After our story today we decided it was too nice outside to stay indoors.
So we went outside with our bubbles and sidewalk chalk and had some fun together!
 |
| It looks like they all went for a ride in a rocket! |
Outside Sunday School Fun!
My Report to the Congregation on General Assembly 2015
At the beginning of June, our minister, Scott McAndless and one of our elders, David Krueger, attended the meetings of the 141st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada. The meetings were held on the campus of the University of British Columbia in the heart of the city of Vancouver – one of the most beautiful urban settings in the entire country.
The meetings were marked by many good things: great conversations, renewals of old friendships and the making of new ones and worthwhile discussions. Both David and I are grateful for the opportunity to attend.
These are some of the highlights:
· The moderator of the 141st General Assembly is the Rev. Karen Horst. She took on her position with grace and wisdom and fulfilled her duties admirably. We are particularly pleased, of course, that Karen (who once worked at St. Andrew’s when she was known as Karen Timbers) has agreed to be our special anniversary guest preacher this October 25th. Not only will she bring a wonderful message, I am certain, but she will also be bringing us greetings from the assembly and be in a position to share our story with the whole church.
· Worship at General Assembly was wonderful and varied. We had everything from the most traditional service to the most contemporary with a little bit of jazz in the middle. The experience was certainly refreshing and enlivening.
· Some very important issues were discussed and debated including the environment, end of life, payday loans, truth and reconciliation with First Nations people and our mission. We talked about how we live out our response to these issues in our individual and corporate church life.
One of the issues that came up at the Assembly had to do with Human Sexuality. In the past year, the General Assembly has received a number of
The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, is required to take all overtures seriously and to give serious answers to them. But our church is also very cautious and deliberative especially when it comes to considering any sort of change. So it was absolutely
So the Assembly wasn’t in a position to make any definitive decisions. Nevertheless, we found that it was very important for us to start to engage in a conversation on these issues. During the Assembly, we spent a fair bit of time talking in small table groups and sharing our points of view among people who didn't necessarily agree with each another. It was a very
The Assembly decided to expand the conversation begun in those table groups to the wider church and so it has asked the Congregations and Sessions and Presbyteries of our church to engage in a conversation about the place of LGBTQ people within the life of our church. In addition, they have given to the Congregations and Sessions and Presbyteries the opportunity to share their reflections and their concerns with the Doctrine and Justice committees as they seek to find a way for us all to move forward in unity and understanding as a church.
The session of St. Andrew’s will do its best to lead the congregation through those discussions. In addition, some study materials will be available from the Doctrine and Justice Committees by late October. In the meantime, we would ask you all to pray the prayer that came to David during our discussions in Vancouver: “God, may we all be open to hearing your will. Your will be done.”
A look at the fun from Sunday’s rainy day picnic!
 |
| Thanks Glen & Stan for bar-b-quing our lunch! (in the rain?) |
 |
| The Fellowship Committee provided a very good and tasty picnic lunch. |
 |
| Celebrating 160 years as a congregation! |
 |
| Our "indoor" picnic. Mother Nature didn't quite cooperate. |
 |
| Time to make pinwheels (thanks Christian Education Committee). |
 |
| Everyone loves balloons. |
 |
| Balloons and beach balls - so much fun! |
Scavenger Hunt!
At Sunday's (indoor) picnic the children and young people participated in a scavenger hunt.
This is what they found out about some members of our congregation:
1. Who sings in the choir? Amy, Sylvia, Shirley, Heather, Bob, Kathy, Bekah, Jean.
2. Who helps feed many people in the community? Brenda, Helen, Jean, Shirley, Scott, Richard.
3. Who has more than 1 brother or sister? Bekah, Jacquelyn, Leona, Scott, Lauren, Mary, Tracey, Julia, Monica, Laura.
4. Who plays a sport? Steve, Lauren, Isabella, Carter, Olivia, Evan, Paul, Jacquelyn, Julia, Jacob, Jack.
5. Who plays an instrument? Amy, Jacquelyn, Marsha, Carter, Mary, Zoé.
6. Who has gone on a mission trip? Joni, Gabrielle, Scott, Stan, Shirley, Jean, Alexis.
7. Who was born before there was colour TV? Isobel, Jean, Kathy, Shirley, Heinz, Brenda, Carol, Sylvia, George.
8. Who likes to build and fix things? John, Tracey, Glen, Giles, Cameron, Kier, Stan, Ben.
Back ground actors stopped in to visit!
Some of the back ground actors from the Stephen King mini-series stopped in the visit with the ladies at our Clothing Centre!
Academy Awards STARS pictures!
What's better then organized chaos?
Many of our young STARS receiving their awards this past Sunday!
The paparazzi have started to submit photos! Thank you to all of paparazzi, and award presenters.
Filming has begun!
Came to work this morning to find that the exit to our parking lot was blocked by a police cruiser. Filming for the miniseries 11-22-63 has begun. Do you think we'll see any hollywood stars today?
Continue reading »
Same Words, Opposite Application
In discussions around this General Assembly (not seeking to specifically reflect the private discussion in our table group, of course) I have notice something that is happening around these discussions connected to the place of LGBTQ persons within the church.
Continue reading »
I am remarking that in a lot of our discussions we are saying the same things and yet meaning the opposite.
For example, in our discussions I hear people saying, "The most important thing is that we follow the Bible," and everyone absolutely agrees with that.
Some mean, that we must uncritically agree with the passages that condemn homosexual activity.
But others mean that we need to do what Jesus did and go out of our way to accept the outsider and give them a place within the church. They mean that the church is, as Paul taught, a place where all distinctions between people disappear.
In our discussions I hear people saying that we welcome all with the grace and acceptance of Christ but that the process of growing in grace in Christ there is an expectation that a disciple is transformed more into the image of Christ.
When some people say that, they seem to mean something like that when LGBTQ people come to the gospel they will necessarily stop living out their orientation in ways that these people object to.
When other people say that, they have in mind that the God's grace will bring about tranformation in us, often by means of our contact with LGBTQ people.
We all agree that sin must not be afraid of talking about sin and about the damage that it causes. Of course, some are thinking of the sexual sins they see LGBTQ people as committing. Others are thinking of what they see as the sinful hostility or rejection directed againsts some of God's children.
We agree that we must all seek for God's will, but each seems to be thinking that the other group are the ones who really need a new discovery of what God's will really is.
And I could go on.
I'm not sure what I should do with this. Should I rejoice that we all agree in what we say, or should I despair that we just seem to be speaking totally different languages?
A Wonderful Celebration!
Today, during worship, we celebrated St. Andrew's STARS with a modified version of the
4th Annual STARS Academy Awards!
We had 40 trophies and 6 special certificates - WOW.
More pictures will follow as the "paparazzi start filing their reports and photos".
A BIG thank you to all of our STARS and to their parents/grandparents and siblings who 'hang around after church' every other week through out the year so that we can record the episodes.
Spiritual but not Religious – My Reasons for Dissent
Today at General Assembly, we opened up the terms of reference for the standing committee on Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations. In the midst of those discussions, the point was made that nowhere in the mandate of this committee were there any instructions regarding our relationship with the fastest growing belief group in Canadian society - those people who see themselves as "spiritual but not religious."
I strongly felt that we really could not say that we were engaging in interfaith dialogue if we completely ignored such a large and influential group in Canadian society - even if they are not organized as most religious groups are. (Indeed they fiercely resist any organisation, that's kind of the point.)
So I proposed an ammendment that would address that important lack.
Spoiler alert for those who are waiting to read it in the minutes, my motion was soundly defeated.
But I did dissent and asked for an opportunity to have my reasons recorded. I would like to share those reasons now.
My Dissent
I wish to record my dissent regarding the defeat of the amendment to the second recommendation of the Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations Committee report.
In the debate over my amendment, there were certain points that were made that I feel must be answered.
It was said that our discussions with the group of people in Canadian society who see themselves as spiritual but not religious is a matter of evangelism and not interfaith dialogue.
I disagree. This is what was said not too long ago when it came to discussions with Muslims or Buddhists or other religious groups. We have since learned that this was a very flawed approach and that any dialogue must take place in an environment of respect, appreciation and understanding of the beliefs of the other. How can it be any different in our discussions with our "spiritual but not religious" neighbours?
It was said that this committee is only set up to dialogue with organized faith groups and so can do nothing about engaging such a disorganized and uncohesive group.
I would say that, if that is what stands in the way, then it is time to change our approach. Organized religion is quickly going the way of the dodo in Canadian society. If we do not learn how to engage with unorganized faith groups we will be totally cut out of a vital interfaith dialogue before we know it.
It was said that this kind of dialogue is best carried out by individual Christians in our congregations.
I agree. But if that dialogue is to take place with respect and understanding of the belief system of the people we are talking to, the people in our congregations will need much help and guidance. Who will give them that guidance if not Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, then who?
That final question is not rhetorical. I am seeking some guidance.