The United Church of Canada developed Gifts with Vision in response to member requests to be able to give gifts to relatives, friends, and loved ones that are in direct support of the church's Mission & Service partners. Your loved one receives a card telling them what program or activity you have donated to in their name. Visit the Gifts With Vision website to learn about gifts addressing poverty and hunger, supporting education and healing, both here in Canada and around the world.
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SouthWest Service for October 18, 2020
Here is the pre-recorded service for Sunday, October 18.
The Farmer's Prayer
[From Angela Barraclough via Pastor Beryl]
A while back I read a story of a visiting pastor who attended a men's
breakfast in the middle of a rural farming area of the country.
The group had asked an older farmer, decked out in bib overalls, to say
grace for the morning breakfast.
"Lord, I hate buttermilk," the farmer began. The visiting pastor opened one
eye to glance at the farmer and wonder where this was going.
The farmer loudly proclaimed, "Lord, I hate lard." Now the pastor was
growing concerned.
Without missing a beat, the farmer continued, "And Lord, you know I don't
much care for raw white flour."
The pastor once again opened an eye to glance around the room and saw that
he wasn't the only one beginning to feel uncomfortable.
Then the farmer added, "But Lord, when you mix them all together and bake
them, I do love warm fresh biscuits."
"So, Lord, when things come up that we don't like, when life gets hard, when
we don't understand what you're saying to us, help us to just relax and
wait until you are done mixing. It will probably be even better than
biscuits."
AMEN
Within that prayer there is great wisdom for all when it comes to
complicated situations like we are experiencing in the world today.
Stay strong, my friends, something even better is going to come.
New Testament 101: Hebrews
Many religious people in the first century after Jesus’ birth, both Jews and Gentiles, had questions about the religion of the early Christians. They were looking for evidence that this new faith was genuine. Jews had the miracle of the crossing of the Red Sea and the agreement made with God at Mount Sinai to support their faith. But what miracles did Christians have? Jews had beautiful worship ceremonies and a high priest who offered sacrifices in the temple so that the people would be forgiven. But what did Christians have? How could this new Christian faith, centered in Jesus, offer forgiveness of sins and friendship with God?
The letter to the Hebrews was written to answer exactly these kinds of questions. In it the author (traditionally Paul the Apostle was thought to be the author. However, since the third century this has been questioned, and the consensus among most modern scholars is that the author is unknown) tells the readers how important Jesus really is. He is greater than any of God’s angels (1:5-14), greater than any prophet, and greater even than Moses and Joshua (2:1-4, 14). Jesus is the perfect high priest because he never sinned and, by offering his own life, he has made the perfect sacrifice for sin once and for all time. (9:23-10:18). By his death and return from death he has opened the way for all people to come to God (4:14-5:10, 7:1-8,13).
This letter has much to say about the importance of faith. The writer points out that what Jesus offers comes only by faith. And this faith makes his followers sure of what they hope for and give them proof of things that cannot be seen. The writer praises God’s faithful people of the past (11: 1-40) and encourages those who follow Jesus now to keep their eyes on him as they run the race (12: 1-3).
What does it mean to have a high priest like Jesus?
Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was temped in every way that we are. But he did not sin! So, whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness and we will find help. (4:15, 16)
A Quick Look at This Letter
1. The Greatness of God’s Son (1:1-4)
2. Jesus is Greater Than Angels (1:5-2:18)
3. Jesus is Greater Than Moses and Joshua (3:1-4:13)
4. Jesus is the Great High Priest (4:14-7:28)
5. Jesus Brings a Better Agreement (8:1-9:22)
6. Jesus’ Sacrifice is Once and for All (9:23-10:31)
7. Some of God’s People Who Had Great Faith (11:1-40)
8. Follow the Example of Jesus (12:1-13, 19)
9. Final Prayers and Greetings (13:20-25)
Pastor Beryl
Thanksgiving is celebrated by all of Canada’s founding nations
[Originally published last year in the Manitoulin Expositor (Northern Ontario's oldest newspaper), this editorial reminds us how our Thanksgiving differs from the American version and that it has its origins in Indigenous peoples' gratitude for the harvest.]
By Expositor Staff - October 16, 2019
The power of US cultural dominance often leaks through into other countries, often to the confusion, and sometimes detriment, of those countries’ own cultures and experiences—particularly when it comes to historical interpretation of celebrations.
As we dig into the leftovers from this past Monday’s holiday meal, we might do well to reflect on a few Canadian thoughts.
The first Thanksgiving celebrations in North America took place when most of the people living in our region referred to this continent as Turtle Island. The Indigenous inhabitants gave thanks to the harvest season long before any Europeans even dreamed of this vast and bountiful land.
The first Europeans to celebrate a day of thanksgiving were not the pilgrims who landed at Plymouth Rock who figure so prominently in the American foundation mythology. That particular historical marker goes to Sir Martin Frobisher, as he and his crew are credited as the first Europeans to celebrate a Thanksgiving ceremony in North America in 1578.
The next group of Europeans to bow their heads in prayer to the Creator were the inhabitants of New France under Samuel de Champlain in 1606. The Pilgrims’ first Thanksgiving in what they termed the New World didn’t take place until 1621. Not only were those icons of (white) American cultural identity literally thousands of years behind the first peoples of this land in offering thanks for the bounty of the growing season, they were also pretty much Johnny-come-latelies when it comes to the settler celebrations. So why do we let that image define our Thanksgiving?
This is a time, as leaves turn from various shades of green to a multifarious riot of colours, to remind us to look around at all that for which we should be thankful. Thanksgiving is not a celebration of colonial dominance. In truth, thanksgiving has been a component of many cultures and, as a celebration, it far predates the arrival of Christianity to Turtle Island, even for those who follow the Book of Mormon.
So, no matter however, whatever and to whomever one decides to give thanks for the bounties that enrich our lives, the Canadian Thanksgiving should be a time we come together to realize that, in the grand scheme of the global division of resources, we as Canadians all have much reason to give thanks.
Certainly there are many who have less than others, and the gap between the rich and the poor is steadily growing in this nation, but we still enjoy a much smaller gap than those who count the Pilgrims among their forebears. Those pilgrims were refugees, fleeing the intolerance and discrimination they faced in their English homeland and they were welcomed (and by all accounts aided and supported) by the peoples who inhabited this land before them.
Perhaps in our own national narrative, especially in these times of a seeming growing intolerance, Canadians old and new should reflect on how much we and our ancestors owe to those who now share their land with us. Then, following that reflection, we should as a nation give thanks to our hosts because it is the polite thing for a guest to do.
SouthWest Service for Sunday, October 11
Here is the pre-recorded service for Thanksgiving Sunday.
Pastor Beryl Barraclough; Sarah Fraser, Music Director, and Katherine Black, soloist, and Dennis Brown behind the camera.
Order of Service October 11, 2020
Below please find downloadable PDFs of this Sunday’s bulletin, as well as printed lyrics of the hymns.
All Saints Memorial November 1, 2020
UPDATE: A decision has been taken to hold this service in person on Sunday November 1st, provided that the government restrictions imposed from October 1st to 28th are not extended. Pastor Beryl is moving forward with preparations for the service. If it goes ahead live on the 1st, it will be filmed and shared on our website so that those who can not or do not want to attend in person may watch it as of the 2nd of November. If it becomes unadvisable to hold the service live, it will be pre-recorded as we have been doing and available to watch on November 1st. In addition to the Memorial tributes, the service will also include Communion.
To add names to the list of those being remembered at the service, please contact the office by phone or e-mail by Tuesday, the 27th of October.
ORIGINAL POST:
At this point we don’t know if we will be able to have our traditional All Saints Memorial service at the church on November 1st. We can say that it will go ahead in one way or another, but might have to be a pre-recorded service. Names of those we have lost in our congregation and wider community will be read aloud. It is not too early to contact the office to add names to the list. Here is the invitation to the service:
Please join us…
Annual All Saints Memorial Celebration
Sunday, November 1, 2020,
SouthWest United Church
Dear Friends
Jesus said: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (MEV)
Just as Jesus named the blessed ones, in our annual day of remembrance on November 1st, we too will recall and give thanks for those who, in life, blessed us and have now gone before us.
As our annual celebration of All Saints approaches, you are warmly invited to join us in our All Saints Communion and Memorial Tribute.
As you know, SouthWest does not solicit funds for funerals but, rather, receives offerings “in loving memory” of those who have gone before us. All gifts given to the fund are gratefully acknowledged and a receipt is given for tax purposes.
Memorial gifts received before October 28th will be acknowledged during the service. If you wish, you can e-mail or call the office to confirm your participation.
We hope that you can join us and look forward to seeing you on November 1st at 10:00 a.m.
Beryl Barraclough Dennis Brown,
Pastor Clerk of Session
“Do you not know that a man is not dead while his name is still spoken?” - Terry Pratchett
A Thanksgiving Message
Psalm 100:4-5
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Canadian Thanksgiving is upon us. This year it looks so different as we continue to struggle with Covid-19 restrictions and advisories. In my own 74 years, I cannot remember a Thanksgiving without family and friends around the table. This year, I cannot imagine the kitchen without the wonderful aroma of festive food. I cannot imagine the dining room without decorations and hints of fall’s bounteous reds, oranges and yellows.
And, most of all, I cannot imagine SouthWest Sunday worship without evidence of the harvest’s blessings – beautifully displayed as a reminder of how good God is indeed.
Yes, this year has been challenging in so many ways. We have lost loved ones and have been unable to say proper goodbyes, we have postponed weddings and baptisms and, perhaps most difficult of all, we have been unable to gather for worship and fellowship.
But, in spite of all of this, we continue to worship in spirit and faithfulness. For those who have access to the internet and You Tube, Sunday worship has continued in some form or another. And for that, I am thankful!
Katie Taylor, from World Vision Advocacy, said “One of the best things about thankfulness is that the more you choose it, the easier it gets. The more you profess gratitude, the more you notice things to be grateful for. The thankfulness muscles respond to exercise!”
With that thought in mind, I wish each and every one of you a blessed Thanksgiving. May you find one thing in each day to be thankful for. No matter how small or insignificant it may seem to you, praising God is at the heart of the Christian tradition and finding even one small blessing is a beacon of light in the darkest times.
Be well, and be with God.
Pastor Beryl
New Testament 101: Philemon
Philemon was a wealthy man who owned slaves and who used his large house for church meetings (2). He probably lived in Colossae since Paul’s letter to the Colossians mentions Onesimus, a slave of Philemon, and Archippus (Colossians 4: 9, 17).
Paul is writing from jail on behalf of Onesimus, a runaway slave owned by Philemon. Onesimus had become a follower of the Lord and a valuable friend to Paul, and Paul is writing to encourage Philemon to accept Onesimus also as a friend and follower of the Lord.
This letter is an excellent example of the art of letter-writing in the Roman world and it is the most personal of all Paul’s letters. The way the letter is written suggests that Paul and Philemon were close friends.
A Quick Look at this Letter
1. Greetings to Philemon (1:3)
2. Paul Speaks to Philemon about Onesimus (4-22)
3. Final Greetings and a Prayer (23-25)
Beryl