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Rev. Kathi's Message:
There is a saying (a blessing or a curse?) that seems to come from the early part of the 20
th
Century "May you live in interesting times." Well, this past week sure has been interesting!
For many of you this has been a week of change to your summer routine: back to school, back to work, even back to church. Change can be unsettling.
For others, our neighbours around the globe, the week has been more unsettling. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have disrupted the lives of millions of people; destroying homes, schools, whole communities. Monsoons in Southeast Asia have been even more deadly. Wildfires in Canada's western provinces continue to impact tens of thousands but especially our first nations communities. The decision south of our border to rescind the protection program for children of illegal immigration has left these vulnerable young people feeling betrayed and threatened with the loss of their safety and the only home many of them remember. Change can be deadly.
And yet, change can be wonderful, exciting and even welcome. I am beyond happy this week to begin our ministry together. This is a big change for me and my family, but one I have been looking forward to since that day last spring when I received an email from Sylvia saying that your search team was interested in talking with me. I felt immediately at home at that first interview and that feeling continues each time I walk through the doors. Thank you for the warm welcome. Change can be life-giving.
Throughout all of our changes, all of our "interesting times," there is one constant - God's enduring presence. Our New Creed starts with the beautiful promise: we are not alone. This promise is never broken and it is forever. In the good times, in the unsettling times and especially in the terrible times, God's love is there for us. How can we keep from celebrating?
In peace, Kathi
Following the weather events of the week, a colleague of mine shares this prayer:
Hurricane Prayer by Rev. Mary Austin
God who turns the seasons, spinning one into the next and leaving us in awe, we marvel at the coming of fall and spring.
And, even so, we pray today for those threatened by water, made homeless by storms, and weary from cleaning up nature's devastation.
We have been careless with the world you gave us, selfish in using your creation for ourselves.
Forgive us, we pray, and teach us to do better:
Living with care for your gifts, and heed for one another, until we learn to mirror the goodness of your creation.
In hope and trust we pray. Amen.
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