Luke 5: 1-11
They were tired – but still cast their nets. Will we?
They were tired – but still listened to Jesus. Do we?
They were tired – but still followed him. Can we?
We are tired but can do more than imaginable. Love one another, give to one another, live for one another.
Many blessings,
Pastor Barbara
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
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
The sun is shining, the grass is green….well not so green here in Denbigh.
The song came to me this morning as the sun decided to peak for a few moments. Those moments were rather nostalgic for me – thinking of Christmases past and of family gatherings. The old artificial trees with the glass ornaments. Everything shimmered in the sparkling lights.
I wonder how Mary felt as the baby kicked. How did Joseph feel when he first heard the news? Perhaps they both thought back to previous Hanukkah celebrations. They might have looked forward to the next steps on their journey to Bethlehem.
Is there something, a song or old movie, that brings you back to those sentimental thoughts? What sort of rememberings will you bring forward as the year closes? A new song? A new story?
Take a few more steps today and pack a memory in your luggage for this year’s journey to the cradle.
Well it happened. I finally found the creche I was looking for. And yes, it brought joy. More on that next weekend.
We search for so many things. That special gift, the $10 you knew was in your pocket, the last cookie all get out attention more so this time of year.
I’ll keep this short this evening. What are you looking for? Something extra for Christmas? Something to add to your Advent journey?
Maybe Christmas isn’t just at the end of our Advent adventure but each and everyday that we celebrate the love of Christ.
Keep searching – there’s something to be found in every day.
Blessings, Barbara
Happy Joy Day!
The third Sunday of Advent is when we light the pink candle and celebrate the joy that Mary felt on hearing about the gift she would be bringing to the world.
“My soul magnifies the Lord”, she sang.
What song does our heart sing? Today? This month?
Today I remember my Dad – this would have been his birthday. He brought me so much joy – including the gift and love of music. He began life with many difficulties, some of which needed surgeries at a very young age. Think back to 1934 and what the practice of medicine looked like then.
Move forward to the medical advances today. I am thankful for those who are healing, and lift up those who await treatments. Is this part of JOY?
Today I search for all the things that bring me joy.
What about you?
We continue with mystery today – the mystery of love.
Do you have a favourite love song? You know the kind, that brings back those warm fuzzy memories and thoughts of love?
One of my favourite hymns about love is “Love divine, all loves excelling. Joy of heaven to earth come down.”
We don’t often think of this hymn as a Christmas song but the first line says it all -“joy of heaven to earth come down.”
Does your favourite Christmas carol speak about love OR does it emote those feelings of love? I’d love to hear what favourites come to mind.
Blessings of love,
Pastor Barbara
