Thursday, April 16, 2015

April 16, 2015

Easter has come – and stayed. We celebrate the Easter season till mid June at church, and every Sunday as an Easter people. Did you know every Sunday is a little Easter? Christianity is a faith of resurrection, hope and love.

This upcoming season is one of study for me. I have been awarded a grant to examine many of the ways we in the United Church of Canada speak of God. I am also part of a writing team for an upcoming textbook: my chapter is about how God has been understood in different periods of United Church history. I will be reading, writing, and interviewing colleagues, historians and theologians.

The way we speak of God reflects not only what we think about God, but also what we expect God thinks of us. It is the crucible for our understandings of human relationships, our place in the world, and our treatment of the earth. It is the basis of our faithful response to life.

That may sound heavy! Or it may sound intriguing. In any case, I wanted you to know why I am away from St. Paul’s for a while. I will be back August 25, looking forward to the next season of life and faith together with you.

Meantime, may you find blessing in the warmth of summer.
May you feel blessing in the family and friends who love you.
May you know blessing in the prayers that hold you in church, and the Spirit of God in your everyday life.

Blessings to you,


The Rev. Dr. Catherine Faith MacLean