Second Sunday of Lent reflection
We’ve been invited to go on a trip. Yes, a trip! Lent is a journey and today’s Gospel takes us on a trip. I
remember when our family took trips and used a “CAA Triptik” to plot our way. Now, we’ve got Google maps or similar. However, nowadays we aren’t often “going” anywhere.
The Gospel today gives us our directions, events, destination: “… Jesus took with him Peter and James and John (you and me), and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. “Once we get to the top, Jesus transfigures before us with no less than Moses and Elijah, Jesus’ spiritual mentors for how to understand the law and the prophets.
Moses’ mountain trip gave him the Ten Commandments, a set of directions to help form a people to be
faithful to God. Elijah’s mountain trip came as a call and an escape from persecution, and at first it was pure frustration, no arranged meeting with God in the wind or fire, just waiting. Then in the silence there was the God of his life.
We are only in the second week of Lent, and maybe it feels like an uphill climb already, but we are in this
together. In recent history, Martin Luther King Jr.’s mountain trip was a vision of kinship between all. Amanda Gorman’s mountain trip calls us too: “The hill we climb / If only we dare / It’s because being American (Canadian also) is more than a pride we inherit, / it’s the past we step into / and how we repair it.”
So, is this our destination? This moment of connection to our spiritual and human roots? Are we like Peter ready to set up tents and stay?
Jesus is clear this mountain top experience is not the destination. Our trip has just begun. We are to come down from that mountain (and it often feels like a descent) and do the work required to build a people of God, to watch for the appearance as Jesus transfigures before us in those we live with, meet, see on street corners and hear about in the news. Our trip has barely begun
As we travel on through Lent, let us recall hearing the voices from the mountain top: “This is my beloved Son.
Listen to Him.” This is our destination, the work of repairing our inner beings, our world of family and friends known and not yet known to us, our natural world which we have treated so badly. Let us continue to travel together in good company with the God of our very being.
Reflection: Bonnie Kearney, RSCJ
Worship Calendar
Mar. 1 Seeing Without Hating Ecclesiastes 7:16-22 Rev. Eric Lee
Titus 3:1-7
On Modesty.
Let no man boast of his good deeds. A man at work in a harbor saw a little boy fall into the water. He instantly sprang in after him and got him out. He then went on with his work, wet through as he was, until the dinner hour, when he went home to change his clothes and take his midday meal. Both in the street and in his own house he was beset with questions as to how he got his clothes so wet, but he invariably gave an evasive answer. Several days later, on returning from his work, he found awaiting him at his home the boy whom he had rescued from a watery grave, together with his parents. As soon as he crossed the threshold the boy cried out: “That is the man who pulled me out of the water!” Thereupon his parents thanked him with tears for saving their child’s life. On being asked why he had kept his good deed secret, he answered in Our Lord’s words: “Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.” That man is much to be commended for his reticence; for one who prides himself on his virtuous actions or boasts of them, loses all merit in God’s sight.
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Sacrament of Holy Communion
Please be reminded that the sacrament of Holy Communion will be celebrated this Sunday at 10:30 AM. Our communion on this the second Sunday in Lent will be by intinction.
Loonies for Lent
This year the Outreach Committee is asking you to set aside loonies and toonies or other monetary donations in order that we may send a large donation to the St James Food Basket. The money that we send will be used to purchase such basics as tuna, canned tomatoes and pasta which will be distributed to their client families.
Each year the number of people relying on food banks continues to grow and the current uncertain times are adding to this need. Outreach is asking our church family to send their monetary donations (loonies/toonies in containers, cash, cheques or e-transfers) to the church to support this initiative. Please mark your envelopes for “Loonies for Lent, Outreach” and include your name and envelope number. We would appreciate receiving your contribution by April 5 th .
A Winter Devotional Update (February 24):
A new edition of Our Daily Bread (March/April/May), as well as the current edition of These
Days (January/February/March) are available on the table in the church vestibule and in the devotional box on the church porch.
World Day of Prayer
You are invited to attend the World Day of Prayer meeting at Fellowship Reformed Christian Church on Friday, March 6, at 1:30 PM. The theme is, “I Will Give You Rest” and the host country for whom we will be praying is Nigeria.
Laptops and Tablets Needed
After researching and consulting with the elders of the First Presbyterian Church of Antigua, which
Rachael and Pastor Eric visited last March, the mission committee has decided to purchase a laptop
and 6-8 months of Wi-Fi for the students of the church, where it will be kept and shared so students
can become familiar with this technology.
If you have a laptop or tablet that is in good condition that you’d like to donate, please contact
Rachael before mid-March.
The Presbytery of West Toronto team will be bringing the laptop to the church during March break.
Lenten Candle Liturgy Readers
Mar. 1 – Georgena E. & Rachael C.
Mar. 8 – Lynne & Al
Mar. 15 – Iris L. & Carol H.
Mar. 22 – Kathy & Bob
Mar. 29 – Harry & Pat
Thank you to the above volunteers. If you have a scheduling conflict. Please let Susan know as soon as
possible.
Coffee Sign-Up
It is that time of year again when we are looking for volunteers to serve coffee and tea after worship. The sign up sheet is on the bulletin board in the Adamson Lounge.
Mar. 1 – ???
Mar. 7 – ???
Mar. 15 – Carol & Iris
Mar. 22 – ???
Mar. 29 – ???
April – Outreach Team
Thank you to all of you who have given so willingly of your time and efforts. We appreciate you!!
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Tuesdays @ 11:00 AM – Walking Group – All are welcome
- Thursdays @ 2:00 PM – Worship service at Centennial Park Place
- Thursday, Feb. 26 @ 9:30 AM – Sing! Etobicoke @ GV
- Sunday, Mar. 1 @ 11:45 AM – Bell Ringers rehearsal
- Sunday, Mar. 1 @ 10:30 AM – Sacrament of Holy Communion
- Friday, Mar. 6 @ 1:30 PM – World Day of Prayer at Fellowship Christian Reformed Church
- Sunday, Mar. 8 @ 11:30 AM – Annual General Meeting
- Tuesday, Mar. 24 @ 12:00 noon – Lenten Lunch followed by a Lenten Prayer Hour
- Thursday, Apr. 2 @ 2:00 – 4::00 PM – Stations of the Cross in the sanctuary
- Friday, Apr. 3 @ 9:30 AM – Hot Cross Buns served before Good Friday service