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This Week

Sunday April 12, 10:30 AM.
We gather at Marden for Worship

Tuesday April 14, 7:30 PM,    Leadership Team Meeting by Zoom

For future plans see the >> Meetings << page.

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The Foyer

Tuesday Discussions

 You may remember that some folks from our congregation get together pretty much every Tuesday for an informal discussion. (Then again you might just have forgotten.) I thought I’d tell you about this week’s conversation. Not because it was typical. We hardly ever have what you could call “typical” except that we manage to fill up an hour and a half of serious, stimulating, relevant talk about some topic. The jumping off point this week was Carla Long’s Herald article about God’s economy. 

Everyone is talking about the economy these days. It’s at least part of every newscast. It’s an issue in every by-election. People are talking about it in the grocery store, on Facebook and in foyers and waiting rooms. So how should we talk about the economy? 

Carla, who is part of the Presiding Bishopric, suggests that church members take a different perspective. God’s idea about the economy is one of abundance. How does this concept shape our conversation? Have we bought into the great lie that our culture accepts, that our society is built on the “fact” of scarcity. People have been shaped by the idea that there’s never enough! Have we been shaped by this concept or do we believe in enough and to spare? What is an abundant living? How much is enough? Do our answers incorporate ALL creation? Or do we care only or primarily about humans? Just how “human-centred” are we? Is it even possible for our finite planet to sustain every person, animal, bird and insect? How will abundance living enable that better than scarcity living? 

Then we dipped our toe into politics. Because we believe in the worth of all people, especially the poor and marginalized, we can’t avoid issues that feel very political. In these issues we agree with Carla. “God is not neutral…God’s disciples take a side; they cannot stand on the sideline and be comfortable.” But what does that look like to us? How do we live in the midst of a huge and powerful idea so opposite to ours? 

We recall from a few weeks ago Jeremiah’s advice about how to live in exile. And on we go. We do have answers for some of these questions and some will come back around on another Tuesday. You’ll understand why we need a clock to ensure we don’t go past noon. If you can join us you’d be welcomed. Most Tuesdays, 10:30-noon at the Warehouse., but not this Tuesday since there is a leadership meeting that day in the evening.

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Holy Week

I’m writing this on Thursday morning, the day known in Christianity as Maundy Thursday. My thoughts today are somewhat mixed; I might even say “confused.” 

As I imagine the feelings of Jesus’ followers must also have been mixed and confused as they followed him through that week of celebration and rebellion as he overturned those tables in the temple, defying religious leaders. 

Then hiding out in that upper room for Passover supper (after stealing a donkey for him to ride on!). 

Then that confusion about Judas leaving the table? 

Then the withdrawal to the garden. And the arrest! So frightening, terrifying even as they watched him rushed away into a detention place by Roman soldiers for what? Questioning, torture, trial? 

And my feelings get mixed up with today’s news! I’m aware of the kind of fear, of anxiety or bewilderment behind the headlines. Everywhere in the world ,it seems, people face war or famine or attack by the very governments meant to protect them. My own neighbours are unable to deal with those huge global issues because of their own concern for food prices or housing costs , even homelessness or poverty or addiction. 

I don’t have an answer today. Somehow I think this is an important part of our story. I think we need to sit with these feelings, to feel the confusion, even the grief. We need to make those comparisons with the disciples. We need to acknowledge the time of not knowing before we move into the time of “what next?”

Partners In Mission

The snow is finally gone and I find myself looking at my emerging garden with a certain amount of longing. I’m in that in-between stage of not cleaning up too soon and harming the insects not yet emerged from their wintering places and the urge to clean up all that dead stuff and start to do the real gardening work of digging and planting. 

Of course this brings me to thinking about just how much of said work that I am really no longer able to do myself. It was bound to come: that place in life where the garden in my mind’s eye no longer matches the need to sit down. Thankfully I have found a solution. Last season I found a group of students and newly graduated young people who had pooled their resources to form a little business of helping folks like me who are willing to pay them to do those many jobs we can no longer do for ourselves, So here I am looking forward to working with and watching my partners in mission get closer to that garden of my imagination. 

Our congregation is in a similar situation .We want to do more than just pray for peace. We need to be active in our community where the need is so great. We’re concerned for the future of hungry children and families who struggle to provide necessities for those children. But we don’t have energy to volunteer enough, or to staff the institutions working for the same goals. So we have turned to “partners in mission.” 

Over the next couple of months we’ll be checking in with the groups we support financially . We’ve invited representatives to come and report. We’re interested to hear what they’re doing, what they’re proud of, what they’re planning and what more we can do. Watch our calendar for details. 

This Sunday we’ll be welcoming Daniel who will talk to us about his work on the board of World Accord. Over the next two months we’ll hear from Encounter, the Children’s Foundation and the teacher of our toddlers music program. I’ll probably have more to say in some future blog. We’re so grateful for all they do and that these partners in mission are willing to take the time to come and tell us about it.

Be Joyful 

March break seemed right for talking a bout fun. This is something our group thinks about and something we try to take time for. No team can really be successful in the long term without a bit of fun. This Sunday we’ll be getting together for visiting and playing board games. As I was contemplating just how to discuss this I remembered a favourite scripture phrase and I went to Section 161. Reading the whole thing was great. There it was: the very thing our group is trying to be and to do! I’ll get you started, but I recommend you read the whole thing. 

“Claim your unique and sacred place in the circle of those who call on the name of Jesus Christ. Be faithful to spirit of the Restoration, mindful that it is a spirit of adventure, openness and searching. Walk proudly and with quickened step. Be a joyful people. Laugh and play and sing, embodying the hope and freedom of the gospel. Become a people of the Temple—those who see violence but proclaim peace, who feel conflict yet extend the hand of reconciliation, who encounter broken spirits and find pathways for healing. Fulfill the purposes of the Temple by making its ministries manifest in your hearts. It was built from the sacrifices and searchings over many generations. Let it stand as a towering symbol of a people who knew injustice and strife on the frontier and who now seek the peace of Jesus Christ throughout the world.” 

D&C 161, from paragraphs 1 and 2

News Bites 

We delivered our collection of new underwear to our friends at Hope House this week to a grateful reception. We too are grateful for all the volunteers who that make this service work. Just look at the big smile on that woman in charge who greeted us! 

This week we held our regular leadership team meeting on Zoom. Sam Smalldon was our guest. We had a great discussion about our management of budgets, investments and mission. Mission always being our priority. And we had a good time getting to know Sam. Thanks for coming! Our team meets (almost) every second Tuesday to plan, schedule, and monitor our group’s activities. We moved to daylight saving time this Sunday and tried out a new format. This will be an occasional Coffee and Conversation model we will use for guest speakers. 

Over the next couple of months we’ve invited guests from our “partners in mission” to come and report on what they’ve been doing, new plans or ideas we might help with. Watch our emails or this blog site for information about these “coffee times.” 

The next two Sundays mark March Break so we’re taking a break as well. There will be no gathering this week. Next week we will meet at Sharon and Daniel’s home for a games afternoon and visiting together. Do join us for this social opportunity.(1:30 p.m.) The next week (March29)we’ll be back at our Marden site for Coffee time with World Accord. Or meet us at the “WareHouse” any Tuesday at 10:30 for discussion group. There, you’re all updated. Have a great March break.

Encounter World Religions

I’m going to offer something a little different this week. One of the partners in mission we support is Encounter World Religions. This organization has been working for years educating school children about the many faith groups who share in our communities. They have expanded to work with police, with work sites, with various institutions in an endeavour to help bring greater understanding and comfort with these neighbours who might have been hurt by our lack of understanding and awareness of this essential element of “who we really are.” We see this work as a very real way we Pursue Peace. Here is a link to Encounter’s bi-weekly blog. I really encourage you to take a look. Just notice the kind of work they’re engaged in and follow them if you want to learn more about this important work. If you haven’t met him already, here’s Brian Carwana, also known as Religions Geek. 

>> Brian Carwana: ReligionsGeek <<
(Once there, click the [Blog] tab to read past articles.)

Archive

The Foyer

This and That 

This week the chatter in the foyer was a bit more casual than you may be used to. Our Sunday gathering focused on the first week of Lent. Jennifer provided a meaningful worship and meditation inviting us into this season of reflection. Our discussion turned to our community, our own privilege and the decisions we make, or should be making to keep to our mission of making more lives more filled with joy, hope, love and peace. We took a moment to celebrate our successful Feb-u-wear-y campaign. We’ll be adding around 200 items of fresh, new underwear to the inventory at Hope House. 

We are so aware of the many people still unhoused among our neighbours. We will try to remember the First Presidency letter calling us to be “prophetically imagining” how best to be helping next. 

Then we chatted about the invitation to join our church neighbours next Sunday in Kitchener. Several of us will accept the invitation and we look forward to seeing old friends and being brought up to date on what’s happening with the Canada Mission. Those unable to be there will watch on line. There will be no gathering in Guelph. (Please Note.) That’s it for today. I hope to see some of you next Sunday. And I hope to meet more of you next week in the Foyer.

The Letter 

This week the church received a letter. This letter was signed by the three members of the First Presidency and it addressed a key concern. What are we to do in this crazy world we’re living in? They address us as a “prophetic people called to engage in deep discernment and prophetic imagination in a complex time. Because we are a global church the grief of one community is the grief of all.” The letter goes on to name some of the many terrible situations being faced by many directly and occupying the minds of all. We also are reminded of the suffering that is very real in our own communities that may never appear on the nightly news. 

At this point too many of us have succumbed to despair. But that is not the way of a truly prophetic people. “We believe that most transformative voice of the church is the bold local action of a people set on fire by the Holy Spirit.

The First presidency seeks to empower prophetic people who act for justice and peace wherever they live and serve. We are not a community who wait for permission to act; we are a movement of disciples who…” 

The letter goes on to name some of the things we might engage in. There is no permission to sit back and wait. Our congregation will be tapping into our “prophetic imagination” about what more we can do. Meanwhile we will continue to “take bold local action” and we invite others to read >> here  <<. 

As we enter the Lenten season, a time for reflection, we are encouraged to decide what it really means to be prophetic people in a complex time.

Pursuing Peace at the Olympics

I know there is much NOT to like about the spectacle that is the Olympics, Not least of which is the narrative in much of the commentary like “we crushed them” and “he got his revenge there.” But this global event is impossible to ignore and I confess to being an Olympics junkie for this two weeks every two years (I watch in summer as well). And I find a lot to like about the experience. And if I use my “pursue peace” lens It’s a place to find models of justice and examples of hope. Let me share a few of these.

I love all the personal stories of athletes who train for years and years determined to overcome any obstacle to compete. Not to win, primarily, but to be their best and to compete. I especially like the underdogs who may never come close to having a medal but there they are coming in fourteenth or fortieth with their heads high.This is the kind of determination we need as we tackle the bigger causes facing a world in trouble.

I appreciate the rules that everyone acknowledges and follows no matter what. That’s the “rule of law” that our countries aspire to and defend. Tiebreakers can really hurt. Losing by four one hundredth of a point feels awful but the silver medalist smiles and holds his award high and proud and not a fist is thrown.

I confess that I’m a big fan of curling. I love this “gentleman’s game” where there are no referees in sight. Players call their own infractions and remove their own stones and measure their own close ones. They are totally transparent as they plan their strategies out loud. No secrets in this game. There are great rivalries but no enemies , We all walk away from the game as friends and the world-wide community shows this. Retired curlers find work coaching other countries’ teams in a combined effort to make the sport better for everyone.

I worry about Hockey. It’s hard to find those examples for a peaceful future here. Our rivals in hockey are dangerously close to being enemies. But I have hope.

Thank you for indulging me. If you choose to dip into the Olympics sometime in the next week I invite you to use MY lens. What are some lessons we might use in our pursuit of peace? Watch the losers; consider the rule changes; observe how the winners treat the losers; see how hard the “impossibles” try.

I’d love to hear some of your examples if you choose to join this Olympics junkie trying to pursue peace.

Pastoral prayer for Communion Sunday
Loving God, We are so thankful for our community, for our little congregation and for all the blessings we have received for ourselves and for those we care for and care about. We pray that your Spirit will continue to walk with us also in our times of trouble. Bless us in all our challenges, of aging and illness, in mourning and loss. We are grateful that we live in such caring communities . Give us wisdom to find partners who share our values and our mission. Bless them too as together we all reach out in concern for those neighbours whose need is so much greater than our own. Always we pray for and pursue peace both for here and for the world. Help us always to be instruments of your peace. This is our prayer today In Jesus’ name Amen

Hope
Our discussion group bundled up, dug out and ventured into the minus double digit frigid weather to get together this week. And what we talked about was “Hope”. We’ve been hunkered down for days following downright depressing news. We’ve used various techniques to deal with the overwhelming feelings of helplessness that falls over us. There is much to despair over. We really needed to get together. Because that’s step One. Reach out and find someone to talk to. Find allies and friends or strangers who care about the same things you do. They really are out there. Even finding companions in your misery can change how you feel. You are not alone in caring about — the climate, or food insecurity, or the unhoused, or the war in Ukraine or Minnesota… 

Our group has figured out step Two. In talking with each other we quickly move to the next question. What can we DO? Finding Hope follows the turn to action. “Passive hope” has no place in our conversation. There is no future in waiting for someone else to do something. Even waiting on God to work out God’s plan doesn’t do it for us. Involvement, engagement engenders real Hope. So we encourage practical steps we can take. Writing letters, donating to causes, bringing warm clothes to the collection points, researching local organizations already working on genuine help, finding partners where hope is already alive and working. Next week we officially launch “Feb u wear y.” Once again we’ll be collecting new underwear that we’ll be donating to Hope House. And we’ve recruited Harcourt United Church to join us. Partners in hope. I am so thankful for our Tuesday discussion group for providing relief from those winter doldrums and sharing Hope and motivation to be part of the solution.

The New Canadian Mission Centre

This past Saturday, January 17, will be remembered as the day Community of Christ in Canada began a new era as one unified mission centre. Read about it here >> Onward together <<

It's Winter
No question about it this morning with more than a foot of snow on my birdbath-- and everything else! Happy to hunker down. Our leadership team met this week on Zoom. No nasty icy roads to deal with; no finicky furnaces or drafty windows taking our attention.

So we put our attention instead to thinking about our mission and what we'll be doing this year. Scheduling includes renewing relationships with our partners in mission, hearing what they're planning, things they're proud of, where they can use our future support.

We recalled all the things that brought joy to last year and looked forward to future picnics, expeditions, participating in conferences and reunions. Reports from members of our congregation about ways they're making our community a better place. Meeting together in our circle for worship, singing, scripture study and all the many ways our Guelph Elora family will find to be a family. Looking forward to many midweek discussion where we go deeper into the vast array of topics we'll be exploring.

Not much news today but I'm happy to spend some quiet time reflecting and imagining the year ahead. What better to be doing on a day like this...

Jeremiah
Jeremiah lived in troubled times. Big power countries next door were exerting control over their little nation. Babylon and Egypt who were taking turns moving in on Judah kept the people on edge. Jeremiah tried to warn the people who thought they were protected by their “chosen people” status. They thought they'd be OK while they lived there in the safe shadow of the temple and kept up with their responiblities to the law of Moses. But no: the invaders prevailed and marched hundreds of the community leaders, eventually even theit king as prisoners to Babylon.

Meanwhile Jeremiah continued his voice of doom, telling the people it was all their fault because they had broken their covenant with God whom they had counted on as their protactor.

The scripture for the first Sunday of 2026 sounded weirdly like the news we're hearing every day. Our speaker struggled to find “Hope” in Jeremiah's words. We all sympathized with his efforts. Jermiah's nickname of “Prophet of Doom and Hope” was a hard one. Nebuchednezzer and Trump seem to be using the same playlist. Where is the hope?

But we stay with Jeremiah. We identify with his instructions about how to live in exile. Hope comes from action. From his own exile in Egypt Jeremiah writes to those iin Babylon and urges them to “plant gardens” and move into their neighbourhoods there. They should NOT keep themselves remote but unite their families and learn their needs. Only in making a place with the people and growing in their faith will they find the hope they are seeking.

This is what we have found here in our present search for hope in our own troubled times. Whenever we have moved out in action we have found others doing the same. We will continue to join our neighbours with a mission to serve the community. Sharing this way is the only way out of despair and into the pathway to HOPE. We resolve to continue in this way in 2026.