Happy Easter!
Welcome to our updated blog.
We are a small and faithful church community committed to sharing the love of Jesus.
We gather to celebrate every Sunday at 10:30.
New members are always welcome.
Come out if you are questioning your faith, just curious or want to know more.
We spend time in fellowship following our worship service.
Everyone is welcome!
April 20, 2017
December 15, 2010
Christmas Eve Candle light service
Everyone is invited to Riverview United to celebrate Christmas Eve with us at 7:00 on Friday, December 24th.
Christmas Wishes
The Christmas season comes at a unique time of year. On one hand, it the period of the longest nights – the long darkness allowing time for reflection; for looking back and considering the year behind us. But it is also the time of lengthening day, of the growing light in the world when we can look ahead with hope to the future ahead of us. It allows a special opportunity – a time to reflect on the past year to gather what is good and useful in our lives that we want to carry forward into that brightening future as well identifying the unnecessary burdens and cares in our lives that we can throw away and discard. Christmas marks a time of new beginning, new hope - a new birth of Christ into our lives.
The congregation of Riverview United Church wishes that all Atikokanites, both near and far; past and present, have a great Christmas. We invite you to take time this season to take a break from the busyness and excitement to think about what Christmas really means to you and prepare for this upcoming journey into the new year – a time to ready yourself for that new adventure, free from old worries and open to follow new directions with renewed hope. We hope that your family gatherings are full of joy, your times with friends are filled with good cheer , and that you wake up Christmas morning with your stocking overflowing. But even more, we wish that on this Christmas morning, and every morning after, your heart is filled with the gifts of God, the gifts of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love; the gifts that were delivered to us with the birth of a little child almost 2000 years ago.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
The congregation of Riverview United Church wishes that all Atikokanites, both near and far; past and present, have a great Christmas. We invite you to take time this season to take a break from the busyness and excitement to think about what Christmas really means to you and prepare for this upcoming journey into the new year – a time to ready yourself for that new adventure, free from old worries and open to follow new directions with renewed hope. We hope that your family gatherings are full of joy, your times with friends are filled with good cheer , and that you wake up Christmas morning with your stocking overflowing. But even more, we wish that on this Christmas morning, and every morning after, your heart is filled with the gifts of God, the gifts of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love; the gifts that were delivered to us with the birth of a little child almost 2000 years ago.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
November 24, 2010
Advent Update
Although its been a while since the last update, life at Riverview continues on at a busy pace. We have been without a minister for a few months now, but the congregation has shown its usual spirit with lots of volunteers pitching in to keep the church vibrant and active both on Sundays and throughout the week in the community.
As we get prepared for the upcoming Advent season, we are pleased to have Rev. Frances Flook from Emo/Devlin leading worship on the First Sunday of Advent (Nov. 28) which will also include a communion service. We look forward to the church school pagaent on White Gift Sunday/3rd Sunday of Advent on December 12. We will also be having our traditional candle light service on Christmas Eve.
As we get prepared for the upcoming Advent season, we are pleased to have Rev. Frances Flook from Emo/Devlin leading worship on the First Sunday of Advent (Nov. 28) which will also include a communion service. We look forward to the church school pagaent on White Gift Sunday/3rd Sunday of Advent on December 12. We will also be having our traditional candle light service on Christmas Eve.
Advent marks the end of the church year and the beginning of the next – a time for new beginnings, new hope, a new birth of Christ in our lives. I invite you to look at this time as preparation for this new journey – a time that we can to reflect on the past year and take with us what is good and useful and discard all that is unnecessary burden. Prepare yourself to enter into this new season, free from the worries and open to follow our true ruler, Christ our Lord, who can lead us to places we might have never thought possible on our own.
June 21, 2010
Looking Ahead to June 27, 2010 -- 5th Sunday After Pentecost
This Sunday we celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism as we welcome Ashley Joy into the family of God.
The Scripture Readings this week are:
The Hymns this week are:
The Sermon title is So Long, Farewell...
Early Thoughts: 9 years in, how do we say farewell?
There are a couple of quotes echoing in my mind as I prepare worship this week.
June 30, 2001 I arrived in your midst. And now, after 9 years of ministry together we bring this phase of our lives to a close. Over that time we have laughed together and wept together. We have shared moments of joy and of sorrow. We have shared hopes and fears. We have found solutions to life's problems--sometimes. We have lived out a covenant relationship of mutual support and challenge.
Now it is time to pass on the mantle of ministry to other people and other places. We do so in sorrow and in hope. We do so knowing that the bonds of care and love continue, even though the relationship changes. We do so knowing that we continue to be linked by the love that is God-Made-Manifest in our lives.
Our Scriptures this week speak of leavetaking and changes. They also speak of hope and promise. As we bring our covenant of ministry to a close may we remember the good times fondly, may we remember the challenges as times of learning, and may we all move forward with hope and trust.
I close my last "Looking Ahead" entry on this blog with words often used to close UCW meetings and church camps I have attended, words from the book of Genesis (never mind that in that context they are as much [or more] curse/warning than blessing), words that are echoed in our closing hymn this Sunday:
God's blessing and love on all of you today, tomorrow, and forevermore.
--Gord
The Scripture Readings this week are:
- From the Jewish Scriptures: Isaiah 43:1-7
- Psalm 77 (VU p.791)
- From the Letters of the Early Church: Philippians 2:12-18
- From the Jewish Scriptures: 2 Kings 2:1-2, 6-14
The Hymns this week are:
- #410 This Day God Gives Me (verses 1 – 3)
- #644 I Was There to Here Your Borning Cry
- #558 We Gather Here to Bid Farewell (tune #20)
- #422 God Be With You till We Meet Again
The Sermon title is So Long, Farewell...
Early Thoughts: 9 years in, how do we say farewell?
There are a couple of quotes echoing in my mind as I prepare worship this week.
Always leave 'em wanting more --- Showbiz proverband some words of wisdom often shared among church staff (and campers and homeowners for that matter):
Leave a place in better shape than it was when you arrived.I sincerely hope I have done both because they are both gems of wisdom. Don't overstay your welcome, don't hang on too long. But while you are there, be present, be hopeful, work for the better, strive for mutual improvement and benefit.
June 30, 2001 I arrived in your midst. And now, after 9 years of ministry together we bring this phase of our lives to a close. Over that time we have laughed together and wept together. We have shared moments of joy and of sorrow. We have shared hopes and fears. We have found solutions to life's problems--sometimes. We have lived out a covenant relationship of mutual support and challenge.
Now it is time to pass on the mantle of ministry to other people and other places. We do so in sorrow and in hope. We do so knowing that the bonds of care and love continue, even though the relationship changes. We do so knowing that we continue to be linked by the love that is God-Made-Manifest in our lives.
Our Scriptures this week speak of leavetaking and changes. They also speak of hope and promise. As we bring our covenant of ministry to a close may we remember the good times fondly, may we remember the challenges as times of learning, and may we all move forward with hope and trust.
I close my last "Looking Ahead" entry on this blog with words often used to close UCW meetings and church camps I have attended, words from the book of Genesis (never mind that in that context they are as much [or more] curse/warning than blessing), words that are echoed in our closing hymn this Sunday:
May the Lord watch between me and thee; while we are absent one from another
God's blessing and love on all of you today, tomorrow, and forevermore.
--Gord
June 14, 2010
Looking Ahead to June 20, 2010 -- 4th Sunday After Pentecost
The Scripture Readings this week are:
The Hymns this week are:
The Sermon Title is Anchored or Adrift?
Early Thoughts: Two choices for any community or group (or even for us as individuals and families). Do we tie ourselves fast in place? Or do we sail madly wherever the wind takes us?
Some people and organizations have Will Your Anchor Hold as a theme hymn. They need and like the certainty of being grounded, of knowing where they stand. ANd there is good here. Being anchored and grounded means we know who and where we are. Being anchored allows us to plan carefully. But there is also a risk. We can become to firmly anchored, we can become stuck. We can think that this place where we are comfortable is where we always have to remain.
Some people and organizations have something more along the lines of I Feel the Winds of God Today as a theme hymn. They need and like the freedom to travel where the wind takes them, of being adaptive and changing with the world around them. And there is also good here. Moving with the wind allows us to meet emergent needs as they arise. We avoid becoming stuck and losing our relevancy. But of course there is also a risk here. We need a sense of who we are so that we can plan how to react to the winds. If we just fly free we can become really good at adapting but lose sight of why we are there in the first place.
In the end, most of us don't really live in either place most of the time. It is more helpful to envision a spectrum between those two points. And then we try to place ourselves along that line. Sometimes we are closer to the anchor, sometimes we are closer to the sail. Sometimes it depends where we are/what organization we are a part of/what our role in that place and time is. Because here is the secret. Any good ship needs both anchor and sail. Any good organization needs both as well. We need the benefits of being grounded and the freedom of coasting along.
Where are you on the spectrum? Where are the various communities and organizations of which you are a part?
--Gord
- From the Jewish Scriptures: 1 Kings 9:8-15
- Psalm 42 & 43 (VU p.768)
- From the Gospel: Mark 4:35-41
The Hymns this week are:
- #374 Come and Find the Quiet Centre
- #245 Praise the Lord with the Sound of Trumpet
- #660 How Firm a Foundation
- #649 Walk With Me
The Sermon Title is Anchored or Adrift?
Early Thoughts: Two choices for any community or group (or even for us as individuals and families). Do we tie ourselves fast in place? Or do we sail madly wherever the wind takes us?
Some people and organizations have Will Your Anchor Hold as a theme hymn. They need and like the certainty of being grounded, of knowing where they stand. ANd there is good here. Being anchored and grounded means we know who and where we are. Being anchored allows us to plan carefully. But there is also a risk. We can become to firmly anchored, we can become stuck. We can think that this place where we are comfortable is where we always have to remain.
Some people and organizations have something more along the lines of I Feel the Winds of God Today as a theme hymn. They need and like the freedom to travel where the wind takes them, of being adaptive and changing with the world around them. And there is also good here. Moving with the wind allows us to meet emergent needs as they arise. We avoid becoming stuck and losing our relevancy. But of course there is also a risk here. We need a sense of who we are so that we can plan how to react to the winds. If we just fly free we can become really good at adapting but lose sight of why we are there in the first place.
In the end, most of us don't really live in either place most of the time. It is more helpful to envision a spectrum between those two points. And then we try to place ourselves along that line. Sometimes we are closer to the anchor, sometimes we are closer to the sail. Sometimes it depends where we are/what organization we are a part of/what our role in that place and time is. Because here is the secret. Any good ship needs both anchor and sail. Any good organization needs both as well. We need the benefits of being grounded and the freedom of coasting along.
Where are you on the spectrum? Where are the various communities and organizations of which you are a part?
--Gord
June 08, 2010
Looking Ahead to June 13, 2010, 3rd Sunday Aftert Pentecost
The Scripture Readings this week are:
From the Letters of the Early Church: Galatians 2:15-21
Psalm 32 (VU p.759)
From the Gospel: Luke 7:36-8:3
The Hymns this week are:
#395 Come In, Come In and Sit Down
#266 Amazing Grace
#271 There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy
#424 May the God of Hope Go With Us
The Sermon title is Welcomed and Accepted
Early Thoughts: What do you mean we are supposed to welcome people like that? What does it mean to describe our selves as inclusive? Are we aware how well we do that?? Of where we fall short??
As General Council met in Kelowna this past summer the members of the Arctic Commission had this motion on their list of work (it came from Saskatchewan Conference):
If passed this proposal would have authorized a poll of the church asking if we wanted to change our constitution to say that all congregations were required to ensure they were open and welcoming to all people, specifically that discrimination (intentional or accidental) was not allowed based on that list of criteria. In some ways this seems common sense -- certainly the church should be as open and welcoming as possible right? In some ways it would be a hard fight -- who is some office somewhere else to tell us how we should operate? ANd certainly it was a major change in how congregations operate.
This proposal would require that all church buildings were barrier-free, that people of any race were openly welcomed, that economic status wouldn't be an issue (this is one of the hidden forms of discrimination in many areas of our country), that your marital status (single, married, divorced, living together) would never be an issue, that newcomers were as important as lifelong residents, and that sexual orientation would not bar anyone from any part of church life--including marriage. It was actually suggesting that a great deal of congregational decision-making be taken away. Why would they make such a suggestion? To hear someone from Saskatchewan speak to that question check out this YouTube video.
One of the cherished self-definitions within the United Church of Canada is that we are an "inclusive" church. We like to claim that as some sort of banner or rallying cry. Personally I am not always sure we know what we mean by it. Certinly I think that in many places we do a relatively poor job of living it out. Because of course, it is hard being inclusive. Our old patterns of believing what is appropriate get in the way. The prejudices and biases that we absorb unconsciously get in the way. And in some cases the percieved costs of being truly inclusive scare us away (think of churches trying to become barrier-free for financial issues, or the social stigma suffered by many within the UCCan due to our stand on issues on sexual orientation over the last 20 years). But we are in good company. People have been wrestling with these questions for centuries.
Sometimes we are tempted to think that we are better than we are. Sometimes we look at others and (either secretly or openly) give thanks that we are not a "Bad off" as they are. Sometimes we are so assured in our "rightness" that we miss the point of what others are doing. SOmetimes we need to be brought up short. Jesus does this in the Gospel lesspn this week as he talks to the Pharisee. He points out that to live the life of the Reign of God means that we welcome everyone, even people like that. As I look at our attempts to live the life of the Reign of God I think we need to open ourselve to questions around how inclusive we are in practice as well as in rhetoric.
Maybe the proposal from Saskatchewan Conference is calling the people of the United Church to seriously consider how wide their field of view is. Maybe we are being urged to ask ourselves what we really mean when we claim to be an inclusive church. Maybe we are being challenged to find ways to ensure that all are welcome, truly welcome, in this place.
It is hard. I know of some congregations that delude themselves. I know that many places truly aren't aware how they exclude some people. I know that some have decided that the costs of change are too big. But we have to take the questions seriously. As it stands, every Pastoral Charge in this conference is now required to answer this question when they produce their Joint Needs Assessment Report when beginning the search for ministry personnel:
Oh and what happened with the proposal? Well you will have to come on Sunday to find out.
--Gord
From the Letters of the Early Church: Galatians 2:15-21
Psalm 32 (VU p.759)
From the Gospel: Luke 7:36-8:3
The Hymns this week are:
#395 Come In, Come In and Sit Down
#266 Amazing Grace
#271 There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy
#424 May the God of Hope Go With Us
The Sermon title is Welcomed and Accepted
Early Thoughts: What do you mean we are supposed to welcome people like that? What does it mean to describe our selves as inclusive? Are we aware how well we do that?? Of where we fall short??
As General Council met in Kelowna this past summer the members of the Arctic Commission had this motion on their list of work (it came from Saskatchewan Conference):
That the 40th General Council 2009 adopt a policy that the Session (or Church Board or Church Council), in the exercising its duty of oversight of the order of public worship under 5.10.1 of the Basis of Union, may not discriminate against any group of persons on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, disability or status as divorced persons to the fullest extent, subject only to the laws of Canada, its provinces and territories as may exist from time to time, especially those which protect the vulnerable; and authorize a remit to test the will of the church with respect to this policy.(There was also a list of "whereas" clauses-- arguments explaining why the proposal was made. You can read them on pages 10 & 11 of this {.pdf} document) So what does it mean?
If passed this proposal would have authorized a poll of the church asking if we wanted to change our constitution to say that all congregations were required to ensure they were open and welcoming to all people, specifically that discrimination (intentional or accidental) was not allowed based on that list of criteria. In some ways this seems common sense -- certainly the church should be as open and welcoming as possible right? In some ways it would be a hard fight -- who is some office somewhere else to tell us how we should operate? ANd certainly it was a major change in how congregations operate.
This proposal would require that all church buildings were barrier-free, that people of any race were openly welcomed, that economic status wouldn't be an issue (this is one of the hidden forms of discrimination in many areas of our country), that your marital status (single, married, divorced, living together) would never be an issue, that newcomers were as important as lifelong residents, and that sexual orientation would not bar anyone from any part of church life--including marriage. It was actually suggesting that a great deal of congregational decision-making be taken away. Why would they make such a suggestion? To hear someone from Saskatchewan speak to that question check out this YouTube video.
One of the cherished self-definitions within the United Church of Canada is that we are an "inclusive" church. We like to claim that as some sort of banner or rallying cry. Personally I am not always sure we know what we mean by it. Certinly I think that in many places we do a relatively poor job of living it out. Because of course, it is hard being inclusive. Our old patterns of believing what is appropriate get in the way. The prejudices and biases that we absorb unconsciously get in the way. And in some cases the percieved costs of being truly inclusive scare us away (think of churches trying to become barrier-free for financial issues, or the social stigma suffered by many within the UCCan due to our stand on issues on sexual orientation over the last 20 years). But we are in good company. People have been wrestling with these questions for centuries.
Sometimes we are tempted to think that we are better than we are. Sometimes we look at others and (either secretly or openly) give thanks that we are not a "Bad off" as they are. Sometimes we are so assured in our "rightness" that we miss the point of what others are doing. SOmetimes we need to be brought up short. Jesus does this in the Gospel lesspn this week as he talks to the Pharisee. He points out that to live the life of the Reign of God means that we welcome everyone, even people like that. As I look at our attempts to live the life of the Reign of God I think we need to open ourselve to questions around how inclusive we are in practice as well as in rhetoric.
Maybe the proposal from Saskatchewan Conference is calling the people of the United Church to seriously consider how wide their field of view is. Maybe we are being urged to ask ourselves what we really mean when we claim to be an inclusive church. Maybe we are being challenged to find ways to ensure that all are welcome, truly welcome, in this place.
It is hard. I know of some congregations that delude themselves. I know that many places truly aren't aware how they exclude some people. I know that some have decided that the costs of change are too big. But we have to take the questions seriously. As it stands, every Pastoral Charge in this conference is now required to answer this question when they produce their Joint Needs Assessment Report when beginning the search for ministry personnel:
THe United church believes that God calls people of all races, ethnicities, abilities and orientations to ministry. Are there any theological or physical factors that would prevent you from welcoming any such persons to your Ministry site? Please specify and include your rationale.THis is a harder question than it seems. How would you answer it about the church you now attend? About other churches you have attended? How would you like to answer it? Inclsivity, to be meaningful, has to be shown in how we live and not just in words that we say. And yes, it is a hard thing to do at times.
Oh and what happened with the proposal? Well you will have to come on Sunday to find out.
--Gord
May 31, 2010
Looking Forward to June 6, 2010 -- 2nd Sunday After Pentecost
This Sunday we will be celebrating the 85th Anniversary of the United Church of Canada. As part of this Communion will be celebrated using the "Common Loaf" of the National Church.
The Scripture Readings this week are:
The Hymns this week are:
The Sermon Title is 85 and Going?????
Early Thoughts: From Hockey Arena in Toronto to the internet wired church. Where do we go from here? Where are we headed?
June 10, 1925. Representatives from the Presbyterian, Methodist, Congregationalist and Local Union Churches gathered in a Toronto Hockey Arena to mark the formation of a new, distinctly Canadian, denomination. Supported by an Act of Parliament (and various pieces of Provincial legislation), and after many years of negotiation, the United Church of Canada became a reality. At the time there were high hopes that this was but a beginning of becoming United. The hope was that more of the Protestant community would come to join in the Union.
85 years later, where do we find ourselves? Is there still a sense of hope for the future? I there still a sense of who we are as a denomination and what we have to share/offer?
To be honest, I am not really sure. There is a great deal of despair and pessimism in our midst. There are hard numerical realities that people have tried to avoid or ignore for decades that are becoming elephants in our midst. And there have been various responses, both by local congregations and by the national offices, that sometimes seem to be grasping at straws, even if the straws seem to have a good foundation.
The passage from Luke we read this Sunday tells of Jesus sending out the disciples. I think that there is a message for the Church in this. We need to become missional, we need to be more outward-focussed and do less navel gazing. But above all, it is my fear that we have lost our sense of identity and mission. We have lost our focus and raison d'etre. Unless we find that again, any changes (big or small) that we make will merely be shuffling deck chairs.
I do believe there is hope for the United Church. I do believe we have something vital to offer to our world. I also believe that it is time to look to a new way of being, not just re-organizing old ways. Where will we be in 2025 when we celebrate our centennial?
--Gord
PS> Click here for some information about where General COuncil Executive is steering this ship
The Scripture Readings this week are:
- From the Gospel: John 17:1-2, 6, 17-23
- From the Gospel: Luke 10:1-12
The Hymns this week are:
- 578 As a Fire is Meant for Burning (tune #374)
- 331 The Church’s One Foundation
- 601 The Church of Christ in Every Age (tune #20)
- 481 Sent Forth by God’s Blessing
The Sermon Title is 85 and Going?????
Early Thoughts: From Hockey Arena in Toronto to the internet wired church. Where do we go from here? Where are we headed?
June 10, 1925. Representatives from the Presbyterian, Methodist, Congregationalist and Local Union Churches gathered in a Toronto Hockey Arena to mark the formation of a new, distinctly Canadian, denomination. Supported by an Act of Parliament (and various pieces of Provincial legislation), and after many years of negotiation, the United Church of Canada became a reality. At the time there were high hopes that this was but a beginning of becoming United. The hope was that more of the Protestant community would come to join in the Union.
85 years later, where do we find ourselves? Is there still a sense of hope for the future? I there still a sense of who we are as a denomination and what we have to share/offer?
To be honest, I am not really sure. There is a great deal of despair and pessimism in our midst. There are hard numerical realities that people have tried to avoid or ignore for decades that are becoming elephants in our midst. And there have been various responses, both by local congregations and by the national offices, that sometimes seem to be grasping at straws, even if the straws seem to have a good foundation.
The passage from Luke we read this Sunday tells of Jesus sending out the disciples. I think that there is a message for the Church in this. We need to become missional, we need to be more outward-focussed and do less navel gazing. But above all, it is my fear that we have lost our sense of identity and mission. We have lost our focus and raison d'etre. Unless we find that again, any changes (big or small) that we make will merely be shuffling deck chairs.
I do believe there is hope for the United Church. I do believe we have something vital to offer to our world. I also believe that it is time to look to a new way of being, not just re-organizing old ways. Where will we be in 2025 when we celebrate our centennial?
--Gord
PS> Click here for some information about where General COuncil Executive is steering this ship
May 25, 2010
Looking Forward to May 30, 2010 -- Trinity Sunday (1st After Pentecost)
The Scripture Readings this week are:
The Hymns this week are:
Gord is off tending to new baby this week. Thanks to Brian for leading worship.
- From the Jewish Scriptures: Proverbs 8:1-4, 2-31
- Psalm 8 (VU p.732)
- From the Letters of the Early Church: Romans 5:1-5
- From the Gospel: John 16:12-15
The Hymns this week are:
- 399 God, Whose Love is Reigning o’er Us
- 291 All Things Bright and Beautiful (refrain at beginning and end only)
- 232 Joyful Joyful We Adore You
- 624 Be Thou My Vision
Gord is off tending to new baby this week. Thanks to Brian for leading worship.
May 18, 2010
Looking Forward to May 23, 2010 -- Pentecost Sunday
The Scripture Readings this week are:
The Hymns this week are:
The Sermon Title is What Language
Early Thoughts: The church is born amongst noise and fire and excitement. How do we get to understand what that is all about? What do we hear?
In Genesis we find the story of how the peoples of the world got sundered and divided. They have pretensions of grandeur. And it appears the God feels threatened and so God confuses their language and scatters them.
And then, in the Acts passage the sundering is undone. The languages are brought back together in the name of the One who prayed "that all may be one". The people from "all over the world" (or at least all over the Eastern Mediterranean) are united in hearing the Good News shared.
So what language allows us to be brought together?
The question is misleading. It suggests that there is some spoken languge that accomplishes the task, that is the antidote for the confusion of Babel. But there isn't one spoken language that does that. Think metaphor. The language that brings us together is the language of the Spirit.
What does it mean to speak Spirit-language? In some traditions the practise of ecstatic speech, of speaking in tongues is raised up as SPirit language. So that is one possibility. But could Spirit language be something else? Could it be something more available and accessible to all of us?
I think so.
--Gord
- From the Jewish Scriptures: Genesis 11:1-9
- Psalm 104:24-35 (VU p.827 Part 2)
- From the Life of the Early Church: Acts 2:1-12
The Hymns this week are:
- 198 Come, O Spirit Dwell Among Us (tune 374)
- 375 Spirit, Spirit of Gentleness
- 202 O Breath of Life (tune #437)
- 427 To Show by Touch and Word
The Sermon Title is What Language
Early Thoughts: The church is born amongst noise and fire and excitement. How do we get to understand what that is all about? What do we hear?
In Genesis we find the story of how the peoples of the world got sundered and divided. They have pretensions of grandeur. And it appears the God feels threatened and so God confuses their language and scatters them.
And then, in the Acts passage the sundering is undone. The languages are brought back together in the name of the One who prayed "that all may be one". The people from "all over the world" (or at least all over the Eastern Mediterranean) are united in hearing the Good News shared.
So what language allows us to be brought together?
The question is misleading. It suggests that there is some spoken languge that accomplishes the task, that is the antidote for the confusion of Babel. But there isn't one spoken language that does that. Think metaphor. The language that brings us together is the language of the Spirit.
What does it mean to speak Spirit-language? In some traditions the practise of ecstatic speech, of speaking in tongues is raised up as SPirit language. So that is one possibility. But could Spirit language be something else? Could it be something more available and accessible to all of us?
I think so.
--Gord
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)