Hope you are keeping warm, cozy and safe as we go through this freezing spell. Temperatures of -40 with the wind chill ... in my opinion good for polar bears and penguins!!!
A reminder of the notice below that this Sunday is "Foodbank Sunday" ... please bring in a donation to our local "Loaves & Fishes Foodbank" which will be presented at the offertory. Thank you in advance for your support. Let's fill the grocery cart!!
Some pics from last Sunday's worship ... a wonderful and inspiring service remembering and honoring Martin Luther King ... lots of good music and even actions to some of the songs.
The Take-a-Break Ladies Group is donating $1,500.00
of their "fund raising dollars"
to help offset our Capital Expenditure.
Thank you for your continued support
making this donation possible!
January 20 to 27 is the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.
We pray for the other congregations here in Uxbridge
and our shared calling as the body of Christ.
And for all church leaders in various denominations,
for the desire to work together to promote the gospel
and inspire hope in the midst of our chaotic world.
Gracious God, as we pray specifically this week
for the unity of all followers and disciples of Jesus Christ,
may God embrace us with love
and make kindness flow out from us;
may God ignite courage within us
and transform us into agents of his justice and peace;
may God grant us humility
and give us perseverance to nurture our unity
as the body of Christ. Amen.
Let's support our local Uxbridge Foodbank
as part of our outreach ministry at St. Paul's.
The last Sunday of each month will be
Foodbank Sunday.
Bring in donations of canned goods, pasta,
rice, or cereal
and place them in the shopping cart
in the entrance to the church
The shopping cart will be
wheeled up the aisle with the offertory
and blessed as we share our abundance
with those in need in our community.
The first Foodbank Sunday
will be Sun January 27.
Thanks to Eileen for getting us a shopping cart
and to Vinces for donating it to us!!
Do you feel weighted down with worry? Does the uncertainty and chaos of life keep you up at night? Are irrational fears your constant companion? Could you use some calm?
In this five-session video Bible study, bestselling author Max Lucado explores God's treatment plan for anxiety found in Philippians 4:4-8. As you follow this prescription - celebrating God's goodness, asking for his help, leaving your concerns with him, and meditation on good things - you will experience God's peace. This is a peace that "transcends all understanding" and will help you reframe the way you look at your fears.
While anxiety is a part of life, it doesn't have to dominate your life. With God as your helper and his promises at your side, you can sleep better tonight and smile more tomorrow. You can talk yourself off the ledge and view bad news through the lens of God's sovereignty. You can discover a life of calm and develop tools for combating the onslaught of anxiety.
Sessions include:
Rejoice in the Lord Always
Let Your Gentleness Be Evident to All
Present Your Requests to God
The Peace of God Will Guard Your Heart
Meditate on These Things
Beginning on Wednesday January 30 at 7 pm
in the lounge.
Please let me know if you're planning on coming
to assist with preparation and any copying.
I hope you'll consider taking this time
for you and for God and your
emotional and spiritual well being.
Thurs Jan 24 ... 10:00 am, Communion followed by bible study
Fri Jan 25 ... Family Games Night sponsored by GSA
Sun Jan 27 ... 8:30 & 10:30 am Communion; Foodbank Sunday
Sun Jan 27 ... 1:30 pm, Communion at Douglas Crossing
Mon Jan 28 ... 7:00 pm, "holy spirits: faith conversations over a pint" at Wixan's Bridge
Wed Jan 30 ... 12 noon St Paul's offering Soup Luncheon at St. Andrews Chalmers
Wed Jan 30 ... 7:00 pm, "Be Anxious for Nothing" series begins
Thurs Jan 31 ... 10:00 am, Communion followed by bible study
We are pleased to be led by Dr. Lydia Pedersen (BA, Mus.Bac., M.Ed., D.Min.), a published hymn writer and workshop leader in the field of hymn writing. Throughout her dual career as music educator and church musician she has championed hymns as a primary source of the formation and expression of personal theology. She chaired the Tunes Subcommittee on the task force that produced the United Church hymnal Voices United (1996), and now teaches an annual seminar on hymn writing at Emmanuel College, Toronto.
The day will provide group and individual guidance and the opportunity to work with others or by yourselves to craft the text of your hymn.
No experience in hymn writing necessary!!!
Come out an explore this creative side
of your faith and spirituality!!!
"Whose fault ...NOT MINE!!"
How many times have we sat at our computer and things aren't going right, there's some glitch that is disrupting what we want to do and accomplish. I don't know about you, but I can get quite irritated with the computer because of course it's the fault of technology, something the computer isn't doing right. It takes a while before I come to realize it might not be the computer at all that's at fault, but the operator, me!
This past week we've struggled a couple of times with issues related to our office computer communicating with our digital sign outside. I would go to make a change or add an event we want to promote and something wouldn't be working properly. Of course, I think, it's something wrong with the computer chip in the sign or the connection that's somehow compromised. And of course, I then find it frustrating that I can't do something as simple as make the small change needed. In addition I feel what a waste of time having to figure it out so I can continue with my day.
Then comes the moment of humility when I realized it had nothing to do with the sign, computer chip or connection. Somehow in fixing an earlier issue one of the cords connecting the computer to the modem had come loose just enough to break the connection. It wasn't the sign's fault, or the computers ... I had something to do with why things weren't connecting and working smoothly!!
Isn't the same true in our relationships with others in our lives. It is so easy for us to place blame on them when there's a breakdown in a relationship or communication is compromised in some way. They didn't call me; they didn't return my email; they didn't reach out when I needed them; they were judgmental of me; they really didn't care that much. We make our own judgments and come to conclusions given our perceptions of what has transpired and what that friend or family member meant when they acted in a certain way or said something that offended.
The truth, however, is that we are all complicit in any breakdown of relationship or communication with another. What is the part we've played in the connection being compromised? Undoubtedly we've had something to do with it too, the other person isn't the only one to blame in most instances. Can we in humility claim that perhaps we are at fault too?
Our faith calls us to be engaged in the work of reconciliation with God, creation and our neighbors. Who do you need to be reconciled with? I encourage each of us to reflect on that and ask what we can do to mend the relationships that are broken. It's always important to remember in any relationship that it's not about one person, but both together.
My experience with my computer reminded me of this spiritual truth in a way that was humorous but also true. The next time something goes wrong with my computer or the sign, I'll likely blame technology again when in truth it's really something I've done or haven't done. Isn't that what we do out of our human condition. May we strive to be different in our relationships with others!
I offer us this prayer asking God to help us heal broken or fractured relationships in our lives ...
God, I need a wardrobe adjustment.
When I think about how often I fail to wear mercy,
kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience … I’m ashamed!
And You love me even with my tattered attire.
With Your help, bless the various relationship in my life
especially the people I sometimes struggle with.
With your help, may we do a better job of loving each other.
So, today I’m asking You to show me
where I need to do better and love well.
Heal our hearts, God. Help us forgive.
Help us to love like Jesus and by Your grace,
heal our relationship. In Jesus name, Amen.
Remember, if you have a question, I encourage you to send it to me in an email and I will do my best to answer it either in a weekly update or in a sermon.
As always, my inbox is open, and so is my office door if you'd like to chat. I'm usually in my office most mornings Monday through Thursday unless otherwise announced due to a meeting. Stop by or make an appointment!
