February 27th 2011

            St. Paul wrote to the people of the Church of Rome, “I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, or rather that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.” (Romans 1:11) Like all Christians, Paul felt the need, the longing, to be with fellow believers. The stronger our faith the more we feel the need to come each Sunday and other special occasions to be together in God’s presence and gain strength from each other.

            As Anglicans our liturgy is part of our oneness. From childhood or later, the prayers responses and hymns have become part of us thus enabling the whole church family to worship together. We find security not in attachment to particular places or ways of doing things but in relationships with each other and our God. This oneness as we worship is enable by the liturgy. Instinctively we respond as the priest says ‘Lift up your hearts”, with “We lift them to the Lord”.

            As years go by we grow in the power of the Holy Spirit we grow together in our faith and understanding. These new enlightenments need to reflect in our liturgy as we move forward in faith and understanding together. Some of us do not move as fast as others. That is perfectly alright as long as we reach out to each other for strength and comfort when the going gets hard. We say it in the alternate prayer after communions.

                        May we, who share his body,

                        live his risen life;

                        we, who drink this cup,

                        bring life to others;

                        we, whom the Spirit lights,

                        give light to the world. (BAS page 214)

February 20th 2011

Yesterday morning I had a wonderful time with my red hymn book. I kept coming across old favourites and singing them to myself – very softly. Then I found some lovely ones I had not known and sang them too. By lunch time I felt refreshed and uplifted. Music is so very important in our lives especially our spiritual life. It also brings back many memories.

            The hymn “Amazing Grace” always brings for me special memories of Rachel Obol. Some of you will not remember the Rev. Sam. Obol who came as assistant to Trinity in Canon Speers’ time. He had come to Canada from Uganda to do some post graduate studies. His wife Rachel and his younger children came with him. Their two older boys stayed behind in the family town of Guru which is in Northern Uganda. Because of the rise of the dictator Idi Amin, it was not safe for them to return home and their boys were in danger. Our Primate, Archbishop Scott, arranged Sam’s fare back to Africa and he flew not to Uganda where it was dangerous but to neighbouring Kenya. There he found an elderly lady who could travel on foot unnoticed to Guru and bring the boys back. Sam waited in faith and hope in Kenya, while she took the two hundred mile journey found the boys and returned with them.

            All this time Rachel was waiting in Ontario for news of her loved ones. When it finally came, in joy and thanksgiving, she told me that she gathered her children around her and they sang “Amazing Grace……….I once was lost but now am found”. When Idi Amin was turned out of Uganda the Obols could have stayed here in comfort, but love and duty called them to return to their own people. After some time ministering there the political situation flared up again. They had to escape from Guru and hide in the jungle. Rachel died there. I loved her very much and she is always close to me when I sing the hymn “Amazing Grace”.

The favourite children’s hymn “Jesus Loves Me” conjures up many memories. I will share two. One is of a sturdy little five year old girl who used to sing with determined gusto, “little KIDS to Him belong.” It seemed to me she really knew Jesus.

Then there was the last time I saw David McGuire, a wonderful young priest who was taken from us when he was only forty-two. My husband and I were walking south on Yonge St. in Toronto. He saw us as he came up towards us. His face lit up, he opened his arms and said, “Do you know what? They have accepted my version of, Jesus Loves Me for the new hymn book. You may remember the original words were about being weak and death. His version is about strength and life.

Finally a hymn not usually designated for children but one I have found they all love. It was written by St. Francis of Assisi, “All Creatures of our God and King lift up your voices and let us sing. Alleluia, Alleluia”.

Little children love nature God’s creation. They love to praise their Heavenly Father with Alleluias at the top of their voices. They also love to sing, “Praise Him, Praise Him” softly and sweetly.

I can still see so may little faces as they lift up their voices and sing. “Alleluia”.

February 13th 2011

Taken while snowboarding down Whistler Mountain  

A couple of weeks ago my granddaughter, who is working in Whistler BC, went snowboarding with a friend. She stopped at the top of the run to adjust her straps. Something serendipitous happened. A little bird perched it’s self on the tip of her snowboard.   Wonder of wonders her camera was at the ready and she was able to get a picture of it. Through the miracle of computers, Emily sent that picture over the rocky mountains, across the prairies, past the great lakes, and down into the little village of Midhurst into her mother’s computer.

Last week the son of my neighbor in the next room to me was married, the wedding took place in California. His mother was sad and depressed that she could not be there. However, modern commutation science to the rescue. Her family was able to arrange to have the ceremony Skyped to her room all the way from San Diego clear across the continent to Barrie. All this is completely beyond my comprehension I even had to ask a young nurse how to spell “Skyping”.  My friend and I both saw actual pictures. She was able to hear the sound of voices, music, even interact with them. Much more then that she was lifted out of her sadness and experienced real joy, real happiness, which was a true experience. It was not just a projection on a computer screen. 

            

The family all enjoyed the picture of the little bird. What it did was bring us a little closer to Emily. We felt real joy in her experience. That joy was real.

In the same way as I cannot understand much of the science, even more so I cannot possibly comprehend the wholeness and wonder of God.  There are many things I have learned about Him, from scripture and the many teachers in my life who have been important but what is truly real is His love in my life as be enters it and moves me forward. “With a quiet a mind through Jesus Christ our Lord who is alive and reigns with you and the holy spirit, one God, now and for ever.”  (Collect for the fifth Sunday after Epiphany)   

(full newsletter at http://www.trinitybarrie.ca/happenings/feb13.pdf )

February 6th 2011

I am back in my room after a wonderful time at Trinity. I have been hugged and loved by so many people worshiped with them and received holy communion with them. I have truly felt part of the Body of Christ His Church.

Many thanks to the Archbishop for his presence among us, and his insightful words to us. Thanks to questioners as well.  It was good to eat together. I even enjoyed the vestry meeting. That was a first!

Now I turn to the Old Testament reading for the day taken from the profit Micah (6:1-18). We read that yearning cry from the lord, “Oh my people what have I done to you?  In what have a worried you?”  God reminds them of the time He saved them from King Balak of Moab who wanted to use Balaam to curse the Israelites. Balaam?  Does that ring a bell?  We look up the reference column for Mica 6: 5 and find Numbers 22 and read the story there. Of course, Balaam was the man with the talking donkey. Read the whole story in Numbers 22,  and it throws some light on the story in Mica.

I call this Bible digging and I am sure many of you do this too. If not, try using the cross references, they open up the scriptures and enlighten them. Mica goes on to ask, “What does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.”  We are all pretty clear as to what justice means. We have been blessed by kindness to ourselves and hopefully been kind to others. When we come to being humble, for many that I not quite so clear. It does not mean putting ourselves down but recognized the gifts God has given us and our own strengths or weaknesses in using them.

We are told to walk, “Walk humbly with your God”. The picture comes of a child hand in hand with a loving parent. The child feels safe and loved. There may come a time when he or she becomes fretful or rebellious or just unthinking. They let go of the hand. We are children too. Let us clasp his hand, feel this love and guidance. Let us walk humbly in joy and confidence because we have that perfect love which casteth out fear.  

Frances 


(Full newsletter at http://www.trinitybarrie.ca/happenings/feb6.pdf )