Blue Monday

 The link for this week's live-streamed service is here

Last week started badly for me. I was nearly knocked off my bicycle by another cyclist travelling in the wrong direction. When I called out that he was on the wrong side of the road he replied, "I don't care."

I picked up the mail and saw the lead story in Maclean's was about neighbours feuding with each other over the size of multi-million dollar "cottages."

My e-mail held a note from a distant friend fuming because she came home from vacation to find their neighbour had knocked down the line fence and re-sited it entirely on my friend's property.

The television news presented endless images of the ultimate self-centred event of our time, Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"I don't care" seemed to epitomize the world. Self-interest and greed trampled on sharing and the common good. All in all, it was a blue Monday. 

Then I got a call about the bottle drive at SPPC and took heart. I am surrounded by people who do care, who offer time, treasure and talent for the betterment of all.

Our church is known as a warm and friendly place. This is not just an accident of "nice" people coming together. Our welcoming, caring church community is a faithful response to the commands of the Lord.

The first chapter of Haggai exhorts the people to build up the house of the Lord. At SPPC we have a dedicated band of volunteers who build up the "house" with cleaning, grounds-keeping, gardening, running the sound system, reading the scriptures, dealing with rentals and keeping the fridge stocked, to mention just a few. These are people who care.

Titus 3: 1-2  Encourages Christians to be good citizens, . . . always ready to do what is good." As good citizens we obey the laws of the road, respect the rights of others, perform our civic responsibilities and offer a helping hand to friend and stranger -- and as a witness to our faith.

1 Peter 4:10 admonishes us to use our gifts to serve others. At SPPC we have folk who serve on committees, sing in the choir, make pastoral visits, and offer fellowship, among other thingss. Our congregation is generous in the support of missions world-wide. We have a particular interest in the Dominican Republic -- hence the bottle drive. These are people who care.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, "Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up."  At church we encourage each other with birthday wishes or coffee dates, with smiles and a warm handshake, or a gentle hug or a sympathetic tear.  We rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who mourn. People care.

Galatians 6:2 says, "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ."   In a structured way, our church  provides support for shut-ins, or the bereaved. In a less formal manner, we offer a sympathetic ear, when a brother or    sister-in-Christ pours out the troubles that beset them. A casserole left on the doorstep, a phone call on a dark day, all around are people who care for each other.

James 5:16 says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." Every Sunday there are prayers from the pulpit for the health and well-being of our congregation, our neighbours and our world. There is also a prayer chain for those who request prayer privately. They know their requests will be carried to God by a community that cares.

I feel sorry for the lad on the bike who doesn't care. He doesn't know the satisfaction of sharing or the exhilaration of helping. A life governed by "self" is narrow and drab and barren. A life lived in obedience to God's commands and in the service of others is one of joy and fulfilment and all the colours of Creation. 

So, farewell to blue Monday, and hello to gratitude Sunday.