WELOCME to our worship blog post for this Sunday at Digby Baptist Church. This week we happen to be having a hymn sing and Bible study as the main body of our service together. Video of the children’s lesson and the ‘Bible study sermon’ are here. More information is available about the service and church life in the bulletin, here on the bulletins page.

(Luke 6:1-16) J G White ~ 11 am, Sun, Jan 31, 2021, UBC Digby

Let’s start our Bible study sermon.

O, O, Obey-O,
everyday-O,
that’s why we say-O,
yes we will obey!
(A Daily Vacation Bible School song)

For many people through the years, taking part in church has been a simple matter of Christian obedience and duty. The right thing to do. It’s wrong not to do it! Did you learn that?

Christianity as a whole movement, or religion, can be seen as an organization full of rules. Do this. Do not do that. Believe this. Do not believe that. Hundreds of times. 

Many people are still the kind of people who find this helpful. The sense of duty and the desire to follow the right path can be strong. 

Nowadays, it might be easy for those of us over 50 to say that the younger generations do not have any sense of duty or obedience. But it may be that they value different things than we have valued. Rules of organizations may not seem helpful to them, nor traditional rules in society about how we communicate with people. Yet other rules of just behaviour, and of being authentic might be important to them. 

The Hemorrhaging Faith study (2011) heard this from some of the Canadian young people that were interviewed:

Seeing people just going to church to go to church. You know, just seeing a lot of …just going through the motions and then their life is a total mess … I didn’t feel these people were happy in their lives …I just felt it wasn’t true, and one-hundred percent pure.  – Marly

I guess one of the things I really struggle with is how people can have a firm belief in God but they have a belief they follow but they can treat people so horribly at the same time when there’s people out there that might not necessarily believe in God but they follow more true to his teaching and are more of a reflection upon Jesus and his character. – Anna

I remember just seeing again certain students …um… go to chapel and pray and worship and then they would leave there and become regular again. What I call regular you know, they would be cursing or doing things they shouldn’t have been doing and I just wondered how …how could they live a double life? – Cal (p. 59)

To be genuine is important, to be authentic and ‘real’ is valued.

Today, our scripture story about Jesus touches on obedience, rooted in the Ten Commandments and other teachings of the Hebrews of old. 

Some of the background is found in:

1. Exodus 20:1-17 The Ten Commandments. Which commandments have been important to you? Which have not been as important? Why’s that?

If you go to church Sunday morning, you love the Church. If you also go to Church Sunday evening, you love the Pastor. If you also go to Wednesday Prayer Meeting, you love the Lord! – saying from a church in New Jersey

I’d say that is humorous, but also severe!

Today’s example, with Jesus, is sabbath keeping.

2. Exodus 34:21 Sabbath obedience. What rules about Sunday have you known in your life?  How is your obedience different now than it was in the past?

Keeping of the Christian Sabbath can help us in several ways. It breaks the continuous cycle of buying and selling; so it could be very helpful in our ‘consumer culture.’ Sabbath sets us free from the busy schedule, and gives a rhythm to our days. Sabbath trains us to take sabbath moments in every day, and longer time within a whole year, and bigger ‘sabbaticals’ in the course of each decade.

The first Gospel scene today is of Jesus and His disciples EATING GRAIN (Luke 6:1-5)

3. Leviticus 24:5-9  The Bread of the Presence. Think over some of the Christian Sabbath rules and regulations you know. How is each one intended to serve humankind and help? (Perhaps scripture even tells us this; what vs?)

The background for this event Jesus mentioned is in:

4. 1 Samuel 21:1-6  David and the bread.

The next scene in Luke 6 is a HEALING (Luke 6:6-11)

Diversity of Jewish teachings on the Sabbath… Some of the Rabbis, in the time of Jesus, taught that any healing work was permitted on the Sabbath. In contrast, the religious community at Qumran taught that one could not even help an animal that was giving birth on the Sabbath!

Sabbath keeping was a distinctive practice of the Jews.

It was a big part of forming their identity. 

5. Exodus 20:8-11  No work on the Sabbath. The day of rest is tied to freedom in this commandment. What are some ways that keeping a Sabbath can provide freedom? What are ways that obedience to other rules helps us?

The third and final scene in the Gospel today is of Jesus’ PRAYER all night not on a Sabbath (Luke 6:)

Preparation for a day of decision – 12 disciples

Was this prayer by Jesus a matter of obedience? Not to any specific rule or pattern. It was simply something He needed to do before the day of decision. A time of personal preparation. He made use of a tool He knew how to use, when He needed it. Perhaps we can see how praying and working with scripture on Sundays, in our lives, gets us ready for other days, other moments, when we need to pray and seek guidance and simply be with our God.

We, in the Church, have many spiritual tools at our fingertips, even if we are a bit rusty when it comes to using some of them. Maybe, like me, you are good at taking part in worship on Sunday, but other sabbath-keeping actions have been lost. Perhaps we should sharpen our skills and habits, and we will have more to offer to others around us.

We are now in the third sermon in this series on ‘Why the Christian Church?’ First was ‘To Study/Learn,’ and the second was ‘To Save & Be Saved.’ These are strong in the evangelical tradition, with our emphasis on scripture and saving people. Bible study is also big in the contemplative tradition: picture the scholars in universities, or monks and nuns in monasteries, making use of their ancient libraries. 

Today is about being in the church ‘To Obey,’ and is important in the holiness tradition, which emphasizes knowing and doing the will of God, obeying the teachings of scripture, and being a person of virtue and good behaviour, avoiding sin. Other reasons for taking part in the church will come in the weeks ahead.

Six Traditions in Christianity come right out of the life of Jesus, our Master and Saviour:

• Holiness: the virtuous life. 
• Charismatic: the Spirit-empowered life
• Contemplative: the prayer-filled life
• Social Justice: the compassionate life
• Evangelical: the Word-centered life
• Incarnational: the sacramental life

Look at the chart printed in the bulletin; estimate where you are in each area on the wheel spokes. Put a mark at those points, then connect the dots from spoke to spoke to form a ring around the hub. 

What are your strengths, as a spiritual being? What are your reasons for being in a church, a local spiritual community? What are not big parts of your life?

As you wander through this week – and a new month begins – consider if obedience and holiness have some influence in your life. And, what other things guide the way you live? 

Consider also those who are not worshippers, not churchgoers. Watch for how they still may be following Jesus. How they pray or study or worship or contemplate or serve sacrificially. How is it Christ is sometimes using them on His team, with us.

WELCOME to this post for the United Baptist Church of Digby. Some video from the morning service is available here. Do read the weekly Bulletin for other information, posted on another page here.

SERMON: Why Church? (Luke 3:7-22; Psalm 51:10-17) J G White – 11 am, Sun, Jan 10, 2021, UBC Digby

Years ago there was a collection of church bulletin bloopers that would circulate around. Including these:

For those of you who have children and don’t know it, we have a nursery downstairs.

Evening massage – 6 pm.

The third verse of Blessed Assurance will be sung without musical accomplishment.

The Rev. Merriweather spoke briefly, much to the delight of the audience.

Don’t let worry kill you. Let the Church help.

Let the Church help… kill you! No, that is not what we want, though, tragically, in two thousands years of history, the Christian Church has killed people! 

You are here this morning. Or, you are reading this on paper, or online, perhaps even viewing the video of this sermon. This is ‘church.’ This building gets called ‘church,’ this Sunday event gets called ‘church,’ as a group of people we are named ‘church.’ It’s worth talking about this: why we are together in this. It’s worth hearing from God about this. We claim it’s a divine invention; we quote Jesus: what He said to Peter, one day, “I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” (Mtt 16:18)

Why Church? Why the Christian Church for you? We have our reasons. Jesus has His reasons. Others have theirs.

You could say I am part of this whole thing because it is my job. But I would be part of this if religion were not my job: if I were a local biologist, or farmer, or teacher. 

Perhaps you will ponder today, with me, how you ended up here. I remember my own days of childhood and youth, attending many events of the Middleton Baptist Church. I can remember, slightly, my baptism into the faith, there in the Middleton Baptist building at Easter, 1984, baptized by the Rev. Don Robertson, no less. 

The painting here, by the late Wanda Handspiker, is a peaceful image of this act of faith that gives our Christian tribe it’s name. This looks so much to me like the Annapolis River, from the backyard of my youth. 

With scripture now, we look way back to those dramatic days of ‘John the Baptist,’ preparing the way for the Jewish Messiah. He comes across as a preacher of strong words and practical advice, answering questions from the crowd, as he is busy baptizing people in the waters of the Jordan River. 

To be in a Baptist Church is not actually to name yourself after John the Baptist. John was Jewish, not a Christian. The churches called ‘Baptist’ have their origin 1,600 years after John and his cousin, Jesus of Nazareth. Our ritual immersion of adults in water names us. 

Crowds of people came out to the riverside for John’s baptism of turning away from wrong. He warned them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits worthy of repentance.” As important as this water ritual was, it required a change in the actions of the people. 

The rituals and habits and patterns of any church do draw some of us in and keep us. At other times, our religion is mainly about better behaviour. 

The crowds asked John what they should do. Give away your extra clothing and food to people in need, he told them. Workers for the Roman Revenue Agency were there, apparently, and asked, “Rabbi, what should we do?” Don’t collect more money than is actually required of people. Some soldiers were there too, asking, ‘And what about us?’ Be satisfied with your pay; don’t threaten people to get more to line your pockets. 

Some follow a religion and join in to find forgiveness. Others, in order to make a life change and do more good. And others, to escape the threats they see looming. John preached of a Messiah who would “gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 

All this created an air of expectancy. Someone was going to do something special. God was going to get something done, some of those promises we have been hearing for a few hundred years. A new movement was actually about to begin, a new era. 

Some people, today, are in a church for something new, some new movement of the Spirit, some new and powerful activity. Something miraculous. In our present age of terror and epidemics and political mayhem and technology out of control, many people may be looking for shared hope and shared meaning in life. I’m sure that, as we approach 2000 years since Jesus’ execution and resurrection, interest in some kind of return of Jesus will continue, in our lifetimes.

For the moment, in these first weeks of 2021, we will walk through some early pages of Luke’s Gospel. It’s the beginning of the story of Jesus. The story that is at the centre of the church: the Church around the world and across history, and our local congregation here today. 

Artful and humorous Christian writer, Frederick Buechner, claimed: The visible church is all the people who get together from time to time in God’s name. Anybody can find out who they are by going to look. 

The invisible church is all the people God uses for his hands and feet in this world. Nobody can find out who they are except God. 

Think of them as two circles. The optimist says they are concentric. The cynic says they don’t even touch. The realist says they occasionally overlap. 

In a fit of high inspiration the author of the Book of Revelation states that there is no temple in the New Jerusalem, thus squelching once and for all the tedious quip that since Heaven is an endless church service, anybody with two wits to rub together would prefer Hell.

The reason for there being no temple in the New Jerusalem is presumably the same as the reason for Noah’s leaving the ark behind when he finally makes it to Mount Ararat. (Wishful Thinking, p. 15, 1973.)

While we have our temples, here, and our spiritual organizations for one another, we see the decrease of how many take part. The usual ways of being the church in our part of the world have been shrinking, all our lives long. As Mark Cress said to me in 2014, when I was new here, “You’re pastor of the largest dying church in Digby Co.”

Yet, whether it is my job to be here, or if I was simply choosing to be here, I believe there is life here. I like the God we find here, and the ways we find God here. 

For several weeks I want us to explore the ways people connect with being church, as well as the ways people not in church express the same spiritual issues. Issues of belonging, of forgiveness, of eternal life, of purpose in this life, of connecting with God, and so on. The stories of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke will guide and inform us. Our own life stories will be important. And the lives of those outside the churches: I hope to ‘interview’ a variety of people about Christianity 

A 2011 study of Canadian young people and church heard these sorts of things from the folk they interviewed:

You need others to be able to sustain. So people say they are Christian and they do that alone. I mean, c’mon, really? How will you be able to be a Saint by yourself? You need others. I mean, alone? Like, really alone? I think it’s B.S.  – Merlynn

I think that you can make it your own way. I think that organized church is often really [crappy.] – Jill-Ann (She did not use the word “crappy.”)

Some of those ladies in the back row… pray for me every single day… there’s a genuine investment. The two old ladies that ran the church library that I would go hang out with every Sunday and who would always ask how I was doing just loved me like a grandson. – Barry

I just saw so much talk and so many sermons about the good we should do, but yet I didn’t see a whole lot of action from the church. Like, if you would go to a conference or to church, they would talk about all these things that we should do, but you never – you just go home and nothing would happen. – Roy

(James Penner et al, Hemorrhaging Faith: Why & When Canadian Young Adults are Leaving, Staying & Returning to the Church,  2011)

Why Church? Why the Christian Church in your life? In our day and age? We see the prelude to this whole movement two thousand years ago, when John the Baptizer preached and baptized, by the Jordan River. Today, we seek again the Holy Spirit, and the fire of God! Once again, may Jesus appear on the scene. He will speak today. He will act today. He will build His Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. Hallelujah!

PRAYER Let us   pray.

King of kings, Lord of lords, God of all creation: we bow in awe and wonder: You have called us to be the people of Christ in this world. The Saviour’s light is to shine from within us: bless the name of Jesus!

The song we just heard… may it be our prayer. We admit the lack of vision we sometimes show, as Your Church, the low morale and enthusiasm for what we can do and be, the selfish errors we make in the living of our days. In Your mercy, inspire us – breathe into us afresh. Turn our eyes and our attention to our neighbourhoods, outside these four walls. It is here You have deployed us – we give thanks for the calling to be the church in this community.

You, Master, call upon us to pray. To pray to You, with You, because of You. We pray for our world, turned upside down by this latest coronavirus. 

We pray for our neighbours of the USA, with such unrest, and such challenges in their transition of leadership. You know how upset we sometimes are with the news we hear – have mercy, have mercy all this year, we pray, for our friends south of the border need help.

We pray across the whole world, as this New Year begins. The continuing saga of disasters flow endlessly: the earthquake in Croatia, mudslides in Norway and Japan devastating communities; floods, gales and snow in the UK, disappearances in Turkey, Belarus, Russia, droughts, starvation, oppression in Yemen, Syria, Kurdistan, Afghanistan, Egypt, Libya and so many parts of Your world – our hearts ache with all those suffering.

Holy One, who promises never to forget us or forsake us: in this Alzheimer awareness month we pray for those near us and those everywhere suffering with this disease and other dementias that so limit and destroy life. We pray also for care-givers and loved ones who are sometimes at a loss over what to do. Give strength and understanding, calm and peace.

And we join together to bless all those who suffer, who seek healing or comfort right now. Especially, we remember folks like Don and Richard and Carolyn and Charlene and Dwight and Bob…   

who are in and out of hospitals right now, seeking help for the body. May these also find strength for their souls today. We pray for Ronnie, at Tideview, in such poor health, that he may be supported all the day long, til the shades lengthen and the evening comes.

This praying we finish with the words Jesus taught:Our Father, who art in heaven…  AMEN.

WELCOME to this post, our first for a new year. Today’s service has some different elements in it. See the whole plan in the Bulletin for today, here on another page of our website. Video includes some prayers, children’s time and the sermon.

PRAYERS for UBC Digby ~ January 3, 2021. Please note: the sermon comes between Prayer 8 and Prayer 9. Today is a day of dozens. Twelve times I am going to pray, in this service. Each time we will look back to one month of 2020. Each time we will pray for the members and adherents of our congregation. Each time I will also offer one of my daily prayers I wrote in my own prayer journal last year.

PRAYER 1 Let us   pray. Eternal and Everlasting One, we look back with thanks for the year that is now past, and call on You as a new year begins. God of January, 2020, we remember the bush fires that burned terribly in Australia – and we prayed. Thank-You for your blessing of firefighters and all first responders.

Today, Saviour, we pray for Your blessing in the lives of Reta, Carol, Bonnie, Sonny & Dianne, Rodney & Eileen, Michael & Donna, Louise, Bernie & Ellen, Mike & Maggie.

Revelation chapter 4 speaks of heavenly worship. The centrality and power and joy of heavenly worship is strong. Take us back to times of being excited about worship. Your holiness, God, is for me a beautiful thing. Somehow, I have dulled my sense of this. (Jan 9) AMEN.

PRAYER 2 Let us   pray. God of February, we remember the Wet’suwet’en blockades in  British Columbia. We are grateful for Your gift to all of us of the land and sea and sky of creation.

Today, Saviour, we pray for Your blessing in the lives of Kingsley, Mary, Don, Dick & Della, John & Marilyn, Brian & Corinne, Deborah, Marguerite, Elaine & Craig, Linda, Charlene.

Thank-You, Holy Master, for the diverse perspectives of your many children of many nations thru the ages. Broaden our own view of You, that we may know more that’s true. (Feb 6) AMEN.

PRAYER 3 Let us   pray. God of March, we remember the beginning of the pandemic lockdown in Nova Scotia, and around the world. We worship You, for Your care is worldwide and Your compassion crosses all borders.

Today, Saviour, we pray for Your blessing in the lives of Hazel, Sandra, June & John, Peter & Bev, John & Evelyn, Carol, Tom & Cathy, Eddie, Nancee & Adrian.

Master, when I feel like a failure, may You succeed in me. When I feel proud and satisfied, may You be honoured more than me. When I feel better and smarter and more sensible than others, may they be encouraged and empowered. When I feel happy to be different and separate from others, may they know we all belong and have one Master – You. (March 9) Amen.

PRAYER 4 Let us   pray. God of April, we remember the tragic massacre of 22 people here in Nova Scotia, and the helicopter crash in Greece. We give thanks that Jesus is crucified and risen, showing the Divine understanding transcends all suffering and death.

Today, Saviour, we pray for Your blessing in the lives of Myra & Carey, Raymond & Sandra, Murray & Sandra, Lexi, Terry, Ardith, Marj & Doug, Sheree & Philip, Verna & Bob.

Jesus of healing – this is a time of healing and a time of dying. This is the whole world’s focus. In this age we know so much. May we make the most of this knowledge. Keep us wise in helping others. (April 2) Amen.

PRAYER 5 Let us   pray. God of May, we remember that Black Lives Matter. We rejoice in the blessed assurance that Christ’s Kingdom welcomes and respects all peoples of earth.

Today, Saviour, we pray for Your blessing in the lives of Marilyn, Carol & Roy, Dianne, Louella, Geraldine, Gail, Carolyn, Michael, Amelia, Chris, Barb, Jackie & Dick.

This day, O LIFE of life, this day looks to the eyes to be grand. Plans for the day seem hopeful and helpful. The focus is upon joyful things, that’s for sure. May we not forget all who will not have a good day, whose body, mind, or spirit is hurting, or dull, alone or oppressed. Then, may Your good Life flow to them, even through me. In Christ. (June 9) Amen.

PRAYER 6 Let us   pray. God of June, we remember the global recession in the economy, caused by all the pandemic precautions. We bow to You, who have such preferential care for the poor and oppressed, in every age.

Today, Saviour, we pray for Your blessing in the lives of Floss, Joyce, Audrey & Bill, Robert, Louise, Dottie & Nelson, Marion, Darleen & Brian, Joyce.

Bread. We find ways of buying bread, of making bread. It feeds us. It is a pleasure. You, Jesus, speak of being the Bread of life. Today, today may we turn to You for sustenance and pure joy three times. At least three times during the day. (June 13) Amen.

PRAYER 7 Let us   pray. God of July, we remember gathering to worship You again. Though it has not been the same as it was before, we rejoice that You are unchanged, You are still accessible, You are uniting Your people.

Today, Saviour, we pray for Your blessing in the lives of Sharon & Roger, Carolyn, Shayne & Bruce, Margo & Bobby, Geneva, Johanna, Bev & Rick, Bill, Ellen.

Precious God, we call You our Provider. Our economy is a strict, fragile thing. There is no room for sudden sabbath, for jubilee. The ceasing of much business in a pandemic is not a rest, it is a disaster. This is need not be. This need not be? …Is small and local and self- sustainable the way? And is Your holy calling to Your people an economic one? We are not hearing it. (July 2) Amen.

PRAYER 8 Let us   pray. God of August, we remember the terrible explosion in Beirut, Lebanon. How we give thanks for the wonderful work of Your servants there, showing hospitality and giving aid, in that time of great need.

Today, Saviour, we pray for Your blessing in the lives of Janet & Mark, Angela & Dwight, Judi & Churchill, Heather & Dick, Richard, Joy, Wayne, Irene, Barry & Gloria,.

Instead of ‘social media’- socialize with Thee. May it be. Instead of distractions from work – stay working for Thee. May it be. Instead of longing for attention – attend to others and pay attention to Thee. May it be. In the name of Jesus. (Aug 6) Amen.

SERMON: Twelve More Days of Christmas (edited from Dec 31, 2017) – Jeff White

O, once upon a time, near here, ‘twas Christmas time again.
And everybody knows that’s when the famed Twelve Days begin.
So, on the twenty-fifth, Sam asked his friends about the song:
‘Can we go find a partridge in a pear tree? Won’t take long!’

So off the children went to find the gift of that first day;
And when they found that happy bird, they shouted, ‘Hip! Hooray!’
‘What’s next,’ said Gabe, & soon they set out quick, to find the rest;
‘If we could find all everything, yes, that would be the best.’

So off the children went and looked below, between, above,
Until they found two turtledoves who shared a lot of love.
Just like two lovebirds, those two doves seemed filled with joy & care,
Yet also looked so welcoming for more to join them there.

Now, Samuel said, ‘God is love. We say this at our church.’
And Hannah nodded, ‘yes,’ and smiled at birdies on their perch.
Sam asked, ‘What way should we go now?’ & Gabriel said, ‘West.
If we could find all everything, yes, that would be the best.’

Next was the 3rd great Christmas Day; they looked for 3 French hens,
And wisely thought to seek them out among Acadiens.
To Clare the children went, & found three chickens, Une, Deux, Trois,
All clucking by a Frenchys store. The children cheered, ‘Rah, rah!’

So then young Mason pointed out the juice and bread they had,
And Gabriel knew Christmas time had made the birdies glad.
‘Cause Jesus, when He grew up, always shared bread as a guest.
If we could find all everything, yes, that would be the best.’

On the Fourth Day of Christmas time the children’s band set out
To find four calling birds, and find out what they called about!
Up in the sky, near a bright star, four birds sang, bright as morn.
The children knew they took their turns to tell that Christ was born.

Joseph was the adopted dad, and mom was named Mary;
Some shepherds lived nearby, and wise ones came from far away.
‘These birds sing true,’ said Sam, ‘they pass the Bible story test.’
‘If we could find all everything, yes, that would be the best.’

On the Fifth day of Christmas time a challenge grand and bold
Was waiting for the kids: to find some rings, five rings of gold.
‘We’ll never find them,’ Taylor cried, ‘This isn’t very funny.
They’re not like birds up in the trees and we have got not money!’

Then Eliana stopped and stared at something down the road.
And Gracie saw it too: a llama blowing bubbles gold!
Five golden bubbles were provided for the children’s quest.
‘If we could find all everything, yes, that would be the best.’

With brand-new hope the children went down to the llama’s farm.
There, geese were laying eggs within a pen, all safe from harm.
‘Hooray!’ said Gabe, ‘We found day six, and six eggs on the ground.
They’re red and yellow, pink and purple, greenish and dark brown.

Dear Hannah gazed, as if to ask why eggs weren’t all the same,
But then she knew, as they all knew, that all things, wild and tame,
God makes all different, just like us; so she thought, like the rest:
‘If we could find all everything, yes, that would be the best.’

To Sandy Cove the young ones went to find some swans rehearse
(The seventh day of Christmas, it is New Year’s Eve, of course).
The next day was Polar Bear Dip, & yes, some swans were there
To practice for the festive swim: they dove and swirled with flair.

‘If seven swans still practice how to swim, what should we do?’
Sam asked, & Dryden answered, ‘We should practice our best too.’
God gives us good to do & learn & seek &, yes, you guessed:
‘If we could find all everything, yes, that would be the best.’

On the eighth day the kids set out to find some working folk,
As they looked for a dairy farm and eight girls who could milk.
And sure enough they found them all, each ready, set to work,
With smock and bonnet, pail for milk, and happy: each one smirked.

‘They’re nice, but dressed alike!’, said Gabe, ‘I know I am not wrong:
In God’s world here so many different-looking folk belong.’
‘Twas New Year’s Day, and they had just four days to find the rest.
‘If we could find all everyone, yes, that would be the best.’

On the ninth day the group of children, looking far and wide,
Sought out nine dancers talented whose grace each would not hide.
They found a twenties flapper, and a poodle skirted girl,
A gal of nineteen-seventies, and grandma doing a twirl;

Then ladies, each, of Ireland, and Spain, and Africa,
A ballerina, and a girl traditional Mi’Kmaq.
The kids rejoiced and joined right in with them to dance with zest.
‘If we could find all everyone, yes, that would be the best.’

So all the children danced, Amelia and ‘Kenna too,
They simply rocked and bobbed and grinned, ‘twas natural to do.
Well, naturally, ten lords a leaping were easy to find;
They took their cue from the wise women, following behind.

Among the gentlemen wise Dryden noticed, very quick,
That Jesus Christ, the Lord, was there, along with old Saint Nick.
‘It’s when a whole big lot of folks are here that God is blessed.
If we could find all everyone, yes, that would be the best.’

The girls and boys could see God’s ways, before eleventh day:
‘Welcome to God’s kingdom! Welcome to all!’ This is the way.
So when eleven pipers were needed to pipe for heav’n,
They knew it was not just the pied piper for day elev’n.

So many pipes play music, and these players piped their song;
And one piped icing on a cake; a plumber worked along;
A bird, like Piping Plover, payed a tune to join the quest:
‘If we could find all everyone, yes, that would be the best.’

Then, on the final Christmas Day, Amelia and Dryden,
Hannah and Sam, Eliana, Gabe, McKenna and Mason,
Taylor and Grace found 12 drummers drumming; you knew they would!
And all the lessons that they learned of life, they all were good.

‘Christ is born! The Saviour lives!’, the children celebrated;
And all the while the super-duper drumming ne’er abated.
God’s ways are super-creative; God welcomes all as guests.
If we could find all everyone, yes, that would be the best!

PRAYER 9 Let us   pray. God of September, we remember the conflict and justice issues in our lobster fishery. We also remember the months of no school, the challenges of online learning, and the complex return to classes. We trust in You for guidance, and eyes to see all others with compassion. 

Today, Saviour, we pray for Your blessing in the lives of Don & Cairine, Paul & Cheryl, Owen, Steve & Pam, Virginia, Edna, Marlene & Daniel, Dorothea, Keith & Pat, Marilyn.

Let this day brighten for others, because we are in it, and You are in us. Let goodness shine before us, as we meet those in whom You dwell. Let all creation sing because we humans bless it. (Sept 29) Amen.

PRAYER 10 Let us   pray. God of October, we remember it as mental health awareness month, highlighting the strains and stresses upon millions this year. We thank You for the healing work that is done, and support for the downcast that comes from your heart. 

Today, Saviour, we pray for Your blessing in the lives of Myrtle, Reta, Henoche & Barb, Murray & Stella, Mary Ann, Joe & Sharon, Stan & Bonnie, Dave & Flo, Jeff & Laurie, Douglas & Morgan.

As a grand tree dies and is cut down, allowing others to grow, O Gardener, so let us be pruned of those things that are ill and old and wrong and out of place. So let us be pruned of our lack of seriousness about sin and weakness. So let us be pruned of the sources of pride that actually limit our journey, and [limit] the good for others that could come out of our lives. Thanks & glory to You for the wonderful, holy horticulture you have already accomplished in us. (Oct 7) Amen

PRAYER 11 Let us   pray. God of November, we remember the service and sacrifice of so many military members and civilians through the decades. We also remember our neighbours who had elections for their governments. Thank-You for hearing our prayers for all who serve and govern.

Today, Saviour, we pray for Your blessing in the lives of Andrew & Alison & Gabriel & Eliana & Khang, Grace, Ramona, Sandra, Geraldine, Alfie & Mary, Doug, James, Joanne, Helena.

O Saviour, You have saved me from my sin, You are saving me from my sins, You will save me from sin. Alleluia! Today, let me live in this joy, that I may avoid sin all the more, have my sins lit up and crushed, and take new paths away from wrong. Open the way of humbleness to us. (Nov 5) Amen.

PRAYER 12 & BENEDICTION Let us   pray. God of December, we remember the loss of six scallop fishermen, and other serious tragedies. Praise to You, for the ways You weep with us, and that You walk with us on a path to peace.

Today, Saviour, we pray for Your blessing in the lives of Darlene & Paul, Amelia & Jack, Paul, Sharon & Jeff, Barbara & Alan, Ronnie, Sara & Rob & Sam & Hannah, Linda, Marie, Barb.

Come, Thou long expected Jesus. Come, Thou long unexpected Jesus! It is so easy to ignore and be blind to the unexpected, and miss it. Miss You. Let us see You this week; expect the Unexpected. (Dec 9) 

And may the blessing of God Almighty: Father, Son & Holy Spirit, rest & abide with us now & always. AMEN.