July 12, 2011

Blest be the Tie that binds

our hearts in Christian love.

This summer we are gathering with neighbours for summer worship again. A week ago Dennis Filips led worship at St Paul’s and this Sunday it was Cathy Martin and Camille Kamphuis. They have taken us out of ourselves and centered us on God and each other. For the next two Sundays, the leader will be Rev. Steven Johann. Warren Mack is at our organ. All these people are part of Knox-Metropolitan United Church. Ensuing Sundays, we of St. Paul’s will lead worship at Knox-Met.

It’s a pleasure to get to know the neighbours. We are already becoming acquainted with some of their habits, such as a greeting time, a regular sung benediction and large-print bulletins. Of course we discover old friends, and see cousins, and share each others’ joys and sorrows. We have much in common.

As always, we make DVD’s of Sunday worship, and you may have a copy if you drop in. Feel free to call Joan and Lesli in the church office and ask them to mail one to you.

On the last weekend of July we will move to our neighbours’ spiritual home for four weeks. David Oberholtzer will be on the bench over there. I will lead worship July 31 on a theme of Sabbath. Frank Robinson, Allan VanderWell and Lee Foote are preparing the subsequent weeks.

We share many ties, and it is good to be connected in our city this way.

Blessings on you, neighbour.

The Rev. Dr. Catherine Faith MacLean

June 9, 2011

Sunday we honoured the St. Paul’s Foundation. Almost forty years ago the congregation agreed to purchase the apartments next door. Part of the seller’s intention was that they would continue to be operated without consideration of race, colour or creed, and that rents would continue to be income dependant. St Paul’s was faithful to that understanding. Several members of the church gave tremendously in time and energy to manage and maintain the apartments well.

In 1999 St Paul’s sold the aging buildings and found a way to continue the mission. Proceeds from the sale were invested, and interest is used each year to fund housing initiatives around the city. The Foundation honours the original intention by supporting charitable agencies such as Habitat for Humanity, the Boys and Girls Club, L'arche, shelters for children and women, and our Benevolent Fund.

Churches make a statement in a community simply by architecture:  buildings “tell” people we house spiritual events, study and worship. In a quieter way, the outreach we offer to housing needs speaks about the faith we share: that God cares, that a place to hang your hat is important, and that safely and security are a right we respect.

This is our heritage, and we are proud of it. 

    

Blessings to your home from your church, your spiritual home.

The Rev. Dr. Catherine Faith MacLean

May 25, 2011

The front entrance to the church is a riot of colour this week. Prayer flags are hanging between two trees. Each string of flags is a different colour:  red, green, purple, yellow, orange and blue. On Sundays during Lent people wrote prayers on coloured fabric and we suspended them on twine in the sanctuary; on Easter we put them all outside. They remind us that prayer goes on beyond our moment of speaking. 

Huge packages of insulation are stacked beside the church steps. The packages are blue. You may be aware that the roof is being replaced right now. The Youth Group coordinated our efforts to insulate the roof and people are making special financial contributions to it.

The insulation makes our church a safe space – a sanctuary – using energy carefully. When you think of it, it’s a metaphor, isn’t it? Your church is a place where people can seek safety for your prayers, your spiritual growth, your souls.

It’s also a reminder that we are stewards of creation: God calls us to look after this earth, our sisters and brothers, and the spaces where we live, grow – and worship.

Here in your church we remember you in prayer. And we know that your prayers, too, move beyond each place and time and bless this wonderful and weary world. 

    

Blessings to you from your church, your spiritual home,

The Rev. Dr. Catherine Faith MacLean

May 19, 2011

Sunday the congregation said farewell to Reverend Dirk Jessen and wished him well. Dirk had indicated early last fall that he would be moving beyond St. Paul’s this spring, and Sunday was our opportunity to acknowledge his ministry among us and to bless him on his way. He also spoke of the seven years with our congregation and blessed the church.

From the beginning people here have appreciated Dirk’s way of seeing the world, his intense interest in individuals and their personal stories, and his sharp wit. Early in his time here we were discussing the merits if bittersweet chocolate in worship, and he was quick: “Do you mean dirk chocolate?”

Here are two images from Sunday for you to treasure:

A poignant moment: In worship Jim Stewart stood at the front of the church, a place where Dirk has baptized, celebrated communion, and welcomed newcomers. In that spot Jim presented a candle he had made to Dirk. 

A tender moment: A picnic in Belgravia Park followed worship, complete with a barbeque, speeches, gifts and many, many desserts. The children made kites, something they have enjoyed with Dirk over the years. As we prepared to leave, five year old Jack stood still on a knoll, flying his kite.

Here is the Gaelic Blessing  the choir sang:

Deep peace of the running wave to you,

Deep peace of the flowing air to you,

Deep peace of the quiet earth to you,

Deep peace of Christ, the light of the world to you

Your church blesses Dirk, and you, with deep peace.

The Rev. Dr. Catherine Faith MacLean

May 2, 2011

Do you periodically wonder how you ended up here?

If someone had told me at age eleven that I would be happily living in Edmonton, I would have been very surprised. Alberta seemed far away to a girl in the Saint John River Valley.

Our lives set us in directions we hadn’t dreamed of. Often that’s a pleasure; sometimes it comes out of grief or loneliness or pain or hurt. The turn in the road onto an alternative journey may come through suffering.

Do you wonder about the suffering in your life? In the lives of your friends, of the world?

Here’s a great truth: Jesus lived a real life. He knew suffering: betrayal, denial, pain, even death. He became one of us and knows what it’s like. God knows what our lives are like.

And what a turn in the road! Resurrection, hope, trust, companionship, fullness of life: he’s been there. Jesus’ alternative journey gives us reason to be joyful rather than bitter, hopeful rather than despairing, compassionate rather than cynical, generous rather than stingy, seeking rather than hiding.

In your church we live into this joy, hope, compassion and generosity. We seek to discover and proclaim Jesus’ leadership on the alternative journey. Whether it’s along the Saskatchewan River or the Saint John, we know God is with us on the road.

How did you end up here?

    

Blessings,

The Rev. Dr. Catherine Faith MacLean

April 26, 2011

Happy Easter!

I trust the pictures on these worship bulletins will help you feel connected to your church. The Easter bulletin displays the painting at the front of our sanctuary, which been inspiring people since it was dedicated a generation ago. The image on the back shows you what we did during Lent. The coloured fabric drew our attention to what was missing, and on Easter morning we saw it: the empty cross.

The Good Friday bulletin features the cross in the Friendship Room, which replicates the image in Elva Frederking’s chancel painting. Hold it next to the Easter bulletin and you’ll see what I mean. Dave McNabb made it a few years ago. As you know, through Lent we have been considering Spiritual Transformation through the Arts, and this cross was one of the images in our very first week, Wood and Sculpture.

The empty cross reminds us that all the fears we have will be defeated, overcome, removed, eradicated by the fulfillment of our Christian hope. The whole inhabited world is transformed. That’s pretty hard to believe when we are in difficult times, but that is the point. God cares enough to be with us, cares enough even to empty the cross and the tomb, and carry on with us beyond our fears. Christ is risen! 

     

Please know that your hopes, fears and concerns are important to your church, and that we pray for you. A blessed Easter season to you.

The Rev. Dr. Catherine Faith MacLean

April 20, 2011

Finally Easter is arriving!

Palm Sunday we heard familiar words, and considered how we speak or hear phrases that have the power to change lives: I know. Forgive me.  I understand. I love you. You can trust me. Goodbye. Welcome home. Hosanna. And of course, Jesus is the Word made flesh.

In this most sacred week of the Christian year, here are words to pray:

Thank you, God, because through your holy Easter mystery, 

it is as though we stumble out of a tomb,

as though we come out of the shadow, rubbing our eyes,

as though mystery unveils before us, and takes our breath away:

and we see, right before our very eyes:

All our loss and sorrow is turning back

     Turning back from the edge of death

            Death is not the last word

                 The last word is from the heart

                        From the heart comes pain

                             Pain carried by movement, like waves on the ocean

                                    Waves on the ocean rise and fall

                                        Rising and falling we trip again

                                                Trip again and fall on our face

                                                     Fall flat on your face

                                                            Face the truth

                                                                 Truth comes from the heart

                                                                        Heart of the Word

                                                                             The Word.

                                                                                    Amen.      

We pray for you, and the world.

The Rev. Dr. Catherine Faith MacLean