Minister's Annual Report for 2020

Well that was a year to remember! Or possibly a year we might want to forget? At any rate 2020 was a year that was different than any other in my lifetime.

A year ago as I sat down to write my annual reflections I would never have expected that within a few short weeks I would be preaching to a camera and uploading to YouTube and not seeing people every Sunday morning. But that is sort of the defining image of the year – an empty (or almost empty) church and a camera and a computer screen.

So what have we learned in this year of being the church during a pandemic? What were the highlights of the year?

I think the biggest thing we have learned is that we can adapt and change pretty darn quickly when we need to. As an institution the church is not noted for being adept at change, but on March 15 schools were closed and at a special Council meeting on March 16 we agreed that we had to suspend in-person services. By March 25 we had a plan for how that would look, we had a plan for a phone blitz to be in contact with people (especially those for whom we did not have an e-mail address), and we had set up a Zoom account so we could have gatherings in virtual space as needed. Over the next few months we came up with a plan for getting extra cleaning done while the church was not being used, various groups got more comfortable with using Zoom for their meetings, we started weekly (actually twice weekly at first) on-line coffee gatherings. We had communion in a virtual space. We developed and implemented a plan for how we might resume in-person services. And then we turned back and moved into an online-only existence again at the end of the year. As a congregation a lot of changes happened this year – largely without any major bumps. This is something to celebrate!

Some of the changes we have made this year will not go away. The biggest piece that will not go away is that now we are a church that shares our worship services not only with those in the building but online. Last February live streaming our worship was not high on my “to do” list. It was on the radar but not a priority. COVID changed that. There is no going back now. I wonder what new opportunities that might open up for us?

There is at least one more highlight for me this past year. Our stewardship stepped up. I am not thinking only in terms of dollars and donations, which kept constant despite everything else. I also think of those who volunteered for our Garage Sale, and those who delivered and made phone calls and those who shared videos and photos for worship events. And so many other things that happened this year only happened because people shared their time, talent, and treasure. Thank you for all of it!

2020 was a very strange year. We had to do things very differently. Some of it felt (and still feels) very strange. But we were there for each other. And God was there in the midst of it all. There are, I am sure, many non pandemic-related items to talk about from last year but really my focus for the year was reacting and adapting to COVID. To be honest I am not sure I have finished processing it all for myself. And so I think I will close with these words from Scripture:

"I have much to write to you, but I would rather not write with pen and ink;
instead I hope to see you soon, and we will talk together face to face."
3 John 1:13

Be blessed my friends.
Gord.

Looking Ahead to February 28, 2021 -- 2nd Sunday of Lent, Year B

 The Scripture Readings this week are:

• Mark 1:14-15
• Mark 8:31-38

The Sermon title is Is It Time?

Early Thoughts: When? Now? Tomorrow? Last year?

And what will we do about it?

According to Mark's Gospel Jesus starts his ministry with the words "The time is fulfilled". Some other translations read "the time has come".  It is probable that the arrest of John precipitates this. But time for what? The time for the Kingdom of God it is here, now among you.

A few chapters later Jesus is pushing his friends about what it means to live into the Kingdom of God which has come near. He talks about arrest and suffering and death and life. He talks about losing life to save it. He talks about taking up an instrument of execution. His friends are less than impressed.

Is it time for the Kingdom? Is it time to give up life to save it? Is it time to pay a price for a larger goal? In 2021, entering the 2nd year of a global pandemic (and I write this on the day when the USA is expected to pass 500 000 deaths due to Covid-19), what is it time for? 

I think there are many possible answers to go with that last question. But first a digression. Whenever I read about time in Scripture I call to mind two words: chronos and kairos, Greek words that talk about two different understandings of time. Chronos is the word that would talk about time as we usually  talk about it. It is the root of words like chronological or chronometer. I think that when we talk about the Kingdom or Reign of God we are talking about kairos. Kairos speaks about the time being right, about the opportune time.

So if the kairos is fulfilled or come what is it opportune for? Here in  2021 what is it the right or opportune time for? Is it time for the cross that leads to life?

Sometimes the time is right but the people are not ready. I think this is where Peter finds himself in the second passage for this week. Peter is not yet ready to hear what it means to champion the Reign of God in the midst of the Reign of Caesar.What Jesus describes is not what Peter thought he was signing up for (although I often wonder if Peter had a clue what he was signing up for that day by the sea).

Pandemic restrictions have led us to give up many things in the name of short-term pain for long-term gain. It may not be to the level of taking up a cross but it is still a level of sacrifice that many of us would not have chosen back on February 28, 2020. We do it not only because we are ordered to, we do it because we love and care for our neighbours. It is my belief that if we are acting faithfully as citizens of God's Kingdom than everything we do needs to be done for the fulfillment of the Kingdom, and of the love which underpins that Reign. When we give things up, when we take things on, we do it for the sake of the Gospel -- each in its' own time.

Walking on the road with Jesus is not always fun. Sometimes Jesus leads us into dangerous, even scary, places. But Jesus calls us to follow in the service of a larger gain. Maybe it is time after all?

I wonder how all these thoughts will coalesce into a sermon in 6 days? But I have some time after all....
--Gord

Looking Ahead to February 21, 2021 -- 1st Sunday of Lent, Year B

 The Scripture Reading this week is Genesis 9:8-17

The Sermon title is Rainbow People, Covenant People

Early Thoughts: In recent years the Rainbow has taken on a deep meaning within the LGBTQ+ community. Since 1978 it has been the image used on the Pride flag, but it seems to me that it really only hit the mainstream within the last 10-15 years or so. The rainbow, has also been used as an image of diversity and inclusion in racial issue (such as Jesse Jackson's Rainbow Coalition). These are great uses of the effect created when light passes through a prism. Scripturally speaking however, there is a far older meaning for the rainbow.

It goes back to the story of Noah. The story of Noah is, in many ways, the story of a capricious God. God determines that the human experiment is not going well and decides to wash most of them away. But then it appears that God repents. God seems to realize this was not a healthy reaction to the brokenness of human and promises never to flood and destroy the earth again. The symbol of this promise is the rainbow.

The rainbow continues to remind us of our covenant relationship with God. The rainbow continues to remind us of God's promise. This is one of the great covenants in Jewish Scripture. It is a covenant with the whole of creation, including humanity. As the text says, this covenant is everlasting. It is still in force.

We are all people of covenant. We are all people who live in relationships based on promises. We are all people bound to each other not only by contracts but by the holy language of promise and commitment and covenant.

What does it mean to live as covenant people, living in the shadow of the rainbow? I think it encompasses both the Pride flag and the Rainbow Coalition -- and many other things. In the verses just before this week's reading humanity's part of the covenant is laid out -- an injunction against murder. To live as people of the covenant means that we do things that facilitate life and that we choose not to do things that lead to death. It is a whole life commitment.

We are covenant people. Let us live out our part. God will remain faithful to God's part
--Gord.

Looking Forward to February 14, 2021 -- Valentine's Day, Transfiguration Sunday

 The Scripture Readings this week are:

• 1 Corinthians 13
• 1 John 4:18-21

The Sermon title is Love Transforms

Early Thoughts: Fear casts out love. Love is patient and kind. Love rejoices in the truth.

It is easy, perhaps especially on Valentine's Day, to get overly romantic and schmaltzy when talking about love. When we read about love in Scripture romance and schmaltz need to disappear form the discussion.

Scripture talks about the love that changes who we are and how we are. Scripture shows us the powerful force that love is in the Reign of God. Scripture reminds us that to truly love another is commanded, is holy, is an essential part of being a mature child of God.

Paul's hymn to love is often read at weddings. In large part because it is a beautiful discussion of love. In part (I believe) because people hear it at one wedding and decide they want it at theirs -- which then becomes a continuous process. But I often wonder if people really listen to those words at a wedding -- okay basically I doubt people are really at a wedding for the Scripture Reading and message in the first place. The love Paul describes in the middle of that hymn is almost utopian. It is almost other-worldly. No wonder he ends by saying the greatest of these is love. Love like that described in this hymn is truly transformative.

This Valentine's Day let us pause to consider the powerful nature of love. Let us ask ourselves how love has transformed our lives (and how we have resisted love's transforming power). This transformation is both personal and communal. Let's put aside the flowers and candles and intimate dinners of two this year and talk about the fullness of love.

And we don't need to be afraid to embrace the power of love. Because love casts out fear.

--Gord

Looking Forward to February 7, 2021

 All are reminded that we are continuing with online only worship until at least the end of February (Council will re-evaluate at our February meeting) Sunday Worship can be found on our You Tube Channel.

This being the first Sunday of February the service will include Communion. You are invited and encouraged to have elements available as you join in the worship service at home so we can all eat and drink together.

The Scripture Reading this week is John 1:35-51

The Sermon title is Come and See

Early Thoughts: It is a story about invitations. It is a story about seeking people out, finding them. It is a story about curiosity, and also one about skepticism. It is a story about recognition.

That is a lot for 17 verses....

[Scene 1] We start with John the Baptist recognizing who Jesus is and pointing him out to the people with John. This starts some curiosity, which leads people to go and talk to Jesus. Jesus then invites them to come and learn more. This starts some excitement and leads Andrew to go find his brother Simon. Andrew shares what he has recognized in Jesus and invites Simon to come and learn more, upon which Jesus recognizes Simon as someone special and renames him Peter. [EndScene]

[Scene 2] Jesus finds and invites Philip to follow him. Philip goes to find Nathanael to tell him what Philip has recognized in Jesus. Nathanael is skeptical that anything out of Nazareth is worth a fuss so Philip says, in essence, "come and see for your self". Then we have this odd discussion about the fig tree and signs and symbols. [EndScene]

What makes us recognize that something special is happening around us? What makes us recognize the God has entered the building? What makes us curious enough to look closer and see what is happening?

Once we come to that realization what do we do? Do we go out and find others we have to let in on the secret? Do we invite others to come and join in? If we are invited in what might make us skeptical? What might counteract that skepticism?

We are called to be curious. We are called to search for people. We are called to invite others to come and see for themselves what we have found.
--Gord