Wednesday, August 8, 2024
Barb and I just returned from a couple of weeks holidays and I am now back in the office. Earlier this week I was contemplating the power of holiday, rest time and began to think about God moments. What are God moments? Do you experience them? I suppose everyone has a different definition of a God moment. But, for me they are moments (even if they are only for a minute of so) where you are fully in the present and by being fully in the present you can soak in the beauty and the awe of all that is happening around you. I had a number of those moments while on holidays. It has been a busy year so church stuff kept crowding into my conscience and I had to work hard to let it all go, to be present – fully present and simply drink in the surroundings – the lake, the birds, the wind, the laughter of children and Barb’s smiling face. Those moments are powerful. They are pure joy. They touch us to our core. They are experiences of the divine – they are God moments.
Sometimes its hard to get there. I was reminded of course I took a number of years ago. The facilitator was trying to help us to settle our minds, to let go of things in order to rest and to drink in the beauty of God. He said sometimes just two words helps. And then he yelled those two words at the top of his lungs. “STOP IT”. Just STOP IT’. At first there was dead silence. And then all of us started to laugh. We understood what he was saying. Sometimes we just have to interrupt the ongoing and ever present racing thoughts in our minds. Sometimes the only way to do it is to say ‘stop it’ to ourselves. I did that a number of times over the holidays. ‘Stop it, Marty. Just stop it’. When uttered in self love, not self criticism those words are powerful and can lead to what I call God moments.
God moments are needed not only during the summer time. They are needed throughout the year. My prayer is that you will find them when you need them.
In terms of what is happening here at the church, final negotiations with Nexus are underway. We will be signing a 5 year lease with Nexus for them to use Iona Hall as a worship space shortly. They will begin on September 8.
On August 23 we have another meeting with KW Redeemer. They are hoping to lease our sanctuary for their worship use. I look forward to that meeting. Although KW Redeemer’s use of the sanctuary may mean a small change in the time of our worship service (9:45 potentially) their use of the sanctuary and church school spaces from 11:15 onwards again helps us to use the building to support our ministry and outreach and offers another strong partner in that ministry.
I was reminded recently of the mission statement the congregation approved back in 2023 for the building. I have copied it here as a reminder. It is an excellent statement that will help us to move forward in the days and years ahead.
Our building is a gift from God to be used to its fullest potential to serve the community with grace, love, compassion, and inclusion. We strive to do so with joy in our hearts. We will continue our long tradition of being a welcoming, caring presence in our community by looking outwards and sharing our building with others.
Take care everyone, hope your summer is going well.
Rev. Marty Molengraaf (he, him)
Minister, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church