Worship for June 20, 2021

Hello everyone! Welcome to worship.

Yes, we are still worshipping on-line, for now. No date has been set for when we will be gathering for in-person services (we have decided to wait until the Province goes to “Stage 3”), but we can see light at the end of the tunnel.

In the mean time, we hear the story of Jesus calming the storm. But there’s a twist in this version of the story.

And we pray that we would be open to the twists that Jesus brings, even if they make us a bit uncomfortable….

Peace be with you all!

Worship for June 6, 2021

Welcome to worship.

This has been a difficult week. We are still overwhelmed by the news from Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc (known by Settlers as Kamloops, British Columbia).

What should also overwhelm us is the fact that much of this damage was done by the church. In the name of Jesus.

That’s how we justified it, anyway.

Well, no more. No more justifications, no more excuses, no more pretending. It’s time to own up.

We did this.

So today’s service is about confession.

But it’s also about today. Changing direction today. Realigning ourselves with God’s will today. Living into the gospel today.

We can’t go back to our comfortable life, our comfortable past, our comfortable oblivion.

The call of God won’t let us.

It will be hard. It will be painful.

But not as painful as discovering 215 children in a mass grave.

May we be aware of God’s presence as we travel this difficult road together.

Prayers for the Children

We are horrified. Two hundred and fifteen children, buried in a mass grave, with no marker, no recognition, and most with no notice to family.

This is wrong on so many levels that the mind reels.

I am under no illusion that these prayers will somehow make this better. Or give us understanding of what happened. Or bring healing and reconciliation.

We are not there yet, and won’t be for a long time.

But this is a necessary first step.

In the church, it’s called confession. It is admitting that we are not what we ought to be. We are not even what we want to be.

We start here. With that hard truth about ourselves.

And we embrace the fact that this will be a long journey, one which we dare not refuse.

We have, in the past, attempted to refuse this journey.

But we can clearly see the result of this refusal, friends: a mass grave with two hundred and fifteen children.

Let’s take this step together. Pray. Confess. Weep.

And let’s commit to taking the next step together, too.

As Pope Francis says, “That’s how prayer works.”

Peace.

Worship for May 9, 2021

Hello everyone.

The provincial government has extended the current Covid lock-down through the end of May, so we will be worshipping virtually at least that long.

Fortunately, we had planned on doing that this week anyway! Therefore, below is a link to the video which has been prepared for your use, your prayer, your reflection, your worship.

If you need assistance during this difficult time, please do be in touch.

If you know of someone who needs assistance during this time, please do be in touch. We have resources which can make a difference.

Peace be with you all.

Vaccinate!

We have the opportunity to follow our Lord in bringing healing and health to our world. All we have to do is get the Covid vaccine.

Currently in the province of Nova Scotia, people 55 years old or more are eligible to get the vaccine. Also, in addition to Kinley’s Drug Store, the pharmacy in the Independent Grocery Store in Lunenburg is now offering the Moderna vaccine, and has spaces available.

To book your appointment to get the Covid vaccine, go to the Nova Scotia Corona Virus website at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/book-your-vaccination-appointment/, or call 1-833-797-7772.