On this page, you will find some final words from Pastor Patti’s weekly newsletter, “Chit Chat.” These are thoughts to ponder and reflect on. To subscribe to the newsletter, please email patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
…and finally…
My brother gave me a Christmas card that said “for your last Christmas”. I have been joking that I will be relieved when, next year, I won’t be agonizing over how to tell the Christmas story in a new and engaging way. I won’t be worrying about how to find a balance between those who long for a traditional worship service and reaching an audience that didn’t grow up in the church. I won’t be fussing over condemning the commercialization of a season meant to draw attention to Jesus’ radical mission of justice for the poor. And I won’t be irritated by the way the original story has been forgotten in all the kitchy Christmas movies and pop songs…well, maybe I will still be irritated by that!
I will, however, still be amazed at the hidden messages I find in that story. The tendrils of hope that drift through the Hebrew Scriptures. The whispered prophecies the gospel writers draw into their narrative. I will still be amazed at the generosity of people who embody Jesus radical mission of justice for the poor. I will still see parallels in the news…we haven’t really changed all that much and Jesus’ teachings are as real today as they were in the days of another dying empire.
People ask me what I want to do in retirement and my standard answer has become “Jesus stuff”. I want to travel around and meet people where they are and give them good news. I’m not sure how that’s going to happen, but I’m sure God will point me in the right direction.
In the meantime, I’m busy setting the stage for Christmas Eve, so that whoever comes to be in the sanctuary on that sacred night will feel what they need to feel; safe, comforted, at home. And I’m busy with the story. The one that tells itself.
May your Christmas be a time of blessing, and gratitude.
Pastor Patti
(705) 623-5837 (call or text)
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
…and finally…
The hymn Joy to the World began as a poem by Isaac Watts that was based on Psalm 98 and was set to music by a Boston music teacher named Lowell Mason. Mason was inspired by Handel’s Messiah and connected together tune themes from the Messiah to bring the Watts poem to life.
Joy is one of those spontaneous emotions that comes upon us suddenly and is sometimes fleeting. Seeing the snow clinging to the trees early this morning brought joy to my heart – and then I saw all the snow clinging to my driveway. Still, being out in a winter wonderland feels very very good.
Joy can be a favourite song that comes on the radio, or the presence of a grandchild – certainly there was great joy in the sanctuary last week as we baptized two little ones. This time of year it can be the first cup of tea in a darkened room with just the newly lit Christmas tree.
Joy can also come in times of sorrow. In the presence of courage. In the unmistakable company of loved ones. In the stories that come rushing from our memories to comfort us. I was remembering my mother-in-law who rightfully had great pride in her Christmas butter tarts. One Christmas morning we arrived to find a full tray of burnt tarts laying in the snow bank outside the kitchen door. Clearly her prized butter tarts were not going to be on the menu and she was not happy about it, having flung them, tray and all, out the door and into the snow. The memory that imperfection is perfectly acceptable brings me such joy.
Joy is not an extravagance. It is a necessity. So, be joyful!
Pastor Patti 705-623-5837 (call or txt)
…and finally…
I was out for my morning walk, listening to the news as I breathed in the fresh morning air, when I heard a recording of Donald Trump talking about Somalia. The people who escaped famine and war in Somalia. The people who still live there. I’ve heard some pretty incredulous things, but his words made me feel physically sick. Worst yet was the certain knowledge that those despicable words give license to some people to do violence to anyone who might look like they come from Somalia. I don’t generally comment on US politics here in the Chit Chat, but since our theme for Advent is “what are we waiting for”, I thought I ought to heed my own words. Why are we waiting to understand we are all God’s people? Why are we waiting for a hero to jump in and fix all the problems? Why are we waiting for someone to do something about people in power who exhibit, and encourage such hatred? So what can I do, small as I am? Well, first of all I going to learn about Somalia and why they are the third poorest country in the world – by the way, it’s not because of the people of Somalia, but colonial British rule and subsequently being divided up as spoils by European countries and rich sultans. And then I’m going to learn about its people, so I can wipe away any judgement I might harbour about them. And then, I’m going to speak the truth to people who might think those who migrate to our country are somehow a problem. All God’s children, remember? We are all God’s children trying to recover from a world that rewards the wealthy and leaves the poor to suffer. Ok, now I’m beginning to sound like Isaiah who ranted at his people for being arrogant and cruel. Old Isaiah who said “Comfort, comfort now my people.”
Pastor Patti 705-623-5837 (call or txt)
…and finally…
The tree is trimmed and the sanctuary full of holiday cheer as we enter the season of Advent. Thank you to the team who brought the season of hope, peace, joy and love to our congregation.
During our Faith Discussion group this week there were two opinions about Christmas – those who love the season and those who hate it. I am, famously, in the second camp. Don’t get me wrong, I am no Scrooge. I do love time with family, and the candlelit sanctuary on Christmas Eve. I love the odd Christmas carol. And I love an evening walk in the gentle snow when the Christmas lights are sparkling.
I don’t love that death doesn’t skip Christmas. To be sad at Christmas is the loneliest feeling in the world. I don’t love the financial burden the busiest shopping season of the year places on people. I don’t love the way a deluge of charities who mail/email/phone and text me daily makes me feel – how can so many people be suffering in this world?
Christmas should be a time of laughter – but for so many people it is full of tears.
Most of all, I hate that in the business of Christmas people forget why that baby came.
Was born in a stable. To a girl barely old enough to understand the world, but somehow did, and a man who should have been cruel but wasn’t. We forget the baby who came to hold the tears we keep inside, to heal the sorrows we carry. He came to present us with a vision of a world in which suffering is not the norm. And where the suffering find shelter without fear or shame.
Hmmm…I wonder if I can hold onto that throughout the Christmas season? The memory of why he came. The knowledge of his presence among us as we celebrate his birth. I think I would love that.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
I had lunch with a school colleague who has moved into the area to serve a
congregation in Barrie. She has lived in Saskatchewan for the past 5 years and though
we have rarely seen each other, the friendship is as lively as ever. It was good to catch
up. Some friendships are like that. You just pick up where you left off. Doreen and I
didn’t start our that way. We didn’t like each other at all. We discovered that our
animosity arose out of the fact that we are very much alike. I saw in Doreen traits that I
try to stifle in myself and she the same with me. It was like we held up a mirror to each
other and we didn’t like the image we saw.
One thing Jesus does very effectively is hold up a mirror to people…except that the
image reflected back to us is our true selves – the goodness we possess that
sometimes becomes hidden under pain or trauma. Jesus, through his life and his
teachings, encourages us to see that image of ourselves.
Once Doreen and I realized the image in the mirror was just a frightened girl trying to be
a good minister, we became fast friends. And when she is frightened I can smile at her
and remind her she is a good minister and vice versa.
Last Sunday I reminded you that you are the most hope-filled and healing bunch of
people I know. I hope that you continue to see that image in the mirror as we move into
the season of Advent and you begin the process of searching for a new minister to
serve you.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
We are flying head-long into the season of Christmas craft and bake sales, concerts and events. The pages of the Chit Chat are full of things to do. Which reminds me of something Cheryl Leliever said when we arrived at our cluster meeting – just breathe! Please do not be overwhelmed by all the stuff going on. Choose what interests and excites you and brings joy to your day. The rest will interest and excite someone else. There is this phenomenon called FOLO or “fear of losing out”. It contributes to the anxiety some young people feel when a multitude of activities comes at them in their social media feeds, and the fear that if they do not try everything, they might lose out on something. The truth is, not everything needs to be tried. Not everyone needs our attention. What I settle for today can be changed tomorrow. And the world will turn. As you go head-long into the Christmas season, just breathe. Gather around you what brings you joy.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
A poppy has an ironic existence.
In 1921 it became the official symbol of remembrance following WWI because in a war-torn landscape, only poppies seemed to thrive as symbols that life was still possible. It is from poppies that opioids are derived. Morphine made it possible for soldiers to endure the pain of their wounds and the long journey of healing. Yet today, opioids destroy lives and economies and are quite literally the scourge of nations.
It’s hard to put those two things together – a symbol of both life and death.
In 1914, Russian soldier Valentin Bulgakov wrote: “Our enemies are not the Germans and not the Russians or Frenchmen. The common enemy of us all, no matter what nationality to which we belong, is the beast within us.”
Maybe that’s the key. When we remember, we remember the valour and the sacrifice, but more importantly the potential within all of us to head to war.
This week our national budget ballooned its defence spending. We all know why. The world is living in an age of potential threat. But also potential peace.
Maybe that is the gift the poppy offers. The potential for peace is as fragile as a poppy’s stem, but as strong as its spirit. And the potential for peace requires that we stay awake, and are non lulled into complacency by the poppy’s inner sweetness.
Remembrance Day offers much upon which to reflect, not the least of which is the prayer of all soldiers: “Please, never again.”
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
Halloween originated from the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, (pronounced sawin) which celebrated the end of summer and the harvest. The Celts believed the veil between the living and the dead was thinnest during Samhain, so they lit bonfires and wore costumes to ward off ghosts and spirits.
The Celts believe Samhain is a time when we receive the gifts of restoration and renewal. It is a time to reflect, and to remember ancestors whose wisdom, freedom of spirit and clarity have impacted our lives.
A traditional Song sung at the dawning of Samhain says this:
I am the hallow-tide of all souls passing
I am the bright releaser of all pain
I am the quickener of the fallen seed
I am the glance of snow
The strike of rain
I am the hollow of the winter twilight
I am the hearth-fire and the welcome bread
I am the curtained awning of the pillow
I am unending wisdom’s golden thread.
Grandmother wisdom, open the door
Grandfather counsel, come you in
Let there be welcome to the ancient lore
In cold and darkness you are travelling
Under crystal skies you will arrive
As I read these words, I am reminded of the warmth of home and hearth as winter closes in and the blessing of family.
The Christian Church countered this pagan tradition with the creation of All Saints, or All Souls Day. It is a day to remember resurrection, that the dead are never truly dead, so long as their stories remain and their wisdom is shared. They become one with the whole host of saints, who lead the church from the past to the future.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
705-623-5837 (call or text)
On Sunday October 19th a group of clergy, church goers and citizens gathered at the Spirit Catcher to protest the recent passing of a by-law in the City of Barrie making it illegal for individuals to give away items for free on public lands without authorization. The by-law does not prohibit helping those in need of help, however, it has been represented as such. In fact, section 8.0.0.0 of Barrie’s Use of Property By-law exempts government agencies, charities and organizations, and any person providing food, water, clothing or medical assistance. Representing the by-law as a sanction against giving food and shelter to the unhoused discourages people from doing just that. The controversy, however, does draw attention to the crisis and challenges us to respond.
When you think of an unhoused person, what image comes to mind? Someone who has fallen victim to drug poisoning? More realistically its people who have fallen victim to rent scams, unscrupulous landlords, or the underemployed who simply cannot find an affordable place to live. The point of the demonstration at the Spirit Catcher was to encourage people to change their point of view. We must stop seeing the unhoused as criminals and act with kindness and empathy in all levels of the community; elected officials and staff, faith communities, service organizations and each one of us.
One of the most difficult passages to preach in the Bible is Matthew 26:11: The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. It sounds like Jesus is being petulant here – like he’s saying he is more important than the poor. But in Deuteronomy 15:11 we read: There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land. I think Jesus is saying ‘It is a given that you will care for the poor. It should be automatic, without thought or debate. At the same time, celebrate the ones who are important to you. You can do both at the same time.”
God’s abundance assures us that making space for others does not in any way diminish what we have. It is the culture of fear and competition that makes hoarders out of billionaires.
After the demonstration at the Spirit Catcher, the people walked up and down Dunlop Street handing our food and water and talking to the people crouched in doorways trying to escape the rain. There were smiles and greetings and expressions of gratitude, and grace. These are the people Jesus chose to hang out with.
On Sunday we have an opportunity to learn how Bradford West Gwillimbury hopes to confront poverty and how we, as a faith community and as individuals, can help.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
…and finally…
On Wednesday we had our final Communities of Faith Commission meeting for this
term, and for Carolyn Harding, our Regional Council representative, it was her last
meeting as a member of the commission. Carolyn has served on the commission as a
lay representative and lent her expertise to the governance task group, reviewing and
approving governance proposals from communities of faith across the region. Carolyn
has been a faithful servant to the church across its many iterations; Dufferin Peel
Presbytery, Living Waters Presbytery and Shining Waters Regional Council. Her
wisdom and experience has been a blessing to her fellow commission members and
we will miss her presence at the table.
Our last meeting was a roller coaster of emotions with a long list of churches struggling
to make ends meet, and others embarking on hopeful futures in exciting partnerships. I
bemoaned in an earlier “and finally” that our commission had stopped bringing Jesus
into our discussions, so I opened the meeting with a passage from the book of Acts:
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of
bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs
performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in
common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every
day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their
homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the
favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being
saved. (Acts 2:43-47)
When I think of the communities of faith in our care, this is the passage that comes to
mind. It is the blueprint for a church: People come to the communities of faith we serve,
and stay because of this ideal; this hope: That there will be a community for them
where they can do good works, and form a deeper relationship with God.
With this ideal in mind, for the first time in a long time, I felt less frustration with the work
of the commission and more hope for the people who faithfully gather together to break
bread, help others, and know God. …and finally…
On Wednesday we had our final Communities of Faith Commission meeting for this
term, and for Carolyn Harding, our Regional Council representative, it was her last
meeting as a member of the commission. Carolyn has served on the commission as a
lay representative and lent her expertise to the governance task group, reviewing and
approving governance proposals from communities of faith across the region. Carolyn
has been a faithful servant to the church across its many iterations; Dufferin Peel
Presbytery, Living Waters Presbytery and Shining Waters Regional Council. Her
wisdom and experience has been a blessing to her fellow commission members and
we will miss her presence at the table.
Our last meeting was a roller coaster of emotions with a long list of churches struggling
to make ends meet, and others embarking on hopeful futures in exciting partnerships. I
bemoaned in an earlier “and finally” that our commission had stopped bringing Jesus
into our discussions, so I opened the meeting with a passage from the book of Acts:
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of
bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs
performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in
common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every
day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their
homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the
favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being
saved. (Acts 2:43-47)
When I think of the communities of faith in our care, this is the passage that comes to
mind. It is the blueprint for a church: People come to the communities of faith we serve,
and stay because of this ideal; this hope: That there will be a community for them
where they can do good works, and form a deeper relationship with God.
With this ideal in mind, for the first time in a long time, I felt less frustration with the work
of the commission and more hope for the people who faithfully gather together to break
bread, help others, and know God. Even if all the church buildings crumbled to the
ground, God’s faithful people will remain.
Thank you, Carolyn, for your service.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
Thank you, Carolyn, for your service.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
Thanksgiving is my favourite holiday. Thanksgiving is colour and aroma. It is the last
breath of summer and the first taste of autumn. It is friends and family. Its a good
pumpkin pie. (though this year I am trying Faye’s sweet potato pie recipe as well) Its
walks in the woods, the smell of a bonfire, leaves falling, cool breezes.
Often, in our worship liturgy we focus on Creation this time of year. Resurrection is a
recurring theme too, as the earth seems to die…but doesn’t. I’m often reminded how
the earth repairs itself so much better than we do. How brilliant and beautiful is
creation?
We were talking in Faith Discussion about the first peoples who came to this area 11,000 years before Jesus walked the earth. At that time, at the end of the last Ice Age, this whole region looked like the rocky plain that stretches out from the Columbia Ice Fields. Nothing here but rocks and more rocks. The first peoples came to gather those rocks to use as tools. They didn’t stay. Not at first. It took 7000 years for trees and plants to take root and grow. When the animals settled in, so did the people. It’s hard to imagine that transformation – from a desolate plain to the majestic forests that take our breath away
this time of year. It’s brilliant and beautiful. And all I can do is be thankful.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
Last weekend I travelled back to my childhood stomping grounds in Mount Albert, a little
village east of Newmarket that hasn’t really changed since I moved from there 50 years
ago. I was asked to lead the funeral for a long-time member of Mount Albert United
Church, and I was excited about being in that church again. It hasn’t changed much
either! The choir loft where I first learned to sing was exactly as I left it. I have to admit,
standing in the pulpit where Rev. March had once thundered his weekly sermon was a
little intimidating. I recall him being a very tall man with a stern aspect that didn’t
encourage goofing around in church. I was a terrified of him, and there I was, standing
in his place, feeling like I was 8 years old.
It’s funny how, despite our years, we can be taken back to a time that formed us as a
child, and still feel like a child. I had to remind myself how far I’ve come since then. I
had to let go of the past and see that building through adult eyes.
For the past month, in our Faith Discussion Group, we have been learning about the
history of the Hebrews, the Isrealites and the Jewish people. We have learned how
they became a people, a nation and a religion that evolved by history and
circumstance. We learned how they became divided (1 Kings 12:1-17) and how that
division exists today between the state of Israel and the Palestinian people. We
wondered how there can ever be peace between them when the traumas that occurred
in their infancy have never healed? How will they have a future if they cannot put the
past into perspective?
The horror of what is happening in Gaza, and among those who seek to profit from its
destruction, is difficult to comprehend when the answer seems so simple: To heal, one
must stand in another’s place and see the world from their perspective.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
During our meeting with the Regional Council Pastoral Relations and Communities of
Faith Commission on Tuesday we were joined by one of the Growth Animators who
help congregations invite new members, renew their energy and start new churches.
He began his presentation with some pretty dire statistics. By 2035, one projection
indicated there would be about 111,000 members of the United Church in all of Canada.
Another, that there would be only 7000 people attending a United Church in our region,
which stretches from Toronto to Parry Sound. He was quick to say these were
projections, not predictions, based on the decline in membership over the past 30
years. He was not prepared for the backlash. Around the table ministers and lay
people disagreed, argued and even insulted the staff in a knee jerk reaction that was
not becoming people of faith. Admittedly, I did my fair share of complaining that there is
a disconnect between the national church and what is happening in local
congregations. Underlying the anger was a wretched fear. What if the numbers are
correct? What if all our work to reach out to our communities, to be welcoming and
inclusive and faithful has been for naught? What if God has abandoned us?
During lunch there was lots of conversation and after lunch we had some time to
consider where that emotional knee-jerk reaction was coming from. My thoughts? We
have not been talking to each other. Zoom meetings stifle conversation. We rely on
our regional council staff, but they are stretched too thin to be able to spend meaningful
time in conversation with each congregation. Congregations are afraid to talk to the
region in case “they shut us down.” We have stopped talking to each other.
There’s a reason Jesus said “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there
among them.” When we talk to each other on matters of faith, Christ is with us.
This is where I express my gratitude for our South Simcoe Cluster of United Churches.
It provides a forum for us to talk to each other. By sharing our joys and sorrows, our
triumphs and disasters, we know we are not alone…and God has not abandoned us.
We don’t have to come up with fancy programs or markers of success. If all we do is
talk to each other that is enough.
You must understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters: let everyone be quick to
listen, slow to speak, slow to anger James 1:19
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
When I was a little girl, like many little girls, I loved horses. I remember vividly a Disney
film called Run Appaloosa Run about a Native American girl and her horse entering a
“wild horse race.” We were so taken with the film that my brothers and I would get on
our hobby horses and run about the yard pretending we were in that race. It was a time
of childhood innocence that I remember fondly.
Just the other day, as I was scrolling old movies, I came across Run Appaloosa Run on
YouTube and I got so excited! Here was my childhood waiting to be re-discovered! I
clicked on the link and settled down to watch. About ten minutes in I had to turn it off.
The assumptions about indigenous people were so disturbing I couldn’t watch. The
language was so demeaning, I felt sick to my stomach.
When the tv screen went dark, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude to the indigenous men and women who, through patience, perseverance and grace taught me to recognize
how harmful those assumptions and that language has been.
Next Sunday, as we gather at Trinity United with our Cluster neighbours, you are invited to wear orange to signify the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Wearing orange does not mean we are sympathetic to the suffering of indigenous children and families. It means we are determined to eradicate the assumptions and language that has been the cause of that suffering.
Paul wrote “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned
like a child. When I became an adult, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” (1 Cor
13:11). Seeing Disney content through adult eyes can be enlightening.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
As some of you know, I negotiated a one-year appointment in 2025 because I have
been contemplating retiring in 2026. I’ve come to the difficult decision to retire from
pastoral ministry at the end of my appointment – June 30, 2026.
With the Council’s approval, my letter of resignation due to retirement has been
received and forwarded to Regional Council. The process has been set in motion and
the Council will be hearing from our Pastoral Relations Minister, Mastard Sakala, in the
near future. A liaison will be assigned to Bond Head United Church who will walk you
through preparing for a new minister.
You have already been doing some of that work through the Mission and Vision
Statement process. We have reviewed our Charter and collected the demographic
data you will need. Establishing a Search Committee will be undertaken soon. I can
promise you that BHUC will have no trouble finding an excellent new minister! You are
a strong congregation, well known in our Region and across the country, with much to
offer…and they will be lining up at your door!
My focus in the coming months is to strengthen and encourage you throughout the
process and to provide pastoral care.
You are an amazing congregation and I have been so blessed to be here to serve you.
It has been a joy and a privilege to walk with you for the past four years and though I
will miss you terribly, I am happy to be retiring from pastoral ministry and interested to
see where God’s call leads me as a lay person.
We are not finished yet – there is much to do in the coming months, so let us pay
attention to God’s call and walk joyfully together!
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
It’s been a few years since I got kids ready for the first day back to school. This year
my youngest grandson was with me over the long weekend and I got to drop him off for
his last first day of school as a high school student. I was as excited as he was! It
seems as though just yesterday I was watching him be born.
As we were driving to school we came up over Sharp’s hill and before us the sun was
rising over the Cookstown valley. Below us the fields were covered in mist. The trees
were rising up from the mist as though awakening to God. It was a magical, mystical
scene. We both just gazed in wonder.
I turned to Neil and said “if we weren’t in a hurry to get to school, I’d stop and take a
picture.” Funny how the busy-ness of our lives stops us from taking in the majesty and
wonder of God. As we drove down into the valley and the sun rose higher, the mist
dissipated and the scene was gone. Majesty and wonder can sometimes be fleeting.
It reminds me that sometimes in the one-word conversations we have with teenagers,
(ie “How was your day?” and all you get is “Good.”) there is a vast scene of majesty and
wonder to be found between the lines. There is so much they want to say, but are afraid
to say in case they are judged.
When I picked Neil up at the end of the day, a cacophony of children poured out of the
school, all dressed in strange clothes, listening to strange music, trying to find the tribe
of friends who share their tastes. All trying to figure out who they are. What majesty
and wonder they hold.
When I see a teenager on the street I’ll try not to jump to any conclusions, no matter
how strangely they are dressed, or the music they are listening to, and remember they
are just trying to figure out how to be. It is not my job to squeeze them into a mold of
my choosing, but to let them blossom and grow in their own field.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
I spent some time at the Fred Victor Centre in Toronto this week. I was meeting with
Rev. Tina Conlon, Rev. Angie Hocking and Lorraine Adder who are community
ministers. Community ministers don’t have a regular church congregation. They serve
the communities in which they are deployed. Davenport Perth, Regent Park and Jane
Finch.
Rev. Angie Hocking has a tiny office in the Fred Victor Centre and from there she meets
with people who come to the drop in centre, or the community garden, or sit in the
peace park outside. She helps them develop programs that enrich their lives, provides
a pastoral presence when needed, or directs people to the social services available to
them. She also advocates on their behalf with local elected officials and organizations
to improve services for the city’s most vulnerable.
Angie was our host as we gathered to discern ways to raise awareness of the
importance of community ministry. She took me on a tour of the Regent Park
neighbourhood. I have to admit I was a little nervous driving to the heart of the city
because Regent Park, in years past, had a reputation for being unsafe. I was amazed
to find quite the opposite. New condos line the streets along with gardens and parks.
At one time low income housing was ghettoed into this area. It has taken 15 years, but
with good planning by the City of Toronto and advocacy from groups like Fred Victor,
The United Church and others, low income housing is included within regular market
housing condo buildings. No longer are the most vulnerable segregated. This has
brought businesses back to Regent Park. The residents care for their community and
are proud to live there. The Fred Victor Centre, a retired United Church building which
Rev. Tina Conlon helped to transform into a community hub, is at the centre of life in
Regent Park and provides social services, education, and a spiritual safe place for the
community. Community Ministry is doing ministry the way Jesus did it – on the streets among the people. It was a privilege to spend the day with Tina, Angie and Lorraine. I’ll tell you more on Sunday!
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
I leave you with a poem and prayer by Hagen Hasselbalch.
Let there be peace; welfare and righteousness in every part of the world
Let confidence and friendship prevail
For the good of east and west
For the good of the needy south
For the good of all humanity
Let the people inspire their leaders, helping them to seek peace by peaceful means Helping them and urging them to build a better world
A world with a home for everybody
A world with food and worker everybody
A world with spiritual freedom for everybody
Let money become a tool for the good of humankind
Let those who have power deal respectfully with the resources of the planet Let them respect and maintain the purity of the air, water, land and subsoil Let them co-operate to restore the ecological soundness of Mother Earth
Let trees grow by the billions around the world
Let green life invade the deserts
Let industry serve humanity
And produce wast that serves nature
Let technology respect the holiness of Mother Earth
Let those who control the mass media contribute to create mutual understanding And create optimism and confidence
Let ordinary people meet by the millions across borders
Let them create a universal network of love and friendship
Let human beings co-operate to create a good future for their children and grandchildren Let us survive, in peace and harmony with Mother Earth
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
I heard recently that Thomas Jefferson had his own Bible from which he had removed all the miracles. He found the accounts of miracles distracted from the teachings of Jesus and made people mistrust the natural order of Creation. He argued we cannot have faith in God’s good creation if Jesus was going about disrupting the laws of nature. He went so far as to cut and paste the Bible into one that agreed with his view of the universe. Not everyone agreed with Jefferson, of course. But then again, people have been cutting and pasting bits of the Bible to agree with their position for time immemorial.
I have to admit that I do not read the Bible daily as a spiritual practice. My contemplation of miracles goes on in the world around me. In that, I guess I agree with Jefferson. The natural world is a miracle in and of itself. How a caterpillar turns into a butterfly astounds me. And the way the world is instantly refreshed and renewed after a much needed rain fills me with wonder and gratitude.
When it comes to human nature, however, I find the Bible an essential resource. When trying to understand how we humans got to be how we are, the Bible is my go-to source of wisdom.
We all look at the Bible through our own experience – that’s part of its miracle. No matter what is going on in our lives, we can open the Bible and find wisdom or guidance or a warning that perhaps we are on the wrong track. Essential truths can be found there. Beware, however, of the temptation to cut and paste.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
I dropped into Trinity United in Beeton for worship and enjoyed being in the pews while
someone else was in the pulpit. Rev. Kent had a great message about the importance
of taking time to rest and reflect and just be in God’s presence. Later, over ice cream, I
thanked him for helping me to justify all the napping I had been doing while on summer
sabbath. I have a sofa-sized swing beside my little cabin, and it called to me to
“Come…put your feet up…maybe lay down for a minute…no, you don’t need to get up
just yet…just listen to the wind for awhile.”
Listening to the wind doesn’t seem like a very productive activity in today’s world of
constant busyness. It helps to remember that much of the wisdom we have gathered
as human beings comes from listening to the wind, and the animals, and contemplating
the growing of things. We know who we are by gazing at stars and rippling waters and
sleeping babies. We allow ourselves to dream.
I’ve been reading a book called “If Nietzsche were a Narwhal by Justin Gregg. Gregg is
a senior research associate with the Dolphin Communications Project and an adjunct
professor at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish Nova Scotia. He lectures on
animal behaviour and the differences in how people and animals think. He points out
that animals have an advantage over us because they don’t “time travel”. That’s what
he calls our ability to imagine outcomes. We are constantly trying to figure out what to
do next. We visualize what might happen if we do this or do that. We can actually feel
the emotions of fear or grief when we imagine something bad happening. We spend so
much time with our heads in a possible future that we don’t pay attention to what is
actually happening around us. We worry about things that might happen, but probably
won’t happen and we fret about things over which we have no control. Animals do not
have those worries. They don’t spend their time worrying about how they will control
the future nor wishing they could change the past.
Knowing this about us, Jesus actually teaches us to let ourselves dream of a good
future. A future in which we know God more fully. Maybe…by listening to the wind.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
One hundred years seems hardly a drop in the bucket when you think of the
scope of human history. Even the two thousand years Christianity has been in
existence is but a blip on the evolutionary scale of the universe. Still, in one
hundred years our denomination has seen many changes and has been a
catalyst for change in our country.
Change is the one constant we know, and statistics tell us the number of people
who claim no religious affiliation is growing faster than any religion. I don’t think it
is because people have rejected the idea of God. I think it’s because the story
we Protestants tell of God, a story created 500 years ago, doesn’t make sense to
people trying to navigate our technological world.
American author Phyllis Tickle, in her book, “The Great Emergence: How
Christianity is Changing and Why”, explores the idea that the church goes
through cycles of change every 500 years. The last emergence began when
German priest Martin Luther nailed his thesis to the front door of the All Saints
Church in Wittenberg in October 1517. It was one of the major events that gave
birth to the Protestant movement. That was a little over 500 years ago…so we
are on the cusp of the next 500 years. Tickle says these 500-year cycles involve
periods of upheaval, settling down, and ultimately, a new and more vital form of
Christianity emerging.
This gives me great hope. Christianity, like Tabitha in the story we reflected upon
last Sunday, is in the habit of dying and rising.
Summer Sabbath is upon us, and I have to say I am really looking forward to
spending some unstructured time. I have been nurturing plants and flowers on
my sundeck and at the cottage so I can just go out there among them with my
green tea and a good book. I hope you will find peace and rest in the quiet
moments of your Summer Sabbath.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
Betty Fallis gave me a book her mother owned written by the Right Reverend Doctor Lois Wilson. It’s called “I Want to Be in That Number; Cool Saints I Have Known.” In it Rev. Dr. Wilson, who was the first woman President of the Canadian Council of Churches (1976-79), the first woman Moderator of The United Church of Canada (1980-82) and the first Canadian President of the World Council of Churches (1983-1991) and a member of the Senate, tells stories of some of the people she met along the way. They were not famous people or political elites, but humble faithful people who inspired her in her work. She once said she had no original ideas of her own, but was able to carry out the ideas of other faithful people. I’ll be sharing some of those stories with you during the month of August.
In one of the chapters is a poem written by a former staff member at the World Council of Churches. He was reflecting on the story of Lot’s wife – do you remember the story? Lot was warned to leave the city of Sodom and Gomorrah because God decided to rain fire on its people. Lot warned his wife and daughters not to look back as the city went up in flames. But Lot’s wife could not resist, she glanced back and was turned to a pillar of salt.
In the telling of this story, however, the author considers why Lot’s wife looked back. He tells the tale from her perspective. In the city were a few bad actors, and a lot of friends and neighbours who were there for her, helped her when she gave birth, fetched water for her family when there was a drought. Made sure she was cared for while her husband had little regard for her or their daughters. She decided she would rather perish with them than live without them.
Ironically, Jesus would later say that we are the salt of the earth. Lot’s wife, who became the salt of her earth, knew the importance of friendship and knowing your neighbour. That’s a pretty important message for us today as fire rains down on neighbourhoods across the Middle East. Who is our neighbour? Jesus has an answer to that question as well. Our neighbour is the one who shows mercy.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
The news has been full of bad news lately – Fires devastating huge swaths of virgin forest and forcing the evacuation of northern communities; intensified attacks in the war in Ukraine; starving children in Gaza; and the inhuman treatment of immigrants can make us all feel numb. I find myself turning off the tv because I don’t want to hear any more bad news.
Then I read this quote from Rev. Cameron Tremble: In times like these, numbness masquerades as wisdom. It can seem like the smart choice to disengage, to go silent, to retreat behind a wall of indifference, self-righteousness, sarcasm or cynicism. But those strategies of self-protection eventually become self-abandonment. As Thomas Merton once taught, “The biggest human temptation is to settle for too little.” And numbness, however understandable, is too little for our full aliveness.
Reverend Tremble encourages us to stay alive rather than go numb because we deserve better. Stay alive in all your relationships, in our work in the church to be radically inclusive – not just say we include everyone, but to honestly make sure that we do. To honestly make sure that we do because we deserve to have a church that is great. And the world needs greatness in leadership, in relationship building, in hospitality and in a broader belief in the way of Jesus.
So, when the news is troubling, think for a moment: if this was happening in my community, how would I respond? How could our church respond? How can we respond now?
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
My brother and sister-in-law just returned from Scotland where they were visiting
friends and family. While there, they visited an early form of cooperative. It was
established by Robert Owen in the early 19th century. Owen was an entrepreneur in
textile manufacturing who believed, unlike many of his contemporaries, that healthy
workers meant a more healthy profit for him in the long run. He established cooperative
community housing, health care and life-long education for his workers and their
families. The focus of these cooperative communities was not just profit-based healthy
working conditions. He believed people truly want to be good people and he provided
every opportunity for them to thrive, to learn and to grow. And we think we are so
progressive in this century! On the walls of one of the buildings David found a series of
inspirational plaques and sent me pictures of the words. One stands out as we
celebrate Indigenous History and Pride Month:
“Charity and kindness admit no exception. They extend to every child of man. They
consider not what country gave him birth, nor what may be his complexion.”
I think Robert Owen, were he to write these words in the 21st century, would have used
more inclusive language, but the intent remains and wise counsel words in any century!
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
Recently, the New York Times reported on a Pew Research Centre study that
indicated the decline in Christian churches seems to have halted and is seeing
an uptick. Although the group cited as having more interest in church are young,
white males, at a gathering of United Church clergy I attended this week, there
was agreement that new people are looking to the church for stability, security
and connection. Each of us had stories that affirmed the Pew report. In every
community people are going to church. Some are recent migrants looking for
new friends. Some are empty-nesters looking for programs and activities.
Others are searching for meaningful purpose in their lives.
There is no doubt that the way of Christ, as well as other faith traditions, is
needed in a time when there is so much uncertainty in the world. Faith seems to
hold the key that unlocks hope.
The way we do ministry has changed dramatically and for me, this is a sign of
hope as well. The church is becoming more flexible, meeting the needs in the
community in ways that feel random but in hindsight are led by the Spirit. It
occurs to me that this is exactly what Jesus taught us to do: meet the need as it
is presented to you and trust the Spirit to guide you.
The Spirit is, indeed, at work here at Bond Head United Church and in each of
our lives. it is very hope-full!
I am looking forward to our “Favourite Hymns” service this Sunday and the
Memorial Service on June 8th. Each will be recorded live and uploaded to
Youtube later in the day so our on-line viewers will get the full benefit of the music
and participation of our congregation. I hope you will join us either inperson or
online.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
May is probably my favourite month. After the dreariness of April, everything is vibrantly green, and the birds are singing their hearts out from dawn to dusk. This year I have two “mama” birds nesting in the awning on my back deck – a robin and a mourning dove. It’s interesting to watch them – the mourning dove is calm. She isn’t bothered by much and quietly observes me observing her. The robin, on the other hand, is nervous and edgy, scolding me if I venture outside and often flying off the nest if there’s a noise in the house. I worry that her worrying will be detrimental to her brood. Sometimes worrying does more harm than good. Jesus said “Do not worry about your life.” (Matt 6:25) And I say “That’s easier said than done, Jesus. There is much to worry about.” And yet, still, Jesus invites us to be calm like the mourning dove. It’s ironic that a dove known for its mournful song seems to have it all together. Perhaps it is the difficult times in our lives that teach us “do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” We are not alone. We live in God’s world. Thanks be to God. Blessings, Pastor Patti patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca 705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
There were many blessings to be had during my week in Nova Scotia. The sea and the forests. The long conversations hugging a mug of green tea. Visiting museums and farmers’ markets. It was all good for the soul. The most outstanding blessing, though, is always the eagles.
We did a little hike in Arisaig Provincial Park which is on the coast looking out over the Northumberland Straight. If you squint, and it’s a clear day, you can see Prince Edward Island in the distance.
We took a break at a spot that looked out over a stony beach. Not far away a juvenile eagle, still mostly white with some brown patches, was tearing apart a fish it had caught for lunch. All of a sudden it launched itself into the sky and soared out over the water. The reason for its suddenly abandoning its lunch became apparent when an adult bald eagle flew out of the trees and swooped toward the youngster. With a stern rebuke in that high pitched scree eagles sing, the adult made its presence known, forced the youngster into the trees and then took up guard in a majestic pine nearby. We wondered whether the adult was “Mom” teaching its 2 year old not to be so bold out there on the beach and to stick to the relative safety of the forest. Maybe she had sensed our presence nearby and was teaching a youngster that even mighty eagles are not safe around humans. It was a moment I will always remember.
As we celebrate Mothers’ Day I will think of that mother eagle as someone who swoops in and rescues us when we become oblivious to danger.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
HYPERLINK “mailto:patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca”patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
I am looking forward to a week in beautiful Nova Scotia, and will undoubtedly
come home with a pocket full of rocks. Beach combing is one of my favourite
activities! I am visiting my friend Joan. We worked together at the General
Council Office in Toronto many years ago – in fact, we started working together
when the General Council assembled in Wolfville NS in 2003. We’ve been friends
ever since. Much has changed in the church and in the world since then, but I
am reminded that some friendships are forever and precious. God gifts us with
people in our lives who, despite the miles, are always close.
I will leave you with 100 words of hope that touched me this week from Rev.
Jennifer Henry:
100 Words of Hope: A Poem of Creation’s Beauty
Loved into being, by the Creator,
creatures revealing beauty divine.
Precious your textures, exquisite your colours,
diverse beyond measure, bold your design.
Christ interrupting, all our injustice,
bold love disrupting failures to care.
Seeking our witness, equity flowering,
daring within us, redress and repair.
Spirit unfolding, forging connexions,
deep in belonging, each find their place.
Risking inclusion, mutually transforming,
beloved perfusion, abundant in grace.
Torn and divided, forgetting your promise,
needing reminded just whose we are.
Rethread your vision, restore our fabric
Weaver Christ risen, mending us all.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
I was thinking about the two disciples on the road to Emmaus who encounter
Christ and don’t know who he is. They had become so disoriented by the events
of the past few weeks that they didn’t recognize Christ even when he’s right in
front of them.
During our Communities of Faith Commission meeting on Wednesday, Rev. Tom
MacNeil reminded us that April is Autism Awareness month. As one who
openly speaks about his being on the autism spectrum, or neurodivergent, Rev.
Tom spoke of the beauty of a mind that sees the world differently. I was
encouraged to turn from any preconceived notions of what is “normal” and accept
difference as one of the ways God enters our midst. I recognized Christ in Rev.
Tom as he spoke with passion about how our eyes are opened when we
encounter the many ways God is evident in our world. Thanks, Tom.
I’m looking forward to encountering God in the beautiful forests, beaches and
communities of Nova Scotia. I will be away from April 30th to May 7th, but
please contact me if there is an emergency. The Chit Chat newsletter will be
distributed on Wednesday next week. While I’m away Sue Zylski from Trinity
United in Beeton will be the guest lay worship leader.
Just a final word about our lay worship team. I am so grateful to the team who, in
their free time and at their own expense, fully invested themselves in learning
worship leadership. They have become an integral part of our cluster. They
support all our congregations in so many ways and are extra special support to
our clergy. Thanks Fiona, Cheryl, Sue, Jayne and also Pat and Lorna who are
licensed lay worship leaders at St. James.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
Canadians are being urged to watch a Canadian-made film for Canadian Cinema
Day, so I’ll be watching Norman Jewison’s version of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Jewison is one of Canada’s best known directors with films like Moonstruck,
Fiddler on the Roof, In the Heat of the Night, The Hurricane and many more.
Though he lived in Los Angeles, he was born in Toronto and had a family cottage
on Lake Simcoe. He was known to be spotted around the Lefroy area, or on the
golf course at Big Cedar from time to time. Jewison died at the age of 97 in
2024. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by Victoria University, part of the University of Toronto, and delivered the Convocation address at Emmanuel College in 1985 when I graduated from the Lay Theology program. To say I was “star-struck” would be an understatement. Jesus Christ Superstar, the rock opera, and Jewison’s interpretation of it in his film, played a foundational role in my faith development and has been part of my Holy Week observances since I was just a wee thing. May God’s grace attend you as you observe Holy Week in your own way.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
Well…that was a week! So many people suffered through so many things. Everyone I
talked to was struggling and the whole world has been pushed to the brink of financial
disaster. It’s hard to see the horizon, or a clear path forward when so many things are
changing. I can’t help but think of the jubilant crowds who marched into Jerusalem with
Jesus believing their lives were going to change…and it’s true, their lives did change,
just not in the way they thought their lives would change.
The beautiful thing about Christianity is that we believe in resurrection. It’s also the
most difficult thing about being Christian. Resurrection follows death. Something has
to die. Sometimes that is literally true – someone we love dies, and we cling to the
promise that there is life after death. Sometimes it is true in other ways. An attitude
dies, a burden we are carrying is lifted, a vocation changes, a relationship ends, a
church or organization closes, a dream or expectation we carried about what our life
was going to be is no more…and from that death, seeds that have been buried spring
to new life.
I will certainly be glad when winter finally dies and the seeds that are waiting in the
earth come to life. I am glad to see the seeds of dissent rising to new life as people
stand against cruelty and injustice. I am glad to see God, Creator of all life, active in
the world with a message loud and clear: I am with you always. “In life, in death, in life
beyond death we are not alone. We live in God’s world. Thanks be to God” (A New
Creed)
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
I’m looking forward to a week of clearing away winter’s clutter and getting my house in order. When the weather is dreary, things just seem to pile up in the garage and the basement waiting to be taken away, donated or sifted through to glean memories worth keeping.
I think our faith life needs a little sorting now and then as well. There’s a line in Fred Kaan’s hymn “Come O Holy Spirit” (MV 23) that says “Blow away the cobwebs of our stubborn past. Come, send flying from us myths unfit to last…”. I love the sentiment of that line. Tradition is one thing – it grounds us and comforts us. But it never hurts to take a long hard look at some of the things we believe and ask ourselves “What would Jesus do?” There’s a wonderful young artist named Jesse Welles who writes “cute” little songs that appear to be comical in nature, but if you really listen to the words, they cut deep into beliefs that have failed us. He is a Bob Dylan of our time that catches our attention with a catchy tune.
Here’s one of his songs called “Poor” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6vjaimSK4E
Jesse calls out a belief that says “If you worked a little harder you’d have more.” He points out how the poor are blamed and shamed while the systems that keep people poor just keep rolling on. What would Jesus do? What would Jesus say? “Blessed are the poor, for theirs in the kingdom of heaven.” That’s what Jesus said. I don’t think he meant people must endure hardship because there is a reward in heaven. I believe Jesus meant people must be blessed by those of us who can help, for it is by feeding the poor, giving comfort to the sick, visiting those chained by their fears and failings that we experience the kingdom of heaven here and now.
Just a few deep thoughts as I embark on a few days when I will try to rest my head and heart from deep thoughts.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
The Nottawasaga River overflowed its banks this week as rain and snowmelt followed its ancient pathway to Georgian Bay. The river flooded the usually pristine golf course, and played host to newly arrived Canada geese, mallard ducks and mergansers, even some bufflehead ducks, setting up shop for the spring.
The power of the river as it swept by me was an inspiration. I love following a raging river in the spring, listening to the sound it makes and watching the patterns swirling in the water as it tumbles over rocks and dips into gullies. I was reminded of a sermon The Right Reverend Peter Short, Moderator of the United Church preached at the celebration of the Church’s 85th Anniversary in Halifax in 2005. He spoke of God as wild and untameable, like the wind that rushes over the fields, or a river that carves its own path. We cannot know where God is going. God’s ways are not our ways.
But is that entirely true?
In Grade 11 Geography I learned about the nature of rivers. When a river is new, like those that formed at the end of the last ice age, or turbulent and powerful because of a sudden flood, it flows in a straight line. It goes from here to there taking anything in its path along with it. When a river is old, like the Nottawasaga, it meanders and wanders, in some places narrow, widening in others. It takes the path of least resistance, slowly and carefully carving its way across the landscape.
I believe I can know God’s ways by watching the flow of the river. Sometimes God is direct and forceful. When something is wrong or unjust, God works swiftly to draw our attention to it so we can take action to correct course. And when something is complicated and nuanced, like changing attitudes about gender or race, God slowly carves a new path by showing us all the landscapes along the way. God takes the path of least resistance in our hearts and unfolds before us a new understanding.
We can know God’s ways, for God makes them clear to us, all around us, in God’s good Creation.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
I love the stories of David, the shepherd boy who became king. Our sacred story tells us he was a direct ancestor of Jesus. For me, David learned by trial and error the deep faith Jesus teaches us. He lived the very things Jesus taught us to avoid. David was arrogant and selfish, sometimes foolish, but also a keen observer of life and a deep thinker. Scholars believe he suffered from bouts of depression which took him into a heart of darkness where he developed an intimate relationship with God. It is from this relationship that David grows his leadership style.
David was not one to seek revenge. More than once, even though he had the power to do so, he did not strike out against his enemies. (Though he was not above asking God to deal with them!). In one story, Saul takes a gang of his soldiers out into the hills to find and kill David. During the search, Saul stops to answer nature’s call. He steps into a cave to relieve himself – the very cave in which David is hiding. While Saul is busy, David sneaks up behind him and cuts off a piece of his cloak. He then displays the piece of royal attire so people will know him to be just. He could easily have killed Saul in that cave, but he didn’t. He opted, instead, for diplomacy.
Good leadership is central to our faith. We learn, through Jesus’ example, that good leadership is a combination of humility and justice, wisdom and empathy. This Sunday we are celebrating the legacy of St. Patrick – a leader who was so wise and charismatic that during his lifetime he changed the religious practices of the whole island of Ireland. His practical faith, closely tied to the people’s natural relationship with Creation, is a legacy that remains to this day.
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
705-623-5837 (call or text)
As many of you know, I once worked at the General Council Office of the United
Church in the Office of the Moderator and General Secretary. Every Wednesday
all the staff were invited to attend worship in the chapel on the main floor and this
was often the highlight of my week. The worship leader was different each week,
usually someone who was in Toronto to attend a meeting. We might hear words
of wisdom from a former Moderator, a professor of theology, an Indigenous Elder,
or visiting clergy from across the world. The music was pretty awesome too.
Ash Wednesday was one of my favourite chapel services. It was always one of
the most powerful worship experiences. It was a time when we laid aside our
pretence and privilege and remembered we are just people, made in God’s heart,
called to serve God’s people.
We would leave the chapel with our ashen crosses on our foreheads and head
downstairs to grab a coffee before getting on with our day. Sometimes we would
get strange looks from other people as we moved about the food court, forgetting
the cross on our face. And sometimes we would get a smile of admiration as
other followers of Christ recognized the symbol and felt the significance of it.
Observing Ash Wednesday has largely fallen out of fashion. It’s reputation for
being a depressing start to a depressing season may have something to do with
that. So, I was a little surprised to see, on the news last night, an ashen cross on
the forehead of the mayor of Boston. She was speaking out against the US
government’s punitive policies against Canada and how they would adversely
affect her citizens. The cross stood boldly in the face of injustice. And it stood in
solidarity with those who did not wear the cross, but also stood in the face of
injustice.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
…and finally…
I don’t want to say this too loudly, but it’s been kind of a quiet week. The weather has been stable, our annual meeting is behind us, worship planning for Lent is well underway and Paula has taken over many of the administrative jobs that kept me busy. (Thank you Paula!) It’s nice to have a bit of time to take a breath and prepare for the season of taking a breath.
I found wisdom in a line quoted from Queen Elizabeth: “When things are chaotic, what you must do is nothing.” Doing nothing forces everything around you to stop and wait. Maybe that’s what they mean when they say “wait on the Lord.”
Jesus knew the power of doing nothing. He took time away from teaching and healing to renew, to pray, to soak up the power of the Spirit, and to reflect on what he needed to do. We know those times were not easy for him.
He went off on his own and prayed when John the Baptist was murdered.
He took Peter, James and John with him to pray after he predicted his arrest and execution. He went into the Garden of Gethsemane.
In the darkest times, the most chaotic times, Jesus did nothing…at least nothing that we can see. Inside, he was doing everything. Replacing fear with determination, anxiety with calm, weakness with strength.
During the season of Lent, which begins on Wednesday March 5th, may you do “nothing” with Jesus, and let the chaotic world stop and wait for you.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
After that uplifting Zoom call on Tuesday, on my way home from the church I
stopped by my favourite restaurant for lunch. I was enjoying the last sips of my
tea when a woman stopped by my table, touched me on the arm and said “I paid
for your lunch. I think we need to do more acts of kindness right now.”
She is right. Consumers of the news are bombarded daily with bad news, but
every now and then a voice speaks words that are true. One such voice pierced
the noise for me the other day. It was a woman talking about how she is
optimistic despite the catastrophic impact climate change is having on
communities all across the globe. She said simply “the people are the ones who
will figure out what to do.” Not governments or corporations, but local people
working together in local communities.“
A good example is the stories coming out of the Delta plane crash on Sunday.
People helped people get off the plane, took care of the injured, listened to the
direction of experts. Everyone survived because they worked together in a crisis.
We are far more capable than we give ourselves credit for.
Kindness goes a long way.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
My grandson, Kiefer, is in the Music Industry Studies program at Fanshaw College in London. This world-renowned program has birthed some of Canada’s finest artists and music producers. For the past 14 years the students have produced a concert called Share the Land. There is one requirement: all the music performed must be Canadian in origin. This year’s concert included every genre of popular music including songs by Michael Buble, The Guess Who, Nelly Furtado, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and many more. I was so proud of all the students who shone like diamonds on the stage, pouring their hearts and souls into their instruments and vocalizations. Of course, there were also the proud Grandma moments when Kiefer was on stage. They told his band not to do a Tragically Hip song because no one can do Tragically Hip like the Hip, but, undaunted, they performed a beautiful rendition of Bobcaygeon that made being Canadian all the more sweeter.
As we celebrate Flag Day on Saturday, and scour grocery labels for the elusive “Made in Canada” fine print, let us celebrate what Canada means: A truth, wild and free, a desire for peace, a home.
Blessings,
Pastor Patti
patti@bondheadunitedchurch.ca
705-623-5837 (call or text)
Bond Head United Church 