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Sermon: The Secret of Having Joy (Advent 3) December 13, 2020 |
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A Mid-Week Message from Rev. Dean February 24th - Empathy Training
He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. (2 Corinthians 1:4)
One of the things that a season of suffering can do for us is make us more empathetic towards others going through trial. I was reminded of this watching a podcast last night of two ministers describing periods of burnout in their lives. The one minister said prior to his burnout, he was very critical and judgemental of ministers who battled with burnout but now he is very empathetic toward people experiencing burnout.
I had a similar discovery after going through my four-year ordeal recovering from a chronic illness. I had never been in hospital prior to this. I had sympathy for people going through health issues, but it was not at the level of empathy. It takes going through suffering oneself in order to move beyond sympathy and have true empathy for what others are going through. Since my illness, having empathy has allowed me to pastor much more differently and authentically with people going through chronic health issues.
This pandemic has been a season of suffering and trial for us to say the least. We have suffered with feelings of loss of control, fear, worry, anxiety, isolation, loneliness, disappointment, and loss just to name a few. We may have been blessed to not suffer from the physical effects of Covid, but we have definitely had our share of emotional, spiritual and perhaps financial hurt throughout. As believers, God has been a source of comfort for us in this time of suffering. Paul reminds believers of this truth in 2 Corinthians 1:3: All praise to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.
Think of the many ways that God in His mercy has comforted you during this pandemic. Read more
A Mid-Week Message from Rev. Dean February 17th - Who Will Show Us Better Times
Many people say, Who will show us better times? Let your face smile on us Lord. (Psalm 4:6)
Tuesday, February 16, 2021 had all the signs that better times were ahead. The reason for this optimism had to do with many areas in the Province of Ontario having the STAY-AT-HOME restrictions lifted and returning to various colour zones. Many nonessential businesses, restaurants, hair salons, gyms and sports groups were looking forward to this day.
Two of my family members were looking forward to this day as well. The Rev. Mother had a hair appointment booked for 11:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. She could not wait to get her hair done. My daughter Coral was also excited about getting to school. She was looking forward to getting to see the faces of her classmates in her Family Studies class for the first time. Two weeks ago when she first had this class, it was online for the entire week. She got to learn the names of her classmates and hear their voices when they answered questions but with the cameras off, she could not see their faces. She was excited to match the faces to the names. It seemed like better times were ahead starting on Tuesday, February 16th.
Then the unpredictable happened and delayed the start of better times. The heavy snowfall overnight caused the cancellation of school and bad road conditions resulted in my mother cancelling her hair appointment. For Coral, better days ahead had to be delayed until the next day and the Rev. Mothers hair appointment had to be put off until the following week. Read more A Mid-Week Message from Rev. Dean February 10th - Our Cup of Suffering
Abba, Father, He cried out. Everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine (Mark 14:36).
The Premier of Ontario announced on Monday the plan for slowly reopening. For our area we were told that we would have to wait until February 16, 2021 for the STAY-AT-HOME order to be lifted. We were also informed that we would have to wait until then to see what colour phase we would be assigned when it came to reopening. The Premier also cautioned us to be prepared that if numbers spike again, he would not hesitate to put the emergency brake on and halt the reopening.
For almost 11 months now this has been our reality. Periods in lockdown, followed by gradual reopening and experiencing a possible lock down again. While this type of journey has not been physically challenging or tiring for us, it has been emotionally tiring. Prior to Covid-19 we each had our busy lives, but at least they were predictable for the most part. We had our daily, weekly, and monthly routines. At times, our busyness could make us physically tired, but the predictability kept our emotional well being in balance for the most part. Yes, death, illness, difficult people could play with our emotions at times but COVID has drained our emotions in a different way.
Emotionally, our journey through Covid-19 has been fatiguing at times. This is something Nadine and I talked about as we walked our dog on Monday night. The biggest effect that we are noticing about ourselves this week is how exhausted we are emotionally. The waiting, the anticipating, the disappointments, the learning involved in figuring out things with each stage and how it affects us as a family, and as a church family gets exhausting. Perhaps this has been your observation of your own journey these past 11 months. If so, perhaps a visit to the Garden of Gethsemane can be uplifting for us. Read more A Mid-Week Message from Rev. Dean February 3rd - My Locked-out Reminder
Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7).
Nadine and I took our dog Daisy for a walk on Monday night while Coral was upstairs video chatting with her friend. We always lock the door when we leave the house with Coral still there so that she will feel safe. After bundling up I locked the door, pulled it shut and realized immediately that I forgot to put the house key in my pocket. I am always really good at remembering my key but not on this day.
Thankfully, I did think to put a phone in my pocket. We walked Daisy around the block the whole time wondering if Coral would answer her phone or text when we got back home to let us in. It was a really cold night so if she did not answer our calls to unlock the door we were in for an unpleasant experience.
After walking around the block Nadine took the phone with her cold hands and texted Coral. After she sent the text there was a moment of tension and anticipation as we awaited what would happen next: - Would she receive it and come down immediately to open the door? - Would she be distracted talking with her friend and not see the text? - Would she peer out her bedroom window and laugh at us and make us wait a few extra minutes? Read more A Mid-Week Message from Rev. Dean January 27th - Keep Persevering
Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. (1 Timothy 6:11b)
Like every other student in Ontario, Coral has been learning online since January 4, 2021. This quadmester she has been taking math and science. Working from home myself while Coral has been doing school online, I have overheard at times her teachers doing their lessons and having conversations with the students. I have been so impressed with her math teacher in particular over these past several weeks. Despite the challenges of teaching math online, he has been so supportive and encouraging of the students learning under this difficult reality. This morning before giving his students their final exam he commended them for persevering through these past several weeks learning under these difficult circumstances. He encouraged them to give themselves a pat on the back for all that they have endured and to keep persevering in the quadmester ahead. When I heard him say this to the students, I was so impressed and moved by his pastoral approach and words to his students.
It is not just students learning online that need to hear this message to keep persevering. As I read the newspaper this morning story after story reminded me how people need this message during this second lockdown. The paper reflected on how so many people are finding this second lockdown harder than the first one we had back last March. So many stories were about people no longer being able to persevere. Read more
A Mid-Week Message from Rev. Dean January 21st - On the Edge
Jumping up, they mobbed him, and forced Him on the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push Him over the cliff, but He passed right through the crowd and went on His way. (Luke 4: 29:30)
On Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at approximately 12 noon, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. Usually, inaugurations are times for excitement and celebration in the US capital. This year, Washington D.C. was on edge worried about violent protests and uprisings. Much of this feeling of On EDGE is a result of the incident earlier this month at the U.S. Capital when Trump supporters stormed the building taking it over for a short time. Capital buildings in Washington D.C., as well in other state capitals, were on edge preparing in case unrest occurred on the inauguration day.
It is sad to see our neighbours to the south having to live on the edge at this time. A political environment has caused this for the U.S., and a pandemic has caused this for us. We have been living on the edge for nearly ten months. Every step along the way has seen us on the edge. Read more
More: Mid-Week Messages More: Musical Moments by Amy |
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Sermon: The Best Way to Become Unstuck November 15, 2020 |
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Sermon: We May Be Blind and Not Know It November 22, 2020 |
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Sermon: Why We Hope and Believe (Advent 1) November 29, 2020 |
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Sermon: To Experience Peace (Advent 2) December 6, 2020 |
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Sermon: A Love Like No Other (Advent 4) December 20, 2020 |
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Christmas Eve Sermon: The Combination for Eternal Life |
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Sermon: Obedience Regardless of Convenience December 27, 2020 |
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New Years Eve Service A Blue Year, A New Year December 31, 2020 |
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Sermon: It Should Be Done January 24, 2021 |
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Sermon: It is Unfair January 10, 2021 |
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Sermon: First Impressions January 17, 2021 |
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Sermon: Some Blindness Can Be a Choice January 31, 2021 |
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Sermon: What This Author Knows That We Do Not February 7, 2021 |
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Sermon: Try Looking Up More February 14, 2021 |
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World Day of Prayer March 5, 2021: Build on a Strong Foundation
This year, the World Day of Prayer will be held virtually. The Womens Inter-Church Council of Canada (WICC) has adapted the program into an hour-long service. There are many ways that you can participate. Learn more |
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Sermon: Doubt Our Doubts in the Wilderness February 21, 2021 |
