out into public again? Or on the other end of the spectrum, do you ignore or disbelieve the risks and go on as if nothing is wrong and nothing harmful is out there?
I would suggest living our lives with common sense and faith. The medical community have told us what the best practices are to reduce the risk. Wash your hands frequently. Don’t touch your face more than necessary. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve. If you are sick, stay home so that you don’t spread germs to others.
Even in church we’re encouraging people to stay away if they are sick. When we share the peace we are telling people that it’s perfectly acceptable to speak the words of blessing with a nod or another gesture and they may refrain from shaking hands. For those concerned with drinking wine at communion from the same cup as others people we offer the option of individual glasses that are filled from a pouring chalice, or people are free to receive just the bread. We also have hand sanitizer pumps in a few locations in the church.
That’s the common sense part, but what about the faith part? We believe and teach and trust in the grace and love of God. In baptism we are sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked forever with the cross of Christ, who is health and salvation for the whole world. That doesn’t mean we’re magically or mystically protected from all illness or even death. It does mean that God is present with strength and comfort in time of suffering.
Does this mean that Christians are never afraid? No way! What it means is that in the midst of confusion, doubt, and fear we can live in faith, trusting in God’s promise to always be with us. It means we can depend on God to bring us through times of difficulty. It means that we are part of a community of faith that walks with us in good times and bad. It means that even when illness leads to death, God accompanies us and our loved ones, holding us in his loving embrace no matter what.
So, my prayer is that we can live and walk and perhaps even struggle through this flu pandemic with faith and common sense. God be with all of you.
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