For now, and until the end of July, I'll be posting a prayer on Mondays and Fridays.  On Wednesdays I'll post a video reflection for the Picture the Bible Series still. 

A prayer for May 31, 2021

I just finished watching the House of Commons take a moment of silence in remembrance and in mourning of the 215 children whose bodies were discovered at a residential school in Kamloops. This is the first time I have heard of such a discovery and plan to journey through the investigative parts throughout, to learn and mourn and grow. It pains me to think that there are people who use their leadership or their faith as a tool that can cause harm. It pains me to think that humans could even think that one person is better than, more worthy than, more blessed than another. I sit with the first creation story in Genesis, where, after everything is created by God, God said “it is good.”

Holy God, help to keep us humble in our humanity, in our faith, in our ego and pride, in our education, and in our roles as leaders in this world. May we be people who are reflective – searching out the best and the worst parts of us – so that we can grow into who you call us to be… who you know we can be. May we not use your grace as a free card to do bad things, but as a way of moving forward after coming to you, accountable for our thoughts and actions. But God, help us to learn the negative and move forward in positive ways. Making promises and living them out in action by supporting, by calling for accountability, calling for justice and calling for truth.

As we begin our week, help us to hold onto hope as COVID positive tests numbers in Ontario are the lowest they have been in 3 months. Help us to watch the Leafs play tonight, noticing the audience and living into what is possible once we’re fully vaccinated.

Be with our friends and neighbours here and around the world who are in need. May they feel your comforting presence surround them. Be in our hearts, our minds, and our souls as we enjoy the sunshine and the company that surrounds us in various ways. And… may we turn the news off and do something that we find joy in, in this day. We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qp5Ck6BsWJQ

Picture the Bible Reflection for May 28, 2021
 
This week’s focus is The Baptism of Jesus. We’re reading the story in Matthew 3:1-17 and you can access it here:  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%203&version=NIV
 
Baptism can be described as the sacrament of belonging.  We baptize people into the fellowship of the wider Christian community. In our faith, most are small children, often infants, and are brought to the font for baptism.  I dip my fingers in the blessed water and baptize them, with a little water on their forehead, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost.  It’s a time where we present the person being baptized with a candle as a reminder that God’s light shines in the world and within them.  For children, it’s a welcome into the faith. For adults, it can be something bigger than that – a welcome into our faith and a deeper connection with God and who we are.
 
I was baptized as an adult in a Presbyterian Church in Strathroy.  I did not grow up in the church but had been exposed to church mostly through friends.  When I chose to change the direction of my life, I talked to the minister there over a little bit of time.  I was baptized in front of the church on a Sunday morning and never look back.  My baptism marked a milestone in my life and my path.  It wasn’t about changing all of who I was, but choosing to see the good, to see the light, to choose the light, and to share the good and the light in the world. Before, I focused on the negative and felt the world was against me.  Within my baptism, I chose a different perspective, and it truly has changed my life for the better.
 
During COVID, we’ve only had one baptism within our church family and were blessed to have done so in the backyard of the family within safe COVID parameters.  We do our best to make the service and baptism most meaningful to the family.  If you have any questions about baptism or wish to be baptized, please be in touch. 
 
One of my favourite baptism hymns is: “Child of Blessing, Child of Promise”. https://youtu.be/98iT_yxfXSU
 
My prayer for us today:
O Holy God, thank you for the sacrament of baptism and what it means for each of us and for our Christian faith as a community.  Help us to remember that water is a precious resource for the world and that it can hold special meaning for us if we choose to make it so in each moment of our lives. Help us to remember that your light shines in this world even in the darkest days and moments of life and that we can share our light within it.  May we always choose to do what it right and choose to see the good and the possibilities in our world. Be with us in hope and love. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Picture the Bible Reflection for May 17, 2021
 
This week we’re looking at John the Baptist.  You can read up on this in Matthew 3 as found here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew3&version=NIV 
 
Let’s remember who John the Baptist was. He was a child of Zechariah (a priest) and Elizabeth. You may remember that Elizabeth was a little older when John was born and that when Mary, mother of Jesus, visited Elizabeth, John leapt in her womb – like he already knew Jesus was near.
 
It is said that John grew up in the Judaean desert, likely experiencing life in monastic communities. He was never given the title of priest, but instead he was named a prophet. The clothes he wore represented the strict purity laws of the time or how a Nazirite was to conduct ones’ self.
 
John’s message was quite simple: God’s judgment is coming and so everyone should repent their sins and be baptized.  Baptism was not a requirement to be a disciple of John but was a requirement for repentance.
 
Those who followed John led very spiritual lives that included fasting and prayers.
 
John would be imprisoned after denouncing Herod’s illegal marriage and would have him killed.
 
How would you define repentance? How would you explain it to a child? A teen? An adult?
Repentance is an action where we show sincere regret or remorse.  Is there anything in your life that you needed to repent on that was huge?  What about smaller things?
 
As Christians, it is really hard to live in this world and to discern what is right and what is wrong as justice and equity also are factors we need to consider.  When I talk to folks, often they repent of things they have done in their lives, but they are unable to let them go.  They still linger.  We are hardest on ourselves whereas Jesus can help us live in a new and better way.  So, is there a way we can repent in our times where we can actually let these things go that still hang over us?  What might you do?
 
A fitting song for us today is titled “Song of Repentance”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE4YYHr2SF8
 
Our prayer:
Holy God, help us to look into our lives and into our souls to search out the ways we sin against you – the things that separate our heart from yours.  Help us to also search out the things we do to ourselves and to each other that also do the same.  But most of all, O God, help us to learn, grow and move onto bigger and better things once we share the things we wish to repent from.  Help us to use these harder things with you so that you can open our hearts and minds to use our life experiences to help others.  God, be with us today and all our days, as perfectly imperfect beings that we are.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Picture the Bible Reflection for May 10, 2021
 
This week we’re looking at the story of Jesus in the Temple.  Found in Luke 2:41-52, you can read it here:  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202%3A41-52&version=NIV
 
In summary, Jesus’ family does the same old, same old. It’s time for the Festival of Passover, so they go to Jerusalem.  This year is different though.  He’s a 12-year-old young fella and he stayed behind while his parents were returning home after the festival.  However, they were unaware he was not with them.  Three days later, they found him in the temple sitting with the teachers. 
 
I wonder what things you do, in a normal world, that is a family tradition or ritual.  For Jesus’ family, the trip to Jerusalem was an annual tradition.  Jewish families were to make the pilgrimage for their three high holidays but once distance becomes a consideration, and maybe a limitation, many would choose one to attend.  They would choose to attend the Feast of the Passover, the week-long celebration, that marks the beginning of the Jewish year.  For a number of us, we make it to church on our high holidays such as Easter and Christmas.  Passover usually falls around our time of Easter.
 
Children are to study the bible from quite a young age in the Jewish tradition.  In some sources, I have read that they are to do so from the age of 5.  Not just reading or listening to the stories, but really studying them.  I respect that because they would be learning the history, the story, the people, and God from an early age and as we get older, our understandings and perspectives of all of these things may take on new meanings for us. 
 
Jesus was 12 when he sat with the teachers in the temple.  I think some of the best teaching circles come from places where those who are deemed wise are also humble.  Where they can also listen and ask questions, understanding that we can grow from and with each other regardless of age and educational degrees.
 
I wonder how you would feel sitting in a circle of faith leaders.  I wonder what you might want to listen to if you were to sit with teachers in the temple these days.  I wonder what questions you might have.  I wonder what thoughts you would offer into the circle.  I wonder what parts of the bible you would be most interested in studying.
 
 
Our song for today is a familiar hymn: “Teach Me, God, to Wonder” and this video is created by Golden Ears United Church based in BC.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiPu9NCSZis
 
A prayer for today:
Holy One, thank you for the faith markers in time that encourage us to gather together to share bible stories, to share a meal and to think about our faith journeys.  Help us to keep you at the heart of who we are and what we do.  Help us to think about the important parts of our faith – whether it is in the seasonal celebrations, the rituals of baptism or communion, spiritual practices of prayer or other, or learning and studying the bible.  May we be mindful that you guide us along the way and we are called to do our part in practicing and growing in our faith.  Be with us in our struggles, in our questions and in our learning.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Picture the Bible Reflection for May 7, 2021
 
This week we’re looking at the Nativity – the birth of Jesus.  You can read the story here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202%3A1-20&version=NIV
 
I got thinking about the story about the shepherds, specifically when they’ve been visited by the angels and then say, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
 
If the shepherds knew that this was the Lord speaking through the angels, why did they feel the need to go to Bethlehem to see the baby?  The language of the angels is interesting too. “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in manger.”
 
Was there a lack of trust and faith or even understanding of their faith? Was there a need to see this sign for themselves because others would not believe it if they merely said, “the angels said…” instead of “the angels said, so we went and saw and it is true.”
There are many people who look for signs of things in their lifetime.  A sign that a loved one is near them after passing. A sign to leave a job and start a new adventure. A sign to commit to a lifelong love with a partner. A sign to have children. A sign to move. A sign that God is still with them. God speaks to us through all of creation to give us nudges in the right direction. 
 
Why do we ask for signs in this day and age?  Is it because we need something more tangible, more concrete to solidify the thought or idea we long for?  Is it because we know God is with us and we just need a sign to reassure us of God’s presence?  When was the last time you asked God for a ‘sign’?  What was it for?  Did you receive it and if so, what was it?
 
I share two songs with you today. 

• The first is by DMX who passed away a short time ago. I enjoy listening to this genre often, especially to shake me out of something.  “Lord give me a sign” can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8U_gR58eJU and here are the full lyrics: https://genius.com/Dmx-lord-give-me-a-sign-lyrics
• The second is Light Up the Sky by The Afters – light up the sky to show that you are with me…
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LQH6UDi15s&t=40s

 
Our prayer for today:
Holy One, as we live out our days, I pray that we feel you and that we know you are present with us even when we are most confident and having a great day.  I pray that the rising and setting of the sun, that the blowing of a gentle wind, the falling of the rain on the grass or the song of a bird reminds us each moment that you are with us.  Help us to share you with others, asking you to be present within and around us so that we can share your love, justice, mercy, compassion and grace.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Picture the Bible Reflection for May 3, 2021
 
This week we’re looking at the Nativity – the birth of Jesus.  You can read the story here:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202%3A1-20&version=NIV
 
The Christmas story.  The time when the Saviour is born and the world is about to change.
 
In the story, there are moments of charity and kindness that are expressed.  If the innkeeper hadn’t told them about the stable, would they have had shelter? The shepherds came to visit, leaving their livelihoods to come and see and then to share the news with those they met up with.  The magi brought gifts to the king but also warned the family about the dangers that lay ahead.   A humble family having a baby, a baby king, were blessed with charity and love. By letting them visit they also shared hope. 
 
If you were the innkeeper at that time, and didn’t know what was to be, would you have acted in the same way or have done something different?  Some say they might have asked someone in a room to give up their space (or even kick them out) to have a proper space for birthing a baby.  Some say anything different would take away from the humility of the story. What are your thoughts?
 
Today’s video is a Taize song “Ubi caritas”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9zvDBPkgOk
Ubi caritas itself is understood to be an ancient hymn that dates back to the early days of the Christian Church.  It translates to: Live in charity and steadfast love, live in charity; God will dwell in you.
 
Let us pray:
Creating God, we thank you that you come to the world in unexpected ways.  Help us to be patient to see you along our journey of life, understanding that what we think should happen may not be exactly as things unfold.  May we not look for a Saviour in our world today, knowing that Jesus is with us all our days in various ways.  As we live lives of charity, help us to be the people others can rely on to meet their basic needs. May we learn about organizations around us who can take what we can give and make it into something bigger and better with the connections, skills and tools they have.  May we work together to make the world a better place.  In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.