Mustard Seed

It is kind of ironic that we have lately been talking about “Heaven is for Real” by Todd Burpo… and therefore the idea of death.

This week I received the shocking news that a 36-year old childhood friend passed away. Very suddenly, whilst in the gym.

Believe me, it stops you in your tracks. It makes you question, it makes you think, it makes you assess your faith.

And it made me think of an idea that has floated around in Youth group: that it will be easy enough to turn to God on your death bed. I’m pretty sure my friend didn’t think of that when he went to the gym, thinking he’ll go back home to stay with his kids, to give his wife a chance to go to the gym after he was done… His wife was probably looking forward to an hour in the gym, never thinking she would have to plan a memorial service this week.

You just never know when God calls your name. You cannot rely on the idea that you will have time to turn to God on your death bed. But that also means you have to get to the point where not only heaven, but God becomes ‘for real’…

Lately there has been a bit of discussion about religion being outdated and perhaps not even needed. This led me to the question: religion or faith?

I know from personal experience that there has been times in my life where I have moved away from “religion” – sure, I’ll admit that there were times when I did not attend a church. But did I lose my faith? Never! Did I probably depend on my faith more than ever at these times? You bet. I have no doubt in my mind that faith is as needed as ever, and cannot become outdated.

In Reverend Campbell’s book “People of the Promise” he has a sermon Role Models or Faith Models?  He discusses the difference: A role model points to self (the individual), while a faith model points to something greater – to Jesus Christ, who is “the same yesterday, today and forever”. (Hebrews 13:8)

“We are not self-sufficient as Christians… we need the influence and patterning of other Christians to help us grow in faith.”

Donald Miller in his book “Blue Like Jazz” has a similar thought: “Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way.”

Who is your faith model? Where can you look for a faith model? Once you find a faith model, it might be easier to get closer to Jesus – and then perhaps faith, and even religion and church might become more relevant in your life.

January 8, 2012

Let’s talk about EPIPHANY… and THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS… and where does BOXING DAY fit in?

Which of these have a Christian connection and which are secular?

What are the names of the three Magi?

Which day is ‘traditionally’ the day to take your Christmas Tree down?

What is celebrated on the first Sunday after Epiphany?

So many questions… how many answers? Hope to see you Sunday!

I had to smile at the first definition on Answers.com:

(ăd’vĕnt’)
n.

1. The coming or arrival, especially of something extremely important: the  advent of the computer.
2. Advent
   1. The liturgical period preceding Christmas, beginning in Western churches on  the fourth Sunday before Christmas and in Eastern churches in mid-November, and  observed by many Christians as a season of prayer, fasting, and penitence.
   2. Christianity.  The coming of Jesus at the Incarnation.
   3. Christianity.  See Second  Coming.

This coming Sunday, November 27th, is the first Sunday of Advent – and the Christian Education Committee is hosting an Advent Festival “Come with us to Bethlehem” at Westminster between 12 – 2 pm.  A light lunch will be provided, so please let me know if you plan to attend. $2 per person or $5 per family.

* During December, I volunteered our Youth Group for USHERING on the following Sundays: 4th, 11th and 18th. This means that you need to be there by 10am at the latest and also that I need to know who will be able to make it! We will greet people as they enter and distribute bulletins. We will also collect the offering.

See you this coming Sunday. Geza will be visiting us to talk about the Roman Catholic Church.

Blessings!

I hope you all had a good Halloween… on Sunday we read from the book of Judges (Samson’s story) – enough blood and gore fitting for a Halloween weekend.

This is what is coming up for November…

Nov 6 – we will do a Bible Study. Please bring your Bibles!

Nov 11 is REMEMBRANCE DAY. Here is the link to activities and events planned as part of Veteran’s Week: http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/veterans-week/events If anyone is interested in going to a Rememberance Day ceremony, let me know and we can make a plan. Remember to wear your poppies!

Nov 13 – DVD time!

Nov 20 – A SPECIAL INVITATION to the Shaarey Zedek Synagogue at 561 Wellington Crescent - 9:00 AM

Enjoy the great weather!

Hope to see you guys this Sunday during the service… I have a trick AND a treat up my sleeve for you

…Trick-or-treating is a customary celebration for children on Halloween. Children go in costume from house to house, asking for treats such as candy, with the question, “Trick or treat?” The word “trick” refers to a (mostly idle) “threat” to perform mischief on the homeowners or their property if no treat is given. In some parts of Scotland children still go guising. In this custom the child performs some sort of trick, i.e. sings a song or tells a ghost story, to earn their treats… Trick-or-treating resembles the late medieval practice of souling, when poor folk would go door to door on Hallowmas (November 1), receiving food in return for prayers for the dead on All Souls’ Day (November 2). – Wikipedia

From goulies and ghosties and long-leggedy beasties
And things that go bump in the night
Good Lord, deliver us!

PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL BE NO YOUTH CLASS THIS COMING SUNDAY, OCT 23… It is however Westminster’s Anniversary Sunday and you are, as always, very welcome to attend the service at 10.30am.

Also, please look at the following SPECIAL EVENTS and DATES and let me know if you are interested in attending:

1. MUSLIMS FOR PEACE – OPEN HOUSE

LEARNING WHILE ENJOYING DELICIOUS FOOD. Teach your family, friends and children a lesson of tolerance and end religious extremism by honouring, supporting, and celebrating peace at the Mosque.

Sat. October 22 between 12pm and 8pm at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Mosque at 525 Kylemore Avenue, Winnipeg.

I cannot attend this event with you, but if someone is interested, let me know and I will put you in contact with Geza.

2. HALLOWEEN…

Anyone wants to go to the SPOOKY GRAVEYARD TOUR on Hallowe’en E’ve, at St. John’s Anglican Cathedral in the middle of one of the oldest graveyards in Winnipeg?

Presented by the Royal Canadian College of Organists’ – Pizza dinner in John West Hall

Saturday Oct 29th at 5pm at the St. John’s Anglican Cathedral, 135 Anderson Avenue

Admission $10 per Youth at the Door – don’t worry about the costs, it is taken care of!

INTERNET SAFETY INFORMATION NIGHT – Monday, October 17 @ 7PM

The internet is a wonderful place for kids… as long as they are aware of the risks…

The Winnipeg Police Sex Crimes Unit will come and share with us about these dangers:

* Social Media  * Sexual Predators  * Sexting  * Chat Rooms media

 Kilcona Park Alliance Church, 1977 NORRIS ROAD, PH:222-7384

PLEASE JOIN US!

Change of plans for Oct 9th – it being Thanksgiving, many of you will not be here this weekend… but for those of you who are: we will have our own little Thanksgiving breakfast at Stella’s. Please meet me at Stella’s at 10.15am if you can!

(Please RSVP so that I know how many seats to save!)

… a very good place to start. When you read, you begin with ABC. When you sing, you begin with Do, Re, Me…  And if you can tell me where that is from, you don’t have to be the one that prays out loud on Sunday! Just kidding

But since September is all about new beginnings, I wanted to give you a heads up of our first 5 week cycle:

1. We will go back to the ‘start’ of Christianity and watch another DVD in the “Drive Through History” series.  This may include food! (September 18)

2. On Sunday, September 25 we will start with the 8 core stories of the Bible series, also taking us back to one of the first stories in the Bible. Please bring your Bibles along, you just might want to underline or highlight something.

3. Then on October 2nd it is Communion and the Youth was asked to help serve Communion again – as you did such a wonderful job the last time! More details to follow.

4. October 9th seems like a good day for a little Church Trip! Once I have approval from all the parents, I would like us to visit the Jewish synagogue. Judaism being one of the oldest religions in the world, it fits our theme of “start/beginnings”.

5. I will invite Geza to visit us on October 16th. We can discuss Judaism and our visit to the synagogue with him and he can answer any questions you might have.

Many blessings and see you Sunday!