Our Inaugural Sunday Morning Podcast
March 29, 2020
Welcome to our inaugural Sunday Morning podcast. We are having to fast track our technology with all that is shifting around us. Bruce and I hope that you enjoy this podcast experience. You can play it at any time, but it is kind of fun to keep to our regular church service time if we can and know that all our church friends are gathering together at the same time.
Take advantage of the fact that you can sit in your most comfortable chair, bring your coffee to service, stay in your pj's, and if the service isn't to your liking - you can just turn it off! On the other hand if you really like it, you can hear it again!
Please continue to stay home, stay safe, and stay well. We wish you Sabbath blessings.
Take advantage of the fact that you can sit in your most comfortable chair, bring your coffee to service, stay in your pj's, and if the service isn't to your liking - you can just turn it off! On the other hand if you really like it, you can hear it again!
Please continue to stay home, stay safe, and stay well. We wish you Sabbath blessings.
Church Closed Through until April 6th
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In solidarity with other places of worship, community centres, government centres, local schools, day care centres and concertvenues/businesses/gyms/restaurants etc, we have decided to close the church for the next three weeks in an effort to slow down the spread of the Covid 19 virus. In this way our health care system will not be overwhelmed and will be able to care for those who are most in need of medical assistance.
We will reevaluate the situation at the beginning of the week of April 6th and let you know where we stand at that time. This was not a decision that was made lightly. We know that many of the gatherings in the church care for the valuable but often vulnerable people in our community. But it is with them in mind, that we have made this decision in consultation with our councils and regional authorities. I am not able to visit the nursing homes/retirement homes except on specific request for 1:1 visits so will be working from home. |
But we are initiating a ministry of telephone calls, letter/card writing and small group care to make sure that everyone is cared for during this next period of time. If there is anyone that you feel needs special attention that you can not extend, please do not hesitate to let me know.
And if any of you have any questions you may call/email/text me and I will see how I may help you. In the meantime, see some resources I hope will bring a time of peace, generosity and hope into our community as we take a time out to reconnect. Remember that there are those all around us who will suffer financially by the many closures. Give where you can, do what you feel called to do, care for yourself and all those close to you. And may every blessing be yours. Candice |
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1 Kings 19:11-13 (NRSV)
He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” Sometimes we can hear the still small voice when we are doing the dishes. Sometimes we can hear it when we go for a walk. Sometimes we can hear it sitting in an empty church in The Netherlands. The churches that were built at the height of Christianity all used their architecture to try and convey the grandeur of God and the smallness of people. And indeed, when you are sitting alone in a grand, empty church like this one, you do indeed feel very, very small. And the still small voice is easily heard. If you wish to contemplate this Biblical text more full, here is a pastoral pondering on it. |
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Parenting Your Child Through the Pandemic with Jill McPhersonJill has a wonderful, clear view of the world and is exceedingly helpful around issues of parenting and how to stay mindful in the midst of the challenges of everyday life. This is an excellent resource for parents with children at home. We have had to postpone Jill's in person offerings to our emerging innovative hub community, but in the meantime, we have her on line wisdom.
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Spiritual Practices for the Coronavirus Pandemic - spiritual practices to disarm fear and uncertainty.
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The Spirituality and Practice Website is an endless resource for those on the spiritual journey. With its up to date movie and book reviews, inclusivity to all faiths and inclinations, and great list of inspiring quotes and articles, you can get lost on this site for days. During this time off why not start bookmarking sites you can turn to for inspiration. This one is a keeper.
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Three Balls of Wool (You Can Change the World)Art by Yara Kono from Three Balls of Wool (Can Change the World) by Henriqueta Cristina — a poignant children’s book about immigration, nonconformity, and the courage to remake society’s givens
Brain Pickings - Figuring Forward in an Uncertain Universe, Consolations from the Cosmic Scheme From the endlessly imaginative Maria Popova, this week's offering of her Brain Pickings, offers wisdom for our time. "We make things and seed them into the world never really knowing - often never knowing at all - whom they will reach and how they will blossom in other hearts, how their meaning will unfold in contexts we never imagined." Be warned, there are endless rabbit holes, so perhaps tie yourself to something in the house before you enter Maria's world...... |
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Anne Lindsay
Anne Lindsay, Fiddler Extraordinaire and Lovely Woman All Around Invites us to Worship with her This Sunday Evening. If you like Celtic Music, you won't want to miss this. Here is here invitation:
"This Sunday, March 22 @ 6:40pm, the Iona Celtic Service at Yorkminster Park |
Baptist Church will be broadcast online. The service begins with 20 mins of Celtic music performed on fiddle- yours truly, Celtic harp - Sharlene Wallace and piano - Eric Robertson. I hope you can tune in to an opportunity for solace and reflection. I have been participating in the Iona Celtic Services at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church for the last three years and am excited that those of you living outside of Toronto will finally be able to join us." Here is the Link: http://www.yorkminsterpark.com/gather/webcast/index.php I will just add that I have attended these services, and not only is the Celtic Band wonderful, but the preaching isn't too bad either! And to connect with Anne and hear her thoughts on our current situation, have a look at her blog. |
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I have so been enjoying our Lenten reflection groups- such a great spiritual practice to stop throughout the day just to remember who we are and what we are doing. Last week we looked at the mid morning break, a time to remember that 'our work is love made visible.' This week we look at the mid day break, the hour of illumination. And yet, too, the time where acedia may set in, the spiritual malaise that blocks the light. See below we have recorded the reading from Chapter four. It is about 20 minutes long and includes Bruce playing.
The painting L'Angelus gives us a clear visual of this mid day pause, as the bells of the church in the background remind those working in the field to pause. Here you can find out more about the painter's intent on painting the scene. |
Pandemic
What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath--
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.
Promise this world your love--
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.
--Lynn Ungar 3/11/20
What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath--
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.
Promise this world your love--
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.
--Lynn Ungar 3/11/20
The Shelburne/Primrose Pastoral Charge partners with
Partera Peace Builders International, The Shelburne Farmer's Market,
First Line for Syria, Soup Haus, KAIROS, and the Quiet Garden Movement.
We support the work of the UCC Mission and Service and are part of the
Dufferin Moves initiative in Dufferin County.
We are supportive of the work of Streams Community Hub
We continue to look for partners and friends who are offering a
compassionate presence to the community and an uplifting and creative spirit.
Call or email if we can be of any help to you.
shelburne.primrose.uc@gmail.com / 519 925 2233
Partera Peace Builders International, The Shelburne Farmer's Market,
First Line for Syria, Soup Haus, KAIROS, and the Quiet Garden Movement.
We support the work of the UCC Mission and Service and are part of the
Dufferin Moves initiative in Dufferin County.
We are supportive of the work of Streams Community Hub
We continue to look for partners and friends who are offering a
compassionate presence to the community and an uplifting and creative spirit.
Call or email if we can be of any help to you.
shelburne.primrose.uc@gmail.com / 519 925 2233
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