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Barbara’s Update for Week Leading to October 4, 2009

Greetings Everyone. Here is some of the news of our life this week:

As a new month begins, as the light at the end of the row at harvest-time is reached. And as honking geese make their incredible and noisy journey overhead, and as the temperature drops (let’s not forget the dreaded temperature drop), the way into the Fall season carries with it hope, grace, love, and faith. These are the crops that continue to grow, and grow (and grow—did I say ‘grow’ again?) at Valley Pastoral Charge. I hope harvest has been kind to everyone.

Our thoughts and prayers are with those who are having to adjust to different places to live because of changes in health. May God’s peace be theirs.

Prayers to the family of Noreen Price as they grieve their loss. May God fill their empty places with good things like friends, family and good memories.

Looking back, September has been a busy month. But busy Septembers no longer surprise this minister of 2+ years! The DC Board met on August 27th, and all other Boards, including VPC (Valley Pastoral Charge) Board met in September. Choir is back in Emerson. Sunday School is launched and chugging away in all three points. The Ministry and Personnel Committee met in September. Add to that a funeral, a 2-day Presbytery meeting, a care home service, and a special worship service at Green Ridge. ‘September’ happened to me for the first time as an ordained minister two years ago and caught me off guard. But I’m getting used to it now, a sure sign I’m settling into the routine and rhythm of life at VPC. September is busy but October always comes!

As many, many people know now, Green Ridge United Church is 125 years old now. It was an honor and privilege for me to have been part of such a historic and important moment in the life of the church. I am richly blessed. Many invited guests offered their best wishes for the future and congratulations for the past 125 years (maybe they were congratulating God too for keeping the church alive and well for 125 years!). I was scanning the Manitoba Conference news this week and Rev. Bob Gilbert spoke about the powerful sense of community he had experienced at Green Ridge United. Click here to read his article. The following list of thanks was printed in last week’s bulletin. I include it here for those who weren’t able to make it to church last Sunday.

On Behalf of Green Ridge United Church Barbara thanks the following people:
Alice Guimond and Clifford Hunter who took all that Barbara had given to them and ran with it willingly and added their own touch to things here and there. I am forever grateful!
The Scripture Readers: Linda Steinert, Pete Friesen, Glen Calder, Riley Froom. Each read with confidence, certainty and conviction. A special thanks to young Riley whose words set us forth boldly on the right foot into the future.
Mary Sawatzky who moved everyone with her story of hope, on how to love our neighbors as ourselves. May what she said continue with all of our neighbors, forever and ever!
Megan Nickel who so willingly agreed to help out right at the last minute to build a very, very strong church. Let the winds come! We are ready!
Audrey Grier and the “THEN” Choir who filled the sanctuary with glorious song that rose right up to the rafters! And thank you Audrey for blessing us with you! You are a precious gift among us!
To Marilyn Hall and Eleanor Willis whose ministry of music supported the hymns and made all of the singers “young and old” sound so good.
Andreas Allmendinger whose gift of music touched our hearts with his rendition of “This Is My Father’s World”. When we sing we pray twice and Andreas’ offering was a double-prayer.
Mary Anne Calder who gathered and collected and sought and found the “NOW” Choir. They ended the service, and Green Ridge is still resonating with the glory of God in their singing.
Dennis Froom and Clifford Hunter, who held the microphone and rang the bell (ten times ), beginning the worship service. Thank you also to Dennis who managed the “Memory Lane” sign (little part). Dennis was also the MC of the Program after the dinner (big part!).

Thank you to all of the planning committee who did the grunt work and the legwork and the work (period!) during the past year.

On the foundation we have laid, they will build. And when we are gone and forgotten, what they build will be anchored in the foundation we put in place. They may never know the names of those who mixed the concrete and set the foundation in place. They may laugh at some of the work that may be clumsy and curse when the foundation weakens or must be repaired. But they will renovate and build the future on the work of those who have gone before them. We look well therefore to the foundation laid for us, and consider carefully the foundation we lay for those who come after us. (Gathering LEP 2005, p. 71)

Birthdays: I hear Joyce Grier and Audrey Grier have birthdays this week. Anyone else?

Thank you to Joey Dearborn who joined me in presenting our experience of General Council to Emerson and Dominion City United Churches (Joey was with me in spirit at DC). Joey and I are planning on doing the same thing in GR on October 18.

The Valley Board met this week and discussed: M&S, how much money we have and don’t’ have, purchasing a music license, The Valley Website, office supplies, and a new Worship Service for Youth. The Board will meet again on January 21, 2010. I am thankful for Liz Forrester’s gifts on the computer. Liz is the one who maintains Valley’s website. Take a look at www.valleypastoralcharge.org Liz updates the announcements each week and places them on page 1 where they are easily accessible to all (a move I think is brilliant!). My sermons will be posted each week and will stay on the site for 8 weeks (last week Joey Dearborn and I gave a presentation of General Council so there was no sermon and the week before I was in Green Ridge and Alice and Clifford preached the sermon!).

Sunday’s Scripture (I will be at EM and GR this week)
Mark 10:2-16 At first I thought this appeared to be a strange text to preach on, especially on World Communion Sunday. I almost chose the reading in the book of Job. But on second glance Mark’s gospel this week in the lectionary may be just the thing we need to hear. The passage is not ultimately about divorce (like the Pharisees want it to be about). It’s not even ultimately about Marriage (although marriage is the example in the text). It is about the way Jesus moves and changes people with HARD HEARTS into people with HEARTS of FLESH. The Pharisees want to know what is ‘right’ and Jesus tells them what is ‘loving’. How do we think of others in the world through HEARTS of FLESH? That is where my ponderings are going this week. Only God knows what will appear when I put these ponderings to pen tomorrow.


Pray for PEACE! Work for JUSTICE! Sing for JOY!
Barbara

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