Squamish United Church

Going Missional

2012-02-02T14:21:00.000-08:00

Alan Roxbourgh is a friend of mine. I watched this clip as I was prepping for worship this week and I wanted to share it with you.

A New Nativity Story

2011-12-08T17:53:00.000-08:00

http://youtu.be/pW1pbuyGlQ0

Insiders and Outsiders

2011-12-08T14:51:00.000-08:00

I was sent this website post today and I think it has a lot of food for thought. I would love to hear your thoughts and responses.

http://tlgcconnections.wordpress.com/2011/12/02/insiders-and-outsiders

Karen

Occupied by Hope

2011-12-02T13:44:00.000-08:00

Adbusters "Occupy Wall Street" and "Buy Nothing Day" have recently evolved to "Occupy Christmas" I have found myself intrigued by this movement that shockingly speaks to what we religious leaders have been speaking to for years. It is suggested that we go back to the roots of the traditions of the religious festivals and focus less on the consumerism of it all. I am enjoying engaging (albeit from a distance) in these movements even with their obvious flaws. As I read the advent scriptures it seems to me the Occupy Christmas promoters and the prophetic and apocalyptic calls to attentiveness actually have a lot in common. Both are speaking to a large majority of people who are oppressed and feel cut off from cultural norms. They are voices calling out in the wilderness. Asking us to WAKE UP to the destructive ways of our cultural norms.

As we see all over the media today and hear from our colleagues that many are being cast back out to the streets this winter I wonder how God is calling us as Christian leaders to engage in a new way this season.

Debra Bowman and I have been in a lot of conversation about this in the last week and both of us are writing sermons on the subject she offers the observation that "The Occupy movement is “apocalyptic literature in-carnate, in the flesh." A voice crying out “Something is not right and we’re not getting out of our tents until you notice.” The Occupy movement joins our contemporary theology in understanding that there must be engagement between the will of God and the way of God’s people. That each step and decision we take is a step and decision towards participating in the fulfillment of God’s realm or a step away from the righteousness for all creation that is the profound yearning of God.”

This Advent I am engaging in a new way. I am following the "Occupy Movements" to hear the voices crying out in the wilderness. As I do so I am seeking ways to Occupy my heart and soul with hope, peace, joy and love so that I too may participate in the bringing of the kindom of God here on earth.

Advent Blessings,

Karen

Another member of the 99%

2011-10-28T08:23:00.000-07:00

http://streetpastor.wordpress.com/2011/10/21/i-am-the-99/

Occupy Hope

2011-10-26T15:31:00.000-07:00

http://www.wondercafe.ca/blogs/moderator-mardi-tindal/occupy-hope

Why I'm Joining the Occupation - Brian McLaren

2011-10-21T15:48:00.000-07:00

A Colleague sent me this article by Brian McLaren. I have found him to be a wise teacher in my life journey so I am sharing it with you now.

I'm in, and would encourage others to join the occupation. Not as a representative of your church or denomination, but as a human being, who is there to contribute and to learn.

By Brian McLaren, October 19, 2011

I never would have chosen the name "Occupy" to brand a movement. "The 99 Percent Movement" works a lot better for me. But I'm glad I didn't get to choose, because I notice the term "occupy" is kind of growing on me.

What I don't like about it: it sounds aggressive, like the (to me) ugly and unacceptable language of "taking back the country." For a movement to avoid violent actions, it needs to avoid violent rhetoric as well, as Jesus made clear in the Sermon on the Mount. And deeper than rhetoric, it needs to be careful with the narratives it taps into. A case in point: "taking back" (to me) walks the line of a revenge narrative, implying that the country used to be "ours" and "they" took it away. That scenario is problematic for a number of reasons, so I'd rather steer clear of that kind of thinking—and language—entirely.

A term like "occupy," then, must not be employed unadvisedly or lightly. Its strength must be tempered and its potential downsides managed. And so far, that seems to be happening (here in the U.S., at least).

I was thinking about all this last Saturday while I was participating in the local occupation. About 300 of us walked down the sidewalk on both sides of our little town's main street (we wouldn't all fit on one side). Occasionally some chanting broke out, but for most of the time, we marched in silence; I would use words like reverent and pregnant to describe it. (One observer described it as "charged with secret extremity and transcendence.")

As we walked along, I kept thinking about Jesus' use of the term "kingdom of God." I've been fascinated by the term for a while now, devoting a whole book to it in 2006 (and then revisiting it in a 2008 release). Like "occupy," kingdom of God was a dangerous term for a nonviolent movement. It borrowed the language of the Roman empire whose pax was maintained by slavery, militarism, public torture, and frequent executions (i.e., crucifixion). It was overtly provocative—bursting out of the private sphere of spirituality into the public world of kings, lords, and laws. It threw down a gauntlet before the powers that be, challenging their legitimacy with a higher authority.

If I had been around, I would have counseled Jesus' against using the term.

Once again, I'm glad I wasn't consulted. It's rather obvious now that Jesus knew what he was doing. "The occupation of God has begun" might inspire the same fear and hope among people today as "the Kingdom of God is at hand" inspired in the first century.

The term "occupy" is winning me over because it puts an ironic spin on one of our most questionable national habits—occupying other nations: occupying Iraq, occupying Afghanistan, supporting Israel in occupying Palestine. Like kingdom of God, it turns that familiar language on its head.

The term "occupy" is also winning me over because it's about presence, making our presence known and felt in public spaces. These public spaces—from economic markets to political processes—have been colonized by powerful corporate elites (the 1 percent, or maybe the 10 percent), elites driven not by an ethical vision but by the relentless demand to maximize shareholder return. The 99 percent are realizing how destructive this colonization of public spaces has become, and by simply coming back—by re-inhabiting public spaces—we are demonstrating that we see what's happening and we are not going to tacitly comply with its continuing.

After our local occupation last Saturday, a smaller group of us stayed around to hold an informal planning meeting. It was a good process . . . and reminded me of how different grassroots democracy looks when compared to public politics. Demonizing and vilifying the person you're sitting next to—it won't play. Neither will dominating and filibustering or attempting a "live" impromptu version of political attack ads. Learning to differ firmly and graciously, acknowledging the concerns of an alternate viewpoint, searching for common ground, asking for clarification rather than assuming the worst possible interpretation, agreeing to seek greater understanding through honest private conversation after the public gathering . . . these are among the skills and virtues needed to make grassroots democracy work. They are seldom demonstrated or even valued among our political elites. Could that tell us something about why the Occupy movement is needed?

Nobody knows how the movement will play out. Lots of folks will wait on the sidelines and maybe dip their toes in later on. But I'm in, and I would encourage others to join the occupation. I'd especially encourage Christian leaders to do so . . . not as a representative of your church or denomination, but as a human being . . . not to co-opt or control, but to contribute and to learn. As someone who's had a lot of control (more than I realized) for a lot of years, I'm finding it a wonderful gift to simply be a participant, one voice among many, learning and listening and learning some more.

Brian D. McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is an ecumenical global networker among innovative Christian leaders. Among McLaren's more prominent writings are A New Kind of Christian (2001), A Generous Orthodoxy (2006), Everything Must Change (2009), and A New Kind of Christianity (2010). His lastest book, Naked Spirituality, offers "simple, doable, and durable" practices to help people deepen their life with God.

McLaren's column, "Naked Theology," is published every Tuesday on the Progressive Christian portal. Subscribe via email or RSS.

The Season of Vulnerability

2011-10-21T12:02:00.001-07:00

You may have begun to discover that the seasons of the year always speak to me. Autumn is one of my favourites because it speaks so clearly of the transitions of life and death and rebirth.

Autumn,

the season of vulnerability,

when the great arms of oak

stretch their summer leaves to the wild October winds.

all that has been life adn green

is stripped from strong trees,

and the tall, wide branches seem to be deathly wounded.

across the lawns in layers

lie the near-dead leaves;

onto the forest floors they fall as if to say: "all is lost."

this is the season of vulnerability

when trees open wide to wounding,

when all the summer security is given away to another season.

wiser are the trees than humans

who clutch small arms round self,

shielding their fragile hearts and stifling future springtimes.

Joyce Rupp (Fresh Bread pg. 128)

In a time where all of us are working in some sort of transitional ministry we are encouraged to look to the lessons of this season and pray that we may become wise like the trees and let go of what needs to die. Celebrating life like the trees celebrating the end of the lifespan of the leaves -bursting forth in an array of colours offering up a 'death-dance' to the ground. Rather than shielding our fragile hearts and boxing in the way our lives are to go and therefore stifling future springtimes.

My Occupy Wall Street looks like church to me

2011-10-20T20:08:00.000-07:00

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2011/10/07/my-take-occupy-wall-street-looks-like-church-to-me/

I enjoyed this article.

It seems to me to connect well with what we were discussing in church last Sunday.

A Prayer for Autumn Days

2011-10-06T22:12:00.000-07:00

A Prayer for Autumn Days

God of the seasons, there is a time for everything;

there is a time for dying and a time for rising.

We need courage to enter into the transformation process.

God of autumn, the trees are saying goodbye to their green,

letting go of what has been.

We, too, have our moments of surrender, with all their insecurity and risk.

Help us to let go when we need to do so.

God of fallen leaves lying in colored patterns on the ground,

our lives have their own patterns.

As we see the patterns of our own growth,

may we learn from them.

God of misty days and harvest moon nights,

there is always the dimension of mystery and wonder in our lives.

We always need to recognize your power-filled presence.

May we gain strength from this.

God of harvest wagons and fields of ripened grain,

many gifts of growth lie within the season of our surrender.

We must wait for harvest in faith and hope.

Grant us patience when we do not see the blessings.

God of geese going south for another season,

your wisdom enables us to know what needs to be left behind and what needs

to be carried into the future.

We yearn for insight and vision.

God of flowers touched with frost and windows wearing,

white designs,

may your love keep our herts from growing,

cold in the empty seasons.

God of life, you believe in us,

you enrich us, you entrust us with

the freedom to choose life.

For all this, we are grateful.

Joyce Rupp (May I have this dance)

spiritual requirements

2011-09-15T09:27:00.000-07:00

Observation # 6: The church will not recover its nerve, its creativity, or its authenticity simply by instituting fancy new gimmicks, implementing flashy programs, trying to get more organized, or working harder. The way forward is through the development of meaningful spiritual practices, a renewal of corporate spirituality, and a profound shift of consciousness in the way we do church. These deep inner changes will only be achieved by creating space for an awareness of the presence and action of God to emerge in our midst.

Cynthia's response: Amen, brother! More than seventy years ago the Quaker mystic Thomas Kelly penned these prophetic words:

“Continuously renewed immediacy, not receding memory of the Divine Touch, lies at the base of religious living. Let us explore together the secret of a deeper devotion, a more subterranean sanctuary of the soul, where the Light Within never fades, but burns, a perpetual Flame, where the wells of living water of divine revelation rise up continuously, day by day and hour by hour, steady and transfiguring. The ‘bright shoots of everlastingness’ can become a steady light within, if we are deadly in earnest in our dedication to the light and are willing to pass out of first stages into maturer religious living. Only if this is possible can the light from the inner sanctuary of the soul be a workaday light for the marketplace, a guide for perplexed feet, a recreator of culture-patterns for the human race.” (The Light Within, p. 31).

If that Light within truly exists, there is only one authentic way to find it, and it is just as you have named it: “creating space for an awareness of the presence and action of God to emerge in our midst.” If we don’t trust that the light actually exists, if we resign ourselves to being no more than the caretakers of a “receding memory of the Divine Touch,” then we might as well close up shop right now and go join the crew at the Sunday market and soccer practice. At least there’s fresh air!

Why I don't go to church

2011-09-15T09:22:00.000-07:00

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150433304992738

How about we invite somebody new this week?

Moving from Fear

2011-07-27T12:40:00.000-07:00

Observation # 5: The pervasive fear in the church is paralyzing. It inhibits genuine conversation and keeps us fixated on finding solutions, rather than launching into bold new adventures of faith. There is no way to move forward until we come to grips with the reality of fear. Dealing with fear requires deep personal and corporate spiritual practice. Only transformed people will have the ability to be a transformed church.

Cynthia's response: This is so, so true. If “perfect love casts out fear,” the opposite is sadly but equally true: “perfect fear casts out love.” And it shuts down just about everything else as well. Fear is always a tip-off that one is living at the egoic level of consciousness (or in the corporate mode, the “we-goic” level): that anxiety-prone hardwiring of the immature human mind that sees everything from its own self-interest and perceives through separation and scarcity. The only “cure” for fear is spiritual practice, which gradually heals this artificial split in the field of consciousness and restores the direct perception of abundance and connection. All other approaches to fear simply mask the symptoms, generally through reliance on illusory power and control to “fix” the external situation deemed to be broken.

Ironically, this healing of fear is at the very heart of the Jesus message, over which the church claims custodial rights but about which it knows so very little. “Do not be afraid, little flock: it is my Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom,” Jesus assures his followers in those immortal words of Luke 12: 32. And throughout his entire ministry, he teaches, models, and ultimately offers himself up in the kenotic (or “letting go”) practice which not only surmounts fear but transforms it.

Imagine what might happen if a whole group of Christian were to simply drop their terrified insistence that the church as we know it must survive and were instead to give themselves to that “deep personal and corporate spiritual practice” that makes it possible to fall through fear into perfect love. What might happen next? Whatever form it might take, it would certainly be REAL: a powerful new unleashing of the Jesus energy, no longer as that “mighty fortress” and “bulwark never ceasing” of times gone by, but as the river itself, ever flowing.

Stay Open

2011-07-21T14:39:00.000-07:00

Observation # 4: Faced with decline, the institution of the church is permeated by fear. Some in the church are fearful for the preservation of their cherished institutions and buildings. Others fear that their familiar theological formulations are being threatened. Fear is never a good starting place for opening to the movement of God’s Spirit.

Cynthia's response: You’ve hit the nail on the head with that one! In fact, modern neuroscience now confirms what the mystics and contemplatives have insisted since time immemorial: that fear completely shuts down our capacity for Spirit-led responsiveness and even wreaks havoc on our basic common sense. The data now emerging from The HeartMath Institute and other places depicts graphically how any fear response immediately lights up the neural pathways straight to the amygdala, the most ancient and primitive part of the human brain (commonly known as “the reptilian brain” because guess whom we share it with?), where it stimulates a series of very rigid and repetitive behaviors in response to the “fight or flight” signal. Not only are we out of touch with Spirit; we aren’t even using the more evolutionarily advanced parts of our human brain!

Learning to stay open, stay engaged, stay receptive in the face of sweeping change (rather than going to fear-responses) is a classic fruit of spiritual practice. It’s ironic that in the plethora of retrenchment strategies now engulfing the church, that this profound resource at the heart of the church’s own mystical treasure chest is so little acknowledged or utilized.

What is everyone looking for?

2011-06-30T11:41:00.000-07:00

Observation # 3: Although the institutional expression of faith is in precipitous decline throughout North America and Europe, faith is not in decline. The majority of people still believe in God and have deep spiritual longings. They simply would not think of looking to the church to satisfy their spiritual hunger.

Cynthia's response: Ouch! What a zinger that last line is!! But like the lad in that old fable, “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” it names a truth that can be completely liberatingonce we let it out of the bag. If so many people “simply would not think to looking to the church to satisfy their spiritual hunger,” where are they looking? That’s pretty easy to see: to retreats, meditation workshops, wisdom schools (mine fill up instantly, a couple of years in advance), mystery schools, vision quests, spiritual direction programs, interSpiritual Institutes such as Ken Wilber’s Integral Life or the Spiritual Paths Foundation), internet courses (the wildly successful Spirituality and Practice e-courses, for example), virtual monasteries such as Sr. Joan Chittister’s newly launched “monastery of the heart, and grass roots contemplative orders and organizations such as Contemplative Outreach, The World Community of Christian Meditation, or our own plucky little Contemplative Society. They’re signing up for embodied experiences such as yoga retreats or Sufi zikr and whirling; they’re flocking to a proliferating network of “Open Centers” where spiritual ideas can be freely presented and pondered in an atmosphere of open inquiry and respect. The bottom lines seem to be that most people hunger for genuine spiritual formation (not doctrinal imprinting) in an atmosphere of embodied practice, non-sentimental but profound mystical devotion, and open, interSpiritual inquiry that draws respectfully on the transformative wisdom of all the great spiritual traditions. And if even this is too arcane, they run marathons, go skiing, or hang out at the Sunday market.

And I have to admit that for me, too, when I’m not scheduled to preach or celebrate, I do the same.

The big problem, of course, is the lived experience of a very large number of folks out in the world is that the church blocks the view, hog-tying genuine spiritual yearning in an intricate tangle of doctrinal ownership and theological nitpicking. If you’re following the response to Christopher’s observation #4 (to be posted soon), you’ll see what I mean. Why do we keep doing this to ourselves? What part of “contemplative,” “embodied,” “immediate,” “non-ideological” do we not understand? Why would we rather be “correct” than connected?

No Middle Ground

2011-06-23T10:46:00.000-07:00

Observation # 2: The shift we are currently navigating is generally described as a move away from rationalism, propositional faith, and institutionalism. People are no longer seeking intellectual answers to questions or rigid institutional embodiments of those answers. They are looking for a deep experience of God and profound inner wisdom to support them in living authentic and integrated lives. We can no longer assume institutional loyalty. The days when we could rely on loyalty to the church and general agreement to a uniform body of dogmas are gone. It is not adequate to demandObservations and Reflections on The Future of Church

allegiance, or simply keep announcing our convictions confident people will eventually sign up.

Cynthia's response: That may indeed be how things look from the viewing platform of most of the Lenten Series speakers—i.e., the mainstream liberal Protestant establishment. But there seems to be no dearth of folks out on the religious right eager to sign up for rationalism, propositional faith, and institutionalism, while those seeking a deeper experience of God and an accompanying inner wisdom have existed in every generation. What’s really happening, it seems to me, is that the “middle” has dropped out of

mainstream Christian experience: those unspoken but hugely influential “lower left and lower right quadrants” (in Ken Wilber’s terms) over which the church until recently presided as a combination of cultural cement and social networking agency. Upward mobility, social respectability, cultural literacy, “old boys’ club” placement services, patriotism, civic duty, and a chaplainly blessing upon the affairs of state: all this was part of the great cultural-spiritual mainstream over which the church held undisputed sway.

That is mostly swept away now—a casualty of the cultural tsunami described in Observation #1 (first installment of this series). Not only does the role itself no longer exist in an irreversibly pluralistic, mobile, and secular society, but even in its former unassailable niche as ethical and moral pace-setter, the church now generally lags far behind in basic standards of inclusivity and civil rights widely established in secular society itself.

It seems to me that there are really two options for moving this dinosaur gently along the evolutionary track. One is to ‘fess up‘to the fact that this middle ground has always been an important part of the church’s missionary ground and radically get on board with the social networking program in terms understandable in today’s cultural reality. The other is to pare down and focus on those folks thirsting for authentic spiritual formation and actually deliver the goods, cutting through centuries of doctrine, dogma, and institutional solipsism to the profound transformational wisdom still flowing from the living heart of Jesus. That is the trajectory, of course, that I am myself the most keen on exploring.

The third possibility, of course, is to attempt to shrink the world back to its former cosmological and theological dimension so that the church’s cultural cement might yet again hold everything together. But this route, while being actively sought in some corners of the corners of institutional Christendom, does little service either to Jesus or to our planet.

The Future of Church

2011-06-14T12:25:00.001-07:00

I was given an article this week that is a 12 part series of observations and refections with Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault and Christopher Page. In the next while I am going to break up this article to give us things to think about and potentially respond to.

Here is the first observation:

During Lent 2011 in Victoria British Columbia, Canada eight church clergy, academics, and spiritual teachers (including Cynthia Bourgeault) shared their thoughts and insights over six Wednesdays on “The Future of Church". Christopher Page created a synthesis of twelve observations that emerged from these presentations and Cynthia Bourgeault will offer her reflections on these points over the coming weeks.

Observation # 1: The church is in the midst of a massive cultural sea change. This paradigm shift is altering everything around us and we in the church are not at fault for the devastating impact it is having upon our institution. The decline in the church is not primarily the fault of mismanagement, bad theology, or lack of good will. We are caught up in forces much bigger than we can control.

Cynthia's response: This strikes me as an enormously helpful and non-judgmental way of framing the situation, encouraging us right from the outset to “think outside the box.” It really is a fascinating time to be alive as not only change itself but the rate of change keeps accelerating beyond anything the world has ever experienced. From global warming to the worldwide web, it’s all about dynamic equilibrium in a fragile and interconnected world. This may be new to traditional theological formulations, but it’s right at the heart of the Jesus message. As Fr. Bruno Barnhart so brilliantly put it in his book Second Simplicity: “The gospel’s secret power, often hardly glimpsed by Christianity itself, is the gathering up of all our passion, our entropic centrifugal energy, our very outward thrust and vital compulsivity, secularity, and carnality into this divine energy that ever flows outward from its hidden Source.” If it happened once, it can happen again. And we will find our way by turning toward it, not by running scared.

Welcoming Prayer Practice

2011-06-10T12:48:00.000-07:00

The Welcoming Prayer Practice

A Contemplative practice of letting go in the

ordinary routines of daily life

You may turn to God in the Welcoming prayer practice when you are aware of body sensations,

feelings, emotions, thoughts and commentaries that are experience in your body.

MOVEMENTS

Focus - and sink into the body sensations do not resist, simply experience the sensation.

Welcome - (The sacred symbol of intention to consent to the presence and action of the indwelling Spirit). Remaining in the body sensation, gently say the word "Welcome" interiorly, embracing the Holy spirit in and through the body sensation.

Let Go - While continuing to experience and rest in the body sensation, repeat the letting go sentences to open to the healing action of the Holy Spirit within.

I let go of my desire for security/survival....Welcome

I let go of my desire for approval/affection....Welcome

I let go of my desire for power/control...Welcome

I let go of my desire to change...(any situation, person, event, feeling, emotion)...Welcome

You may repeat these movements as often as you wish.

It is important to remain in the body sensation while repeating the sentences.

from the booklet in the Contemplative Life Program

"Welcoming Prayer" Contemplative Outreach, 2006

Enjoy your coffee

2011-06-09T09:20:00.001-07:00

http://www.flickspire.com/m/iaaw/LifeIsLikeCoffee

Linnea Good - The Underqualified Disciple

2011-06-08T18:20:00.000-07:00

Help Us to See

2011-06-06T12:46:00.000-07:00

Help Us to See

“Why do you stand looking up towards heaven? (Acts 1:10-11)

We look for you, straining our eyes

into the far country,

but our vision is disrupted

by the least, the lost, the littlest, the last among us.

We race after you, trying to catch up,

and turing the corner find only

a homeless family in our path.

We wander the streets, yearning to find you,

calling your name,

but it is only

a single mother who turns and wearily smiles,

a street person who whispers ‘hello’

a little girl who pirouettes and takes our hand.

Gone.....

But you are still here, Lord

Help us to see.

Thom Shuman

Spiritual Care Network: Called to be Church in the 21st century

2011-06-05T16:12:00.000-07:00

Spiritual Care Network: Called to be Church in the 21st century: "There was an event that happened on one of my visits that embodied how we might find our way ahead. The people from Fraser Presbytery hav..."

A Prayer for Squamish United Church

2011-05-18T14:20:00.000-07:00

A Prayer for Squamish United Church

Creator God, with whom we journey

in this season of the life and faith

we live in hope, trust and mystery

longing to live into your wisdom

as the one who makes all things new.

Holy One, we give you thanks for the gift of each new day.

And for the mission and ministry of Squamish United Church.

Living in your grace and faithfulness we have embraced your presence in our lives.

as together we have ministered in downtown Squamish for almost a century

We hold deep gratitude for the many who have

built this church and community over the years.

We cherish the gifts given by those who have gone before us,

Live in appreciation of those who serve and minister with us now,

And are already thankful for the anticipated ministry that will follow us.

God in whom we live and move and have our being

Enliven, Strengthen and Entice us now to be a vibrant centre for mission and ministry,

embracing the lives of the people of Squamish as we connect our church and community.

Transforming Spirit be with us in this season

as we begin to live out our ministry in a new way

Assist us as we seek to be faithful stewards of all we have.

Give us wisdom and courage as we seek to live out our mission and ministry

through redeveloping our church property and connecting with Sea to Sky Community Services,

Always being thankful for the many blessings we have already been given.

Holy Spirit, deepen our trust,

as we partner with you,

in making all things new.

Amen.

The Reverend Karen Millard

May 2011

Keith Howard Webinar

2011-05-18T08:43:00.000-07:00

http://blogs.united-church.ca/edge/transforming-ed/webinars/keith-howard/

We're on the move

2011-05-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

So I can hardly contain the excitement I hold for Squamish United Church who made a decision yesterday to commit to build a joint hub with Sea to Sky Community Services.

I am excited about this because I honestly believe God has been pulling us in this direction.

I had folks comment to me yesterday that they felt the Spirit moving in the room as we voted and as the results became clear.

I believe this is the sort of thing we as church are called to. Jesus said "I have come that all might have life and have it abundantly." To me abundance involves care of the whole person - body, mind and spirit. To be a part of a ministry that cares for 'the whole' is a truly a blessing. This is what I have been called to do and be.

I know we have a lot of things to work out along the way, programs to develop, buildings to build, ministries to focus on, money to be raised but if this is truly a spirit led mission we will do it together.

Now I also want to speak to those of us who are nervous about this big step. I guarantee we will have questions and concerns along the way. My prayer is that we will all seek to be faithful and honest on our journey. And remember first and foremost to Love God and Love One another. Striving together day by day.

If you have questions, concerns, dreams of visions please share them honestly along the way.

Many Blessings,

Karen

Searching For Shalom

2011-05-04T13:33:00.000-07:00

This morning I was trying to figure out what I had to say in the midst of a week that included a Royal Wedding, the assassination of Osama bin Laden, and a Canadian election that has left me baffled and for the time being speechless. And then I saw a book sitting on my desktop "Searching for Shalom" by Ann Weems and it helped me rediscover the longing of my heart. To be honest it is the title itself that brings me to pause and take a deep breath but the poem may help orient our lives.

Searching For Shalom

I keep searching for shalom,

drawing my water from one well after another

-but still I thirst

for the shower of blessing that is shalom.

I yearn for life to be just and merciful adn peaceful,

but the streets are filled with daily deaths

of spirit and of flesh....

but no shalom.

I keep searching for shalom,

away from crowds and commotion,

but peace and quiet don't blot the pain

of broken hearts and broken bodies.

I keep searching for shalom,

thinking perhaps I'll find it in a quiet field of flowers

or in star or sea or snow,

but still the innocent are trampled.

I keep searching for shalom,

standing in holy places,

sitting among saints.

Surely in the sanctuary I will find shalom.

I keep searching for shalom,

but holy places are not magic.

Good works and printed prayers

don't guarantee shalom.

Beyond cathedral walls and above ethereal music,

the blaring din of death persists.

Back in the streets, the people walk in darkness.

I keep searching for shalom.

I have pursued and sought it.

Have I looked in all the wrong places?

What is this bonding,

this glue among us, this cohesiveness

that holds us in the hope of shalom?

The longing won't die.

the hope keeps emerging like a new sprout

that perseveres on the stump of a felled tree.

Even in the daily barrage of obscenities

some new star melts into my eyes

and the promise persists.

Here in the darkness some new light

stirs within me.

Here in the streets I find shalom.

Shalom lives not in the sanctuary,

but in the streets....

in chaos

on a cross.

In the face of Jesus is the peace

that passes all understanding

the everlasting Sabbath...

Shalom!

-Ann Weems

Perspective

2011-05-02T13:28:00.000-07:00

In light of recent events and media coverage I ask that we join with a modern day prophet in our response.

‎"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that" MLK, J

Show and Tell

2011-04-27T12:53:00.000-07:00

I have been reading the scripture of Thomas asking to see the wounds of Christ after the resurrection. Every time I read this scripture I feel Thomas has gotten an unfair label. "Doubting Thomas" to me was realistic. He wanted proof - he wanted to know the resurrection was for real before he shared the good news. I don't judge him for that. He had journeyed with Jesus - he knew Jesus had rocked the boat of the authorities and they therefore were going to ensure he was good and dead so that his power was no longer an influence. I then thought about the emotion that would have gone through me if I saw not only the risen Christ but I also saw the scars and the wounds of the crucifixion. What pain it would cause to see the scars of deep hate and fear on the body of a friend who did nothing but love. And then I wondered what are our scars of love? And then I found this poem.

Show and Tell

If we showed you our hands,

would you find them nicked

from building houses for the homeless,

or calloused from using the TV remote control too much?

If we showed you our feet,

would you find them toughened by walking the corridors

of a hospice with the terminally ill,

or wrinkled by too many hours in the hot tub?

If we showed you our hearts,

would you find them broken over the struggles of the lost,

the little, the last, the least;

or would they be clogged with the plague

of our consumerised lives?

God of the empty grace,

show us how to be your witnesses.

Thom M. Shuman

Good Friday

2011-04-22T14:04:00.000-07:00

They went out and followed him,

Those who had sat with him at the table.

He led them to a garden

Where he prayed while they slept.

He was kissed,

And because he was kissed he was arrested,

And when he was arrested, his friends fled,

Some to go into hiding,

One to stand beside a bonfire,

And say I never knew him,

I never knew him…

Until the cock crowed.

He was brought before the religious authorities

And accused of the sin of blasphemy

And of threatening insurrection.

Having no power to deal with him,

They handed him over to the state governor,

Who listened to the accusations

And then asked the accused

What have you to say?

To which the response was silence.

He had said it all.

He was not found to be guilty of any criminal charges

But because he was an embarrassment,

It was decided that the people should determine his fate.

They shouted

Crucify him!

He was cursed and spat on,

Whipped and humiliated.

And on his shoulders a cross was placed,

Which he accepted with grace.

Under the weight of it

He stumbled and fell

Stumbled and fell

All the way to Calvary.

On top of a garbage dump,

He was nailed to a cross of wood

And left to die,

While soldiers gambled,

Critics joked,

Religious leaders smiled with satisfaction

And his mother watched and waited

TheStar The day the Earth shook and the ocean erupted

2011-04-22T08:53:00.000-07:00

TheStar The day the Earth shook and the ocean erupted

Listening at the Cross - Jan Richardson

2011-04-22T08:45:00.000-07:00

http://paintedprayerbook.com/2011/03/31/listening-at-the-cross/

I invite you to enjoy this reflection as you enter this Holy Weekend

Sit Here While I Pray

2011-04-21T11:23:00.000-07:00

Sit here while I pray.

The sorrow in my heart is so great,

it almost crushes me.

Stay here and keep watch with me.

Father, I have shown your glory on earth;

I have finished the work you gave me.

I have given my disciples your message

and the world ... it hated them.

Yet I don't pray

that they may be taken out of the world.

I pray that they may be kept from evil.

(snoring)

Sleeping Peter?

Can you not even keep awake for an hour?

Father, I pray not only for my friends,

but for all who believe their words.

I pray that they may be one,

just as you and I are one.

Father, the world does not know you.

but I know you and they know you.

So that the world may believe

that you sent me,

may they be one...may they be one.

(snoring)

Peter, keep watch and pray.

Don't be drawn by temptation.

The spirit is willing, but, oh, the flesh...

the flesh is weak.

Father, if it is possible...

if it is at all possible...

please take the cup of suffering from me...

take away this cup of suffering from me....

but let it not be what I want.

Let it be what you want.

(snoring)

Are you still sleeping?

Are you still taking your ease?

The hour has come for the Son of Man

to be handed over to sinful people.

Get up, let us go!

Look, here comes the one who is to betray me...

(Stages of the Way - Iona Community Wild Goose Worship Group)

I will give what I have

2011-04-20T11:59:00.000-07:00

(It was on the Wednesday of Holy Week that the story of the woman who anointed Jesus occurred).

From a high, secret shelf, I take what I hid myself -

perfume, precious and rare, never meant to spill or spare.

This I'll carefully break, this I'll empty for his sake:

I will give what I have to my Lord.

Though the action is crude, it will show my gratitude

for the truth that I've learned from the one who's heaven-sent;

for this life once a mess which his beauty can express,

I will give what I have to my Lord.

With his critics around, common gossip will abound.

They'll note all that they see to discredit him and me.

Let them smirk, let them jeer, say what people want to hear;

I will give what I have to my Lord.

It's because he'll receive, that I believe

God has time for the poor. He has shown us heaven's door.

Be it perfume and care, be it anger or despair,

I will give what I have to my Lord.

Jesus, Prince of Peace

2011-04-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

Jesus, Prince of Peace

humble and riding on a donkey.

Jesus, disturber of the peace,

you upset bad religion

when it gets in the way of God.

Jesus, upsetter of the self-righteous,

you turn questions on their head,

offering no instant answers,

but showing the way.

Jesus, lover of the lost,

you say "forgive' when we want to shout "condemn!"

Jesus, host at the table,

you share your best even in the face of our worst.

Jesus, Saviour of the world

...yes, even the world which wants you until it meets you.

(Stages on The Way - Iona Community Wild Goose Worship Group - Holy Week 1)

Moderator's Easter Message 2011

2011-04-18T10:57:00.000-07:00

Dry Bones

2011-04-15T14:21:00.001-07:00

New Life into Old Dry Bones

On Sunday, our minister at SUC, with the help of Sasha on djembe, offered us a very artful rendition of Dry Bones from Ezekiel.

Talk about bringing new life to old scripture! It is very useful to hear scripture in creative ways that bring the message home. For instance: God is very clearly telling Ezekiel to “prophecy to them bones!” In other words, once again scripture is saying “It’s up to YOU, o Human One—you know whether or not those old bones can come to life!” WE cannot leave it up to God—the ball is in OUR court!

It led me to ask of myself, “What is the most important thing that is accomplished through Squamish United Church?” Does anybody have an answer?

Thank you, Karen and Sasha. This was not only entertaining, but thought provoking, and, judging by the buzz of the congregation, will be remembered for years to come!

Keep on prophesying to these ole bones!

A Springtime Prayer

2011-04-13T10:48:00.000-07:00

As we head into Easter this year I know more than a few of us are longing for more vibrant signs of spring. I am looking out the window of my office at a cherry tree that has only a few buds popping out. Even this treeIt seems to be looking longingly at the sky for any sign of the warmth that would cause it to bust forth with spring time joy! So this morning I offer a prayer from Joyce Rupp.

A Springtime Prayer

Ever-renewing and energizing Creator,

come, stir in my dormant spiritual limbs.

Wake up my tired prayer.

Revive my weary efforts of care.

Sing hope into my discouragement.

Wash my dusty, drab attitude

with the cleansing rains of your vision.

Go deep to my roots and penetrate my faith

with the vibrancy of your grace.

Shake loose the old leftover oak leaves

of my tenacious ego-centerdness.

Coax joy to sprout from my difficulties.

Warm the buds of my relationships

so they bloom with healthy love.

Clear out my wintered debris

with the wild breeze of your liberating presence.

Nudge me, woo me, entice me, draw me to you.

I give you my trust and my gratitude

as you grace my slowly thawing spirit.

Light-filled Being, my Joy and my Hope,

let the greening in me begin!

- Joyce Rupp

A Contribution to Statistics

2011-04-12T12:55:00.000-07:00

This is one of the many poems Peter Short shared with us last week. It really made me think about who I am and what I do so I thought I would share it with you on this day of our Soul Journey.

A contribution to Statistics

Out of a hundred people

those who always know better

fifty-two

doubting every step

nearly all the rest,

glad to lend a hand

if it doesn’t take too long

as high as forty-nine,

always good

because they can’t be otherwise

four, well maybe five,

able to admire without envy

eighteen,

suffering illusions

induced by fleeting youth

sixty, give or take a few,

not to be taken lightly

forty and four,

living in constant fear

of someone or something

seventy-seven,

capable of happiness

twenty-something tops,

harmless singly, savage in crowds

half at least,

cruel

when forced by circumstances

better not to know

even ballpark figures,

wise after the fact

just a couple more

than wise before it

taking only things from life

thirty

(I wish I were wrong),

hunched in pain,

no flashlight in the dark

eighty-three

sooner or later,

righteous

and understanding

three,

worthy of compassion

ninety-nine,

mortal

a hundred out of a hundred.

thus far this figure still remains unchanged.

Squamish United Church Presents

2011-04-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

Squamish United Church Presents

2011-04-12T10:45:00.000-07:00

New Life

2011-04-11T10:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we were reminded that even when we think everything around us it dead when you stop and take notice there is life all around you. We heard the story of Ezekiel prophesying to a Valley of Dry bones that came to life with the Spirit of God.

Spiritual Practice - Ask yourself is there something that you feel is dead in your life? Beyond repair? Write a letter to God and offer your prayer for new life.

And/Or Pick a specific issue of concern that you have. Do a project or reading and information gathering with a prayer focused on this subject.

Rebellion Dogs

2011-04-07T09:47:00.000-07:00

I was assisting a colleague in setting up her blog post for another sight and as I read her post I asked if I could use it. Enjoy!

There’s a line in the AA Big Book that I love, that speaks of the difficulty of staying on a spiritual path: Rebellion dogs our every step.

I recently spent time as a rebellion dog.

Don’t ask me why—I could give you reasons galore; but the fact of the matter is one day last week I stopped meditating, stopped praying, stopped eating my vegetables. These are the outward signs, if you like, of inward resistance.

And then one day I stopped stopping and got back at it, started doing all the things that actually make me happy and cause me to feel like part of the human race.

Yesterday I ran into a woman who was dithering about going to a meditation workshop. She told me, I am undisciplined and can’t maintain a practice.

My answer to that was, So what? That’s what it is to be a human. We stop, we start; we rebel, we return. I believe that my deepest work is to RESIST judging myself about this. Engaging in judgment, feeling like a pile of poo about myself, is the best way I know to prevent my return to practice. To close out the love of God.

So if you, like me, are feeding the rebellion dogs these days, why not come on back to yourself with gentleness, tenderness, and forgiveness? After all, that’s the Christian message, isn’t it?

Therese

Let your spirit soar

2011-04-04T12:03:00.000-07:00

Advice from an eagle
Let Your spirit soar…
See the big picture…
Cherish freedom…
Honour the earth and sky…
Keep your goals insight…
Bald is beautiful…
Fly high!

In The Quiet Curve Of Evening

2011-04-03T15:52:00.000-07:00

In the quiet curve of evening,
in the sinking of the days,
in the silky void of darkness, you are there.
In the lapses of my breathing,
in the space between my ways,
in the crater carved by sadness, you are there.
You are there, you are there, you are there.

In the rests between the phrases,
in the cracks between the stars,
in the gaps between the meaning, you are there.
In the melting down of endings,
in the cooling of the sun,
in the solstice of the winter, you are there.
You are there, you are there, you are there.

In the mystery of my hungers,
in the silence of my rooms,
in the cloud of my unknowing, you are there.
In the empty cave of grieving,
in the desert of my dreams,
in the tunnel of my sorrow, you are there.
You are there, you are there, you are there.

Stan Rogers - The Mary Ellen Carter

2011-04-02T10:55:00.000-07:00

Today we shared songs that had "saved our lives."

Faith is often found in the depths even when we think we have lost it.

This was a song that was shared.

For we couldn't leave her there, you see, to crumble into scale. She'd saved our lives so many times, living through the gale And the laughing, drunken rats who left her to a sorry grave They won't be laughing in another day. . . And you, to whom adversity has dealt the final blow With smiling bastards lying to you everywhere you go Turn to, and put out all your strength of arm and heart and brain And like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again.  Rise again, rise again - though your heart it be broken And life about to end No matter what you've lost, be it a home, a love, a friend. Like the Mary Ellen Carter, rise again.

Ways of Walking

2011-04-01T09:18:00.000-07:00

"The longest journey begins with a single step."
- Lao Tsu, Tao Te Ching

"If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk."
- Raymond Inmon

"After a day's walk everything has twice its usual value."
- George Macauley Trevelyan

"Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you."
- John Ruskin

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
- John Muir

"May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds."
- Edgar Abbey

Too Busy not to Pray

2011-03-31T10:55:00.000-07:00

I am not really sure when I began this practice but I imagine it was after I heard the quote "Work, work, from morning until late at night. In fact, I have so much to do that I shall have to spend the first three hours in prayer." ~ Martin Luther I know I had heard this quote many times in my life but there was a change point a few years back when I realized how right Luther was.

Now, I don't spend three hours in prayer every morning but I do spend time in prayer every morning. Some might wonder if my practice of prayer 'really counts' but it is the most consistent spiritual practice in my life, and it works for me because for me it is 'doable.'

Here it is: Every morning I set my alarm for somewhere between 20mins - a half hour earlier than I actually need to get up. (I have always favoured the 'snooze' button but now I put it to really good use). I wake up to my alarm I automatically hit snooze and I begin to pray. I don't get out of bed and on my knees I stay in bed and I pray that before I even begin my day God will be with me. Each day my prayer is different. It might be a prayer for patience, or a prayer for peace, or a prayer against allowing business to move me into stress, it might be a prayer for a person I am meeting with that day or an event I am about to lead or participate in. Whatever it is I start me day in prayer.

So I encourage you to at least try it for the rest of lent:

Begin each day with a prayer of mindfulness--that you will be attentive to the ways God is present in the world--in your life--throughout the day.

And then I encourage you again near the end of the day, ask yourself, “Where did I see God today?” It’s really that simple. If you have trouble answering the question, it might help to start by thinking of the people you encountered. How was the light of Christ present in them—or what opportunities did they present for you to be the hands of God? Where did you encounter the natural world today? How is the glory of God revealed in both the beauty and the vulnerability of the creation? Where did you see imagination, creativity, new birth? Where did you see suffering

“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God.” Brother Lawrence

Cloudy Days on the journey

2011-03-30T13:55:00.000-07:00

Today as I walked home from lunch I morned another grey day. I am ready to shed the winter jacket and really move into spring. I found my heart sinking a little as I zipped my jacket up tighter and put my hands in my pockets and then I walked in silence and the song birds drew me in. It was almost as if they were saying "don't fear - we're here - we believe that the sky will turn from grey to blue - we believe the sun will shine - won't you join us in our song as we sing for the light?"

Thank you God for the reminder of beauty on a cloudy, grey day. Thank you for the awareness that you are present even when we begin to turn ourselves towards gloom.

today I invite to a Prayer on the move. When in the car be intentional about turning the radio off and not talking on the cell phone. When you are alone in the car, use that quiet time to be in prayer.

Many blessings on this beautiful cloudy spring day.

Sore Journey

2011-03-29T11:37:00.001-07:00

Monday is my day off so yesterday I took the opportunity (even though the sun wasn't shining like I wanted ) to hike the chief. The friend I hiked with was concerned for me, and thought we shouldn't go all the way because I have been out of commission from any sport or exercise since December due to a torn shoulder. But I was determined to make it all the way! As we journeyed we saw bursts of sunshine through the trees all the way along. We arrived at the top, gazed about in awe as one does and by the time we got the camera read the clouds had come in. I felt a bit like Moses on the top of Mt. Nebo looking over the promise land and then not being able to enter. Only I was trying to gaze upon the promise land but I couldn't see it.

(Oh there is a whole other analogy in that).

The journey was harder than usual because I'm not my well exercised self. But I made it through the rain and clouds and although I am a little sore today I am truly thankful.

My Soul journey this week begins with gratitude for the beauty of where I live, the freedom of my country, friends who care for me on the journey, and the ability to journey at all. I was reminded once again - I am healthy and loved. Not everyone can say that with such confidence. Todays journey of the soul is one of the gratitudes and thanksgivings that have sprung out of the imperfections of life.

Blessings on your journey.

In Her Shoes

2011-03-28T10:41:00.000-07:00

Week 3 - If the shoe fits. This week we will be reminded that we all have different journey’s in life. Sometimes we are not accepting of those who do not walk the same life we do. This week take time to who it is that you have trouble loving or welcoming, like the disciples with the Samaritan woman. Where do you attempt to draw the line of God’s love and grace?

Spiritual Practice - This week offer a gift of grace to someone (or a group of people) that you have trouble showing grace and love to.

Perfection

2011-03-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

Perfection, Perfection

by Kilian McDonnell

("I will walk the way of perfection." Psalm 101:2)

I have had it with perfection.

I have packed my bags,

I am out of here.

Gone.

As certain as rain

will make you wet,

perfection will do you

in.

It droppeth not as dew

upon the summer grass

to give liberty and green

joy.

Perfection straineth out

the quality of mercy,

withers rapture at its

birth.

Before the battle is half begun,

cold probity thinks

it can't be won, concedes the

war.

I've handed in my notice,

given back my keys,

signed my severance check, I

quit.

Hints I could have taken:

Even the perfect chiseled form of

Michelangelo's radiant David

squints,

the Venus de Milo

has no arms,

the Liberty Bell is

cracked.

"Perfection, Perfection" by Kilian McDonnell, from Swift, Lord, You Are Not. © Saint John's University Press, 2003.

sun kissed

2011-03-24T15:01:00.000-07:00

I invite you today not to something new in practice but a continuation of practice.

The sun is shinning and so I encourage you to continue on your sole journey to nourish your soul. I just returned from a brief walk on my lunch break. The warm sun and the cool breeze made my face tingle with life. The touch of the creator painted my cheeks a rosy red. Back in my office I can hear the birds chirp, see the snow glisten on the mountain peaks above, and peer upon the crocuses that remind us that we are called to life even when the ground it hard, and rocky soil is covered in winters debris.

Have you gone for a walk or spent time in prayer seeking out God in your life?

Take the time even if brief to check in with your soul on it's journey.

Blessings on the travels of your soul.

Crocus-Minded

2011-03-23T13:37:00.000-07:00

Crocus-Minded
by Jo Sorley

It takes courage
to be crocus-minded.
God, I’d rather wait until June,
Like wise roses,
When the hazards of winter are safely behind,
and I’m expected,
and everything’s ready for roses.
But crocuses?
Highly irregular.
Knifing through hard-frozen ground and snow,
and sticking their necks out,
because they believe in spring
and have something personal
and emphatic to say about it.
God, I am by nature rose-minded.
Even when I have studied the situation here
and know there are wrongs that need righting,
affirmations that need stating,
and know also that my speaking out may offend . . .
for it rocks the boat . . .
Well, I’d rather wait until June.
Maybe later things will work themselves out,
and we won’t have to make an issue of it.
God, forgive,
Wrongs don’t work themselves out.
Injustices and inequities and hurts don’t just dissolve.
Somebody has to stick her neck out,
Somebody who cares enough
to think through
and work through hard ground,
because she believes
and has something personal
and emphatic to say about it.
Me God?
Crocus-minded?
Could it be that there are things that need to be said,
and you want me to say them?
I pray for courage.

Where are you God?

2011-03-22T13:22:00.001-07:00

This week as you find ways to discover the work of the Spirit in our lives you may first need to see God at work. When I was a student in seminary I had a supervisor who asked me every time she saw me "Where is God at work in your life?" At first this was hard and I felt like I was faking my answers. Some days I wanted to say "I don't see God anywhere." But after months of this I soon learned I had better have an answer for the next time I saw her. What started out as an assignment soon became a blessing. I found myself each day asking "Where is God at work in this?" "Do I see God?" "What does The Holy have in store for me today?" Today I invite you to join me in this God search. Throughout your day ask yourself "Where do I see God?" At the end of the day ask yourself “Where did I see God today?” I encourage you to write it down and throughout the season of lent make a list of where you have seen God.

This week I have seen God:

In the glorious, much needed sunshine

In family who have supported me in some hard life decisions

In friends who have joined me in my joy and hugged me in my tears

In a celebration for a beautiful, faithful woman who shared her 80th birthday with us

In a family walking down the street holding hands

In the gift of some beautiful flowers sitting on my desk that I have no idea where they came from.

And it's only Tuesday......

God is alive and well.

Blessings on your Journey

Walking the Journey

2011-03-21T13:56:00.000-07:00

Week 2 - Walking the Journey.This is the second week in Lent, we begin a series of encounters of Jesus with - Nicodemus, the woman at the well, the man born blind, and Lazarus. Or to put it another way, these are "encounters" with our need for rebirth, our thirst, our blindness and our deadness.

This week we ask the question How do we walk from here? As we focus on the movement of the Spirit - “which blows where it may” we ask “where is God’s spirit taking you?” And focusing on the story of Nicodemus we ask “What is God birthing in you?” Take time to notice where the wind of God is moving you.

Spiritual Practice - Take a walk alone or with a friend - meditate, pray or talk together about where God is in your life. “How do you see God active in your life?”

Make a Joyful Noise

2011-03-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

Lent is often known as a solemn season.

Every lent I try to let go of something that bring me down, brings death rather than life.

I also try to replace that with a life-giving practice.

Today I invite you to "Make a joyful noise to the Lord."

Spend some time singing, or playing music to praise God. You may want to sing a song you have memorized or put on a CD to sing along with or simply enjoy.

An Irish Blessing

2011-03-17T15:23:00.000-07:00

May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
...For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

Sole Journey

2011-03-17T10:22:00.000-07:00

The sun is shining (at least for the moment)

Today take a prayer walk through your community.

Be aware of things you don't often see

Who goes unnoticed or ignored?

Who and what do you avoid?

What do you take for granted?

What do you appreciate?

Where do you see God in your world today?

Feel free to share below (it's easy to post a comment by anonymous)

Blessings on this St. Patricks Day

Soul Mending

2011-03-16T09:06:00.000-07:00

As we continue through this journey of Lent I invite you to take some time to be aware of what distracts you. In the last few days we have been praying with 'consolations' and 'desolations.' Those desolations are the things that draw us away from God.

I invite you today to take another step in this. Is there something that you use to distract you? Is it go on the computer, turn on the T.V., listen to music, eat, clean? These things in themselves are not bad but at times we fail to stop and take notice. Take time today to change those distractions to times of prayer. Even if it is just for 5 minutes - turn off the T.V. or the computer, slow down - don't run out the door or whatever it is that 'keeps you busy.'

Spend some time mending your Soul.

Soul Journey

2011-03-15T12:18:00.000-07:00

The Beginning of the Soul Journey

Week 1 - The first step.

Jesus begins his journey by temptation in the desert. In this first week of lent we are reminded that you can’t move forward unless you are willing to be a little off balance.

You must be willing to take a chance.

As you plan for this journey we invite you to ask

what are you going to take with you?
What are you going to leave behind- because it weighs you down. Even Jesus faced trials along the way but he never forgot who he was and what brought him fullness of life.

Spiritual Practice - This week practice the Ignatian practice of Examen. The idea is to look for the movements of God throughout your day and life.

Ignatious expected that God would speak through our deepest feelings and yearnings, what he called “consolation” and “desolation.” For us, consolations is whatever helps us connect with ourselves, others, God and creation. Desolation is whatever disconnects us.
Think through and then pray into:

Consolation - What draws me close to God? What am I grateful for? What gives me life?

Desolation - What pulls me away from God? For what am I least grateful? What drains life from me?

I invite you to do this practice on your own. If you are able to I also encourage you to do this practice with your partner and/or family or a friend.

Dying to Live

2011-03-12T16:05:00.000-08:00

http://bc.united-church.ca/ko/content/dying-live-dan-chambers-sermon

Fast From - Feast On

2011-03-12T07:48:00.000-08:00

Some guidance for Lent that has been making the rounds in Victoria Presbytery:

Fast From-Feast On

Fast from judging others; Feast on the Christ dwelling in them.

Fast from emphasis on differences; Feast on the unity of life.

Fast from apparent darkness; Feast on the reality of light.

Fast from thoughts of illness; Feast on the healing power of God.

Fast from words that pollute; Feast on phrases that purify.

Fast from discontent; Feast on gratitude.

Fast from anger; Feast on patience.

Fast from pessimism; Feast on optimism.

Fast from worry; Feast on divine order.

Fast from complaining; Feast on appreciation.

Fast from negatives; Feast on affirmatives.

Fast from unrelenting pressures; Feast on unceasing prayer.

Fast from hostility; Feast on non-resistance.

Fast from bitterness; Feast on forgiveness.

Fast from self-concern; Feast on compassion for others.

Fast from personal anxiety; Feast on eternal truth.

Fast from discouragements; Feast on hope.

Fast from facts that depress; Feast on verities that uplift.

Fast from lethargy; Feast on enthusiasm.

Fast from thoughts that weaken; Feast on promises that inspire.

Fast from shadows of sorrow; Feast on the sunlight of serenity.

Fast from idle gossip; Feast on purposeful silence.

Fast from problems that overwhelm; Feast on prayer that [strengthens].

—William Arthur Ward (American author, teacher and pastor, 1921-1994.)

Soul Journey

2011-03-10T18:20:00.001-08:00

On Ash Wednesday (April 9th) we began the forty- day season (excluding the Sundays) Lent. Most of us associate Lent with the practice of “giving something up” like unhealthy foods or a bad habit. While these might be steps that connect us closer to God, they often become “shoulds” (like loosing weight) instead of ways we can grow in our faith.

In Lent we redirects our sights away from ourselves. We are not called to feel guilt about our flaws but rather we are called to focus on The Holy.

This season reminds us that the one who creates us and calls us to bring our broken selves to God for healing and wholeness. And at the end of the season Easter is when we celebrate our wholeness in Jesus the Christ. The 40 day journey to the cross and resurrection is one we use to intentionally create the space for that healing process to begin.

Instead of giving up chocolate or ice cream (which for most of is more of a desperate attempt to lose weight, than a spiritual practice) I invite you to join us on A Soul Journey (off the beaten path). Each week the congregation will be invited into a spiritual practice of the week. I will also offer a daily practice here on the blog. These practices are meant to draw us closer in relationship with God, both as individuals and as communities.

I pray these practices will not become a “laundry list” of to-do items. The goal is not to “check” them off as the days in Lent pass by hoping we might then become more religious. They are an invitation to broaden, deepen and open our awareness to God’s presence in our everyday lives.

Perhaps you will choose one practice to engage in each day over the season of Lent. Or you might find it helpful to change the practice each day. Regardless of what appeals to you most, join God in this time of growth and renewal of who God creates us to be.

Day One: Ask for help. Lent begins when we recognize that we can’t do everything ourselves and we depend on God’s grace for our lives. Experience God’s grace by asking for and receiving help for something we can’t do on our own. (I found this suggestion on the sight ‘Sacred Screaming’ and I agreed it was the perfect place to start.)

Blessings on the journey,

Karen

young people and the church

2011-03-09T21:48:00.001-08:00

http://www.azdiocese.org/dfc/newsdetail_2/1039?sms_ss=email&at_xt=4d7864901defce53%2C2

Moderator's Lenten Message 2011

2011-03-09T14:30:00.000-08:00

Salt and Light Log

2011-02-16T11:33:00.000-08:00

In the sermon on Sunday I took the opportunity to reflect on the salt and light log we have created as a congregation. The purpose of this was to help remind us of how God has created us as the Salt of the Earth and the Light of the World. This gave us the opportunity not to gloat but to discover how we are living into our being as ‘children of God.’ We asked, “What does it mean to live who you are created to be?”

Here is an excerpt from Sunday’s sermon:

“I heard from quite a few of you this week how you are salt and light. Thank you for your responses, many of them touched my heart and I know for many of you doing this assignment helped draw you closer to your identity in God and Christ. I would like to share with you now some of what I heard.

In this place and beyond you are blessed, you are salt and light and you are living into who you are created to be...

I learned this week that you shine your light as you hire people who really need it to do odd jobs, and as you knit prayer shawls and toques, and make quilts for the community.

I learned that On Wednesday night the Bethany Unit made up 23 treat bags for the Women's Centre filled with toiletries and cosmetic samples as well as a Food Basket for them to raffle at their store.

I learned that you are salt and light as you take people to appointments even when their gratitude is hard to see

People have told me some of you are light for them because you listen and offer a positive perspective and attitude.

Some of you offer the salt and light of advice and wisdom even when you don’t always see the results of changed lives

You try to be honest and trustworthy, and help others in need.

You strive to be good friends and listeners.

I love how some of you admitted that most of the time you do these things with a willing heart but it can be hard. Sometimes being salt and light calls us to stretch ourselves to see the face of Christ in the most unlikely times and circumstances.

In this place people are salt as they prepare meals for other with a desire to enhance their life.

You are salt and light as:

You encourage forgiveness.

You listen even when you can’t solve the problem

You appreciate God’s world with gratitude and awareness

You do your best to value the earth and preserve if for future generations.

You share your resources with those who do not have all that you do.

You value loving kindness and pray for peace and justice.

You care for children and seek to teach and offer them hope and light

You try to live the mantra “May I see the face of Christ in others and may they see the face of Christ in me".

You ask yourself when you are frustrated or angry "What would Jesus do?"

You sing or assist with the choir

You seek to offer a light presence that others might be lifted up.

You participate in things like UCW, worship committee and others

You bake for funerals or assist at the tea

When you help others you recognize how fortunate you are.

You work and care for people with disabilities, with children, with adults, with seniors, and friends

You volunteer for a variety of agencies, you care for the community, and you throw parties for the neighbours.

Some of you are salt and light as you are intentional in your life and as you work and live as a critical thinker.

Some of you have chosen to do overseas work, and some have chosen to daily pray for others, some of you do your best to always believe in new possibilities, you volunteer and seek to live light every day in your work lives.

You won’t be shocked that many of you let me know how difficult this was to do and a few of you could only do it for others. But that was the point in a lot of ways it was to help remind us of our identity. We quickly forget who we are, and that we have been called salt and light, that we have been blessed to be a blessing along with so many before us.

Some of you were shocked to discover that you actually do have the light of Christ in your very being. That in discovering how you live salt and light every day you discovered more of who you are and you remembered how then you shall be. Our lives do have purpose and meaning and that is why we are here to continue to discover that and live into our wholeness.

...Choose life in the light of Christ.

Amen.

A letter to reflect on

2011-02-10T21:46:00.000-08:00

http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/church/features/24374-an-open-letter-to-american-churches

Salt and Light

2011-02-05T10:35:00.000-08:00

Matthew 5:13-16 (The Message)

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

You have been called the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We can spend much time being discouraged by the evil, darkness, and destruction in our world. Today's proverb reminds us that we can be a part of changing our world for the better. How are you salt and light in your world? Who has been salt and light for you?

We would love to hear in your comments and posts

The Spiritual Work of Gratitude

2011-01-18T09:30:00.000-08:00

The Spiritual Work of Gratitude – Henri Nouwen

To be grateful for the good things that happen in our lives is easy, but to be grateful for all of our lives-the good as well as the bad,themoments of joy as well as the moments of sorrow, the successes as well as the failures, the rewards as well as the rejections-that requires hard spiritual work. Still, we are only truly grateful people when we can say thank you to all that has brought us to the present moment. As long as we keep dividing our lives between events and people we would like to remember and those we would rather forget, we cannot claimthe fullness of our beings as a gift of God to be grateful for.

Let's not be afraid to look at everything that has brought us to where we are now and trust that we will soon see in it the guiding hand of a loving God.

The End of a Challenge

2011-01-06T15:37:00.000-08:00

Epiphany has arrived and that means our Advent Spiritual Practice challenge is coming to a close. As the Spiritual Care Network team we have noticed folks have been logging in and we have received some notes of thanks for the challenge.

At times I found this challenge helpful and there were days when it was discouraging (I always struggle when I don’t do something perfectly). As I was reflecting on how I might conclude this challenge I recalled some of the stories I heard along the way.

I heard from some colleagues and personally experienced a different spirit this Advent season. Having set aside the time for practice, prayer and reflection I entered the Christmas season with a calmer spirit. Don’t get me wrong I still got cluttered and busy in a way I hoped I would not, but there was an acceptance that had not been there before - a new peace in the season of peace.

From members of the Squamish congregation that joined us on the challenge I heard the same. They have already been promised some of their stories will make their way to sermons any day now. There are stories of families being drawn together in practice, assistance with grieving a child who is struggling far away, and even a stain cleaned out of a carpet that had been there for years.

And so today as I thought about what this challenge has meant to me I thought of the magi journeying to Jesus. And I realized that perhaps their story is our challenge. What did they know of the Christ child when they began their journey? What did they expect to experience or receive?

What we know from Matthew’s gospel is “When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matt 2:9-11)

In faith as we journey towards Jesus we journey towards the light of life. It is not until we arrive at the light that we know how it will change us. The mystery of faith does not come with a guaranteed check off the box result. And the walk of faith (at least for me) is a never-ending journey, I am constantly in search of the light of life. And so with thanksgiving I am able to say this season has inspired a renewed search for life. And so my hope and prayer is that as we conclude this challenge we will not look at this day as the end of required practice but rather the beginning of a daily search for new life, new birth, and new light in the mystery of our faith.

Digital Nativity

2010-12-21T10:10:00.000-08:00

I have been enjoying a few new Christmas posts online this year. Here is one that a few folks have sent me that I thought I would share with you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkHNNPM7pJA&feature=player_embedded

What is Spiritual Practice?

2010-12-16T16:57:00.001-08:00

One of the gifts of being part of the Spiritual Care Network team is that ever so often I have the opportunity to gather with a group of clergy and talk about how I am caring for myself spiritually and how we can assist others in spiritual care. These meetings and conversations are rich and nurturing and although I usually go in wondering how I am going to make up for the lost time I find myself refreshed just by being in the room.

Today was one of those days - I had the opportunity to be “Rudolf” as I drove the carpool from Horseshoe Bay to the conference office.

The reality was that most of us were a bit flippant, cheeky and a little sassy throughout the day but we forgave one another (after all it is the week before Christmas and the stress level in the room and car was at times palpable).

And yet this brassy little group found themselves in deep conversation on our way home when the questions were asked. “What is spiritual practice?” “What counts as spiritual practice?” “Am I wrong that I don’t understand shopping as spiritual practice?” “Is that my egoic-self?” “Is there a difference between being nourished and spiritual practice?” We pondered the differences between extroverted and introverted spirituality throughout the day. But we also wondered what makes it spiritual practice?

For myself I think it’s about intention. In the conversation I recognized that I consider yoga (most of the time) spiritual practice but not kick boxing. I often say skiing is one of my practices and yet I wouldn’t say that about dragon boating. I love all of these sports - each of them nurture me and yet when I breath deeply and meditate in yoga - I intentionally connect with The Holy and yet in kickboxing... well..... If I’m honest I just want to ‘kick-butt’ (please don’t judge me). When I ski I am almost always in awe and yet when I dragon boat the moments of awe are an added bonus if they occur.

For me practice involves intention. It is not that these other things don’t nourish. But if I fail to be intentional in my connecting with the holy I am sure to notice every once and a while that it has been a very long time since I talked with my God other than in a leadership role. That’s just what I have discovered within myself. I would love to hear what spiritual practice means for you. What does it look like? How do you know it’s a spiritual practice? (I encourage you to share with us your practices).

Waiting?

2010-12-14T13:57:00.001-08:00

“Wait for the Lord, Be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14 “Christian practice can be summed up by the word patience. In the New Testament patience means waiting for God for any length of time, not going away, and not giving in to boredom or discouragement.”
—Thomas Keating

The Advent season is filled with words of waiting and patience. It is often hard to understand the concept of waiting that is unless we are in the midst of a struggle, waiting for an answer, a result, or a resolution.

Question

What does it mean to wait on God? How are you waiting on or with God in your life? How does it make a difference in your life to turn to God the peace-maker in a time of waiting?

Closing Prayer

God of peace and life

God who waits alongside us in our journeys

fill us with your hope, peace, joy and love this Advent season.

Amen.

Friday December 10th

2010-12-10T12:19:00.000-08:00

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in. Leonard Cohen - Anthem

Take some time to meditate on the following question.

Where are the dark places for you? Dark places may be places of struggle, but they also may be places of transformation - Although we will talk about looking for the light or finding the light I want to remind us and acknowledge that darkness is not always evil it is often a place of growth. For me darkness has been both a friend offering comfort, and transformation as well an enemy bearing fearful uncertainty, masking unknown threats.

Now take a moment to meditate - placing the light of the Holy in those dark places.

Do you see the light breaking through the cracks in your life? If yes what difference does it make? If no what do you think will help bring light into those places?

Closing Prayer

God of darkness and light

meet us in the places where we try to be someone we are not

Open us up to see you in our imperfections, in our wrestlings, in the cracks in our character and lives.

Let the light break in. Amen.

Wednesday, Dec. 8 - 11th Day of Advent

2010-12-08T08:31:00.001-08:00

Here’s a story my grandpa, a rabbi, used to tell me:

Shlemiel, the town fool, caught sight of something lying on the road. It glinted and twinkled in the light. “Aha!” he chuckled. “What have we here? Someone has lost something precious.”

He picked it up. It was a mirror. When he looked at it and saw his face, he threw it down again. “Yuck!” he exclaimed. “No wonder they threw it away. it’s so ugly!”

When I grew up, I learned to obverse side of the mirror joke.

A young boy, who lived in a poor and remote village of Nazi-occupied Crete, found in the middle of the road the broken pieces of a mirror that had come off a Wehrmacht motorbike.

Having nothing much to play with, the boy tried to put all the pieces together, and when he couldn’t, shaped the biggest of the fragments into a mirror, round and smooth, the size of a watch face. He invested a little game: reflecting the sunlight into the remotest and unlikeliest nooks and crannies he could find. In time, as he grew up, it dawned on him that this game was a metaphor for what he wanted to do with his life - to reflect the light into the furthest reaches of this globe.

Today, Alexander Papaderos’ peace institute is known the world over.

So it could be, I suspect, for each one of us. We have a choice. We can pick up the fragments that make up our lives and, seeing our own faces, our own brokenness, throw down the pieces. Give up on making any sense of them.

Or little by little, we can shape those fragments into something. Something that somehow, somewhere reflects the light. Acknowledging, of course that we are not the light. Still less the source of the light. But willing nevertheless, to reflect it - love, care, understanding, peace into the darkest places of our lives of the world.

The Christmas presence.

But where can the impulse to do this come from?

Closing Prayer

Light of life, teach us to be aware

Help us to see the places where we can be reflecting your light

in the world.

Amen.

The peaceable Kindom in Squamish

2010-12-07T09:51:00.000-08:00

Sundays practice - "Go for a walk to notice life in the cold winter season. Notice the salmon, the eagles, the fall leaves, the mountains, the snow(?)...."

Monday December 6th - Ninth Day of Advent.

2010-12-06T11:18:00.000-08:00

Monday, December 6th - Ninth Day of Advent

Mary and Elizabeth

Mary and Elizabeth

two strong women

whose wombs

carried two strong men

Mary and Elizabeth

two hospitable women

with wombs wide, full

of grace and conversion

Mary and Elizabeth

two loving women,

blessing one another

with the grace of affection,

strength of communion

Mary and Elizabeth

did they know the dance

within their wombs

might change a hurting heart,

transform a languished life

Mary and Elizabeth,

two holy women

wombs gestating goodness,

sources of nurturing grace

yeast for every inner birthing

- Joyce Rupp

Closing Prayer

Holy wisdom, God of hope

What are you birthing within me?

What hope do you have for my life?

Open my awareness to your holy presence within my life.

Amen.

May We Be Rainbows

2010-12-02T12:42:00.001-08:00

Reaching for Rainbows

I keep reaching for rainbows...

Thinking one God’s morning

I will wake up with rainbow ribbons in my hair,

With hurts painted over in hues that only angel wings could brush,

Black obliterated, chaos hurled beyond the rainbow and my vision,

The world created in a myriad of colors:

The hungry fed, The dying held,

The maimed walking, The angry stroked,

The violent calmed, The oppressed freed,

The oppressors changed,

And every tear wiped away.

I keep reaching for rainbows,

But instead of colors in our storm,

Gray and black infiltrate, dirtying the sky,

And I hear human voices wailing in the darkness,

the never-ending darkness....

Just the same I know the promise of the rainbow.

I keep thinking I’ll turn a corner one day

And find a litany of rainbows flung across the sky,

Hosannaing back and forth

Through all the ages and Out into eternity forever amen!

Every tear wiped away -

It’s a promise - When we become rainbows to each other.

Closing Prayer

Holy Mystery, we live in Hope

Hope for a world of peace, joy and love

We Long to see your kindom come on earth as it is in heaven.

Help us to see the promise signs you give us each and every day of our lives. Transform us that we may become signs of your hope and love for one another this advent season.

Amen

Activity

A time of Sacred Conversation will be held for all to participate in at 2:00pm at Squamish United Church. Come with your questions and stories of faith.

Turning Point

2010-12-01T08:41:00.000-08:00

I thought I would share a day with you that was a turning point in spiritual practice for me. This is a quote from a clergy "spiritual practice' blog that I am involved in.

I am finally getting to the post I wanted to give yesterday. And that is a piece of the story. I know I won't shock most of you when I explain my day started with prep for an important meeting at 6am and ended with book study at 9pm. All day I was thinking oh no I have to do a spiritual practice. Oh no I have to blog...oh no I am going to fail at this already. And then I remembered the sermon I preached just a couple days before.

I spoke on reverence and gratitude (it was thanksgiving after all). I found a beautiful reflection by Joyce Rupp which included a quote from Merton and so I preached "We experience deep gratitude as we take notice of that which is beyond us. With Merton on this thanksgiving day “I am going to put aside my ‘when it happens’ and my ‘if only this could be’ and my ‘when things get better’ and my ‘as soon as I have this.’ I am going to harvest what I now have, gather all the many gifts that are already mine. I am going to observe what has been placed in the granary of my heart and marvel at the abundance. I will stand before this heap of blessings and take a long, grateful look. I will say farewell to my ‘when’ and be thankful for what is."

And so I discovered in the clutter of my day that I perhaps might refocus some of the activities I already had in my schedule. As I rushed into my Yoga class I discovered this was exactly the spiritual practice I needed for the day. Just like when people come to me after a sermon and say "Where you speaking to me today?" I sometimes think the same thing of my Yoga instructor. She began class with meditation (she never begins class with meditation). She asked us first to ground ourselves. Be aware of our breath and then let go of the clutter, the rush, the things we can't accomplish.... Within two minutes I felt my squeezing in of Yoga was somehow Devine intervention. I found myself in a place of releasing the dissatisfaction, and embracing the abundance I already have.

I know that this isn't what I had desired to do. I wanted to pick up something new - be a superstar spiritual practicer instead I found myself in gratitude for what I already have. Namaste. Karen

Advent Day Three

2010-11-30T15:41:00.000-08:00

Activity 1

Make an Advent prayer chain (A version of an advent calendar). Use construction paper cut into 14 strips. Write a prayer concern on each strip. Use tape or staple the first strip into a circle. Take the second strip and insert it into the first. Continue until you have a chain. Today you would begin with the first strip and then each day you would pray a prayer from the chain.

Activity 2

A Time of Centering prayer will be held for all to participate in at 7:30pm at Squamish United Church

Question

Who is your life is an example of someone who lives in hope? How has that person effected you life?

I have taken some time to do a few things today. I have listened to Mardi Tindal (UCC Moderator) advent message. I invite you to do the same.

http://www.youtube.com/unitedchurchofcanada?gl=CA&hl=en#p/a/u/0/kzZpZbmD

I appreciate her reminder for us to slow down and reflect during the season.

That is why I have given us the opportunity to join together tonight in centering prayer.

When I consider the question of an example of someone who lives in hope. My grandfather is the first who comes to mind. He was always forward looking. He always believed the best in people and he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that things would work out and no matter how bad it got we would make it together. When I get discouraged or when I wonder if I am doing the right things in life I always think of Grandpa. His example has strengthened me more times than I can remember. His faith, commitment and strength challenge me to live the best I can, being who God created me to be.

Who are people of hope for you?

Monday November 29th - Second Day of Advent

2010-11-29T23:46:00.000-08:00

Traditionally in the first week of Advent we live into hope. I invite you this week to look to the hope your faith and life gives you. How does it assist you in living in that which you do not know. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

Read through the scripture below from todays lectionary.
Take a moment in prayer. What word or phrase stands out for you?
Read and pray again. What hope does it bring? How could it apply to your life today?

Isaiah 2:1-5 (The Message)

“The Message Isaiah got regarding Judah and Jerusalem: There's a day coming when the mountain of God's House

Will be The Mountain— solid, towering over all mountains.

All nations will river toward it,

people from all over set out for it.

They'll say, "Come, let's climb God's Mountain,

go to the House of the God of Jacob.

He'll show us the way he works

so we can live the way we're made."

Zion's the source of the revelation.

God's Message comes from Jerusalem.

He'll settle things fairly between nations.

He'll make things right between many peoples.

They'll turn their swords into shovels, their spears into hoes.

No more will nation fight nation; they won't play war anymore.

Come, family of Jacob, let's live in the light of God.

Closing Prayer

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.
Come, O Lord, and send us your light.
O come, O come, Immanuel.
Come and bring the light of God.
Come and walk among us.
Be our Savior and our Friend.
O come, O come, Immanuel.
Come to bring us your peace.

What stood out for me were the phrases:

"All nations will river toward it"

"He'll show us the way he works"

I find hope in these words. I imagine a world rushing like a river towards peace and justice. I envision people desiring to live out of how we have been created to be - loving God and one another.

That gives me deep hope - O Come, O Come Emmanuel

How then Shall We Pray? - Luke 11:1-13

2010-11-26T12:45:00.000-08:00

For the season of Advent I have created for us as a congregation a Spiritual Practice Advent Calendar. You can pick up your calendar in the church office and I will also post here on the blog. I thought I would begin with excerpts of a sermon I preached in July on my struggle with prayer. I am going to offer more of the struggle part of my sermon because I know I am not alone. Feel free to comment and join the practices with us.

How Then Shall We Pray? - Luke 11:1-13

“I envy people who pray well. Or who have the kind of faith that always believes in prayer. Now that might be shocking for you to hear come out of your ministers mouth but it is one of my deep dark secrets...

I have tried to become a certain kind of prayer more than once. I have attempted to be holy like Luther and others and get up early in the morning just to pray. But in all honesty I’m not a morning person so unless I don’t have to be to work or something else early I really don’t want to get busy before I have to - so the prayer times quickly slip into something I’m not sure many would count as holy.

I have attempted to come into my office every morning and begin in silent prayer but quickly I can get interrupted or distracted or realize I forgot to start there (and then I start praying just because I feel guilty and well - then I think that’s what it is supposed to be about and...)

I have read the books, I have tried the formats. I have heard what proper prayer looks like and how to get results. I have journaled, I have done prayer walks, I have done silent retreats....and the list goes on.

There is a lot of shame in this for me because my mother and my brother are prayers. They both get up every morning and take time in prayer and reading like every good Christian should. In fact my mom used to say every time I had a struggle “Just pray about it” until one day I snapped (Like only a daughter does to her mother). “Mom if it were that easy I wouldn’t have called you to talk about it.”

And yes this happened after I received the title of Reverend...

Now that I have gotten that off my chest all you ‘prayers’ out there can say a prayer for me. Because the greatest struggle I find with prayer being an achiever like I am is that if I don’t get the result I want I am convinced I have done it all wrong. The struggle with prayer formulas is that if the prayer doesn’t work then there appears to be only two options: there is something wrong with me and/or my praying, or there is something wrong with God... If you are someone who has written off faith and religion you most likely have decided there is something wrong with God. If you are a faithful church goer or person of faith then when your prayer doesn’t work you are more likely to blame yourself.

I know that people say God gives us three answers to our prayers which are “yes” “no” or “maybe” but even that confuses me because scripture clearly says “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” So why is it then when I ask even for good things - healing for a friend, comfort for a person who is depressed, or something for myself - why would God ever say no to those things?

I have come to discover of myself that when I start thinking that way I have forgotten the purpose of prayer. And to be honest I think this struggle I have with prayer just might be God given - because I find myself praying all the more as I seek to understand prayer more and to be connected with God more. I find myself eager to try new spiritual practices all the time. Maybe that is what this parable is about - constant seeking to be in tune with The Holy...

I fully believe in prayer and it may sound confusing but praying without ceasing has freed me up to know that I actually can pray. It has freed me up to wake up in the mornings as pray in between the snooze alarm, or in the shower, or on my walk, or as I journal - but not just with a certain formula or just for me - for everything and moment I encounter. It means for me that when I feel led to pray when I get into the office in the morning I just do even though I have not done it every day routinely...

Douglas John hall wrote “The object of prayer Christianly understood, is not so much to lose oneself in the contemplation of the Divine as to find oneself. to become - so far as possible, who one is. Dependent, guilty, lost and vulnerable... Because the one to whom we pray is not ordinary...but glorious in loving, we are able sometimes through our most honest acts of prayer to find that our very weakness is the occasion for encounter with the Source of new strength.”

So weather you feel like you know how to pray or not. You are invited to pray or join us in a spiritual practice over the next weeks. Weather you think you pray or not I believe you do - in moments of beauty, awe and despair, in moments of loneliness, and joy acknowledge the spirit with you and you will know that you too are praying.

Karen

Attentiveness

2010-11-04T14:20:00.000-07:00

My mantra for this month has become "be attentive."

After spending a week at the "Sowing Promise, Growing Leaders" event a few weeks back I became aware once again that I was caught up in the 'rat race' of life. I love the work I do here at Squamish United Church and I am honoured to work with such a wonderful group of people but even in the church we can get caught up in the rush.

As a member of the clergy Spiritual Care Network team I have entered into a Spiritual Practice challenge with 10 other colleagues. We are holding one another accountable to spending time in sacred practice every day for 40 days. The gift this has given me is attentiveness. I have become more aware of my surroundings, my colleagues, my work, my spirit, and my God. I have found I am no longer trying to figure out how to squeeze in time for prayer or practice rather I am longing for it. I have been refreshed and reaffirmed in the need to spend time with the Holy.

In the sunny days of October and November I have found myself taking glorious prayer walks in which I am blessed by the healing beauty of creation, as well as the spirit of calm one finds when they take the time to give things to God. I am more attentive to my breath and the life it gives. I have also become more aware of others and the struggles we all face. Two quotes from Peter Short are assisting me in being more attentive to others. As I look into the faces of those I meet I recall "Behind every face there is a soul at work" and soon thereafter I am reminded to "never look down on a struggle for life."

A few weeks back I asked folks on a Sunday morning what spiritual practices they engage in. I would love to hear from you what your practice is now or has been in the past. If you would like to consider joining me in the Advent season I will be offering an opportunity for SUC folks to engage in some new practices together, or on their own.

Together let us take time with The Holy.

Attentiveness

2010-11-04T14:19:00.000-07:00

How then shall we live - The mission mystery of Squamish United Church

2010-10-14T17:03:00.000-07:00

I wanted to begin this blog with a purpose. We at Squamish United church are in a time of exciting mission transformation. As we share and blog together I want us to take the opportunity to discover who God is calling us to be as individuals and faith community. So today we will begin with a reflection on our Discovery Weekend (Oct. 1&2, 2010).

On this weekend a group of us from the congregation engaged in the question of our mission and ministry. We engaged in conversations around faith, calling, justice seeking, mission and purpose. We rekindled and reminded one another of the gift of God that is within us as we worshiped, fellowshiped and worked together. We were challenged and called to have a spirit of courage and faith. For some of us there was a deep process of increasing our faith and trust. For others there was a wrestle with what God calls us to in a time of change.

We know that as people of faith we are called to be a witness to hope and new life. Like a clay vessel that carries a message we are in transition and we do not know exactly where God will take us and yet we stated over and over that we are willing and ready to trust, even in these uncertain times. We realized that we are being lead by the spirit to take a leap of faith. We spoke to one another messages of Jesus’ teaching - like “Don’t be afraid” and “consider the lilies of the fields...consider their beauty and how God cares for them...how much more will God care for us? It is God’s desire to give us the kingdom.

We are being challenged to change and trust that God is with us in the transformation.

Perhaps the clearest message we reflected upon over and over is that transformation is going to happen whether we go along with it or not. And so we began a deep process of reaffirmation and discovery. We sought out the mystery of what is our mission as the united church in Squamish. As people in the practice of leadership we recognize that we need to be attentive to all the voices in our midst. We need to ask ourselves who are the voices not being heard both within and outside of our congregation. As people of faith we need to ask who we are advocating for? How is God calling us to be in mission in this time and place?

We live in a time of fast change and transformation within the world of technology, education, communication and more. And yet we recognize that all statics say that everything that is working and growing today in this fast pace technological world is about relationship. Jeff Davis wrote in What would Google do “...the single greatest transformative power of the internet and google has little to do with technology, or media or even business. It’s about people and making new connections among them. It all comes back to relationships.” Think about it - email, facebook, social networks, skype, text messaging, iphones and blackberries are all about maintaining communication and relationship. The encouraging thing about that for us is that from what I can see about Squamish United Church is if there is anything we know and do well it is relationships.

Loren Mead from the Alban institute says “We are at the front edges of the greatest transformation of the church that has occurred for over 1,600 years. It’s by far the greatest change that the church has ever experienced in America (even more so in Canada); it may eventually make the transformation of the reformation look like a ripple in a pond.”

So perhaps that is why at times we feel anxious and fearful in our transition and process. Perhaps we feel like we don’t know where we are going, what we are doing, and feel like we even need to rediscover our purpose. It’s true we don’t know exactly where God is taking us but as my friend Mary says what we do know is “Jesus is going to be okay.” God is going to carry on working and moving in this world whether we join her or not.

The spirit moves where it may and at this time we are being called to discover who God is calling us to be. And we are going to need to trust one another, and be transparent with one another. And so I encourage each one of you here to do that. To be in conversation with myself, with the facilities development team, with one another. We are the body of Christ in this place and each part of the body is essential.

And I invite you to engage in the conversation - How then shall we live and be as a community of faith this day?

Blessings on the Journey,

Karen