Pastor's Perspective

‘Show Your Faith”Mark 1:14:20

January 24th, 2012

Last Saturday there was an article in the Globe and Mail section entitled “ The Gospel of Tim” It was an in depth report on the phenomenon of the Denver Bronco quarterback Tim Tebow. Tebow was born in Makati City in the Philippines to American parents who were serving as Baptist missionaries at the time. While his mother was pregnant she suffered a life-threatening infection and because of the drugs used the baby suffered. Doctors were expecting the baby to die and recommended a termination but Tebow’s mother refused. Tim Tebow was born 24 years and is turning the sports world upside down. This is due not so much to his playing but with the controversy surrounding him on his insistence on showing his Christian faith in what is now known as Tebowing.

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“ Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” Psalm 139:1-18

January 18th, 2012

Last fall on the way to my annual retreat I experienced the latest technology on the war against terrorism, the full body scanner. I walked through the scanner and a complete stranger was able to see the inside of my body, every nook and cranny.
I joked that if this technology was integrated with the US Health Services it could send the scan to the person’s doctor and if there were a problem it would speed up the diagnosis and save the government money. The point is that my physical identity was casually observed by a custom official I would never see again. If you have ever had your home broken into there is this same sense of violation. A thief now has seen, touched and taken personal items and now knows things about you without any context or history. With the proliferation of social media, Face Book and Twitter our identities are much more public. I still find this unsettling to be so “ fully know by strangers”, friends of our friends.

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No exchange or refunds Luke 2: 1-20

January 1st, 2012

The elves have closed up Santa’s workshop and put the tools away for another year. The Mall Santas’ have finished their contracts. Crying babies and frazzled parents are no longer waiting in endless lines for the yearly photo. The retailers have finished their holiday sales. Hopefully the shortbreads are done, the gifts are wrapped, the office parties are over, the children’s concerts are ended, the Christmas menus is decided and any last minute details can wait. It’s the same thing every year. Same frantic pace, frazzled nerves and over extended lines of credit.

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“Are you listening”? Isaiah 40:1-11

December 9th, 2011

Highway and road construction is big business here in BC. It seems as if everywhere I drive there is roadwork going on. It begins early in the morning and ends before dark.
Construction goes on regardless of the season on the city streets and the main highways, number one and my nemesis the Lough heed Highway. A couple of weeks ago a new portion on one of the highways collapsed. There are roads being straightened, overpasses going over crooked roads, new turnoffs and merge lanes that may or may not have good signage. In the midst of all this construction there is the equipment, large trucks, small trucks, dump trucks, back hoes, cement trucks, pick up trucks, emergency vehicles and all sizes of bulldozers. It can be nerve wracking driving and if you were not familiar with the route before the work it is not any clearer during the work. Taking a leisurely peaceful Sunday drive is a thing of the past. There is even now a new psychological condition called Road rage.
It would seem that peace is in short supply. On this second Sunday in Advent the prophet Isaiah offers a message of peace.

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Parish News

Pat Ratcliffe

January 18th, 2012

Mrs Pat Ratcliffe is moving forward discerning a call to the Diaconate. Please keep her and her family in your prayers as she begins this wonderful journey.

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Children’s Service this week Jan 22nd

January 18th, 2012

We will be having a childrens service this Sunday the theme is ” Showing Your Faith”. all children will stay in church for this child friendly service.

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Welcome to The Rev. Bryan Rivers and his wife Karin

January 18th, 2012

We are happy to welcome The Rev. Bryan Rivers and his wife Karin, who are here from Manitiboa. They are with us until end of the April. Bryan is on sabbatical from the Univerite de Saint-Boniface.

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Newcomers Luncheon

January 18th, 2012

We will be having a newcomers luncheon on Feb 5th after the service. There is a sign up sheet in the narthex, it is pot luck. EVERYONE IS WELCOME.  Please come out and get to know our new families!

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