At the end of the week we’re usually planning weekend events. What’s needed today is prayer.
Normally Friday brings in date night. What’s needed this evening is prayer.
As we open our hearts and give thanks for our blessings we are instead, in a time of lament.
What’s needed is stability, justice, health, and a certainty of the love of the Divine.
Friends, I invite you, I call you, to prayer. Write it, share it, keep it close to your heart but no mistake what’s needed is prayer.
Sung often throughout Advent and Christmas this song calls to my heart. Come, oh come Christ Jesus, to us.
The stars, the light that shines in the darkness, I pray that we can all be this light.
Blessed to be a blessing,
Today and always.
Barbara
Here’s what next week looks like:
I was trying to get the picture without the personal but perhaps next week.
I’m pretty nerdy when it comes to my planning whether online or in my books. This is a glimpse for you.
Tasks are:
Looks like a productive list, right?
That’s what I like about a new year, new month, new week – getting everything in order.
What do you like as we move into the newness of 2021? (other than the COVID thing)
God Bless,
Barbara
Sleep in heavenly peace. That is my wish for all. Sweet dreams on this most magical night of the year.
Blessings and more,
Pastor Barbara
Christmas Eve: 3pm St. Lukes, Denbigh, Carol Sing in the parking lot from the safety of your car.
7pm Emmanuel, Schutt (weather permitting)
Prayers 10pm live on YouTube
Christmas Eve message: YouTube
Christmas Day – music shared YouTube
Links will be provided.
Happy Advent.
Are you tired of the Christmas music yet? When I opened up a Christmas playlist on Spotify this morning and glanced through the song titles I realized I had heard enough. *sigh
Christmas day is not even here and I’m already overloaded. Everything from our traditional carols to the down home, sappy holiday tunes that include Rudolph and White Christmas.
Here’s the thing. If you enjoy Christmas music whether they are your favourite carols or the tunes from old movies, there are words that can “spark joy”. “Dashing through the snow” may bring memories of the past. “Dreaming of a White Christmas” may be your theme. Dream on.
What’s my point? Whether the music you sing or hear is about the baby in the manger or chestnuts roasting, if they make you smile and feel love, then you could be connecting with love, the love of the Divine.
Music plays a large part in many of our lives and celebrations. Regardless of your favourite – sing on! The joy and love of music also brings the spirit of Christmas.
Sing on!
Pastor Barbara
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Greetings Advent travellers.
With the news this week from Premier Ford there are so many mixed feelings it’s hard to put a finger on just one. Sorrow, confusion, fear, overwhelm and perhaps so much more.
Then, the news that Christmas Eve will bring lots and lots of rain and possibly the freezing kind. Plans are holding well right now. We’ll see how the day goes. This is the very real and earthly reality.
My first Christmas in Ministry was during the last big ice storm that hit the GTA and area, December 2013. All my plans and nervousness of the first Christmas came to an end when the ice storm and damages caused power outages and church steps that were not manoeuvrable.
There are many reasons worship services are cancelled. However, being Christians is not cancelled. As followers of Christ we know what we have to do.
We give. We love. We shed light in the darkness. We read the scriptures and sing our carols – in the safety of our homes. In these seemingly bleak times may we find the light of Christ in our hearts to shine for one another. Enjoy this familiar carol.
We are one – in Christ. Through rain, or snow or – well you know how that goes.
Worship on dear Advent travellers. Worship on.
Barbara
The longest night is upon us.
The last couple of days have been pretty dreary. Cloud cover and rain or snow have been par for the course. The earth needs rest and recover. I believe we do as well.
We continue to wait – for the return to light and for the light of the world that is Jesus. There is hope in the darkness; peace in our waiting; joy in our anticipation; and love that comes within the light.
Today is a day to hunker down and embrace the darkness. Find comfort in the slower pace of winter and in the lock-down to come. There will be lots of time to get busy in our lives.
We are blessed to be a blessing. Be the light of the world that you truly are.
Pastor Barbara
Odd, but I’m feeling homesick. Not which home but it’s the feeling deep inside; a longing for something from before. It’s a feeling, a smell, or a sound. I’ll let you know when I figure it out.
This song caught me in the heart today.
“I will sing you home”
We’re getting close. We pray for safety, bread for the journey, and love to sustain us.
Bethlehem is just around the corner.
