Sabbath time…We are equipped

Ephesians 4:11-16

¹¹The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, ¹²to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. ¹⁴We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people’s trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. ¹⁵But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ¹⁶from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body’s growth in building itself up in love.

Blessed to be a blessing….Pastor Barbara

Jesus is for you and for me

A fresh start; new beginning and still, Christ is with me.

No matter the struggles – moving forward, two steps back – three forward. The friend I have in Jesus is with me.

Steps to stay on track:

Stay focused on Jesus, the Messiah
Do what I can, when I can, to follow in his teacings
Do what I can, when I can, to share in the ways that the Spirit invites

Sometimes, it’s hard to find the work the Spirit does in our lives. For me, that means it’s time to be still and know. Life becomes over-whelming when we neglect to care for ourselves. With Christ as our guide we can move forward and see the joy that comes with the dawn.

Friends, know that the Jesus I believe in, is here for me, is also here for you. Rest, renew, and replenish. All will be well.

May you find rest and peace in God who loves you.

Blessings,

Pastor Barb

A blessing

This video is raw and real. Some families find blessings with the the women in their lives; others not so much.

In whatever way you share Mother’s Day weekend I pray that you find a deep blessing.

God’s love continues. Amen.

Enough

For all the women who have led, taught, guided, and loved us. May we say more “I love you” and offer continued prayers for all.

In Lent – I will wait

In quiet moments I wait

In the stillness of winter, I wait

On this path, I wait

I wait.

DMS Worship – Lent I

Samaritan the Good

21feb21-bulletin Download

To follow along with the worship you can now download the pdf.

Question of the day: Who is your neighbour?

DMS Pastoral Charge Worship, January 25, 2020

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

December 23, 2020, Advent

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

—

December 21, 2020 Advent

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

Advent Journey Home: December 20, 2020

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.