EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, July 31, 2022

“I Thank God for You” (Philippians 1:1-11)

In June 2020, I finished my halftime contract with Sharon Hope United Church.

While I was open to doing occasional pulpit supply, I found my time revolving around my Mom. Her 104th birthday party was just before covid put an end to such gatherings. As her retirement residence went into repeated lockdowns with suspect and actual outbreaks, she needed more help from me, her one and only designated caregiver. When she died last September, my days were suddenly empty. I approached my Personnel Minister about preaching possibilities in the area of Richmond Hill. He responded by asking if I would be interested in a six month appointment to Churchill-Gilford. I hadn’t really thought about an appointment, and to be honest, I wasn’t exactly sure where you were located – I had only travelled once to Churchill and that was from Coldwater when Cliff was your minister. But my spiritual companion is always encouraging me to be open to the movement of the Spirit so I agreed to meet with your Search team. I cannot speak for them, but for me, it was love at first sight. In 1984, I had started my ministry on a three point charge in southern Manitoba. While I had felt called to Bloor Street United in downtown Toronto, and Richmond Hill United in the GTA, I still considered myself something of a rural minister, committed to entering into relationships, and accompanying people on their journey of faith.

When I signed the contract, I thought: this half-time position will at least provide some structure for my days, and a good excuse, week by week, to live with scripture – something that has always fed my spirit. My six months here has given me far, far more. I do not always see eye to eye with the apostle Paul, but I have no trouble echoing his words to the Philippians: “I thank my God every time I remember you.” It seems to me that far too often, in our society, what we hear and deliver are words of criticism – you should have…; you shouldn’t have …; it would have been better if… – or demands for change and measuring up to some standard. When that becomes our focus, we can become blind to the good things that are happening. When we take these to heart, we can become discouraged about our part in carrying out God’s mission and ministry. We can lose hope for the future and end up singing ourselves sad songs – we are too few, too powerless to make a difference; we will be lucky even to survive as communities of faith.

So today, I want to sing you a glad song of gratitude. I thank God when I see and hear how you the people of Gilford and Churchill care for each other. You notice when someone is missing or hurting. You offer support when individuals or families are going through hard times. You are aware of each other’s quirks and idiosyncrasies, but are ready to accept and live with them the way they are. In an individualistic society where we can feel isolated and alone. At a time when geographical distance, long working hours and multiple caring relationships have made it harder for family members to be there for one another. In a pandemic which has necessitated physical distancing. Churchill-Gilford has and continues to provide that precious sense of belonging.

Belonging is a gift Jesus offers his disciples. He is not a lone prophet in the style of Jeremiah, standing by himself, speaking God’s word to a resistant, if not downright hostile world. From the very beginning, Jesus calls people to follow him. He draws a disparate group of men and women into community. When his mother and brothers come looking for him, he declares: his family are tactually anyone and everyone who is willing to follow him. With Jesus as our brother, we can become sisters and brothers to one another. As Jesus sits at table on the last night, he calls his disciples, friends. With Jesus as our friend, we always have someone who knows us and understands us, someone with whom we can share our joys and sorrows, just as we sing in that favourite hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”. With Jesus as the friend we have in common, we can be drawn into caring for one another just as Jesus cares for us. And this is what I’ve experienced at Gilford and Churchill.

I am thankful for the Bible Study group. I have long loved the Bible – reading the stories; reflecting on the teaching; discussing the passages I find difficult or troubling. Since adulthood, I have always tried to be part of a Bible Study group, but at times have found it hard to discover others who share my enthusiasm. Imagine my delight when I came to Churchill-Gilford and was told there is a Bible Study group who enjoy meeting weekly. Would I consider joining them? Would I! I jumped at the chance. When I entered the hall at Gilford church, I was surprised how many people were there. I have often led studies with only two or three. And there were both men and women. Over the years, I have had difficulty convincing men that there was a place for them in Bible Study especially one with a woman facilitating. We are enriched when we have the points of view of more than one gender. This particular group is open and welcoming to any and all comers, making sure everyone feels comfortable and accepted. They are also willing to go with the flow and even try different approaches to scripture like reading the story as a play and putting themselves in the shoes of the different characters, and lectio divina noticing the word or phrase or image that catches our attention, and reflecting on what God may be saying to us through that.

I am thankful for the way you the people of Gilford and Churchill approach not only problems within your pastoral charge, but also situations in your community. When I picked up a phone message that a neighbour here in Churchill was concerned that a dead tree on church property might come down and destroy her fence, I passed the information onto the Finance and Property Committee. I expected they would put the topic on the agenda for their next meeting. With any luck, something might be done before the snow flies. But no. The next thing I knew, they were walking around the drive shed assessing the situation; taking steps to remove the underbrush and determine how the problem trees could be removed. I was impressed both with the speed of their action, and their willingness to reach out and listen to the neighbour. The manse presents an ongoing concern. On the one hand, it is a beautiful, stately home with excellent bones. On the other, it is in need of significant work. You are doing a great job in identifying possible routes forward and weighing your options, while resisting the temptation of going for some quick fix.

With covid, and the changing times, you like other United Church communities of faith face financial challenges in maintaining your buildings and nurturing your members. But you have not let that stop you from reaching out to your community with the Christmas for Kids and Teens at Risk programmes, with involvement in the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and support for the United Church’s Mission and Service fund. As Paul is thankful for the Philippians’ willingness to support their brothers and sisters in Jerusalem who were in need so I am thankful for your commitment to the continuing mission and ministry of Jesus Christ.

Lastly, I am very grateful for your readiness and willingness to become a site for Supervised Ministry Education. As a member of the North and Central Ontario Candidacy Board, I know how essential it is for the training and development of ministers to have communities of faith contract with candidates as supply ministers, and journey with them as fellow learners. I am confident that Churchill-Gilford will be an excellent place for Krista, and Krista will bless you with her many gifts. As someone who has engaged in supervision since 1986, and worked with more than a few Lay Supervision Teams, I am thankful that the four people on yours – Cheryl, and Anne from Gilford, Barry and Cathy from Churchill – are so eager and committed that they have already gone through their training and secured copies of the evaluation forms to familiarize themselves with what will be expected. I am all the more pleased since just this past week it was agreed that I would be Krista’s educational supervisor. The bad news for you is that this means you may still see my face from time to time around your communities of faith.

As you journey onward, may you carry with you my gratitude. May each and every one of you know that you are indeed a gifted and beloved child of God.