Advent 2 2022

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

This Sunday we lit the second candle of Advent, the candle of peace, and celebrated the Lord's Supper.

    Rev. Irwin was back in the pulpit (welcome home Irwin and Diane) and he spoke of how society doesn't really recognize Advent as distinct from Christmas. Coincidentally, I had been asked that question just a few weeks ago. "What is Advent?" inquired my interlocutor, who had already put up her Christmas decorations.

    "A time of waiting," I replied. "A time of quiet and contemplation." A very simple reply to a complex topic but it was the best I could do.

    We're not good at waiting. I have a friend on the waiting list for medical treatment. The wait is draining him of "life," as he avoids any activity that could aggravate his heart condition. I have every sympathy with him for disliking the wait. But that's a different kind of waiting than what we do in Advent.

    I remember an adage from my youth that said "anticipation is half the fun." Waiting was vital to making Christmas Day wonderful. We used the month of December to plot and plan and dream and imagine the perfect Christmas morning. There were events leading up to the Big Day -- concerts, and carolling, and baking, and decorating, and letter writing, and counting how many Christmas cards arrived in the mailbox. We counted the days of waiting as a blessing. 

    Sunday's scripture was about John the Baptist and his cry to "Prepare the Way of the Lord." There is no shortage of preparations taking place for the great unwrapping of gifts on Christmas morning, or gorging on a feast on Christmas afternoon. But John called on us to prepare our hearts too. For that we need inner peace. We need time to pray. We need a period of waiting.

   

Among the preparations for Christmas are opportunities to visit. Last month a couple of our elders invited their district members to an Advent gathering in the lounge. Thanks to Joan for sharing the picture. 

And here is advance notice for one of my favourite Advent activities, a Community Carol Sing, on Dec. 18, at 2:00 pm in the Sanctuary. Bring your friends and lift your voices in favourite carols. Refreshments will be served. Parking is free. The welcome is warm.

May your waiting this week be blessed.

Advent 2, 2021

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

 

 Just before the church was decorated for Christmas, Friendship Coffee returned to the building. This very popular fellowship event was held outdoors in the Rose Garden in Sidney during the summer months, but that option doesn't work in winter weather.

    Nearly 30 people gathered in the hall/sanctuary at the usual time on a Thursday morning to visit and catch up on "life." The gathering operated under the Public Health "planned event" guidelines which meant everyone present had to show proof of vaccination. Cards were scanned at the door.

    Rather than the usual serve yourself routine, coffee and goodies were brought to the tables and carefully served out by masked servers. Great goodies, by the way. The organizers noted that most people stayed at one table instead of moving about as we did in pre-COVID times but the fellowship was lively and deeply desired. 

    The only hitch in the proceedings was getting folks to leave. It speaks to the hunger we have for fellowship that the gathering ran well past the allotted time and, in the end, the last stragglers had to be "encouraged" out the door.

    Provided we don't get new restrictions in the next few weeks, a second coffee morning will be held on Dec. 16. More details will be available as we get closer to the date.

• Don't forget, we are collecting for White Gift until Dec. 12. 
• Donations for the Food Bank are extra important during the Christmas season. Boxes are in the narthex.
• Gerald celebrates his birthday on Dec. 13

Signs of the times:

 A server will seat you shortly. Thank you for your patience.   If you've run out of patience please fill in an application. We're hiring.

 

The world is short staffed. Be nice to the ones who show up!

The above greetings posted in restaurant doorways speak to the general grumpiness of the population, worn out with nearly two years of pandemic restrictions. Probably not the best way to approach Christmas but perhaps a tiny hint of life for the Israelites under Roman occupation. Into that world of fear and injustice and pain, was born a "Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. King of Kings, Prince of Peace, Emmanuel."

    As an antidote to our fretfulness, the Times-Colonist published a story about a family rescued from the landslides on Highway 7 at the height of our first storm. There were about 250 cars on that stretch of road, trapped between two slide zones. One van with a family of five was caught in the mud and sent down an embankment, rolling over several times before coming to rest against a couple of trees. Among the people stuck on that stretch of road were medical professionals, a military reservist, and many people of good will. They banded together to rescue the passengers in that van, get them up a 30 foot embankment, and carry the severely injured teenager across the debris field to an ambulance waiting on the other side. 

It is a story of high drama, extreme danger, heroism, and the best of humanity. If you haven't read the story already, here is a link. heroic rescue

On this second week of Advent, let us reflect on the peace candle. Peace in the sense of shalom, peace that allows us to look at each other through the eyes of heaven, to recognize, in the stranger, a brother or sister, a child of God. 

May you all live in the light of hope and peace in the coming days.