Month: December 2020

Holy One, born in a manger, Word become flesh, we rejoice in your coming.

                We rejoice that you came to save, not with might and power but through vulnerability and love.

                In this dark season, thank you for Christmas, and the gift of a child of hope.
                We rejoice for news so good it still rings out through voices around the world speaking of good tidings of great joy which shall be for all people.
            We rejoice that people around the world each day are loving their neighbor, opening their door, sharing what they have, trying to find a way to live in peace.
           We rejoice that the best laid plans of those who sow hatred and fear, will come to nothing. We rejoice that your angels tell us to “Fear not.”
                Today we rejoice that hope lives even in places designed to be hopeless; hope ringing out and over every wall, rising up in refugee camps, walking through locked prison doors, simmering in the hearts of those brought low, rising up in the laughter of children who have no home and no citizenship. We pray that your gift of hope will surround and uphold the lonely, isolated, sick and the suffering.   

We pray for all of our loved ones in long-term care. May they know the love of God and the love of family and friends. Grant deep measures of patience, we pray.

We pray for all impacted by covid: the sick, the suffering, the grieved, front line workers, health care and essential workers. May hope burn bright for those receiving treatment or awaiting surgery.

We pray that the comforting presence of God will surround all who are missing loved ones this Christmas.

We pray for our households of faith.

We pray for deep relationships of love and joy especially at this challenging time.

This Christmas open us to your gift of revolutionary hope, and your new ways of seeing and being. Where there is judgement in our families and relationships, bring acceptance. Where there are grudges, your sweet release. Where love has faltered, renew it like the dawn. Let hope be born again in our humblest, darkest places as we join with the angels in their song of joy, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to all .” Let this be our benediction, let this be our song. Let rejoicing be on our lips and in our hearts: “Hallelujah, Christ is born!” Amen

Dear Friends,
This year’s Christmas season is unlike any other and yet there is still so much to celebrate.
“I bring you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2: 10-11)
May our hearts make room to receive Jesus and in response to God’s gift of Love, may we cherish the ones we love and share that love abundantly. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, may you always know that the love of God and the light of Christ is with you.
Wishing you a blessed and safe Christmas and a New Year filled with hope, peace, joy, and love.
With a pastor’s love,
Kara

Here is the link for our Christmas Eve Service: https://youtu.be/PfNQeAhY5vU

A Prayer for Christmas Eve…..
Holy One,
Prince of Peace,
though scattered in body, we are united in your love.
Though separated by distance, we are together in your Spirit.
Though uncertain of the future, we are
confident of your presence with us,
held within our hearts like the sturdiest
and most surprising of mangers for a bed.
Shine your light this night and into all the
dark nights to come.
Shine your light into ICU’s and vaccination rooms
into grocery stores and crowded warehouses
into food banks and homeless shelters
into long-term care and supportive living
into homes that feel too quiet and homes
where the yelling doesn’t stop.
Shine your light
into Zoom reunions and long-awaited phone calls;
into contactless deliveries and virtual hugs;
into physically distanced check-ins and homemade gifts
into all that is possible when the usual becomes impossible.
Shine your light, O Jesus Christ,
Shine it within us so that all might see. Amen

Our souls cry out with a joyful shout that the Lord of our heart is great;

and our spirits sing of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait.

Revealing God, may Mary’s song be heard throughout the ages,
drowning out the din of consumerism during this season of celebration.

May it be heard by the victims of violence in Ethiopia and Eritrea
May it ring in the ears of the traumatised, refugees without homes in search of safety.
May it sing in the hearts of marginalized, the impoverished, the hungry and the homeless…
Revealing God, may Mary’s song be an earworm song of hope
for all standing strong for land rights, and for all who are crying out for an end to discrimination and oppression due to skin colour. May it be the rally cry of peace for the war-weary of the world. Revealing God, may Mary’s be a song that stirs reverent fear in the hearts of those who abuse power, those who seek to enrich their own coffers at the expense of the poor and the needy.

We pray Mary’s song nourish hope in the hearts of fearful, the isolated and the lonely. May it nourish comfort for all who grieve.

May healing grace surround the most vulnerable amongst us, especially those in long term care. We pray for all impacted by covid: the sick, the suffering, the grieved, front line workers, health care and essential workers. May hope burn bright for those receiving treatment or awaiting surgery.

We pray for our households of faith, may God’s gifts of Advent hope, peace, joy, and love fill their hearts and home.

May Mary’s song be the melody that guides our paths. May the joyful promises of justice and overturned powers fill our hearts to overflowing action including– giving generously, serving self-sacrificially, loving wholeheartedly.

Holy One we pray that we might be bold with our ‘yes’ in response to your invitation to participate in your unfolding mission of restoration of all creation, and your plan of salvation.

As we await your coming, nurture and nourish all that waits to be birthed.

We pray with confidence knowing nothing is impossible with you. Amen

A blessing for the third week of Advent:
Light of Life,
we light candles this season, not simply out of tradition or coziness,
though there’s that,
but because we believe in the Light
that shines in the darkness,
restoring all that is lost and broken,
relegated to shadow, forgotten, or desecrated.
Restore us to wholeness – to our state of original blessing,
to be bearers of your light and goodness.
Restore Earth to wholeness – to her state of blessedness and sacredness,
vital, fruitful, balanced.
Restore the threads of the web of Life – once strong but now frayed
from lack of attention and care, consumerism, and poor theology.
Restore our joy in life – bring laughter
to our lips, beauty to our eyes,
and deeper bonds to our relationships.
We pray as those who sense your presence among us
in light and dark, now and always Amen
(written by Wendy Janzen)

As we anticipate a very different Christmas this year and as many struggle with loneliness, isolation, or anxiety, WMC Elders wish to make available once again two panel discussions which were prepared earlier this year. It is our prayer that this resource will give voice to your feelings and experience and offer you practical help as we continue to find our way. Please feel free to share this resource with friends or family in need of care and encouragement.
https://youtu.be/r4MfAktqBAM

Lord our God, you have revealed yourself as One

whose desire it is to bring justice, peace, and joy to all people.

In a world that turns away from and participates in injustice,

You cast your eyes on the destitute, the poor, and the wronged;

You have called us to follow you, to preach good news to the poor,

to proclaim release for the captives, and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the time of your blessing.

Lord our God, be present with your church as we respond to your call.

Open our eyes to those in need, especially the lonely and the isolated.

Fill us with compassion for refugees and immigrants who seek safe refuge

Fill us with mercy for those who struggle with addiction and mental illness, or bear the weight of abuse in its many forms..

Fill us with gifts of caregiving for the sick, those who suffer pain whether in mind, body, or spirit……

May your healing grace surround the most vulnerable amongst us, especially those in long term care. We pray for all impacted by covid: the sick, the suffering, the grieved, and all health care and essential workers. May hope burn bright for those receiving treatment or awaiting surgery. Comfort the hurting, encourage the weary, grant full healing and restoration to broken bones and tired spirits. May the hope of gentle healing and the gift of accompaniment of family and friends be a deep source of comfort for all who grieve.

God of peace hear our prayers for our Households of Faith. We pray for continued good health, patience for this journey, and energy and joy for the task of parenting. We give thanks for health and the gifts of love and joy in their work, their rest, and recreation. Keep their families safe and in your watchful care. We pray for days filled with meaningful connections, work, and loving relationships. May the peace of God surround our households of faith.

Lord our God, fill us to overflowing with joy. No earthly thing can ever give us complete joy. Our joy comes from you. The same joy that flooded the hearts of the shepherds, the angels, the wise men, the hosts of heaven, and Mary and Joseph, is the joy that still has the power to overwhelm hearts with rejoicing. Through the gift of joy, lead us, strengthen us, give us courage that we may share bread with the hungry, extend and receive hospitality, and generously share our resources with all who stand in need. We offer our prayers in the name of Jesus who taught us to pray, Our Father………….… Amen

First Coming by Madeleine L’Engle

He did not wait till the world was ready,

till humanity and nations were at peace.

He came when the Heavens were unsteady,

and prisoners cried out for release.

He did not wait for the perfect time.

He came when the need was deep and great.

He dined with sinners in all their grime, turned water into wine.

He did not wait till hearts were pure.

In joy he came to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.

To a world like ours, of anguished shame he came, and his Light would not go out.

He came to a world which did not mesh,

to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.

In the mystery of the Word made Flesh the Maker of the stars was born.

We cannot wait till the world is sane to raise our songs with joyful voice; for to share our grief, to touch our pain, He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!

We are 9 months into global pandemic.
We are preparing for Christmas and have embarked on the 2nd week of Advent.
L’Engle eloquently captures the essence of Advent and how Jesus did not wait until the world was stable to come. He came at such an unsettled time as this.
Advent lays bear the world’s pain and personal pain…. without which there would be no reason for God’s coming. No reason for angels singing. No reason for prophets preaching. No reason for magi seeking. No reason for hoping and imagining and living toward a new world.
As a congregation we began 2020 with a worship service during which a number of congregants shared their hopes for WMC for 2020.
We were hoping for: the church to be relevant, caring (congregation and community), open doors, meet and exceed budget, find peace, belonging, family. We wanted a place of wonder where we could ask questions. Acts of service were named as the foundation for the big things we hope for: peace, reconciliation, gratitude, purpose, contentment.
Our youth also shared their hopes. Wellesley Township’s Climate Emergency was on their mind. They hoped for less paper, less waste, more recycling, and the elimination of single-use plastics.
Today we are holding onto the hope of a vaccine, stability and more…..
As we consider hope, may we reflect upon this: “When we get to the other side of this pandemic, what do we want to say that we have done?”
Are we hoping to just survive? Maintain what is? Or, do we want to say we have thrived? What do you/we want to say you/we have done?????
Let us pray:
God of life, source of hope we await the new thing you are doing… in our hearts, in our homes, in our congregation, in our communities, and in your world. You come to us amidst our doubts and fear, amidst pandemic and uncertainty. You come, a light in the darkness. Open the eyes of our hearts to your presence and fill us with courage to follow where you lead us. Amen.

May hope, peace, joy and love be the candle on your Advent journey,
Kara

God of peace, hear our prayer for peace;
the peace of the earth, felt bodily,
our feet on this good ground,
our eyes towards the stars;
the peace of fellowship, around us,
fellow Jesus followers joining together to worship.

God of peace, hear our prayer for people working together to care and to comfort, to heal,
making sure that no one is forgotten.
There is so much peace to celebrate, gifts from your hand and gifts of love:

neighbours checking in on one another, mask wearing and safe distancing, the peace of snowflakes falling, the peace of a candle’s flicker.

God of peace, hear our prayer for places where we still need peace: hear our prayer for all who are in pain, facing sickness, including all impacted by covid.

God of peace, hear our prayer for the most vulnerable amongst us, especially those in long term care. May hope burn bright for those receiving treatment or awaiting surgery. Comfort the hurting, encourage the weary, grant full healing and restoration to broken bones and tired spirits. May the hope of gentle healing and the gift of accompaniment of family and friends be a deep source of comfort for all who grieve.

God of peace, hear our prayers for our Households of Faith. We pray for their wide circle of family whom they will not be with this Christmastime for the sake of everyone’s health. May comfort and understanding run deep and may they find meaningful ways to celebrate this season.

God of peace, rain down peace in our hearts, in our homes, in our land, and in your world. Rain down peace in the places in our world where violence rages;we think especially of Ethiopia and Eretrea, gun violence on city streets, homes where people are hurt by those they love. We want peace to grow, we want to be your ambassadors for peace. Show us this week how we can make a difference, through our presence, through our resources, through our prayers.

God of peace, the angels came with a message of peace on earth so long ago;
that message still echoes, it still calls our name. May we hear the angels song anew. Receive all of our prayers in the name of Jesus, the Christ. Amen.

Greetings on this bright December morning!

We have embarked on the Road of Advent.
This past Sunday we lit the candle of hope and all have been encouraged to create an Advent wreath at home so we can encounter the ritual of candle lighting together.
At a time when we are not altogether, our rituals remind us that we are held in the wide embrace of God’s love and hope.
This year we are standing in need of hope. Advent invites us to name our needs and deepest yearnings.

Feel free to reflect upon these questions:
I feel hope when………………
I witness the in-breaking of hope………………….
I need hope to light the path of ……………..

Let us pray:
God of hope, who brought love into this world,
be the love that dwells between us.
God of hope, who brought peace into this world,
be the peace that dwells between us.
God of hope, who brought joy into this world,
be the joy that dwells between us.
God of hope, the rock we stand upon,
be the centre, the focus of our lives
always, and particularly this Advent time. Amen