The Pathway~ 2011 December

  

DECEMBER 2011

      

We are a Christ-centred community of Anglicans, Lutherans and others, responding to God’s love in worship, Christian growth and compassionate service

(Note from G. Pell.  I have copied the text has from the newsletter published by Liz Stokes.  At this point, I can only copy the images by saving each one and individually adding them.  So Liz's edition is more graphically pleasing than this.  But read on, there lot's of interesting material.)

        Tidings of Comfort and Joy           

National Lutheran Bishop Susan C. Johnson

Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God. (Isa. 40:1–11) This beautiful text is the beginning of Handel’s Messiah. Listening to this gorgeous, heart-wrenching melody is always a highlight of my Advent season.

  But why are we in need of comfort? For each of us there are different reasons why we need comfort: personal disappointments, tragedies, losses, frustrations. We also share a need for comfort that comes from being in the midst of a broken world. We need comfort in the face of mass starvation, war, poverty, homelessness, AIDS, pollution, global warming—it is overwhelming. There seems to be little we can do in the face of what seem to be insurmountable odds, and that is another reason why we need comfort. At an even deeper level we feel like Isaiah—all people are grass… the grass withers, the flower fades. We feel like small drops in a big ocean, suddenly aware of our limitations, frailty, and vulnerability.

  Our society offers a variety of ways people have used to look for comfort. One way is through escapism, throwing yourself into work or play, staying busy all the time, occupying your mind with movies, television, or video games so that we are not aware of the voice inside of us crying out for comfort. Others escape into a world of drugs and alcohol—chemical ways to try to achieve comfort. Advertisers would have us believe that we can find comfort in buying the right things, the right products.  None of these things really addresses our need for comfort. Comfort is not a quick fix or a magic solution. But we do know of a real and lasting source of comfort. We have been given the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and this gives us joy.

  We celebrate this as we prepare again to receive the babe born in Bethlehem. God came down to us in human form and experienced life on earth. Jesus suffered the pain and humiliation of an agonizing death on a cross, of being abandoned by friends and family. God knows and understands our pain and suffering and promises to be with us. We have also been given the promise of eternal life. Our lives may indeed end in this world, but we are no longer limited to being grass that withers and dies, rather we have been promised that we will be reborn into eternal life. We have been given assurance that we are more than insignificant drops of water in a big ocean. We are each valued and loved by a God who created and redeemed us. We are waiting for the fullness of the reign of God to be brought in, but even now we see flashes of that reign at work in our world.

  We are also called to bring comfort to others. We are called to be comforters, and I don’t mean large and fluffy quilts! We are called like John to prepare a way for the Lord and announce the good news to those around us, bring peace in the world, straighten roads, level mountains, and fill in valleys.

  There is a story of a little girl who was going to bed. She didn’t want her mom to leave the room because she was afraid to be alone in the dark. Her mom told her that she didn’t need to be afraid because God was with her. The girl responded that, yes, she knew that God was with her, but that she wanted someone with a face!

  We are called to be the human face of God. It is a privilege that we have been entrusted to share in the work of God, called to be a church In Mission for Others. This is another source of joy in our lives.

  Comfort and joy—may you be able to give and receive them both during these seasons of Advent and Christmas.

 December 2007 Canada Lutheran

ON A NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
by Merry Moore

T'was last night, after concert, when all through the house,

This creature was stirring, and also the mouse.

The stockings were flung on the floor in my lair,'

Cause I knew that no one but me would be there.

I had finished my snack...turning lights out for bed,

When the Westminster Chimes made a blast though my head!

I sprang to the door—yelled, "Who's there?" teeth achatter!

I dialed nine one one to say what was the matter.

The cops assured me, "On your house, watch we'll keep,

So you, dear Lady, can have your sweet sleep." (or something like that)

Well, A.M. six ten, sounds from Heaven, pray tell?

Just once glance at my messy room, "Oh! Hell's bells!"

But, this time, not just a single ding-donger,

But over and over and over--and stronger.

Now, being resourceful, like some gals who change tires,

I figured wet weather had shorted the wires.

I dampened with tape to quell the damp sound,

Then vainly for something to stand on looked 'round.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

I don't got no shutters...threw open the sash,

And what to my wondering eyes would appear?

A deaf bear, 'gainst the door, sleeping be there?

(there rhymes with appear...yes, I can do that!)

Or was it the ghost of Christmas past,

Whose icy bones my hand would clasp?

The moon on the crest of the green grass... that's all!

With the chimes still aringin', but no one did call!

So pulling a house coat on top of bed clothes,

I opened the door and stuck out my nose.

And laying my finger alongside the switch,

I gave it one quick, strong, flickety-flitch!

Zounds! "Blast all fish hooks", as Momma would say,

Would this ding dang donger just ring, night and day?

I summoned all genius within I could muster,

...And took out the batteries!
THE END

Plagiarism: Mine

I'll plead innocent, because Clement Moore (The Night Before Christmas) is probably part of my clan and Charles Dickens (A Christmas Carol) may well be my kin, as my parents always called me a "Little Dickens". As for Santa, he won't find out that I've been naughty, since my "borrowed" words and phrases will automatically send the above to his spam folder!

Merry Moore

Carol Singing for the Public on December 16th.

On Friday,  December  16th,  Trinity Church will  host a Carol - Sing in the church. All are invited to come  and choose Christmas carols from our hymn books and make requests for singing. David Cox will play the new Allen Organ. Doors open at 7pm, and we will sing until 8 pm or so.

The singing will have a few selections of Christmas organ music interspersed with the carols. Bring a friend with you.

Trinity Church has an Allen Organ

   About three years ago, the Wurlitzer church organ that used to be installed in All Saints Anglican on 3rd Avenue, started to give technical problems. I searched for an organ technician who could service it and found out that the company that made it (Baldwin Organs situated in Italy) was now no longer in business. I did not find an organ technician who wanted to look at it because there was no source of spare parts. I got out the soldering gun and tools and made repairs myself over the next 3 years, fixing the volume controls, the switching of stops and the heat sink. The 2' stop on the Swell and the pre-set pistons I was not able to repair. One Sunday, as I was playing quiet music during Communion, the Great manual suddenly gave me a stop that I did not want. Its switch was broken and I could not repair it, so I took the one from the Swell's 2' stop that had not worked for 5 years. We were borrowing from Peter to pay Paul as it were. I made Parish Council aware of the problems and a couple of months ago submitted a report that advised we should look at replacing the organ in the next year or so.

     Not much later I was talking to Catherine Speechley Pell and she said that I should look into Anglican Furnishings.com.. A number of churches in the Victoria area have closed their doors and the Anglican Church is disposing of church books, pews, gowns, organs, etc. If the items go to private hands they charge for them. They are free to parishes that show genuine need. I contacted the venerable Robert MacRae, who was rector of St. John's Anglican Church on Quadra St. in Victoria and he showed me the Allen Organ. Robert has the sad task of distributing church furnishings, a job he does not relish. He took me out to All Saints Anglican in View Royal where the Allen had lain idle for over a year. I liked the ergonomics right away and I felt the sound would be a good fit for our church here at Trinity. I contacted the Allen Organ technician and he came to disassemble the installation with the help of our Larry Craig who got a quick course in organ technology. James Enterprises of Victoria who specialize in moving pianos and organs moved it up here for a very reasonable cost.

     A few days ago the moving van arrived and all the components were installed in our sanctuary. Larry spent the next hour putting them all together and had it up and running first try. There needs to be balancing and installation of sound components to fit the sound dimensions of our church. The Crescendo pedal needs a new circuit board and the presets need a new battery, nothing major.

     I would like to thank Marieta as chair of Parish Council, Patty as treasurer, the unanimous support of Parish Council, George as pastor, Lottie's individual contribution,  Larry as our organ technician, and the venerable Robert MacRae for his gracious handling of details in Victoria.  Expenses related to the organ have come from Memorial  Funding, a decision of Parish Council.  On the First of Advent Sunday we sang “O What a Wonderful Gift,” and I feel the same way about the acquisition of the Allen organ.

Respectfully submitted by David A. Cox organist of Trinity Church

It all began with an iPhone... 

March was when our son celebrated his 17th birthday, and we got him an iPhone. He just loved it. Who wouldn't? I celebrated my birthday in July, and my wife made me very happy when she bought me an iPad.

Our daughter's birthday was in August so we got her an iPod Touch.

My  wife celebrated her birthday in September so I got her an iRon.

......It was around then that the fight started...

__________________________________________

Retreat with Sarah Donnelly November 18 – 20, 2011

Marieta Struthers

Once again I attended a weekend Retreat for Women at Bethlehem Retreat Centre, Nanaimo.  We were asked to read the book “When the Heart Waits” Spiritual Direction for Life's Sacred Questions, by Sue Monk Kid.  The Author says waiting is like being in a cocoon or chrysalis, with no escape, and waiting for the butterfly to emerge.

In our first session we discussed The Long Way Round.  We spend a good portion of our life waiting.  In our younger years we wait for school holidays, our next birthday – when we can drive the car, Christmas, or our 21^st birthday.  Sue Monk Kidd says we have become “quickaholics.”  We use instant answers from computers, or take a pill to “fix” our body weight and our ailments.  We live by appointment calendars.  Faster is better, we even have Quickaholic Spirituality.  God's people did a lot of waiting.  Noah waited for the flood to recede,  Daniel waits the night in a den of lions, Jonah waits in a fish's belly.

In our next session we discussed going from the False Self to the True Self.  We mask many things in our life, and pretend all is well.  We sometimes feel we must make things happen – our false sense is what we present to the world – our true self is who we really are.  We all experience different feelings as we wait to be in touch with our true self.   As we wait we are invited to enter into concentrated stillness – being present to the Divine, and being attentive with a loving heart, engaged in prayer, resting in a way that the Divine can speak in us.  Jesus asked the apostles to sit and wait while he prayed.   We all must learn to sit and free our thoughts.  This is difficult for most of us as we are so task oriented.  In our transformation, waiting like the caterpillar in the chrysalis, God strips away the false selves and makes us into persons we are meant to be.  When the time is right, our cocooned soul begins to emerge.   The spiritual journey is one of becoming real, we must feed our souls regularly.  Some of us  emerge from our cocoon on “wobbly wings.”

Shirley & Marcy

 A mother was concerned about her kindergarten son, Timmy, walking to school. He didn’t want his mother to walk with him.She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe. So she had an idea of how to handle it.  She asked a neighbour if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, so he probably wouldn’t notice her. The neighbour said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise as well, so she agreed.  The next school day, the neighbour and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbour girl he knew. She did this for the whole week. As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy ‘s little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week.

    Finally she said to Timmy, ‘Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week? Do you know her?’

    Timmy nonchalantly replied, ‘Yeah, I know who she is.’

    The little girl said, ‘Well, who is she?’

   ‘That’s just Shirley Goodnest ,’ Timmy replied, ‘and her daughter Marcy …’

   ‘Shirley Goodnest? Who is she and why is she following us?

   ‘Well,’ Timmy explained, ‘every night my Mum makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, ‘cuz she worries about me so much. And in the Psalm, it says, ‘Shirley Goodnest (surely goodness) and Marcy (mercy) shall follow me all the days of my life’, so I guess I’ll just have to get used to it!’

The story told at the Advent Garden, 

November 27

Long, long ago  – and it was just at this time of year, when the sun was going to sleep earlier and earlier each evening,  when the days were growing shorter and colder --

long, long ago,  Mother Mary was preparing for the first Christmas. It was time for her to weave a garment for the Christ Child who was soon to be born. 

Among the stars she wandered.  And the stars gave her radiant threads of crystal for the Child's robe.  Then she went to the Moon , and the Moon gave her shimmering silver threads.  And at last she went to the Sun, and the Sun gave her threads of gleaming gold.  So Mother Mary gathered all the beautiful threads and began to weave.

But alas! the threads slipped apart and could not be woven together.  So Mary went on her way, searching, searching.

 She asked the stones and crystals. “Ah, dear crystals and stones,” said Mother Mary, “you are so strong and firm.  Can you help me to weave these threads into a robe for the Christ Child ?”

“No, Mother Mary.  We will mark your pathway to the stable and give you sturdy ground for your footsteps, but we cannot help you weave your threads.”

She spoke then to the plants.  “Ah, dear plants,” said Mother Mary,  “ you are so lovely and green.  Some of you are green even in the depth of winter.  Can you help me to weave these threads into a robe for the Christ Child?”

“No, Mother Mary.  We will make you a garden where the Christmas rose can bloom, but we cannot help you weave your threads.”

At last,  she came to the animals. “Ah, dear animals,” said Mother Mary, “ you are so lively and nimble. Can you help me weave these threads into a robe for the Christ Child?”

“No, Mother Mary.  Our brother Donkey will help you on your long journey, and we will send Sheep and Ox to warm you with their breath in the stable, but we cannot help you weave your threads.”

Now Mother Mary no longer knew where to turn for help.  Then lo! There came an angel to her and spoke softly, saying: “Mother Mary, you must ask the children for the love in their hearts.  When the children of Earth send you their love, you will be able to weave the Christ Child's robe.”

And so it happened.  And now, each year at Advent time, an angel brings us a light in the darkness.  From it, every child may take a light.  Each light will send heart's love to Mother Mary, to weave a robe for the coming Christ Child.

Restoring Christmas to a Season of Merriment

Charles Dickens has probably had more influence on the way that we celebrate Christmas today than any single individual in human history...except One.

At the beginning of the Victorian period the celebration of Christmas was in decline. The medieval Christmas traditions, which combined the celebration  of the birth of Christ with the ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia (a pagan celebration for the Roman god of agriculture), and the Germanic winter festival of Yule, had come under intense scrutiny by the Puritans under Oliver Cromwell. The Industrial Revolution, in full swing in Dickens' time, allowed workers little time for the celebration of Christmas.

The romantic revival of Christmas traditions that occurred in Victorian times had other contributors: Prince Albert brought the German custom of decorating the Christmas tree to England, the singing of Christmas carols (which had all but disappeared at the turn of the century) began to thrive again, and the first Christmas card appeared in the 1840s. But it was the Christmas stories of Dickens, particularly his 1843 masterpiece A Christmas Carol, that rekindled the joy of Christmas in Britain and America. Today, after more than 160 years, A Christmas Carol continues to be relevant, sending a message that cuts through the materialistic trappings of the season and gets to the heart and soul of the holidays.

Dickens' describes the holidays as "a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time I know of in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of other people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys." This was what Dickens described for the rest of his life as the "Carol Philosophy".

Dickens' name had become so synonymous with Christmas that on hearing of his death in 1870 a little costermonger's girl in London asked, "Mr. Dickens dead? Then will Father Christmas die too?" (article:David Perdue)

 I found this imaginative story on a web blog called Love Blooms Bright, which is only active during advent. The contributers are clergy and laity of the Scottish Episcopal Church. I hope you like it.

LOOK AGAIN

‘Does he have to be so ugly?’

The angel huffed. He was not enjoying this at all.

‘Ugly, Jophiel?’

‘Ugly.  Just look at him. Scraggly hair. Calloused skin. Clothes — can you call those clothes?– sodden and drippy from the river. His voice rasps; his hand shakes.  His eyes are wild.’

‘Your ear serves you well, my friend; but your eye lets you down. Look again.  Look for beauty.’ Jophiel took a deep breath and searched diligently across the valley.

‘There,’ he said at last, pointing. ‘The way the light falls on that piece of rock: blazing red, then falling into deepest purple. There is beauty. And over there: the way the sun shimmers on the sand so that earth and sky meet?’ Jophiel turned his head, and pointed in excitement, ‘and there: even there in those dead reeds. Do you see how the seed head clings on, and catches the light, and dances. That is beautiful.’

God smiled. He had to admit that Jophiel was good at this game. God nodded in agreement and gave Jophiel a moment to soak in the glory. And then he leaned into him, and pointed to the man below,

‘And there,’  God said.  ‘That man is beautiful.’

Jophiel sulked a bit, then looked again.

A man:  ugly and unkempt,  mud-masked and smelly.  Shouting endlessly of sin and repentance. Jophiel shuddered and let his eye slip back to the river.

God was more stern this time:  ‘Jophiel, LOOK.’

A man: caring nothing for convention, abandoning the temple, leaving behind all that was ordered and safe and understood to find freedom in the desert.

John picked up a locust.  He admired the little creature, then popped it in his mouth.  Jophiel looked horrified and began to protest.

‘Jophiel: look.’

A man: somewhat mad, but passionately committed.  Undaunted.  Unafraid.  Able to see God in the harshness of the wilderness.  Able to help others find God there too.

Jophiel watched as John strode into the river.  His head sunk beneath the surface and then he sprang up sending water out like diamonds.  John laughed and his face was radiant.  He drew breath and cried out, ‘Repe-e-e-ent!’ Then at last, Jophiel saw it. A man: crying in the wilderness.  ‘Prepare the way of the Lord.’

Jophiel, too, was left breathless.  He leaned into God and pointed, ‘There.  That man.  He is beautiful.’

‘Thank you.’ God said, smiling.  ‘I did say…’

Jophiel laughed and pressed into God again, whispering:

‘But I still think he should cut his hair.’

Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

Teresa of Avila (1515–1582)

Sunday, Dec. 11th…

10am White Gift Sunday…please bring gifts, wrapped simply ( they will be rewrapped) to share with young people.

 2:30pm Timbre! Members of our Church will be singing with the

   Timbre! Choir for their Christmas Concert

Friday, Dec. 16th, 7pm…  Carol Singing (sing your favourites)

Sunday, Dec. 18th, 10am…Choir Cantata at the 10am Service + Xmas Brunch

Saturday, Dec. 24th...  

7pm   Christmas Eve Family Service. The Christmas Story will  be told, and Communion Shared (Anglican-BAS).

10.30pm Christmas Eve Candlelight service...A traditional service to welcome in Christmas (Anglican-BCP)

Sunday, Dec. 25^th, 1pm...

Christmas Day Communion (Lutheran, Choral)

We sing the songs of Christmas throughout this joyful service.

Editor...Liz Stokes

Copying...Tom Stokes

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this Pathway!