March 16, 2022
Good morning everyone,
The war in Ukraine is on everyone’s mind these days – the horror of war is so devastating. We see pictures that we can’t get out of our minds. And sometimes we catch ourselves feeling guilty because we are laughing and enjoying life and on the other side of the world small children are dying. In a way war freezes us – we don’t know what to do, we don’t have the answers, we can’t make it stop, we feel powerless
I love the poetry and writing of Maya Angelou. Sometimes poetry says things we can’t understand in any other way. This is one of her quotes:”
'A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song. '
When those who cause war make the world stop singing, they have won. Life is hard, but it is good to be alive. We need to be alive for the people of Ukraine. We need embrace hope, we need to sing, we need to laugh, we need to live life to the full, so that they have something to celebrate. Ukrainians need to know there is life beyond what they are experiencing right now. Yes, we need to share in the their suffering but we also need to sing a future for them - with lives filled to the brim, overflowing in the boundless grace that we call God.
This week continue to pray with me for the people of Ukraine, and as you are praying, pray too for many people within our congregation – some are deeply affected by what is happening in Ukraine, some are struggling with illness and death of loved ones both here in the KW area and far away in distant lands as well. Prayer helps us to stay connected. It is a means of communication with each other than can be powerful. Knowing someone is praying for you gives hope, courage and strength.
Here are a few things I am working on right now:
We may be close to hiring an office co-ordinator. A team of people have been interviewing potential candidates and I think we are close. If all goes well we may have something to announce soon. Please pray for us in this situation too
The governance circle is meeting tonight to follow through on some of the work done with Rev. Herb Gale. We are looking at the possibility of engaging a consulting group to work with the session to help us in a new way of the session making decisions. More about this later.
Three meetings this week about the Emergency Warming Centre – all about ensuring we are addressing the pinch points that come up and continuing to keep lines of communication open.
Planning for Holy Week services – yes it is that time already. Holy Week and Easter will be here before we know it. This year we plan to host a Maundy Thursday Agape Meal Service at 6 pm in the sanctuary, seated on tables in the form of a cross. If people are uncomfortable sitting that close, we will do the same but at family tables either in the sanctuary or in the Elizabeth Room. An Agape meal is an informal way of celebrating the Last Supper Jesus had with his disciples. There will be time for conversation, sharing in a simple meal of cheese, crackers, soup, bread and fruit, and a time of communion all within a 45 minute worship experience. It is a beautiful service that I look forward to every year and would encourage you to attend.
Andrew Hight and I have taken on leadership of the youth group for Thursday nights. We have had three sessions with the youth so far and I must say I have enjoyed it very much. It is good to get to know at least some of our youth. I look forward to the times we have together. Andrew is great at organizing it all and I am doing the teaching part and just having fun. I encourage more youth to join us. We continue to wear our masks and try to keep each other safe. We are having a good time – so come join us.
Hybrid ministry – it is going to be exciting. Already Lauren Wasyluk has increased our social media presence, begun to rework our web page and done some work in the background to help us move to a new presentation software program called ProPresenter. I am meeting with Lauren on Thursday afternoon to continue in our next steps.
I think that’s enough for now. Have a wonderful week, please don’t forget to sing and to pray. God’s blessings on all of you.
Marty