Looking Ahead to October 1, 2006 -- Worldwide Communion Sunday, 17th After Pentecost

The Scripture readings this week are:

• Psalm 124 (VU p. 848)
• From the Letters of the Early Church: James 5:13-20
• From the Gospel: Mark 11:20-25

The Hymns this week are:

• 457 As We Gather at Your Table
• 245 Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet
• 664 What a Friend We Have in Jesus
• 468 Let Us Talents and Tongues Employ

This Sunday we will also hear a Presbytery report from Elvin, Christina and Josh.

The Sermon is titled Why Pray?

Early Thoughts: There are so many things that we need to do on any given day. There are so few spare moments. There is always some other demand on our time. Why pray? Why take time out to do something that appears so terribly unproductive as pray?

This summer I used a week of study leave to go on a retreat. During that time I met with a Spiritual Director. As I was talking about feeling drained and tired (she suggested having three children 3 and under might contribute to that--you think?) she asked how often I took time to reconnect to the Source. To be honest, fairly little, not enough most likely. Why pray? Because prayer time is where we set ourselves aside from the world to connect with the One in who we live and move and have our being. Prayer is what can empower us to go forward.

When we don't take time to reconnect and re-establish our relationship with God, then God becomes more distant. (Really this isn't all that surprising -- what happens when you don't talk to a friend for a long time?) When we set aside time to pray, to be in conversation with the Holy we can build a relationship that is tested and tried. Prayer is vital to our spiritual health, just as food and water are for our physical health.

In his epistle James says Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them. In his writings Paul talked about praying without ceasing. WE pray because we know we need God in our lives. We pray because we know we can't do it alone. Why pray? Harder to argue why NOT pray. The challenge simply is to make it a priority, to take "unproductive time" and build ourselves for the productive time (besides who is to define what makes some things productive and others unproductive anyway?).
--Gord

BOard Meeting Highlights

At the recent Board Meeting we:

• discussed the new Hymn Book Supplement More Voices (see post below)
• decided to purchase a fire safe for the church office
• decided to purchase signs advising that no motorized recreation vehicles are to use the church property (this is due to safety and insurance concerns)
• discussed the questions Who are we? and Why are we here? as a part of Visioning work
• discussed the AGS Charity Campaign and our part in it
• got caught up on the life and work of the church

The next Board meeting will be on Wednesday October 18.

New Hymn Book Supplement

The United Church of Canada in conjunction with Wood Lake Books is releasing a supplement to VOices United which, logically enough, will be called More Voices.

THis book will have over 200 pieces of sacred music for congregational singing. SOme of them will push us beyond piano and organ into percussion instruments, guitars, and a capella singing. THere will be pieces from all over the world, with about a third being Canadian.

More Voices is due to be released in February of 2007 (there is a sampler of 21 pieces that has been mailed to every congregation in the country). Each book will cost $15 but if you pre-order by November 15, 2006 there is a 10% discount available. Also available will be an audio CD (MP3 format) that will sell for $110.

At their meeting on September 19 the BOard discussed whether or not to order some copies. A final decision was put off until the next Board meeeting on October 18. IN between now and then we need to hear from the congregation. What do you think? Should we order this book and how many copies? (It is expected that payment would come from the existing Hymn Book Fund and any new donations to that fund are welcomed.)

Board Members Wanted!

We are looking for more Board members! At the Annual Meeting in February we will have multiple vacancies on the Board.

We are looking for people who are committed to taking an active part in the life and work of the church. We want people who are excited about the possibilities in Riverview’s future. Do you feel called to this ministry? Do you know someone who you think has a gift to share? Let Gord know.

Looking Ahead to September 24 2006 -- 17th Sunday after Pentecost

THe Scripture readings this week are:

• From the Jewish Scriptures: Proverbs 31:10-31
• Psalm 1 (VU p.724)
• From the Letters of the Church: James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a
• From the Gospel: Mark 9:30-37

The Hymns are:

• 236 Now Thank We All Our God
• 357 Tell Me the Stories of Jesus
• 579 The Church is Wherever God's People
• 649 Walk with Me

Thanks to Lorraine for providing worship leadership this week while Gord is in Keewatin at the Fall meeting of Cambrian Presbytery.

Don't forget that next week, October 1, is Worldwide Communion Sunday and we will join with our brothers and sisters around the world in celebrating the sacrament.

Hey! There's FOOD!

It is the fall and that means the UCW Harvest Supper is approaching.

It is on Sunday October 1 and tickets are now available. Call the church office for more information.

Looking Forward to September 17, 2006 -- 15th Sunday After Pentecost

The Scripture readings this week are:

• From the Jewish Scriptures: Proverbs 1:20-33
• Psalm 19 (VU p. 740)
• From the Letters of the Early Church: James 3:1-12
• From the Gospel: Mark 8:27-38

The Hymns this week are:

• 409 Morning Has Broken
• 238 How Great Thou Art
• 372 Though I May Speak
• 506 Take My Life and Let It Be

This Sunday we will also hear a report from Christina and Josh, who attended the Children and Young Teens event at General Council last month.

The Sermon is titled And a New Year Begins -- What Lies Ahead?

Early Thoughts: There are many things we call "New Year's". One is the beginning of the calendar year on December 31-January 1 (as it happens December 31 will be a Sunday in 2006 and we will have a special New Year's worship on that morning). Then in the church we talk about the liturgical year which starts on the first Sunday of Advent (December 3 this year). But the one New Year which likely impacts our day-to-day lives the most is the beginning of September.

The beginning of September, for many of organizations, marks the beginning of a new program year. Summer holidays are over, school is starting, which means that people will be around rather than out at the lake, and people are starting to fill in their calendars for the fall/winter.

The concept of a New Year intrigues me. It has the ring of a chance to start over. It has the smell of hope and promise. It tastes of possibility. So what can we do with all this newness, this hope, this possibility.

This summer I spent a lot of time thinking forward, musing on what the future may hold. And the question that spurred some of that thinking was How healthy/viable is Riverview as a congregation? Are we thriving? Struggling? Dying? And what do we do next? As mentioned elsewhere in this blog, the Board will be doing some visioning work this fall to look at some of those questions. But it is the whole congregation's job to do that, not just the Board and minister.

Part of the role of paid ministry is to lead. Part of the role is to step back and let others lead. Part of the role is to lay out in words some of what you see as potential hurdles and potential leaping off points. This Sunday I am planning to do some of that. We will hear about some of what is happening in the larger part of the United Church of Canada. We will talk about what might need to happen here. We may even name some of the real struggles that lie in our path. And the hope is that we can start working together to recapture a sense of vision, a sense of what we can add to the life of Atikokan. Only once that vision is present can we move toward greater health and vitality.
--Gord

Vacation

Gord will be on vacation from August 16 to September 13. A special thank-you goes to those who are providing service leadership in his absence:

• August 20 -- Noreen
• August 27 -- Elvin
• September 3 -- Joan
• September 10 -- Marj

As a part of this time Gord will be taking one week of study leave to go on retreat. After his return he will share what that experience was like.

Just as a reminder, General Council is meeting this week in Thunder Bay. Keep up on what is being decided by visiting the UCCan website.

COming Attractions!

In addition to the Bible study mentioned earlier (scroll down a couple posts for more) here are some other Christian Education possibilities for the Fall/Winter of 2006-07.

1. The music of Advent and Christmas -- a four week study overlapping with the end of the one on Jesus' Prayer. Each week we will look at and discuss some of the hymns in Voices United for the Advent and Christmas season (likely one week on Advent and 3 on Christmas, or two and two). If we are able to have musical leadership we may sing some of them as well. Sunday evenings or afternoons starting November 26.
2. Exploring the Heart of Christianity -- a 12 week study starting in early-mid January. This study looks at Marcus Borg's book THe Heart of Christianity. As with the fall study on Jesus' Prayer, participants would be asked to purchase a copy ($20.95 plus shipping and taxes) for the study. Also this will be offered in both an evening and an afternoon session should need/desire be there. This study can double as a confirmation program for adults or teens interested in making a profession of faith and becoming what the United Church calls "full members".
3. Something for Easter. The Easter story is the core of our faith. I am looking for ideas for some sort of study to meet for the 4 weeks of April to help us explore the mystery of Resurrection.

Looking Forward to August 13 -- 10th Sunday After Pentecost

The Scripture readings this week are:

• From the Hebrew Scriptures: 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33
• Psalm 130 (VU p.853)
• From the Letters of the Early Church: Ephesians 4:25-5:2
• From the Gospel: John 6:35, 41-51

The Hymns this week are:

• 232 Joyful, Joyful We Adore You
• 20 On Jordan's Bank
• 626 I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say
• 422 God Be With You Till We Meet Again

The Sermon will be based on the Ephesians reading and is titled God's Transformation -- How Can we become Imitators of God?

Early Thoughts: The first three times I read this passage I was left wondering what to do with it. Do I ignore it and preach about the upcoming meeting of General Council (which starts this Sunday)? Do I preach on one of the other passages? I simply didn't see what I could have to say about this one. But then I read it again and saw the way in.

This passage is a call to be transformed. It talks about putting away falsehood, about thieves giving up stealing, about putting away bitterness, anger, slander and malice. Then comes the real kicker. It calls us to be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love. Oh yeah, that sounds nice and easy doesn't it?

In her piece Imago Dei Jill Warner writes:

Imago Dei, Imago Dei,
Born in the Image of God are we.
Imago Dei, Imago Dei,
Called to compassion, born to be free.
How shall we live as images of God?
How best reflect the wonder of our maker?
Humbly we will walk, with mercy respond
And know the Essence of Love is always with us. Refrain

How shall we love the neighbour filled with greed?
How best respond to those consumed by hatred?
Look beyond the fear that keeps them from knowing
The Abundance of Love that's always with us. Refrain
©2004 Jill Kirsten Warner

How indeed do we live as images of God? How can we be imitators of God? By letting the Essence of Love flow into and change us. Being one of the people of God means allowing ourselves to be transformed, changed. It means remembering that we are created in God's Image and that we have a responsibility to live that out. That is what this passage is telling us.

It sounds hard doesn't it, to change our ways? But it is possible. That is the key, the important thing to remember, it IS possible. With the help of God it is possible to live as an imitator of God, to let God shine through all we are and all we do. The last verse of Imago Dei says:

Then shall we see the images of Christ.
Then shall we know that God is in our neighbour.
Humbly we will walk, with mercy respond
And know the Essence of Love is always with us. Refrain
©2004 Jill Kirsten Warner

There it is. It is possible. And when we start to live it out for ourselves we see God's imitators living around us too. And if we all start to do that, what a wonderful world that would be.
--Gord