February 16, 2022
Do you remember church bulletins? They were those folded paper booklets that we handed out at worship every Sunday – they had loads of information, the order of service, tons of announcements and sometimes a few laughs. Here is an announcement that was in a church bulletin somewhere sometime ago - “Potluck supper on Sunday at 5pm – prayer and medication to follow!”
I wonder if we will ever have church bulletins again. COVID has changed so many things and I wonder what church will be like in a year’s time or two years time. It will be different there is no doubt about that. But somethings will be the same – we will gather for worship as a people, some in person, some online, some via television. We will sing praises. We will celebrate the goodness of God’s extravagant love and we will be invited into transformation of our lives and our whole beings to be the people of God in the world. Church will be different, but church will also be incredibly necessary in the days, months, and years ahead. Church is the place where people can gather, learn to converse with each other, learn to see each other as fellow human beings, learn to celebrate each others’ differences and call each other to account. Church is the place we can confess that we have done everything we could have in confidence, knowing each day the mystery of divine love is with us. This encounter with each other and with the divine is crucial for society. It keeps our egos in check.
The worship team met last Friday to work out themes and hymns for worship during Lent and Easter. It was a great meeting – good conversation, lots of questions, lots of ideas – a great sense of working together. For Lent the overall theme is “Full to the Brim” and we are using resources by ‘Sanctified Art’ – a group of very creative women who offer such worship resources. Recognizing that the love of God continuing overflows into our lives we have the courage to address the challenges, frustrations, difficulties and yes, the joys of life as well. It promises to be a meaningful season.
There will be daily social media posts to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter on this theme – all provided by Sanctified Art – they all tie into the theme of the services. We are working with Lauren Wasyluk to ensure all of this happens. Lauren has been and will be a blessing to the congregation in this regard. She has the knowledge and passion to enhance our social media presence.
This coming Sunday John Neufeld from the House of Friendship will be preaching. St. Andrew’s has a long history with the House of Friendship dating back many years, notably through the Potato Blitz. John will have new challenges to offer to the church. Please join us for worship or tune in as you are able. This Sunday is a TV Sunday.
Four people including myself, Gord Burnett, Margie Warren and Heather Ingram Smith also had a very productive meeting with Stephen Jackson from Anishnabeg Outreach. I mentioned them briefly last week. They are an indigenous organization doing wonderful supportive work for many indigenous people with the community of KW including social supports, job training, youth programming and support for cottage industry. They are hoping to partner with St. Andrew’s and will be meeting with us again. This is an incredible opportunity for us to be involved in the everyday work of reconciliation – developing new relationships and supporting people in very tangible ways. I am very excited about this.
Our youth are ready to meet in person once again. Youth meetings will begin at the church on Thursdays at 7 pm to 8:30. Youth tend to arrive a little earlier – around 6:30 or 6:45. Unfortunately due to time constraints in their day jobs, Courtney Brown and Cosimo Koller have resigned as youth leaders. I will be involved for the time being in some of the teaching of the youth. Andrew Hight is helping to get everything organized – something Andrew does incredibly well. We are looking for more volunteers to become engaged. If you are willing, please don’t be shy. A youth meeting in the near future will centre around ‘getting to know your own church’. There will be a tour of the building at St. Andrew’s all the way from the boiler room and sewage pit in the very basement to the Tower Room that soars alongside the stained glass windows behind the balcony in the sanctuary. As well we will explore the hidden depths of the secret room with the secret door that leads into the organ chamber! Sounds like lots of fun.
Lots of work happening around systems at the church as well. Presently we have a variety of software for various uses – a database for all members and adherents, another data base for a pictorial directory, accounting software, software to manage Camp K. The main database, although excellent is not user friendly. So we are studying the possibility of expanding the current database (called Churchwatch) to take on some of the other tasks, or looking at a software program that is easier to navigate and at the same time consolidate some of the necessary information. It sounds tedious, but it will be hugely beneficial moving forward, especially as we begin more intensive hybrid ministry and worship. So please stay tuned.
The study on Faith in Action is coming to an end. I will be offering two more videos on the topic for those who were not able to meet in person. I hope to have another video ready for this Friday.
Rev. Barb Molengraaf is offering a Bible Study for Lent beginning Wednesday March 9th @ 1:00p.m. for 6 weeks with Adam Hamilton’s Book, "The Way” Come and join us as we explore the places Jesus went in that last week. Please respond to this email if you want to register for that study.
And finally, a warm thank you to all who were involved in the intergenerational worship service led by Karen Orr this past Sunday. It was wonderful to have engagement from so many differing voices – from the very young to those of us who are a little older. It was a great service with a different feeling – a different ‘vibe’. Rachel Krampien had a guest with her – a friend from school who said after the service “I really enjoyed the service today”. And then she said, “I loved the organ”. Sometimes we are all surprised at what we hear – we assume that older traditional music is for older traditional people and younger more contemporary music is for younger more contemporary people. But that’s simply not true. The joy of an intergenerational service is that there are so many different spiritual experiences to enjoy and to learn from.
Take care everyone and have a great week.
Another church bulletin blooper for your laughter and enjoyment: “There will be an evening massage tonight at 6 PM”.
Marty