(Ir)Reverend Ramblings

Last night, for the second year running, the Bracebridge Ministerial offered an hour of music in our local Memorial Park. This was part of the summer concert series offered by the Town of Bracebridge. Local entertainers are invited to provide music each Thursday night through the summer. Last year our Ministerial offered to put together an evening of hymns and it was well received so we were invited (or accepted) back.

There were eight leaders from various congregations in the town, (Roman Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, Anglican, Free Methodist and United) singing. Others had hoped to be there but summer vacations and pastoral duties prevented some from participating. Pentecostal Pastor Steve provided the musical backup on keyboard and guitar ably switching from one instrument to the other depending on the hymn or song. Steve brought along a drummer from his congregation which added a great element to the music.

There were about 70 people in the audience and they seemed to enjoy the hour of entertainment; well, no one got up to leave and they politely applauded after each number. Sometimes if they knew the songs they would join in, which they were encouraged to do.

The first set was old hymns which were all familiar to me. I didn’t do so well in the second and third set which were made up of contemporary hymns and choruses. Clearly I need to brush up on the Christian music that is being written and sung these days! One verse I really liked comes from 10,000 Reasons by Jonas Myrin and Matt Redman. It goes like this…
The sun comes up it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes.

I’m going to be humming that one all day – hope I’m still singing when the evening comes!

I visited Russia 5 years ago. During the tour one of our group asked our Tour Guide how members of the LGBT community were treated in their culture. She said, in all earnestness, “We don’t have any of those here.” Well, it seems that President Putin has discovered a few and he doesn’t like it. Laws have been passed stating that anything that hints at homosexuality is against the law. Strict penalties have been set to punish anyone who advocates in anyway for the LGBT community. In one article it said, children in same-sex parent households will be removed from their home. Even wearing a rainbow pin is against the law and punishable. It is disgraceful.

Russian homophobia has opened up a conundrum for some athletes who will be going there for the Winter Olympics in a few months. Should they withdraw? Should they be obvious in their support? Are they at risk if they are known to be Lesbian or Gay? Cross-Country check-up on CBC radio on Sunday had this as their topic. One of the suggestions, which I thought had merit, is to make a statement in the opening ceremony. As each country marches in have following behind each lead flag-bearer the country’s Ambassador to Russia carrying the rainbow flag. The Ambassador has immunity in Russia and it would make a statement about each country’s support of all people regardless of sexual orientation.

I am not sure what I would do if I were an athlete in this situation. It feels that any position is unfair and potentially difficult. In the end I do not think an athlete should stay away from the games when many have trained almost their whole life for this opportunity. This could be an opportunity for the IOCC to show some courage and name this Russian discrimination for what it is and tell Putin that he cannot discriminate against a sector of society because of his bigotry.

What do you think? Is there a way to bring global awareness to this travesty without punishing the athletes?

One of the books I read while I was on sabbatical had nothing to do with the church! It was Michael Moss’ book “Salt Sugar Fat, How the Food Giants Hooked Us”. Moss is a New York Times reporter and he studied the food industry to see how multinational companies hook consumers onto their products. It is a fascinating exposure to the inside workings of the development of processed foods. From coca-cola to lunchables the food industry is all about figuring ways to sell more and more.

From Moss I learned a new term – “bliss point”. This is the term used by food scientists to describe the perfect sugary sweetness or saltiness in a product that will send the consumer ‘over the moon’ or as the term would suggest – into a state of ‘bliss’.

Ever since reading the book I have been thinking about the bliss point in my eating. We do try to be careful in our household about what we eat, steering clear of anything with too much sodium or fat or sugar. But the idea of a ‘bliss point’ did explain to me how sometimes those cravings overtake me and why, especially when I start eating something that I know is not good for me, I just can’t stop. I never buy potato chips – but I sure love it when I go some where and there is a bowl of them sitting there for me to vacuum down!

I am wondering if it is possible to transfer the term into other aspect of life, to define a state of bliss. Where is your ‘bliss point’? When does it feel like your life is blissful? It is an interesting question. Too often it is easy to talk about things that are wrong. Can we find the words to describe something that is so perfectly right it feels like bliss?

For me bliss includes …
a long dinner and a leisurely evening with dear friends
a hike down a forest trail
the sound of a creek babbling over stones and rocks
holding a sleeping baby
a church full of people singing with conviction a favourite hymn
the sound of children laughing
the smell of buttery popcorn
the overture to a stage musical
fresh, clean flannelette sheets on the bed
those days when the family has all arrived home
and, of course, a bowl of salt & vinegar potato chips!

What are your ‘bliss points’?

It has been a hard couple of weeks here at BUC. We are grieving two deaths. The first a result of a sudden and tragic cycling accident, the second the death coming after rapid decline as a result of the disease ALS. Each death took us by surprise and together they have rocked us.

Death is not something our society likes to consider much. We live in a culture that does its best to defy aging and deny death. The trend for the last number of years has been to shift in practice at the time of death. We often don’t have funerals now. We have replaced them instead with ‘Memorial Services’ or ‘Celebrations of Life’. At these the casket is not present and in the case of cremation more often than not even the urn is not in evidence preferring instead a photo of the deceased. I understand why these changes have come about but I have an unease about it. Not because I want people to dwell in their sorrow but I think we might be too quick to tidy up the pain, tragedy and sorrow of death. As one writer put it, a funeral is “recognition of the deep dislocation of life and its meaning – life itself has crumbled and been torn from our grasp.” If we move too quickly to celebration we deny ourselves the opportunity to grieve.

At the time of each of my parents death we were very traditional in our practice. There was visitation at the funeral home, the casket was central at the service, and then we took the torturous trip to the cemetery and the carrying of the casket to the opened grave. For my mother each of her children and grandchildren took part in carrying her casket to her grave, spelling one another off as we walked over the hard ground, so that we could all be part of accompanying her on her last lap towards God. Through this process I realized the importance of gathering and the significance of the time spent in telling stories and offering prayer and singing hymns. As a Christian it was the practice of worship intermingled with sorrow that brought the necessary healing when one so integral to my heart and soul was wrenched from me.

Tomorrow, as we did Saturday, we will have a service in the sanctuary. We will sing hymns and we will remember together a child of God who lived a life of devotion to God and neighbour. The grieving will be intense – as it should be when someone we love has died. But I hope and pray that we will value our grief and not try to gloss over it or deny it for it is the depth of human love. In time life will return to a routine but for the family it will never be routine again for a central figure in their living is now gone.

Yes, we will celebrate her life but we will also mourn her passing.

My day yesterday with coloured with the theme of forgiveness. The mid-morning news reported on the funeral of Sammy Yatim, the young man recently shot and killed by police in Toronto. During and after the service his family were clear in their intent to not seek revenge or blame the police but to take a position of forgiveness while asking that the situation that led to their grief be reviewed to prevent such an occurrence happening again.

The evening news, as I prepared dinner, told of the judgement being rendered to 53-year -old Ariel Castro the Cleveland man who captured and held three women subjecting them to years of sexual abuse and physical violence. The report said the judge thanked Amanda Knight, one of the survivors, for showing “remarkable restraint” during Castro’s statement to the court room in which he tried to convince the judge that he had provided a harmonious home for the women. Another report said that one of the women stated that she forgave him.

In talking with a parishioner yesterday afternoon he told me he is working on forgiveness toward a family member who has rejected him. It has taken him some years to get to this point.

Forgiveness is hard soul work. As I meet and talk with parishioners I know that it is one of the most difficult aspects of the Christian walk. Jesus spoke about forgiveness and I would guess, based on the disciples questions and comments back to him that they too found it a hard emotion to get their heads around. Retribution and retaliation can feel so much better in the moment but I know from reading and personal experience that the best long-term solution for peace of mind and well-being is forgiveness. Saying that doesn’t make it easy to do.

Do you have some forgiveness work to do? Do you have any tips as to how to walk the road of forgiveness?

The stories of pain and struggle and heartache continue to pour out of the train tragedy that occurred in Lac-Megantic. Now the question is hanging in the air as to who will pay for the clean-up which will result in millions of dollars as the toxic waste is dealt with and rebuilding is attempted. As often happens in these situations everyone is pointing the finger at someone else and the poor victims are left in the middle, confused and devastated.

I have been holding these citizens in prayer. Though strangers to me their situation has moved me to prayer whenever a news report gives the latest update. The sudden turn in circumstance for them has left me wondering how one rebounds from such a life-changing event. What does it mean to have your whole life altered by an accident? It is not an experience I have had to deal with. We often hear of a tragic event where a routine-everyday-kind-of-day is interrupted with something totally unexpected, unforeseen, unplanned for and life is forever altered. What are the resources that people draw on to endure? Where does hope and confidence come from to face the next day?

These themes are very much a part of scripture. People new to reading the Bible often comment on how much violence there is in the Bible. It is not a children’s book! But, throughout its books the Bible rings with the constant assurance of God’s presence. That no matter what God is with us. This is the first and last line of our United Church Creed, “We are not alone, God is with us.” May the people of Lac-Megantic know that comfort.

How about you? Where do you find assurance and hope when sorrow comes to you?

I stepped outside this evening after a great session with my sister drummers – first time in four months (I didn’t go while I was on sabbatical)- and I could feel it. It was ever so subtle but there it was, just the slightest hint of a change in the season. It felt a bit cool and the air was crisp not like the soft and humid evening of early summer but the fresh feel of August even though we still have one day of July left to enjoy.

I love July. I love that the days stretch long into the evening hours. I love that the morning air is warm and the afternoons are hot. I love the sound of ice cubes clinking in a sweating glass. I love the smell of the bar-b-que fired up and ready for the hamburgrs. I love the attitude that people adopt suggesting that the world has slowed down to a crawl.

I know that a lot of this continues into August. I know that August brings the delight of corn on the cob and still more family gatherings and picnics. I know that an August swim in the lake can be refreshing on hot, steamy, humid days but August leans into September and that means that the beautiful, relaxing days of summer are over.

I am not sure why we work so hard and push so hard for so many months of the year but I do know that I love what July represents – a summer pace. I am going to miss July when it leaves tomorrow.

Greetings dear readers out there in the blogosphere. Well, after three months of sabbatical and a few weeks of holidays I am now shifting gears to head to the office bright and early tomorrow morning. Yes, the sabbatical has been ‘worth it’. That’s what people seem to be asking me. It has been restorative and renewing. I’ve learned some things – things about the church, things about the congregation and things about myself. It has been heartwarming to me to occasionally get the message that I have been missed. I have also missed connecting with congregational members and participating in the various aspects of ministry at Bracebridge United Church. The time away has given me fresh energy and I am ready to get back at it. That said, it does feel a bit like the first day back to school. I have both an eagerness and a nervousness to get at it. But I am confident the morning will bring a great new day.

The bags are packed and the car is ready to go. We leave first thing in the morning to drive to Nova Scotia. Yes, we will enjoy a feed or two of lobster but the main purpose of our trip is to be there for our grandaughter’s wedding. The family will be gathered to witness the vows and to shower the couple with blessings.

Given I will be on the road for a couple of weeks I will not be posting blogs until later in the month.

Enjoy these beautiful summer days – they are flying by!

One of the sabbatical benefits that I have enjoyed has been the opportunity to attend Sunday morning services in other denominations. I have attended small churches and large churches. I have been in congregations where the mood is, shall I call it staid, and others where the sanctuary hummed with spiritual energy.

This past Sunday I happened to be in the city of Chicago so I went to Trinity United Church of Christ in South Chicago. This is the church that the Obamas attended before they went to Washington. I arrived a bit late (taxi challenges – long story – another time!!) and was told that the sanctuary was full but I could sit in the gym and watch by video link. I asked if I could stand and they said that would be okay if I stood by the side wall. It was already lined with people but I found a place to squeeze in. The sanctuary holds about 2000 and every available pew was crammed with people. The choir of 200 led the singing with a definite gospel vibe.

The preacher for the day was their retired pastor as the regualr preacher was away. The service started at 11:00 but there was so much going on that the preacher, The Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright did not get up to preach until about 1:00. If Dr. Wright’s name sounds familiar it is because he was accused by the media and the Republican party of being racist in the campaigning prior to Obama’s election as President. He was nothing like the media spin. He was kind and humble, loving and spirited, witty and inspiring.

At 1:40 when the congreation surged out of the church I was standing on the sidewalk waiting for a cab. Nearly every person wished me a good day, invited me to come back another time, and God blessed me. It was live theatre from beginning to end and I loved it. I don’t like generalizations or categorizing people but there is no denying that the American style of relating is very different than the Canadian way!

I don’t expect BUC to starting calling out “Amen” during the sermon and the prayers or that the choir will take about ten minutes to sing their anthem because they sing the chorous over and over until all the congregation is on its feet. But I think we could loosen up a little. I have to say I felt that Spirit last Sunday and it felt good.