Weekly Message from our Minister Reverend Mary White
Good Day and Blessings,
Because we are creatures of habit and feel comfort in traditions, it is not easy for most of us to accept change. Depending on adults for survival, as children we are easily influenced by their beliefs and attitudes. Some will carry into adulthood, without critiquing, the positions held by parents and educators. But Paul in his letter to the Corinthians 13:11 makes it very clear “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” Letting go of that which clings to us, is liberating.
Changing our values that leave behind thoughts of judgement, injustice, and prejudice towards others and actively being compassionate while demonstrating unconditional Love, are all choices that Christ made. We as adults are called to make these same choices.
With Love,
Rev. Mary White
Around Valentines day I was asked if I planned to put away my Christmas tree--or leave it up 'til next Christmas. 😉 I still turn on its lights every night. They are cheerful company as I sit at my table in evening writing or reading, facing the tree. So--I took off the Christmas decor, replaced with heart and flowers, and now enjoy my 'Happy Tree'!
2020 Annual Report is Now Available
Printed versions of our 2020 Annual Report are available upon request at the Church office. Please call 604-485-5724 in advance.
The Annual Congregational Meeting will need to be delayed until later in the year, with the hope that we can then meet in person.
READING
“She will give… the bread of understanding to eat
and the water of wisdom to drink.”– Ecclesiasticus 15:3
The Enchanted Forest
As a child growing into adulthood, I gradually developed a number of understandings or beliefs about life. They were my dreams, my goals, my vision of life, my ideals about how life is or ought to be. These beliefs came to me from my parents, teachers, friends, religion, life experiences, books, and numerous other influences. I stored up these beliefs in my heart like some kind of enchanted Forest. Whenever I went into the forest of beliefs, I felt that life was good right and true. All my beliefs in my enchanted forest seemed so real.
One of my biggest growing up experiences has been that of disenchantment: having to go to my enchanted forest of beliefs and discover that what gave me such comfort or sense of direction no longer does so for me. Growing up has been, and is, the process of discovering which of my beliefs is steadfast and which needs to be changed, adapted, or possibly even discarded entirely. Often when I experience disenchantment, I feel wounded, empty, maybe even betrayed by someone or betrayed by my own truths, which I thought were so accurate and so right for me. Sometimes it is just a momentary feeling of confusion or discouragement, and sometimes the hurt lasts for a long, long time.
An excerpt from Joyce Rupp’s
“The Star In My Heart: Discovering Inner Wisdom”
Message for Young Families from Brenda Pielle
Dear Families and Friends:
This week we are certainly feeling the joy of spring with the sunshine-filled days one after the other. The brightness sure has a way of breaking through the Covid-19 cloud we have been living with, and lifting up our spirits! Here is wishing you lots of fun family time outside in this beautiful weather.
This week toddlers can enjoy the fun of rhyming words with the story on the parent-tot sing along video: Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss. This video also contains the following songs: “The More We Sing Together”, “Peace be With You”, “God’s Love”, “You are My Sunshine”, and “God Loves Me.”
Have you ever heard of an Orang-utan making friends with a cat? On the Family Fun video you will hear a story about Tonda and T.K. from the book called, Unlikely Friendships by Jennifer Holland. The songs this week for families include: “This is the Day”, “Down by the Bay”, “This Land”, and “Go Make a Difference”. I have changed the words of the chorus for “This Land”, and it seemed fitting to use these words as we approach Earth Day this week. The words are: “This land’s not your land, this land’s not my land. We are guests here, of our First Nations. Let’s work together, to make things better, this land needs care from you and me.”
May these songs and stories provide you with an opportunity to share some together time with your children and youth.
Sincerely,
Brenda Pielle
Reaching Out to Families
Powell River United Church
POEM by Joyce Rupp
Have you ever felt love
deep and strong in you
like a glass of good red wine?
And then this love
falls out of your heart
breaking into many pieces?
The ache is dull yet deep;
when you look inside
to where the love was
you see this empty spot;
you feel it’s all-gone-ness.
I felt that way before.
All the good warmth in me
shattered by other’s harshness
love fell out of me
before I could catch it
and then I ever so slowly
kicked at the pieces around me
wondering if I cared enough
to stoop low, to bend down,
to begin to pick up them up.
O love, how fragile you are
and sometimes so deceptive
in your supposed strength
O love, how fickle you are
to leap out of my heart
at the sound of pettiness
O love, did I ever have you
or was it just delusion
and so much of a wishing well?
PRUC Online Worship Service
Please join us this Sunday, April 18th.
PRAYER
Spirit of Unconditional Love
We praise you for calling each one of us to an exclusive journey of discovery and wisdom. We thank you for the joy of discovering new abilities and the tension of striving to grasp new understandings; for the steady influences which leads to a familiarity with life experiences; for the ways in which the process of learning shapes our interpretation of knowledge and our values.
We honour you and celebrate your presence and everlasting Love.
Amen