Beryl's Blog: Lent 4

As we approach our fourth week in Lent, I am journeying with Daily Reflections on Hope and Change, from the book “Faith on the Move”. Today, I am adapting and sharing with you words from a story submitted by Chris Pullenayegem.  Chris is an immigrant of Sri Lankan origin and The United Church of Canada’s lead staff person for Faith Formation and Congregational Mission and ministry animator with EDGE. I should point out that all the stories in this book have been submitted by refugees or new arrivals to Canada and are musings on the journeys they have travelled.

This week’s story is entitled “From A Hole to Wholeness”.

Genesis 45:7-8 NIV

7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.  8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

As a child, Joseph gave his ten older brothers a lot to be angry about.  The obvious fact that he was his father’s favourite, coupled with his prophetic dreams, was enough for his brothers to plot to get rid of him for good.  But, instead of killing him, they put him in a pit.

Opportunity knocked and they sold him to some slave traders en route to Egypt – an action which set up a chain of reactions which ultimately saved the nation of Israel.  Who would have thought that Joseph would, in essence, become the Prime Minister of Egypt?

God had a plan and needed Joseph to simply stay true to his faith and exercise integrity, in spite of the many trials he would face.

Genesis 45 narrates a beautiful account of the harvest of forgiveness and reveals how God’s actions, moving through people, are part of a large plan for the redemption of humankind.

Such redemption, however, requires a willingness on our part to stay true to our faith, believe in God’s omniscience and trust God to move in our lives.

Let us pray:

Thank you, God for your leading and guidance in our lives, and the lives of those around us.  May we yield to your all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever- present willingness to walk with us to establish your purpose for our lives and our world. Amen

Covid-19 Vaccination Campaign

Well, the vaccinating has begun. Here in the Montreal area it has now been made available to anyone 70 and over. We know a few SouthWest people have already had their appointments and others are scheduled.

The latest news suggests that pharmacies will be offering the shot within a couple of weeks. That could be a good alternative for anyone nervous about going to a large vaccination site. Some other provinces are offering at-home vaccination for shut-ins. So far there is no such offer from the Quebec government but it may come.

If you have been vaccinated for Covid-19 or have accompanied someone to their appointment we would love to hear about the experience, whether good or bad.

Contact the office by phone: 514 768-6231, or e-mail: southwestunited@gmail.com

We are grateful for ongoing salary support

The following is a word from Douglas Hastie, Co-Treasurer for SouthWest United, who is also an accountant.

During 2020 SouthWest United benefitted from two of the Federal government programmes that were introduced to help registered charities, among other entities, survive during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. SouthWest received $32889.93 from the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) programme. This subsidy represented reimbursement of a portion of the church salaries paid between March 15 and December 19. When the CEWS programme was originally introduced it was scheduled to end on December 19. The Federal government subsequently extended the expiration of this programme until June 5 of this year. SouthWest has continued to benefit from the programme and hopefully will continue to do so until its expiration.

The second programme that SouthWest has benefitted from is the Temporary Emergency Wage Subsidy (TEWS). This programme started on March 18 and ended on June 19, 2020. SouthWest received $1755.51 from the TEWS programme. This subsidy reimbursed 10% of the church salaries paid between March 18 and June 19.

We are grateful for this government support during these months when we have not been able to carry out normal activities during which we have continued to pay our employees as they have continued to work.

Respectfully submitted,

Douglas Hastie

Pastor Beryl's Blog: Lent, Week 3

As we approach our third week in Lent, I am journeying with Daily Reflections on Hope and Change, from the book “Faith on the Move”. Today, I am adapting and sharing with you words from a story submitted, once again, by Won Hur.  I should point out that all the stories in this book have been submitted by refugees or new arrivals to Canada and are musings on the journeys they have travelled.

This week’s story is entitled “Banished from Eden”.

They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord among the trees of the garden.  But the Lord God called to the man and said to him “Where are you?”  He said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”  He said “Who told you that you were naked?  Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”     Gen: 3: 8-11

It must have been heartbreaking for Adam and Eve to be banished from their home in the Garden of Eden, a paradise on earth, because they ate the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge.  As a result of this, Adam had to work for a living, and Eve had to endure painful and dangerous childbirth.  But, before that, Adam and Eve hid themselves because they were ashamed of their nakedness.  They were also feeling guilty for denying God.

We, too, hide when we are ashamed, when we feel we have done something wrong or made mistakes which can tarnish our reputation or impeccable self-image.  We stay away from our churches or, sometimes, even leave the church altogether.  We alienate ourselves from the very source which nourishes our spirits.

Yet, God does not give up so easily.  Perhaps God called out to Adam and Eve not because God did not know where they were, but, rather, God wanted Adam to self-reflect on why he felt the need to hide from God? 

In his ministry, Jesus recognized that people do feel unsettled or uneasy in this world.  On this Lenten journey with Jesus, we are invited into the new reality which Jesus described as the kin-dom of God. Dwelling in that realm entails welcoming the strangers in our midst, knowing that we have all been strangers at one time or another.

Let us pray:

O God, sometimes we feel lost in this world.  Sometimes we feel as if we are wandering aimlessly, without clear direction or meaning.  In our times of solitude, you ask “Where are you?”  Give us the courage to reflect honestly, and to see that you are always trying to find us and lead us into a new spiritual home in you.  Amen

 

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