December 18th 2011

It is the fourth Sunday in Advent and I have not mentioned that great harbinger – John the Baptist. He is spoken of in all four gospels. He and Jesus were cousins. We first meet him as he leaps in his mother Elizabeth’s womb as he recognizes the presence of the Messiah also yet unborn. We know little of John’s childhood and growing up years. He emerges as a great prophet living in the wilderness and leading a very austere life. He proclaims a message of hope that the true light which enlightens everyone was coming into the world. He called on the people to repent, turn around and lead a new life as they prepared to receive the Messiah. His influence spread so far among the people that even the King was moved and disturbed by him.

What message does John have for us today? It seems that at Christmas time when we are celebrating Jesus’ birth we make sure to share to tell the true story of Jesus coming into the world as we reach out in love to all around us. Sometimes we are embarrassed to speak out. It can even be hard to perform a loving act to issue an invitation or make a phone call. It is not likely that we are going to be thrown in prison or lose our head as John did if we greet friends with Happy Christmas or on Christmas Day, proclaim Christ is born. If someone challenges you, enter with joy and inner prayer into a conversation with them. It was said of John “he was not that light but came to bear witness of that light”. John 1 verse 8.

Happy witnessing everyone

December 11th 2011

Last Sunday, taking our theme from the BAS collect, we thought about being confident before him. This week we are waiting in awe and wonder.  For many generations, the people of Israel had been waiting for the promised Messiah to be born. Every woman who became pregnant faced the possibility that perhaps her child was the one that they were waiting for.

Then it happened. The angel Gabriel appeared to a young girl, probably a teenager and announced that she, Mary of Nazareth was the one. She is filled with awe and wonder. She travels to visit her pregnant cousin Elizabeth and greets her with that wonderful hymn or canticle, The Magnificat. She first expresses the wonder and joy that she, a young insignificant girl is the chosen one of God. She is full of awe and wonder as she realizes the significance of what is about to happen. Her depth of understanding penetrates far deeper
into the truth than many of the mature followers of Jesus did later on.

Can we, this Christmas season, become immersed in awe and wonder as we prepare for the coming of the Christ child? This does not mean that we have to be very solemn and circumspect. It means that we try to experience real joy and happiness. Let us enter into the merriment and joy of the season. Let us enjoy the music, the decorations, the parties, the food. God gave us all these things and the capacity to enjoy them. Let us approach the Christmas festivities with joy as we contemplate the wonder of God’s love for us when he joined us here on earth as a little babe.

God bless you merry gentlefolk

Let nothing you dismay

Remember Christ our Saviour 

Was born on Christmas Day

December 4th 2011

Several weeks ago, I wrote about the central theme of each of the four Collects during Advent and pointed out the central theme for today, the second Sunday in Advent is confidence. I quote “that we may stand with confidence before his glory”.

What does it take to be a confident person? First of all, we need a clear conscience. How many of us have a clear conscience?  Is there no wrongdoing in our lives, no wrong attitudes towards others? We can be free. Christ has with his love and sacrifice bought this freedom for us. What else do we need to be confident?  We need knowledge and experience. In the Collect for today, in our old BCP we read:

“ Blessed Lord who has caused all Holy Scriptures

to be written for our learning, grant that we in

such wise hear them, read, mark, learn and

inwardly digest them,  that by patience and

comfort of thy holy word, we may embrace and

ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life

which thou has given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ."

I am not a literalist in my understanding of the Bible but I embrace it mindfully with love and joy as it nourishes me. The Bible gives me that confidence I need to stand before the throne. I try to live the life it directs and gain the experience we all need to further achieve confidence as we stand before him and worship him.

November 27th 2011

On this the first day of Advent we start our journey looking forward to Christ’s coming to earth a little babe in Bethlehem We are also are looking forward to his coming to earth again.

We tend not to dwell on his coming again. Are we perhaps apprehensive, even frightened by the thought of a terrible disruption? Do we feel somewhat guilty, not quite sure where we stand with him, because we know there are things in our lives of which we are not proud? Are we afraid of Jesus? How could we be? He loves us supremely.

During Advent, let us reach out our minds and spirits to him and receive his love. Let us get to know him better. To do that, we need to read about him, meditate on him. We need to reach out to others in love the Christmas gift, a visit to a shut in or a phone call, cookies for the neighbours, cleaning someone’s driveway. I could go on. You have done all these things and many more in years past. Be sure that you are doing them in Jesus’ love. Live in him and let him live in you.

Two suggestions for Bible Study:

 John 3: 5-21

Ephesians Chapter On

Silent Axe's Home: Launch of "Florrie" by John E. Speers

This is a post about the launch of Canon John Speers new book. Hope you enjoy.-SA

Silent Axe's Home: Launch of "Florrie" by John E. Speers: This past Monday I went to the launch party of "Florrie" , a book written by John E. Speers about his mother.The event was held ...

November 20th 2011

My mother’s twin sister Betty lived with Christmas all year round.  She made nearly all her gifts herself with joyful anticipation of the delight her presents would bring. When we visited them on their birthdays in the middle of November, there was always a large box of beautifully wrapped items for us to take home for Christmas.  There was no strain or stress, just contentment.

My first word about Advent is plan ahead so that you may enter the Christmas season with joy.  Advent has its own special message of anticipation.  It is a season of looking towards not only his coming to us as a baby but also to the time when we shall see him again.

Over the past 50 years, the beautiful family ceremony of lighting the four advent candles at the dinner table has grown up and been revised. I hope it is part of your family tradition.  It is not too early or too late to start.  If you are alone, it can be very meaningful to pause before you eat, light one or more of the four candles and say “Come Lord Jesus Come”.  The same for just two people. When there are little children they love to watch the candlelight. If you fear the use of open flame, little electric tea lights are very beautiful.  If they have not taken part in anything like this, older children may be resistant because they feel awkward.  I think perhaps the trick is getting them involved ahead of time, perhaps making the candle wreaths.  Anything put together with love and creativity which holds four candles will be perfect.  Perhaps someone could write a short prayer.  One candle will be lit each day of the first week and two each day of the second week and so on to the fourth.  Some people like to have a fifth candle for Christmas Day.

I find it is not a Christmas celebration without a nativity set in our home.  Blessed are you if you can afford to go out and purchase a very beautiful one. We still have the china Mary and Babe I bought on our first Christmas.  Turn it over and you will see the original price tag of 29 cents.  It is not hard to construct a simple stable. Try a large piece of bark for a roof and think of ways to support it and form the stable underneath. Use whatever materials and skills you have. This can be done during Advent.   Have it ready at least a week before Christmas. At first, only put animals in the stable and let the story unfold.  Put the shepherds in far off fields, perhaps in the Christmas tree.  Let Joseph and Mary start on their journey. Find a spot for them perhaps on a book shelf. Way way off somewhere perhaps in another room, the Wise Men.  On Christmas Eve, Mary and Joseph and the donkey arrive at the stable.  The next morning amid all the fun of opening presents the babe is found to be in the manger.  The shepherds arrive soon after. The wise men must wait. They have long journey to Bethlehem.

Have a happy journey through Advent.

November 13th 2011

The season of Advent starts in two weeks on November 27th. Before we start preparing for Christmas, let us give some thought of preparing for Advent. It is a season of looking forward to Christ’s coming, not only his coming as a Babe in Bethlehem but also as we look forward to his second coming here on earth.

Once again, I fall back on the Collects for guidance and summing up of thoughts for each week. Turn to the BAS (the green book) and page 268. These are the four central thoughts taken from each of the four Advent Collects.

1. May we rise to life immortal

2. May we stand with confidence before his glory

3. May he find us waiting in awe and wonder

4. May we in all things embrace his will

It would be good if we were to meditate on each of these thoughts during the Advent season. Very often I find it hard to distinguish in my thinking between his final coming to the whole world and my own individual entering into his presence when I leave this world. Undoubtedly it all emanates from Number 4 which speaks of embracing his will. What does the thought of embracing his will conjure up for you? Does it mean embracing him in complete surrender to his love? Does it mean submitting to his will and power? Think on these things and more this Advent. Next week, I hope to share with you, thoughts about encircling your family in meaningful preparation to greet our saviour at Christmas.

November 6th 2011

During this past week I have been reading the book of Exodus,  the directions to Moses about how the robes of the priests (Aaron and his sons) would be made. They must have been beautiful. They were to be woven of blue yarn and trimmed with embroidered pomegranates and little golden bells which would give a happy tinkling sound as they moved. Clearly God wants us to create beautiful things just as he created all the countless beautiful things for us.

First let us accept that we all see beauty in our own way. We are made in his image but he is a personal God and relates to each one of us differently. From Exodus and other passages in the Bible, it is clear that God wants the places where we come together to worship him to be beautiful. Beauty uplifts us to God.

What about our own homes, our own attire? This has nothing to do with luxury or heavy spending. It has to do with care and love. The question is – do we express to others who we are by our surroundings and even by what we wear?

Think on these things as you scrub a floor or paint a ceiling. We do not want to self consciously think of the impressions we are making but let us be conscious of our Father’s creative love for us and the gift of beauty he has bestowed on the whole world. Jesus said “Consider the lilies of the field – they toil not neither do they spin but Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”

Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem and he built himself a very grand palace. It took him seven years to build the temple. His own palace took thirteen years. The throne was set high on six steps with a large lion at the edge of each, made of ivory and overlaid with gold. There he sat, where everyone could see his magnificence He lost sight of building to the glory of God. Let us always work for our Father’s glory

THE MASTER AND THE DOOR

This article about the refinishing of the church doors at Trinity Anglican, Barrie. Different photos of the door have been used for my re-posting of  this article. To see the original photos that ran with this story or to read the article at its' source please click the link below and scroll down to the second page of the paper. I hope you enjoy. -SA  

http://www.trinitybarrie.ca/happenings/30oct11.pdf

THE MASTER AND THE DOOR

What began as a generous bequest from the will of Verdi Wallwin, a much-loved, beautiful and gracious member of Trinity, culminated in a welcoming new entrance to the church at the top of the hill.

Door just after it was painted in 2000

Jack Wallwin, with the help of Jim Laking and Millet Salter, undertook a replacement of the steps and the handrail leading up to the front door.  Then it was time to address the refinishing of the door itself. Jack contacted the very best man for the job, Ben Poernbacher, a master painter and refinisher, who at the age of 14 began a 3 year apprenticeship in Austria, his homeland, and started to work at his trade when only 17!

Ben was used to working on ladders, at 19 he found a job high in the mountain villages of Switzerland where he would paint on rising scaffolds, church steeples as high as 130 feet!  Ben came to Canada by himself in 1957 when he was 24 years old and settled in Toronto. Because skiing was a passion he eventually found his way to Snow Valley and owner, Hans Eder, also Austrian. Soon Barrie became his home.

Door once all paint was removed

Over the years Trinity’s main entrance door had accumulated more than 20 layers of paint.  All of these layers were removed by Ben in painstaking fashion using a propane torch.  To avoid burning the wood, the final two layers were cleaned with paint remover and then scraped by hand.  Once cleaned, scraped and sanded Ben realized that the main part of the door was mahogany with pine mouldings which he stained to match the mahogany and bleached once for uniformity of colour. Then came three coats of clear varnish to complete the natural finishing of the door.

Door as it appears today

The final touch to the completion of the church entrance was the installation of a new threshold. Jack Wallwin provided the wood that had been recently cut from a red oak tree on the Wallwin family farm. Two coats of stain and three of varnish were applied by Ben to protect this very handsome piece of wood. Removal of all the old paint from the door hardware and from the wonderful original light fixture above provided for a fresh new coat of black paint to complete the masterpiece!

It is the hope of all parishioners that the new entrance signals a new vision for Trinity

October 30th 2011

Next Tuesday November 1st is All Saints Day. Let us think about the Saints and who they are. I use the present tense because even though they have left this earth they are very much alive praising God Iin Heaven. They are people who having given their life to the Lord, continued to love him with deep devotion. Often they were called to endure hardship and pain as they lived their lives of bravery and compassion. They were apostles and martyrs, bishops, priests and deacons, scholars and poets missionaries, doctors and nurses, translators and hymn writers, reformers and ordinary folks like you or me.

Why are certain people designed as saints and given special days to remember them? That is so that we may be guided and inspired by their lives, thus enriching the whole church. As Anglicans as we do not pray to the saints or ask them to intercede for us. I cannot help feeling that we do join the heavenly chorus and worship with them. Do we make or canonize these saints? I once asked my father about that. His answer as I remember it was that we could but that saints should be universal in all the churches throughout Christendom. We therefore add to our church calendar new names without enrolling such persons as saints.

We all need to learn more about the saints. First of all, why not turn to our church calendar to be found on page IX in the BCP and page 22 in the BAS. Read through the names of the saints and note the century that they lived in. Many will be familiar, Think about them and try to find out more about them. Turn to September 10 where you will find the name Edmund James Peck missionary to the Inuit. Edmund Peck is our own Trinity Barrie saint. As far as I know he was born here, he certainly grew up here and returned here where he died in 1924. There are still Pecks in Barrie. Mary Grasset Anderson used to tell me that she remembered him as a little girl. Her father knew him. They often met on walks near his home not far from the Shanty Bay Road.

By a strange coincidence, my own mother who was never in Barrie knew him. In fact, they corresponded. In those days, it was not uncommon for people to correspond with missionaries, much as one might correspond with a serviceman overseas today. Alas, I cannot remember much that she told me about him, but I am left with the picture of a lonely figure enduring extreme hardship and physical injury that he had to deal with by himself. Perhaps someone would like to do research about Edmund Peck that we might know more about him and be uplifted and inspired by our own special saint, whose life empowered by the Holy Spirit reflects the great mysteries of Jesus Christ and his Father our Creator

October 23rd 2011

During the past month, I have from time to time, dwelled on the fact that we can never completely comprehend everything about God. That is because I want to help those who, in trying to understand him, become frustrated or just give up. Perhaps it is time to think about the things we do understand or experience. A great deal of our understanding comes from experiencing.

In the first Epistle of St. John the fourth chapter and the end of verse sixteen, we read: God is love. Not God is loving, or God loves us but God is love. That is his very essence. That is who he is. Read that whole wonderful chapter 1 John 4. It tells us that God sent his son as a saviour of the world (Verse 14). Also he has sent us his spirit (Verse 13).

I am going to suggest that you find a moment to sit quietly and remember the moments when you experienced God. Was it a time of great joy? You may also remember him in a time of sorrow. Were you with others or alone? Did you feel God’s presence when you nurtured someone? When you were striving to do his will in thought and word and deed? Perhaps as we experience him in our lives, we understand him more with our minds? Let us never neglect either aspect but go forward in faith looking onto him, growing in his love.

Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one

another.  No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God

lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we

abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.

And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son

as the Saviour of the world.

1 John 4: 11-14 NRSV

October 16th 2011

The older I grow the more the Psalms mean to me. It is hard for me to respond when someone asks which is my favourite. It depends on my need at the time. However, one that is very dear to me is Psalm 103. It is so full of thanksgiving and recognition of God’s many mercies to us and his love and forgiveness. I am sure you have read it many times but please turn to it again and put the joy of your heart into it as you read. While you are at it, go on to Psalm 104. I wish space would allow me to quote at length from it but I love verses 14 and 15. To quote from verse 15 “(You) bring food from the earth and wine to gladden the human heart and oil to make the face shine”.  God does not just provide the necessities of life but some special refreshment and emollients to brighten our skin. Let the cosmetic industry say Amen.

Do we as we are filled with thanksgiving and joy feel guilty? We know there are so many people in the world who are suffering unimaginable pain and sorrow. Why do these people suffer when we receive the necessities of life and extra luxuries as well?

First of all, let us do away with the guilt. It will not help those who are suffering. It will not help us. We must not reject Jesus’ terrible suffering but accept it as the gift it was to us. We must accept his suffering and cast off our guilt and move on to thanking him for this gift of his love. That does not mean we just turn our backs on those in need. It means that we do what is within our power. We give of our time and substance. We give ourselves in prayer. Perhaps God will give us some wonderful opportunity of service; perhaps actually to be with those in distress, to reach out and touch them. This privilege is given only to a few. The rest of us must go forward giving and praying and thanking. We do not give up our concerns for those who suffer. We reach out in love to them. I know it is unsatisfying never finding a real answer to suffering but some day we will know and I am sure the answer will be found somewhere in God’s love.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his steadfast

love toward those who fear him;  as far as the east is from the west, 

so far he removes our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103: 11-12  (NRSV)

October 9th 2011

When someone says, I love my church - what do they mean? We have been told from childhood ; that the church is not the building - it is the people. But we must go farther than that. It is a body of people, who live in Christ and love their Lord. How do we show love to our Lord. We reach out to him in prayer and worship. We reach out to him who dwells in each one of us who know him and love him. We also reach out to those who reject him or who have not found him.

No one can completely understand God but we can find confidence in his love for us and be affirmed in each ; other. That should mean that we can exchange different points of view as we grow together. We should show compassion in word and deed to those who know him and especially to those who have not yet found him, remembering always that our Lord speaks and moves through us.

This does not mean that the church building cannot mean a great deal to us. It is a special place where we come together to worship him and be with each other and I rejoice to see it being cared for.

I knew a lady in England who owned a beautiful home in the country. On the property, was a very old barn. ; As a child, she liked to go and play there because she sensed a holy atmosphere of quiet and peace. When she grew up, she learned up that the barn was a place where persecuted Quakers would go to hide and have prayer together. She later turned the old barn into a retreat house where many people came to enjoy the sense of God's presence in worship and fellowship together.

So, why do 1 love my church? I love it because it is my family who meet together from time to time in one holy place. We love each other and empower each other for the enrichment and care of others. Let us reach i out to those, both inside and outside our church family remembering we are all persons created by him who made us in his image, redeemed by Jesus Christ and empowered by his Holy Spirit.

October 2nd 2011

Many months ago, someone decided to store the long extension ladder in the chancel – not where anybody could see but hidden beyond where the piano is behind the baptistery. However, it is not hidden from me where I sit in the center front. I can look at it and mediate on Jacob’s ladder. You all know the story in Genesis 28. Jacob with his mother Rebecca’s help, contrived to steal his brother Esau’s birthright and his father’s blessing. He has to flee their wrath and sets out to take refuge with his mother’s brother Laban. On his journey, when night time comes Jacob picks a stone for a pillow, lies down and falls asleep. Then he has a dream. He sees a ladder stretching from earth to heaven and there angels were going up and down. We read in Verse 13  “the lord stood beside him” – how wonderful! Then God revealed to Jacob all the things he had prepared for his future. When he awoke from his sleep, he was overcome with awe and fear “This is none other than the House of God and this is the Gate of Heaven” he declared. He took the stone pillow, poured a libation over it and declared it to be God’s place. This somehow reminds me of the stone Inukshuk our Inuit people build to say “I was here”. Jacob’s stone says “God was here”.

The first part of Jacob’s journey was one of running away in fear. The second part was one of going forward in faith. God had been with him before. Now he knew God was with him and he responded to him in his love and strength.

We all have points in our journey where we stop at God’s place and he intervenes. It may be an actual physical place but more than likely it is a place of crisis. We become aware of him, know he is there, feel his arms around us. In this renewed strength, we go forward.

Last Sunday, I came to church. My ladder was gone. Walter offered to put it back when I said I missed it, but I really do not need that particular symbol to be reminded of God’s presence or his gate to Heaven. I am surrounded by my brothers and sisters in Christ. We together are his body. Let us surround each other in support and love. Let us get to know each other that as we strengthen each other in the body of Christ here at Trinity and throughout the world, we may respond to his presence through the power of his Holy Spirit. Let us be assured of his forgiveness for past mistakes and go forward together on our journey.

Alter for Harvest Thanksgiving Service

September 25th 2011

Let us Pray .  Those three wonderful words invite us to open ourselves to our God. Just as there are many different ways of communicating with our loved ones, so there are countless ways we approach the Throne of Grace. If we have done anything wrong that would come between us, we will tell him how sorry we are. How wonderful it is to know that he forgives us and loves us. We can then burst into worship, praise and song. St. Augustine said “He who sings, prays twice. “

Mostly we sing together. I am sure there are many musical souls who sing hymns alone. All of us, I am sure who love our dear Lord, pray to him alone - some more than others.  But as we grow in love and faith, we feel the need to draw closer to him in prayer. Sadly, we are not always filled with joy and happiness. There are moments of sadness and despair when we need his comfort and assurance. We reach out in desperation asking for our own needs and those we hear of in distant parts of the world. Great assurance comes from those moments of great content and comfort.  We rest in him being very conscious of the power of his holy spirit and above all our knowledge of him through his Son Jesus Christ.

I would like to quote St. Paul – “devote yourself to prayer keeping alert in it with thanksgiving”. (Col 4: 2)

Let us pray in

Joy

Sorrow

Deep content

In his arm

VISION CARE MISSION Rex Leyte

Wonderful story of Mission to Panama done by a member of Trinity.  

VISION CARE MISSION- Rex Leyte

In mid January 2011 after months of back and forth communications with the Panamanian Health Authorities, I received approval for a Vision Care Mission to Achutupu - a tiny island off the coast of Panama. On Feb. 27th my son-in-law, Dan Ayan, my right hand and translator (He's fluent in Spanish) and I arrived at the Achutupu airstrip. We were greeted by the most dynamic and energetic 80 + year old man you'll ever meet, Howard Walter and his wife Mariella. With their continued assistance for the next five days, we did visual testing and issued eye glasses to the native Kuna who call this tiny island home. We matched the prescriptions as close as possible (not always close enough). On my return I began matching prescriptions more closely and to date we've shipped glasses to 99% of those that needed correction. We are now in the process of getting ready for our next trip. Based on the first trip, I have a better idea of what to take and what not to take.

In addition to my eye glasses, my daughter Linda (a Barrie School Teacher) canvassed her school for school supplies. She collected over 150 lbs of school supplies which we delivered to the grateful students. This effort is ongoing for 2012.

Ours was the first such mission to Achutupu and the first time many of these people ever had functional vision. There are 48 more similar island communities in Kuna Ayla, all I'm sure with similar problems. I hope to continue these visit! for as long and as often as possible, expanding to other islands. I have the time, the equipment and a great source of used eyeglasses to do more. The limiting factor is funding. Anyone wishing to help can contact the Trinity Church Office at 705-728-2691.

September 18th 2011

In the 1940's I had a summer job directing a camp for mothers and children from the inner city of Toronto. It left me with many rich experiences. One incident happened between camps on a Sunday when we were free to go to church. A student who was on staff elected to accompany me. The nearest church was four miles away on a hot dusty road. We arrived very weary, enjoyed the service, but then faced the prospect of a long walk back to camp. Outside the church, an elderly lady approached us. "Would you care to come back with us for lunch" she said. "I only have two slice of bologna but there are  plenty of fresh vegetables from the garden and you are very welcome". We were very grateful in accepting I the invitation and were driven back to the home. Each of us enjoyed our half slice of bologna with fresh garden vegetables.

I In my lifetime I have enjoyed some wonderful hospitality, luscious meals in beautiful homes. None will I compare with that simple meal in an Ontario farmhouse. Our host and hostess first of all took the trouble to speak to us and identified our need and acted on it. She could have thought to herself, " I wish I had something decent in the house but I cannot offer them half a slice of bologna, perhaps next time ". But there will never be a next time.

When we greet newcomers to church they probably do not need a square meal. Let us try to identify what I they need without being intrusive. Some of us are shy about approaching strangers. Let us swallow our ; shyness or pride and say a prayer. Let us remember the words of St. Paul " I can do all things through him who strengthens me ". (Phil 4: 13) We may not think our friendship is much to offer but let us offer it with a loving discerning heart and it will be truly a blessing.

September 11th 2011

It is good to be back writing to you from my chair. I was glad to have a month's rest but I'm happy to be with you again. It is time to pick up and move forward in our church and in our own lives together.

1 have a dear friend who brings me good books to read. Last week she lifted my spirits with one written by a third generation sheep rancher in B.C., Ian Moiellet. He not only herds a flock of 2000 sheep but also pastors his local church.

Because I am a spinner and have a close relative nearby who runs a sheep farm, I know a little about sheep. It always disturbs me when I hear people say that sheep are stupid. Ian Moiellet agrees with me. He says that sheep need a leader, a shepherd and that their intelligence lies in the fact that t they KNOW they need a leader and that they do not follow just anyone. Jesus knew this. We read it about it in St. John's Gospel Chapter 10. Here Jesus likens us to a flock. We know that to be nourished and fed, protected and sheltered, we need a shepherd. If we are wise sheep, we know that this is true. There are some breeds of sheep, notably the Black Face Suffolk which do not have this gift. They tend to wander off, causing danger to themselves and a waste of time and energy to the shepherd.

Our course, our shepherd whom we recognize and follow is Jesus Christ. He leads us to green pastures. (Psalm 23) Every year on the BC ranch, the flock is led up the mountain to the lush green pastures. The climb is long and hard for both flock and shepherds. There are many hazards of which they must be aware. The flock must learn to stay together and to follow together. The good shepherd loves his sheep. We are Christ's flock and must love him and each other. We must be one in his love.

Our Father commissioned for us, shepherds or pastors here on earth. We must not let the weariness of the journey discourage us. We must uphold each other in love that binds and keeps us. It is good to think new thoughts and have different ideas. We must never let our own ideas and thoughts divide us. We must listen for his voice - the voice we know and follow him together. / am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. (John 10: 14)

Cuyahoga

This is a painting of the Cuyahoga.

The ship which Canon Frances's grandson was on for a time.

July 31st 2011

When my father died, my mother gave his heavy black cloak to the Rector of the parish. As she handed it to him, the Rector's face lit up and he exclaimed "the cloak of Elijah". Of course he was referring to the incident described in First Kings 19, when Elijah the prophet found Elisha ploughing in the fields with twelve yoke of oxen. He ran beside him and threw his cloak over him and that has ever since been a symbol of the handing on not just the responsibility but also in this case, some of what the former owner had stood for.

There are many accounts of people being called in the Bible - that is where we get the word Vocation. Several weeks ago, I referred to the call of Isaiah - there are many others: Abraham, Moses, Samuel, David and in the New Testament, Mary at home, Zachariah in the Temple, James and John in their boat, Matthew at his seat of custom, Paul on the road to Damascus. These are some well known ones - they are all called from their daily pursuits.

God does not call us and then leave us to get on with it. He is always there supporting and upholding his loved ones. He is the creator God who inspires us with new ideas. He is the son who became one with us and loves us enough to die for us. He is the Holy Spirit who fills us with the power we need to carry out the project he gives us. Those projects can be large or small. Sometimes the little ones turn into big ones to which he gently leads us. Perhaps something comes crashing down. We must learn to reach up to him and let his hand pull us out of our distress. Let us be assured that there is a purpose for each one of us as long as we live. He is there with us. In the words of St. Paul " may your spirit and soul and be body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, the one who calls you his faithful and he will do this" 1 Thessalonians 5 : 23

July 24th 2011

In the early 70's, I spent a very wonderful time in a Deaconess community. It is situated in Northern Germany in the city of Bielefeld. It was founded over 150 years ago, originally to care for people with epilepsy. It soon developed into a community spread over a large area and containing facilities to accommodate many ministries. There was a large general hospital and several others of a specialist nature. There was a home for mentally challenged, an orphanage and a shelter for street people. There were residences for students attending the nearby university. All this and more was administered by the Deaconesses, I believe over 1000 of them, plus lay staff.

One of the founding principles of Bielefeld is their belief that everyone in the community whether staff or patient should have an opportunity to minister to someone. The reverse of this is also emphasized. Whoever has the privilege of ministering, should give other people the privilege of ministering to them. One example of this was a man who was a writer and had lost all his limbs. They had a young girl who needed help with her studies. He was able to perform this ministry for her. She in turn ministered to him by taking down his dictation of poetry and other writings. On a one to one basis there were workshops where people with various skills could create beautiful and useful things to sell. This needed the establishment of little shops. Did you ever think of a shop as being a ministry? These people did. It was their ministry to the craftsmen who made the things they sold and was also a ministry to the people who would buy them.

Someone out there reading this is going to say to me "I work in a store -does this mean I have a ministry?" Yes, it does. Try to think of it that way. Think of your customers as people to whom you are ministering. It will give you a whole new outlook on your job. There are some callings where this concept is easier is comprehend, the wide field of medicine is obvious. How about law, banking, plumbing, teaching, building? All these and many more can be real ministries. If you do not think you can really minister in what you do, then perhaps there is more thinking and praying to do.

The Deaconesses also taught - the last ministry is to be ministered to. This is often the hardest one. We have grown up in a world where independence is honoured but there comes a time when we have to reach out and say -please care for me. Remember Jesus said -"unless you change and become like children, you never will enter the Kingdom of Heaven." (Matt. 18:3)

July 17th 2011

Do you ever read the rubrics in the prayer book? They are those instructions printed at various points during the service and are called rubric because they used to be printed in red. You may have thought that they were just instructions for the clergy to help the worship flow easily. That is part of it. They are also are there to make the service more meaningful. At the end of morning and evening prayer, the rubric is quite insistent that the prayer of St. Chrysostom must be used. Why? Because it stresses the fact of our unity, one with another, in worship and Jesus promised that wherever two or three are gathered together in his name, he is in their midst. We will go forth from our place of worship into the world to live our lives as he would have us do. Whatever our calling we are happier and more fulfilled if we have other people around us, even more so if those people belong to Jesus and are part of his body.

We know that in the early times Jesus' followers kept together (Acts 2: 44-47) but later they were scattered to all parts of the earth and were able to spread the good news. We cannot confine our circle of friends to those who are just part of his body. We must enter with him into other spheres and help people to be conscious of his presence. It would be strange indeed if there were not active Christians in Rotary or Womens' Institute or any of our great service organization just because we insisted in keeping only onto ourselves.

Nonetheless, it is so very important for us to get together in a place of worship and raise our hearts to our Heavenly Father in Jesus' Name. As we raise our hearts, let us also raise our voices together. As our voices blend, we become even more as one so think, God will bless your joyful noise. Pray out loud with a full heart. Respond in the responses:

Lift up your hearts 

We lift them to the Lord.

July 10th 2011

In Isaiah 6, we have the dramatic story of the prophet entering the temple and seeing a vision of the Lord sitting high on his throne attended by seraphim who worshipped him. Isaiah is filled with a sense of his own unworthiness and a seraph is sent to touch his lips with live coals and declare that his sins are forgiven. Then and only then, Isaiah hears the voice of the Lord asking "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us? " The prophet does not hesitate to respond "Here am I, send me ".

Eighty-five or more years ago, I sat in my little kindergarten chair in Sunday School and listened to Mrs. Bloomer our teacher, tell that story. As I sat and listened no-one would have noticed anything different but it was a special moment for me. I too said, "Here am I Lord, send me."

In 2 Corinthians 3:17, St. Paul writes, "Where the spirit of the lord is, there is freedom." We cannot afford to waste the life God has given us. When he drops something in our laps, we need to be free in his spirit to do it. We will be tempted to say, we do not have the skills or time. Often we are afraid of failure or being made to look foolish. He will free us of all these fears and give us strength to live our lives, lovingly, creatively, freely.

The little girl in the kindergarten chair has lived to a ripe old age. She has lived her life in a low key ministry in the church with her family. God did not call her to do anything outstanding and dramatic but from time to time she has been aware of a call to a special assignment. She has grown to know and experience with St. Paul in 2 Corinthians 4 16: "that we do not lose heart, even though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. "

July 3rd 2011

Some years ago an old aunt said to me “I think much of the trouble in this world is because of science”. I was bold enough to reply that scientists, whether they acknowledged it or not, are studying God’s creation. Therefore they are getting closer to God as they study.

We do too as we observe and enjoy all his wonderful creation around us, note the intricacies of all the things he has made and learn about him. Do we say a quiet thank you to him as we smell a beautiful rose which he has given us? Just at this very  moment as I write, a friend came in wheeling her cyclamen plant on her walker. She has cared for it through a winter’s die off when anyone else would have thrown it out. Now it is covered with leaves and buds.  She is so happy that she had to share her joy with me. God the creator, God the holy spirit must be moving in this place and I thank him in the name of Jesus. May I suggest you go outside and enjoy something he has made or buy a plant or herb for inside. Thank him, share your joy.

June 26th 2011

One of the sad things we encounter as Christian leaders are those who declare "I am not good lenough". They harbour a deep sense of inadequacy. They forget they are God's own child, bought by his son on the Cross. Instead they choose to hang on to a frightened inadequate self.

Many years ago, a friend of mine had an experience which I am sure she would be happy for me to share with you. One day, her little girl came running to her in great distress. She held in her hand the remains a cup she had broken. She kept crying, "Mommy I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry". It was a good cup, a favourite one and my I friend felt very sad. However, she forgave her daughter and told her it was alright. Together, they put the shards in the garbage. Nonetheless, the child kept running to her through the day crying, "Mommy, I'm so sorry". Each time she received assurance. After a while this became irritating and finally when she found the  little girl scrounging in the garbage looking for the pieces she was about to express her irritation when she was brought up short and shaken by a sudden realization. She herself had been harbouring guilt about a wrong she had done. She worried about it and kept asking herself, how she could have done such a thing. In her prayers, she kept asking for forgiveness. She suddenly realized what she was doing. She, the child of God was saying I'm not good enough; I am not worthy to be forgiven. She was creating a barrier between herself and her heavenly Father just as her daughter had done.

There are many passages of scripture, I could quote that would enrich our understanding about forgiveness. We forgive when we love, we love when we forgive. I would like to leave with you with a passage from the Epistle of John (not the Gospel). 1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love but perfect love cast out fear for fear has to do with punishment and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love ".

Painting

A painting done by Canon Frances and her friend Barb
with hangs in there seniors residence 

June 19th 2011

As I write this, it is the Tuesday after Pentecost. We have a special collect in our prayer books, BCP page 209 for this day. In it we are admonished to "have a right judgement in all things''' and to "rejoice in his comfort". Do you ever contemplate what means most to you on this earth? For me it is certainly people. It is always such a joy when someone comes in my door whether it is family or friends, a staff member or another resident. Despite that, I'm seldom lonely and enjoy solitude because I am not alone. It is a joy to come together with my brothers and sisters in Christ to worship.

1 also need to be alone with God. To be with him is to pray. For years, I have felt a guilt about prayer, the need to be at prayer, the need for more discipline. In other words, I struggle to have a vital prayer life. It must have shown because one day, our dear friend Janet Mitchell challenged me "why do you always speak of prayer as being difficult"? That opened my mind and my heart. I stopped struggling and let him take over. God wants us, as much as we want him, I wrote several weeks ago. Intercessional prayer is when all those people and causes of whom I am concerned come with me into his presence. He is not up there in some place called heaven. He is here with us where we can reach out and feel his presence. Our love touches him who is the source of all love. We were made from that love; we are made in his image.

It is not possible in this life to realize the full majesty of the father but we can have an experience of him through what he revealed in his son Jesus Christ. This enlightenment comes through the comfort and power of the Holy Spirit. Thus we are enfolded by the grace and love of the Holy Trinity. Let us as the collect admonishes us, "rejoice in his comfort".

June 12th 2011

There are two Bible verses which I connect in my mind, Luke 2:8 “in that region there were shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night” and Acts 2:10 “they were all there in one place”. For each group, something wonderful happened. For the shepherds, the heavens opened and it was revealed to them in sight and sound that the angels worshipped God before them. Above all they received a special piece of good news. The Messiah was born in nearby Bethelem.

A little over thirty years later, another larger group waited for the revelation and fulfilment of a promise in their gathering place, the upper room. We read that as well as the apostles, there were about 130 people there including certain women, Mary, Jesus’ mother and his brothers. It makes me happy to know those brothers were part of the company. There had been a time when they were not in sympathy with Jesus’ Ministry. Perhaps they were fearful for him or were embarrassed by him. What of those shepherds? I like to think that one or two of them were still alive and continued in their knowledge and love of Jesus and were part of that group in the upper room who met to support one another and to wait and pray together. That is, of course, pure speculation on my part but surely after having seen the babe, returning home and spreading the good news and praising God, they would not have forgotten him? Forgive my flight of imagination but it is one of God’s gifts to us. It can be used to shed light on facts but it is to be used strictly, separating fact from fiction.

Try to imagine the truth of what happened. What was it like on that Pentecost morning? Imagine what it was like to feel the “rush of a violent wind” to see “the divided tongues of fire”. Know that it was real by what happened afterwards. That band of frightened people became alive and increased to about 3,000 (Acts 2: 41). With the holy spirit comes power to be used for God’s kingdom – things happen.

Pentecost was not a onetime event 2,000 years ago. The spirit enters every open heart and we wait and pray for power to do his will. Sometimes it is a big thing he gives us to do. Sometimes it is as small as taking the trouble to cross a crowded room and greet someone. Who knows, you may perhaps feel the blowing wind. It does happen, even today. Jesus is still with us by the power of his Holy Spirit. Wait in prayer; when you are moved by his power, witness for him by word and deed.

June 5th 2011

Ascension Day was celebrated last Thursday and we now come to the final promise Jesus made to his disciples before he was taken from them. “Lo I am with you always, even on to the end of the world” (Matt. 28: 20). “And you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8)  Jesus is promising them and us that he will not send anyone out in to the world without his constant presence and support. He is always with us. That support is not a vague presence but a real power, the power of the Holy Spirit. We will not be people who are just informed but people who are transformed. Heaven is not a vague place, high in the sky, it is a reality here on earth which we can all experience. We need to wait prayerfully for that to happen each day in our lives.

May 29th 2011

In this Easter Season, as we look forward to Christ’s ascension, three points stand out; the question, the command, the promise. Last week, we thought about the question. First of all that just as the early disciples had questions at this time, so we should ask questions and seek answers. We ponder and examine the ultimate question which was asked by Jesus himself. “Do you love me”? And now in response to Jesus command “Go” we consider what this means for us. Where are we to go? To whom are we to go? What do we take to them?

In the first three Gospels and Acts, Jesus tells us to go to all nations. Does that mean us too? My mother always felt she had a call to be missionary in China. She applied several times but was always turned down on medical grounds. God directed her to other fields where she had a rich Ministry. Let us pray constantly and trust him to show us his will. That applies not to our just to our life’s careers but to the days and moments of our life. Often we find he has taken over without our even asking. It is easy to make mistakes but let us always remember where God is, love is and where love is, God is.

There have been some great missionary movements in this history of the Church starting with Paul and the early Apostles. There have been sad misadventures, the outstanding one being the Crusades. In modern times, the great missionary movement started at the end of the 1700’s and produced such people as John and Charles Wesley, Carey, Livingstone, Goforth, McClure, Bompas and Stringer to mention a few who come immediately to mind.

In the present era, the world has been made smaller by modern transportation. No longer do our missionaries have to go away for five years or more at a time although some still do.

People such as our own John and Pauline Warnica, Elizabeth and Keith Morley, Vi Walkington and our youth groups with other members of our congregation have been able to fly to Central America for a few weeks to share their skills, the gospel and their love to that part of the world. At home, in our own Parish of Trinity, we have so many opportunities for service. Look through the last pictorial directory. Let us give thanks for all the opportunities we have in our everyday life to witness for him by word or even the smallest deed. Thanks
be to God as we look forward to thinking about his promise.

Some Youth Members of
the Guatemala Mission

Church that was rebuilt by
Panama Mission Team

May 22nd 2011

Last week we touched on the church year in which we followed the life of Jesus Christ here on earth. This is the 5th Sunday after Easter and we are in that period of 40 days between the Resurrection of Jesus and his Ascension. For the growing group of followers, which we may think of as the budding church, it must have been a confusing time. They had been crushed by his death on the Cross, overjoyed by the wonder of his resurrection, looking forward prayerfully with hope and wonder to the future. Into this unsettled community, would come those uplifting and enlightening moments when the risen Lord came among them, talked with them, ate with them and blessed them. Each time he left, they must have been filled with expectancy for the next visit and questions they would ask. I suggest that this too, could be a questioning time for us.

I went on my quest of the scriptures and found at the end of St. John’s Gospel that it is Jesus himself who asks the questions and not of the whole group but of one person – “Simon, do you love me”? It was one question to one person but it was repeated three times. That hurt Simon Peter but it also came with a request of trust. “Feed my lambs”, “Tend my sheep”, “Feed my sheep”. He asks each one of us the same question “Do you love me”? That is the question we must ask ourselves. If the answer “yes” , to us is entrusted the task of reaching out with love to others.

May 15th 2011

Spring is at last in the air. The trees are showing a faint lacy green and will soon be leaf.  I have seen daffodils, hyacinths and tulips. We greet each season as it comes with different preparation and emotion. Gone are the days when I greet winter with joy. The church too has its year with different seasons. Those seasons are built around the earthly life of our Saviour Jesus Christ. Thus we may follow his life during the year in worship, study and activity. Our Church year begins with the season of Advent. We are looking with expectation to his birth, but the important message of Advent is that we are looking forward to his coming again. In Epiphany through the coming of the wise men, we rejoice that Christ came also to the Gentiles. During the season of Epiphany we think of the church’s mission to the whole world. Turn to page 121 in our red BCP. There you will find the collect to be used during the weekdays of the Epiphany season. It contains the phrase “deliver the nations of the world from superstition and unbelief and gather them all into thy holy church.”

The season of Epiphany ends with Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent. In this season we are remembering the forty days and nights that Jesus spent alone in the wilderness surrendering himself to God and resisting the temptation of the devil. We too, in Lent, try to set ourselves tasks and privations that we may grow in the spirit and be ready to greet him with loud alleluias on Palm Sunday We stand at the foot the cross on Good Friday and enter the bewildering joy of Easter.

During this time, following his Resurrection, the disciples waited expecting something to happen. There were restless, bewildered but eager. They felt the urge to do something. They were buoyed up by Jesus’ sudden appearances among them when they learned from him.

This is the point where we have now arrived in our church year. What should our response be? How we can celebrate this season before the Ascension? May I suggest that it be the time of asking questions. Search out the Bible and prayer book especially the Collects. Question others and above all come into his presence with prayer.  God bless us all!

May 8th 2011- Royal Wedding

Westminster Abbey

As you read this, the Royal Wedding will be starting to fade into memory. However, as I write, it is still very recent and alive in my mind and I think there are a number of illustrations which will shed light on our understanding as we grow in faith.

The New Testament gives us a picture of the very early church as a group of people who needed to be together in joy and in sorrow. (Acts 1: 13-14 and Acts 2 V. 1) Crowds of people came together for the Royal Wedding – most hoping for a glimpse of the couple. Many had no hope of that but experienced the joy of being part of the celebration by getting together in their communities and homes. By coming together as Christians, we more fully experience Jesus Christ in our lives. Of course, there are times when we need as the hymn says. “Come to the garden alone” with him. We will more frequently find him as we join in the company of brothers and sisters in Christ.

There are many who profess contempt for so called organized or institutionalized churches. It is the human part of the churches or denominations which is most often misunderstood or misdirected. We need to come together and reach out to each other in the love of Christ so that seekers find him in us.

Among God’s gifts to us is the wonder of sight and sound. As we entered the abbey (by means of TV) we were uplifted by the beauty of the place and the sound of the music. Did we worship him and thank him for these gifts? They are given to us that we may come closer to him in worship. Of course the bride was beautiful beyond expectations. Did we and do we continue to pray for her and her husband? The one bridesmaid was not just a lovely young woman, beautifully dressed but she was also an example of service, quietly going about her duties, straightening the bride’s train, relieving her of her bouquet and above all gently leading the small attendants by hand giving them guidance and confidence.

The homily, given by the Bishop of London contained a message which was given at a former Royal Wedding, that of Prince William’s parents. The Bishop said, “Every bride and groom is a king and queen for a day.” They need on that day to show concern for the comfort and well being of their family and guests. A number of times, I have trembled for the future of a bride on hearing her say, “This is my day, I can have what I want.” A true ruler is one who lives to serve, not to be served. Let us go through life as true Royals, observing the needs of others and living to help them. Let us pray constantly for those around us, those far away, those we love and those who are hard to love. Let us go forward in the face of our risen Lord

May 1st 2011

Stone rolled away from the tomb.
(Trinity Sunday  School Easter Garden)

The wonder of the Easter season is over.  During Lent we have grown in his spirit.  We have sung our alleluias as we waved palms on Palm Sunday and remembered his entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. We have been with him in the upper room, witnessed his institution of the Eucharist and his example of humility as he washed his disciples’ feet.   In our minds, we have walked though the Kedron Valley to his agony and betrayal in the Garden of Gesthemane.  We have watched with his mother Mary and others as we witnessed his agony on the cross.  On his resurrection morn, we shared the joy of those who were actually there.  So what happens now?  There is a wonderful six weeks ahead of us, until we celebrate his ascension.

Do you ever as you read the Gospels, wonder how Jesus disciples could be so dense?  How could they after being with him day after day witnessing his miracles, hearing his great teaching for about three years, not understand?  They still expected him to save Israel from the earthly conquerors the Romans. They pressed for personal honours.  After two thousand years, do we really understand?  No, of course, we do not.   That does not mean that we are failures. It means that we are still growing.  What nourishment do we need in order to continue growing?

We know that during this period, Jesus appeared repeatedly to his followers. Some of these appearances are recorded in the four Gospels and Acts.  Can you imagine what it was like to be one of Jesus followers during this time?  Did they think these meetings would go on forever?  Were they anxious or uplifted?  Did they have a special question they wanted to ask him at the next encounter? Have you a question you want to ask. I hope you have and I suggest you write it down. Obviously, the next move is to search for the answer.  Pray, read, and talk to other people.  They may help you.  You may help them.  Come alive in him. That is what happened to those frightened bewildered disciples. They came alive.  If Jesus had not been the real Messiah, if the whole of his life have been false, they would have faded away.  Instead, they grew in numbers; they spread beyond their own geographic boundaries;  they reached down the ages to you and me.  They were alive in Christ as we too can be alive in him.

Easter Puppet Show

This is the video of the puppet show that was done at the 10am service Easter Sunday.

All the children were asked to start up in the main church so they could see the puppet show.

From there they went down to Sunday School for a more in depth lesson.  

Easter Greeting

Canon Frances at Easter Service

A joyous and uplifting Easter to all from my chair. Christ has risen. May we all continue to be alive in him and he in us, our Living Lord. Alleluia 

Easter Garden made by
The Trinity Good Friday Children's Program 

April 17th 2011- Palm Sunday

We tend to be a fearful people. Even the angels in heaven know that. In the New Testament as they appear on earth, their first words are "Fear Not" to Zachariah, Mary, Joseph and the shepherds. Even King Herod is full of fear when he hears the message of the wise men. Fear drove him to do dreadful things. Fear I does that to many people fortunately not many to as an extreme action as killing. It does, however drive us to do wrong and at the least, very foolish things. Lies and petty deceptions of all kinds probably top the list.

In the first Epistle of John, (1 John 4. 18) it is written "Perfect love casteth out fear". Love is God and Love is power. We must learn that love is not just a sweet and gentle force. We must become aware in our lives that the power of love is very strong, the strongest power there is.

Let us start each day with a prayer for the power of love in all our lives and relationships. Let us ask for insight into the point of view of others, especially when it opposes ours. Let us not be self promoting, but self giving.

On this Palm Sunday, let us meditate on the courage of Jesus. He cast out fear as he rode into Jerusalem on the donkey because he was filled with the power of love from the father. Amidst all of the adulation, he was facing a terrible experience of false accusations, betrayal, humiliation and agonizing death. We know from his prayer in Gesthemane that he wanted to be relieved from his ordeal but he accepted it with the words "Not my will but thine be done." Let us each one of us cast out fear and go forward in faith and hope to live with him in his life of resurrection.