Growing up, I attended St. David & St. Martin’s. It isn’t a particularly old congregation and meets in a mid-century building. To belong now to St. Andrew’s and see plaques marking the former pews where Governors General and Senators once sat, to have my daughters baptised in the same font as Princess Juliana is a very different experience. It’s wonderful and privileged…but it’s also a little concerning. Marking Heritage Sunday this week is an opportunity for long-established communities such as St. Andrew’s to celebrate and recall the history and wealth of experience we as a community possess. It can also, as Andrew expanded upon in today’s sermon, pose a stumbling block. With such history as we have, it is easy and tempting to spend our time looking back and fail to adequately look forward. Always, we must strive to achieve the correct balance.

As I sat in our celebrated sanctuary this morning where so many generations of souls have worshipped, I was also struck by the ways in which we talk about congregations. We like to note the age of a community of God, celebrating with greater delight as congregations get older and older and older. “Wow,” we say, “that’s a long time!” But how do we speak of new congregations? Do we note with joy a new plant, a new group of souls coming together to praise and worship and learn and grow as children of God? Do we, inadvertently, believe that age imbues a community with greater validity, that long-established congregations are better able to do the work of the Body of Christ, neglecting the initiative needed to build a new community?

I think there is a great challenge to valuing and honouring the old – the way things are, the way things have always been – while also ensuring we embrace the new, the different, looking ahead to what can and will and must be. As Andrew noted this morning, we must always learn from tradition without strictly, needlessly, heedlessly adhering to it. Do we at St. Andrew’s succeed in doing so? I truly feel that we believe that we do, but that we, in fact, fall somewhat short. We have come very far from the days of pew rents, tokens for admittance to communion and an exclusively male clergy and eldership, but we have further still to go. Always, emboldened and strengthened by our heritage, we must look to the future, embracing the change and challenges God has in store for us.

-Darlene

s Presbyterians, we are a confessional church and follow the Bible as the Word of God. As well, we feel the obligation to articulate our Christian faith through contemporary words, addressing modern concerns and questions. Listed below are some confessions and statements of belief of our church.

Presbyterians get their name from the Greek word “presbyteros” meaning “elder.” This word occurs many times in the New Testament and also in the Greek translation of the Old Testament. It refers to mature members of the community who are respected for their experience and faithfulness. The word may also designate a particular office of leadership. A Presbyterian church is one governed by elders. Today, Presbyterian churches in Canada are governed by elders who are elected by members of the congregation. Although elders are ordained for life, congregations may choose term service for elders. Through this communal wisdom we believe God speaks.

At St. Andrew’s, as with all Presbyterian churches, the Kirk Session is comprised of elders elected by the congregation and ordained by God to service within the congregation. Our Minister, the Reverend Dr. Andrew Johnston, moderates the Kirk Session at its regular meetings and also attends regular meetings of the Presbytery Ottawa, the body that oversees all congregations in the Ottawa area. Our Ministers’ main responsibilities include preparing for and conducting the Sunday worship services, pastoral care, counseling, marriages and funerals and church wide programming. They also represent the Church on a variety of local and community based groups.

Presbyterians also claim the names “Reformed,” and “Protestant.” Our denomination came out of the Protestant Reformation, a major religious movement that occurred in the early and middle years of the sixteenth century. At that point in history, the Christian Church had divided into two main branches – the Eastern Church (Greek and Russian Orthodox) and the Western Church (Roman Catholic). In the sixteenth century, church leaders began to protest the corruption of the Christian Church and seek its reform. They were called “Protestants” because they were bearing witness (Latin pro plus testare: to bear witness) to what they regarded as New Testament Christianity.

The chief leaders in the reformation movement were Luther, Calvin, Knox, Zwingli and Cranmer. These leaders were intense, courageous, zealous, and assertive. They believed that people were put right in the sight of God by God’s grace alone. They said people received God’s grace by faith and not by anything that they had done. These Reformers believed that all people had access to God through prayer and the Bible. They believed that God’s forgiveness could be received directly without the intervention of a priest. The Reformers also claimed the “indwelling” of Christ in the believer and stressed the sovereignty of God. They will always be recognized for their hope and confidence in the power of a loving God and for recovering the concept of the “priesthood of all believers”, who are called to live out their vocation in the world. Marks of the Reformed tradition are the belief that God speaks primarily through the Living Word, Jesus Christ, the written word of the Old and New Testaments of the bible and through the preached word.

Today Canadian Presbyterians consider themselves to be both “Reformed” and “reforming.”

What her talk gave me was a human face to the line item on the donation envelopes. Her stories of the gratitude of people in Kenya and Tanzania who have nothing were very moving. I am not alone, I trust, in seeing that line and wondering what my small donation can do, and her stories give perspective to that. It’s not just me and my donation, but over 900 church congregations’ donations – this is one of the ways that we as a community can have an impact on the lives of others half-way around the world.

The other aspect of her talk that I found enlightening was the alternative perspective that she presented. It is not *just* the suffering of the thousands of Somalis, for example, who flood into refugee camps. Equally as important is their drive for survival and their gratitude for strangers’ gifts. Barbara mentioned that one question that she is asked by recipients of aid, is “why do they help?” All of us likely have a slightly different answer to this question, but the one that came to mind this morning, is “because I can’t imagine their suffering.” I like to think that I have a good imagination, but as hard as I tried this morning to relate to the examples in her stories, I came up blank. My comfort prevents me from truly relating to someone who traveled for weeks by foot with only the possessions able to be carried just to seek out safety, shelter and food. My donation, though, added to the many others, is, in some small way, able to make a difference – a huge difference – in someone else’s life.

Today’s talk was indeed a useful reminder that gratitude is related to grace, and that the fortunate must share some fortune to be even more fortunate.

Scripture Readings
Exodus 33:17-23

Mark 6:45-56
Jesus Walks on the Water
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.

When evening came, the boat was out on the lake, and he was alone on the land. When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the lake. He intended to pass them by. But when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’ Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Healing the Sick in Gennesaret
When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the market-places, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

Twenty-one from the St. Andrew’s community and beyond gathered at Gracefield Camp to grow in faith and fellowship together. We were very fortunate to have the Rev. Dr. Dorcas Gordon, principal of Knox College, lead us in study on Saturday. In the morning, we considered the importance of how we name Jesus – what it says about us and our church. We looked at the roots of “Logos” (or the Word) at the beginning of John, and how its roots are in the woman Wisdom. In the afternoon, we were encouraged to see familiar stories with new eyes as we looked at some of the women in John’s gospel. By asking questions and reading carefully, we learned of the leadership roles held by Jesus’ mother, the Samaritan woman and Mary Magdalene.

During our free time on Saturday, some brought out their skis, others their knitting needles. After dinner, Jessica led us through a candle-lit labyrinth on the frozen lake. The movie Vision, about the life of Hildegard of Bingen, finished off our day.

This morning, we rose and worshipped together, considering again the story of Mary Magdalene meeting Jesus after the resurrection. We returned to Ottawa after lunch, well-fed both physically and spiritually after a wonderful weekend.

Scripture Readings
Jonah 3:1-4:11
Luke 18:9-14
The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax-Collector
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax-collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax-collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.” But the tax-collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.’

Having said that, there were places where my own views diverge somewhat from those articulated in today’s sermon. I don’t think, for example, that what LaGuardia did as mayor when he paid a destitute woman’s fine in a criminal courtroom was gracious: I don’t think the theft of a loaf of bread by a starving person is sin. Unjust laws exist: changing them or flouting them is sometimes necessary in the interests of justice. Further, I don’t think that what LaGuardia did was all that helpful or particularly analogous to the grace of God: it was the capricious act of a leisured moment: what the poor needed in the depression era was not the noblesse oblige of the ruling elite on their days off but real systemic, material change.

On the whole, I really welcomed the consideration offered of the relationship between karma and grace. It’s a very interesting relationship to consider. But I don’t think they are simply forces in opposition. Grace, through Christ, can interrupt karma, but I think that we still reap what we sow. If I eat too many cookies, I get fat; if I smoke, I am likely to get cancer; if we don’t recycle or reduce carbon emissions then creation will not be entirely forgiving.

On the whole, today’s sermon certainly offered great sustenance for thought.

In the several published histories of St. Andrew’s Church there has never been a list of the many musicians who have served as Organists and Choir Directors, and only a small handful have been referred to by name. This record serves as a tribute to their time and energies devoted to the worship of St. Andrew’s Church, Ottawa.

To follow the way of Christ and to love the Lord our God with all our soul, mind and strength and our neighbours as ourselves. Worship is one of the most important ways in which we live and express our faith.

On reflection, what struck me the most about today’s reading was that the people of Nazareth were astonished by Jesus’ gifts, but rejected him nonetheless. They could not accept that Jesus, as he had become, could emerge from their place, from the familiar. As was pointed out in the sermon, God may be found as much in the most familiar as the unfamiliar, but we are often blind to God in those things that we encounter everyday. In turn, our blindness stems from our distraction by our everyday concerns; god is whatever you pay attention to. To be partners with Christ we must be open to God’s presence around and in us.

What time is the worship service on Sundays?

Services generally take place at 9:30 and 11am on Sundays. During July and August, there is one combined service at 10am.
This Sunday:

What do you believe?

Christianity is more than a religious or denominational affiliation. To be a Christian is to be a follower of Christ. We believe that there is one true God, revealed as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and that this God is at work for good in human history. More information is available on our full site on our beliefs page.

What can I expect on Sunday mornings?

Each Sunday we have two worship services, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. (Sundays in July and August, there is one combined service at 10:00 a.m.) Our gathering at 9:30 a.m. is an informal worship service followed by coffee and conversation. At 11:00 a.m. the congregation gathers for a larger more formal worship service with choir also followed by coffee and conversation. The Bible is processed into the church during the first hymn. Children attend the first part of the worship service before departing for Church School Assembly and church school classes.

Ushers stand at both doors to greet you and hand out bulletins. You are invited to enter the sanctuary and select a place to sit that suits you. At the 11:00 a.m. service, a special team of welcomers are present to answer any questions you might have.

During Sunday worship, we follow a written order of service and use the blue Book of Praise (large print version available) and burgundy Psalter found in the pews. Parts of the service, such as the Gloria Patri and the Lord’s Prayer are not written in the order of service, but can be found in the Words of Worship insert inside the Book of Praise.

What does the church look like?

The church building was originally erected at the corner of Kent and Wellington in 1828 and the Neo Gothic architectural plan includes features such as lancet windows and modified butresses. During the 1970′s and 80′s a large scale reconstruction project was completed to erect the current office building and to restore and renovate the interior of the church. More on the church building is available on the full site on our building page.

What should I wear?

During Sunday Worship, you will see people in suits and skirts, or in shirt and trousers. Wear what is comfortable for you, especially during the summer when dress is less formal.

How do I get there? Where do I park?

St. Andrew’s is located at 82 Kent Street in Ottawa, the corner of Kent and Wellington, across from the Supreme Court. Parking is available along Wellington and as well, we have permission to park behind and to the west of the Supreme Court. If you are coming by public transit, we are 2 blocks north of the Kent Street stop on the transitway. Visit OC Transpo for more information.

What is available for my children?

Six different Church School classes are available for children age 2 through grade 10 during the 11:00 a.m. service on Sunday mornings. There is also a trained and loving nursery caregiver for infants. Our nursery is equipped with a pager system so that parents can worship upstairs in confidence that their child is well. There are activities throughout the year for children from preschool to highschool.

How can I get involved?

Our activities and services are open to anyone interested in joining us, you do not need to be a member to participate. More information on our groups is available on our full site on our community page, or you are welcome to take part in any upcoming activities.

How can I become a member?

Perhaps you have only recently joined us at St. Andrew’s. Perhaps you have been worshipping God with us informally for some time. Whatever your circumstance, you are invited to consider growing in Christian commitment and community by joining the membership of St. Andrew’s congregation. There are opportunities to do so four times a year at the times of year when we celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Confirmation classes are also offered for young people to think about what it means to become a member of the church. Please speak with Rev. Johnston if you are interested in learning about becoming a member, or read more on our Membership page.

May we hold our wedding at the church?

We understand Christian marriage to be a gift and a calling of God, and is therefore a relationship that we approach reverently and respectfully. All weddings at St. Andrew’s are conducted within the context of a service of the worship of God, and in continuity with the Reformed and Presbyterian traditions within the Church of Christ. Read more on our Marriage page.

How may I (or my child) be baptised?

The sacrament of baptism marks but the beginning of life within the Church, as a child or an adult. Please speak with Rev. Johnston if you would like to be baptised. Additional information on baptism is available on our Baptism page.

Is there wheelchair access?

The church is wheelchair accessible using the elevator available through the entrance at 84 Kent Street.

Is there a loop system for the hearing impaired?

If you have difficulty hearing, you are invited to turn your hearing aid to the Loop System or turn your personal walkman radio to FM 91.9 and use your ear buds. Discreet headsets are now available for use in the sanctuary. They can be picked up in Grant Hall before the service begins.

Can I speak to a minister?

You are welcome to contact Rev. Dr. Andrew Johnston by email (aj@standrewsottawa.ca) or he can be reached at the church at 613-232-9042.

Upcoming Worship

• Sunday Worship – Sunday, Feb 26th

  “She came and bowed down at his feet – 11am ONLY
  Like the gentile woman of Tyre before Jesus, (Mark 7:24-30), we gather confident that the grace and goodness of God is for us and for all. One service only this morning, followed by lunch and our annual meeting to plan the year ahead as a congregation. All invited. All expected!

• Wednesday Communion – Wednesday, Feb 29th

  Each Wednesday afternoon, mid-day communion with the Minister.

• Sunday Worship – Sunday, Mar 4th

  Sunday Worship – 9:30 and 11:00 a.m.
  Celebrating the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. Two services of worship, both followed by coffee and conversation in Grant Hall. Nursery provided for infants at both services. During the 11am service, a special time of learning for children 2-15.

Sunday Worship

From September through June, two worship services take place at 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. each Sunday. (Throughout July and August, we have one combined worship service at 10:00 a.m.) Our 9:30 service is intimate and informal with our ministers and readers standing among the congregation. Our 11:00 service is larger, more formal and includes the choir. During the 11:00 a.m. service, all ages worship together before children and teens up to grade 10 go to church school.

Mid-Week Communion

This service is at 12:10-12:30 p.m. each Wednesday in the sanctuary for Holy Communion followed by tea and a bag lunch.

Iona

Gathering the second Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary, the Iona service is a quiet time of worship, music and prayer in the Iona tradition. All are welcome.

Presbyterians get their name from the Greek word “presbyteros” meaning “elder.” This word occurs many times in the New Testament and also in the Greek translation of the Old Testament. It refers to mature members of the community who are respected for their experience and faithfulness. The word may also designate a particular office of leadership. A Presbyterian church is one governed by elders. Today, Presbyterian churches in Canada are governed by elders who are elected by members of the congregation. Although elders are ordained for life, congregations may choose term service for elders. Through this communal wisdom we believe God speaks.

At St. Andrew’s, as with all Presbyterian churches, the Kirk Session is comprised of elders elected by the congregation and ordained by God to service within the congregation. Our Minister, the Reverend Dr. Andrew Johnston, moderates the Kirk Session at its regular meetings and also attends regular meetings of the Presbytery Ottawa, the body that oversees all congregations in the Ottawa area. Our Ministers’ main responsibilities include preparing for and conducting the Sunday worship services, pastoral care, counseling, marriages and funerals and church wide programming. They also represent the Church on a variety of local and community based groups.

Presbyterians also claim the names “Reformed,” and “Protestant.” Our denomination came out of the Protestant Reformation, a major religious movement that occurred in the early and middle years of the sixteenth century. At that point in history, the Christian Church had divided into two main branches – the Eastern Church (Greek and Russian Orthodox) and the Western Church (Roman Catholic). In the sixteenth century, church leaders began to protest the corruption of the Christian Church and seek its reform. They were called “Protestants” because they were bearing witness (Latin pro plus testare: to bear witness) to what they regarded as New Testament Christianity.

The chief leaders in the reformation movement were Luther, Calvin, Knox, Zwingli and Cranmer. These leaders were intense, courageous, zealous, and assertive. They believed that people were put right in the sight of God by God’s grace alone. They said people received God’s grace by faith and not by anything that they had done. These Reformers believed that all people had access to God through prayer and the Bible. They believed that God’s forgiveness could be received directly without the intervention of a priest. The Reformers also claimed the “indwelling” of Christ in the believer and stressed the sovereignty of God. They will always be recognized for their hope and confidence in the power of a loving God and for recovering the concept of the “priesthood of all believers”, who are called to live out their vocation in the world. Marks of the Reformed tradition are the belief that God speaks primarily through the Living Word, Jesus Christ, the written word of the Old and New Testaments of the bible and through the preached word.

Today Canadian Presbyterians consider themselves to be both “Reformed” and “reforming.”

Does this look reflective of the Kingdom of God?

If we ask ourselves that, not only in these large world wide crises but in all the situations in which we find ourselves in our day to day lives, we have a solid framework from which to work out our answer and response. How is the Kingdom reflected in the scriptures? Our ways are not God’s ways.. Whose way does this moment in time reflect? and as a person of faith, knowing that the earth is the Lord’s and everything in it…that question alone can, for me, reorient my thinking and direction. It can help me to choose and explore a better path than the one presented. How do I know what is worth responding to, fighting for, investing in, caring for?… I can ask myself: Is it reflective of the Kingdom of God? Does it honour Him? Does it feed the hungry and clothe the naked, cure the lame and lead us in the paths of righteousness for HIS name sake? does it forgive our enemies? Does it reflect the life Jesus portrayed as being reflective of God’s Kingdom on earth. Not easy. But if as they say, our actions and reactions arise first from our thoughts, then what better thought to have in the fore than this question at every turn in our road… Does this reflect the Kingdom of God?and if not, how then, should I be responding?

Diana B

Services each Sunday at 9:30 and 11am, all are welcome.

Sunday morning Worship

Also, join us for:

• Winter Wednesday Evenings – Wednesday, Feb 22nd at 6:00 PM
  

  For six Wednesday evenings, February 22-March 29, join us for a simple supper at 6 p.m., followed by your choice of one of four studies. Read the course descriptions, and register online.

• Conference on Spirituality and Aging – Thursday, Feb 23rd at 8:30 AM
  

  Held at St. Paul’s University. For details, visit ustpaul.ca/

• Curling Bonspiel – Saturday, Feb 25th at 2:00 PM
  

  All experience welcome, we’re curling at the Royal Navy Curling Club near Dow’s Lake. Cost $20; clean running/curling shoes required.

• Annual Congregational Meeting – Sunday, Feb 26th at 1:00 PM
  

  As we review the year past and plan for the year ahead, gather downstairs after the 11am service for the Congregational Meeting.

• Open Table – Sunday, Feb 26th at 4:30 PM
  

  Held at All Saints Anglican Sandy Hill, free dinner for all university students, followed by prayer and discussion.

See all upcoming events.

Sunday Lunch Blog

• Sunday, February 19

  “See, I am doing a new thing,” declares the LORD through the prophet Isaiah. Throughout scripture we see evidence of God embracing and encouraging newness and change as well as noting the value of heritage. Being the creatures of habit that we humans…

• Sunday, February 12

  Today’s service featured Barbara Summers’ talk on the work and mission of Presbyterian World Service and Development.

  What her talk gave me was a human face to the line item on the donation envelopes. Her stories of the gratitude of people in Ke…

• Sunday, February 5

  I have just returned from the St. Andrew’s Winter Women’s Retreat… and what a weekend it was!

  Twenty-one from the St. Andrew’s community and beyond gathered at Gracefield Camp to grow in faith and fellowship together. We were very fortunate to ha…

Read more posts

Recent podcasts

• Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid February 5, 2012
• Karma and Grace January 29, 2012
• ‘And he could do no deed of power there…’ January 22, 2012

Podcast archive

This morning Huda spoke about the eureka moment of Epiphany. She first discussed the Magi, and how they reacted to hearing the news that God had come to earth as a human baby boy. They brought prophetic gifts: gold for his kingship, frankincense for his priesthood and myrrh for his inevitable death. They worshiped him. They got it.

Herod, on the other hand, was threatened by his epiphany. He wanted to turn a blind eye, to make the situation go away. He was afraid.

Personally, I’d like to see myself as one of the Wise Men. A person of intellect who reads and thinks things through. Someone who is willing to work and take risks in order to find the truth. But realistically, I’m pretty sure it’s often Herod that I relate to. Scared of change, using whatever means I have to hold on to what I think I control.

But those Magi make good role models, and we know how Herod ended up. I’m hoping that as 2012 progresses, I remember the Sages: their wisdom to change their plans, to listen for God’s leading, and to worship what they know is true.

What about you? What does Epiphany mean to you today?

Maureen.

As we face the year ahead,
help us to accept the difficult parts of our lives;
help us to make the changes we must make;
bring us to new places of openness and love
toward you and the people around us;
help us to overcome the fears which keep us from fullness of life.

As the frigid days of January and February draw near,
help us to keep warm places alive within us,
where in secret the bulbs of springtime tulips are nurtured.
As we face the year ahead, we thank you for one another
and for your grace in Jesus Christ.

Help us individually and as a congregation
to be signs of your compassion,
hope, joy, and unity in this world,
your love in Jesus our Christ.

Amen.

Ruth C. Duck (from The Westminster Collection of Christian Prayers)

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.

For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onwards and for evermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Isaiah 9.2-21

The time of waiting is over, the glory of God is revealed!  Feel free to leave a comment with your Christmas greetings or reflections.  Merry Christmas!

The main message that I got out of Andrew’s sermon was that we should aim to be like the shepherds. That is, we should focus on being “moved by good news” instead of tending to assume that something appearing to be too good to be true will likely have a negative ending.

I would like to wish everyone at St. Andrews a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Stacey Huber

For those who have only known the Christian faith through a Protestant lens, devotion to Mary can be perplexing (as Huda said), and the notion of praying to Mary can be troubling. How can a Christian pray to Mary, when we believe in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit? I once heard this explanation: “We (Catholics) do not pray to Mary; rather we pray through her – we ask her to pray for us in the same way that you would ask a fellow Christian to pray for you. Does it matter that Mary is not physically present with us, while your pew mate you can see and touch?” While I may never embrace the concept of praying to Mary, this brought a whole new perspective to it. I like that way of seeing it, although the distinction between “to” and “through” is likely lost on most.

Mary is often portrayed as meek, mild, gentle and humble, but she was also a woman of great faith, as Huda explained in her sermon. I think Mary’s faith is what made her brave. “Courageous” is an apt description of Mary, considering the humiliation she faced in announcing to her family and community that she was pregnant out of wedlock. The 2006 movie “The Nativity Story” illustrated Mary’s dilemma and mental anguish well – how was she to explain to her family – and most importantly to Joseph – that she was pregnant, and oh, by the way, God made her pregnant? And the angel said her child was going to be Israel’s long-awaited Messiah. While society no longer frowns upon having children outside of marriage, it doesn’t take much to imagine how difficult it would be to tell your fiancé that you’re pregnant (not by him) – but really, it’s ok, you didn’t cheat. God made you pregnant. Even for those who believe in miracles that would be a hard story to swallow! I guess that’s why God also sent an angel to Joseph.

In some countries of strong Catholic traditions, Mary is a prominent figure, honoured in many forms. In Mexico, the Virgin of Guadalupe is a celebrated figure and is one of the most famous Catholic shrines world-wide. Tradition has it that Mary appeared to an indigenous peasant in the early days of the Spanish colonisation (1531) and asked that a church be built in her honour on that spot. The archbishop believing the peasant, the church was built and Mary later appeared again, leaving her imprint on a cloth that became a religious relic and icon to this day. These types of stories make most Protestants uncomfortable, and my experience has been that non-Catholic Christians in such contexts strenuously separate themselves from any word or sign that could be construed as worshipping, praying to, or otherwise honouring Mary. Nevertheless, if we are to follow the Scriptures, we do “believe in” Mary – just not in the same way that Catholic believers do (e.g. the notion of Mary being sinless or that she remained a virgin).

Those coming from a Catholic background no doubt have a more balanced view of Mary, and can celebrate her as one of the great women in the Bible, more than those who have only known the Christian faith through Protestant eyes. Is it time for you to rediscover Mary? As we contemplate how Scripture portrays Mary and what we can learn from her, let’s see her as more than the mild and humble woman of Christmas pageants, and discover her as also a great woman of faith and courage.

Jennifer

Andrew went on to describe how we are like Joseph. We have received messages from God, through Jesus, that seem crazy and sometimes even impossible. But, like Joseph, we are called to have faith and to pursue good always…. To think of faith as a verb so that God can work for the good of others through us.

I found myself thinking about how pursuing good can be difficult, exhausting and overwhelming. In the Prayers of Thanksgiving and Intercession, right after the sermon, we prayed for the community of Attawapiskat, for world leaders discussing climate change in Durban this week, and for the election taking place in Egypt. It can be overwhelming, in these types of situations, to think of listening to God’s call to work for the good of others, to pursue good always. How do we answer God’s call to care for our sisters and brothers in Attawapiskat, for example?

I liked the connection that Andrew made with the Communion part of the service – we take the bread and wine to give us strength to continue pursuing good in the midst of darkness, in the midst of being overwhelmed or being shown an easier way. I tend to see worship in general this way. Throughout the week, we try to live as God instructed us through Jesus… even though it is can be difficult. On Sunday, we come together for encouragement so that we are renewed in our commitment to pursue good.

Huda’s Prayer of Approach this morning started the service with “Come, Lord Jesus,” praying that God would be present in our midst as we worshipped. The last verse of the final hymn, “Lo! Christ comes with clouds descending,” repeated over and over – “Come, Lord Jesus.” We want God to be with us not only in our worship, but as we go out from worship – out to live in the world, to pursue good, to play our parts in God’s unfolding purposes of humanity.

Laura

For me, the seasons never fail to amaze. I am, to some extent, locked in perpetual wonder. This year, advent is particularly meaningful because my church school class is exploring what knowledge and meaning can be gleaned from various elements within the Christmas story. Over the years, we’ve taken many different approaches to that story, but one that focuses on each element – lingering, asking, seeking – can be quite illuminating.

Over the course of the story, we get to ponder the various and, in some cases, multiple roles of Mary, the manger, the Magi, the star, Herod, the killing of innocents, a donkey, Egypt, the Christ-child, and so on. Of course, in a classroom, there are no fully canned approaches, no pre-determined responses. Where one student sees meaning, another seeks it, and through the sharing of perspectives, faith is deepened.

Advent is a season of hope, a season that invites us to look forward to the coming of His kingdom. As a Church, that hope is strengthened with every young mind that ponders meaning within the Christmas story, that seeks Christ within and beyond the season. Bring all those minds together, as additions to the Church, and surely as we loop back and back to this season of Emmanuel, our hope grows, advent grows, and in our time and space, His kingdom comes.

1. the equal value of women to men and of people notwithstanding their social position

2. the separation between God’s law and human laws and social hierarchies: Jesus did not prioritize one person over the other dependant upon their social position; he did not see the woman as unclean or unworthy

3. the fundamentally iconoclastic and un-patriarchal relation of Jesus to the woman: she is defined as “daughter”, and not, as patriarchal social structures would posit, by virtue of her relationships to powerful or powerless men. It is also un-patriarchal that she did not wait for rescue but worked her own redemption in faith and through Jesus.

4.the redemptive power of faith

5. The story speaks to the contingency of moments and the importance of self-help: Jesus did not scorn the woman for taking action. She needed to take action; faith did not involve passivity. I was also very grateful that Andrew shared the story of his maternal grandfather, which is a very sad story, but has strong and important resonances for our own times. We are always navigating, when social systems intersect with out lives, between complicity and resistance: it is not a zero sum question. Just as this man was both a member of Germany’s state church under a Nazi regime and a member of a resistance to it, so do we at all times have rolese where we resist and roles where we participate in oppressive structure simultaneously.

The work depicts a life-sized seated human figure with an outstretched hand. A wound upon the hand evokes the wounds of Jesus and his last parable before death and resurrection – Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:37-40)

It was in 2005 that Mr. Schmalz was in Ottawa working on a commission, and between his hotel and Parliament Hill, passed by St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. He was struck by the amazing surroundings and witness of this corner – between the National Library and Archives, the Supreme Court, the Bank of Canada and Parliament Hill … the Church of Christ! The following day he made a generous offer of this statue that the Kirk Session subsequently gratefully accepted.

In the artist’s own words, “I imagine people going to Parliament to see the great leaders of Canada, and as they walk there, they are reminded of this humble leader, Jesus Christ. This sculpture is an image that is very much needed today, a monument of humility and the Christian ideal of care.”

As Huda said this morning, faith is compatible even with doubt. What brought me back from years away from the church was actually Ludwig Wittgenstein, who wrote in his Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus:

…Even if all possible scientific questions be answered, the problems of life have still not been touched at all.

Which is to say that, as far as I am concerned, were an archaeologist digging in the Middle East to find a mechanism proving beyond a doubt some sort of scientific explanation or even magical hoax behind Jesus walking on water, that would not explain away the mysteries of who he was, and what he said, what people heard when he was speaking, the power of God, and what that continues to mean for us in this far away land today.

The notions of mystery and journey resonated very strongly for me as our new members joined. They are each on their own journeys, as are we all, as am I. It is for the journey and the companionship on it that I am grateful.

Rebecca

As it is Remembrance Sunday, we spent some time reflecting on the sacrifice made by
so many so often to assure our freedom. This freedom from war and totalitarianism
that we enjoy in Canada was continued and expanded upon in Andrew’s sermon.

The text comes from our continuing study of the Gospel of Saint Mark – today was
chapter 5, 1-20 – the story of the Madman and Jesus’ healing. In our translation
the demon announces: “My name is Legion,” and in mine (The Message), it’s
rendered “My name is Mob. I’m a rioting mob.” This illustrates one of the reasons
that I really like The Message translation – it sounds much more immediate to my
ears.

As Andrew pointed out, this story is really all about Jesus and His power to heal, but
the other characters in the story are instructive as the reader (or at least this reader)
relates to them more easily.

I am not admitting here to multiple personality disorder, but there have been times
when I have felt like there is a rioting mob within – conflicting values, pressures,
priorities, etc. The resolution to these feelings is, of course, prayer and faith in
the healing power of Christ in our lives. Perhaps not as directly as the Madman
experienced, but the power of the everlasting means exactly this.

The other characters in the story are the farmers tending the pigs. When the demons
inhabit the pigs, freeing the Madman, they die, thus depriving the farmers of their
livelihood, or at least a part thereof. They react, to my mind, logically – they are angry
with Jesus and demand that He leave. They are afraid – of loss, of a terribly strange
occurrence, and perhaps most keenly, of having to adjust to the healed person “no
longer a walking madhouse of a man.”

The challenge that this story leaves with the reader is two-fold – how do we, after
having experienced the healing power of Christ, go forward; and how do others, in
the wake of changed circumstances, adjust. The answer in Mark is that the madman
preached and became “the talk of the town.” Mark does not provide an answer to
how the community reacted, but perhaps the answer is in Andrew’s exhortation to
generosity in all ways that we can.

It was a great day for me to return to service and I hope to work through the response
demanded by this story in the coming week.

Geoffrey

A couple thoughts: This morning was a reminder to me that it’s not our job to make things grow, in fact all we can do is sow the seeds and let the Lord do the work. It’s not up to us to create results, but results will certainly happen. A necessary reminder.

But a new thought for me came this morning while considering the humble mustard bush in contrast to the noble cedar. The birds of the air were nesting in the mustard bush, just like they were in the cedar. We plan for and expect great things, but sometimes it’s the simple things that get the job done. I think that often I get caught up in the results, looking for a giant cedar, when really I need to focus on doing my job – living my life and sowing the seeds.

Andrew told us the “birds of the air” is used as an expression in the bible to mean all the nations of the earth. In Mark and also in Ezekiel, the birds of the air find sanctuary in the shade of the tree. What a lovely and inclusive invitation. I’m so thankful we have the opportunity to build our nests in the shade of His tree, and humbled by the seeds he’s given us to sow.

-Maureen.

It is a season of challenge. Fall is at its height, which means of course that winter is approaching. Under blustery skies, we know as all Canadians do that winter is coming. As happens so often, recent events have presented challenges to many of us. Andrew’s announcements this morning included references to several deaths and other illnesses. Health crises, legal and political inequities surround us and the world simply does not unfold as we think it should. Problems defy easy answers.

With its dramatic shadows, fall is a season of fascinating light. This morning, I loved how the colours of the fall, at their height in the trees, were echoed in the colours on the “flames” waved by our children as they all danced back into church. I loved the sunlight flooding through windows and doorframes, the sunshine a timeless reminder of the warm presence of light in our lives.

Somewhat paradoxically, fall is also a season of growth. Today’s bible readings referred to growth, about planting seeds in all the soil, about cultivating and nurturing seeds of knowledge. In the car on the way home, our backseat was occupied by an intense debate about whether the burning bush was actually burning or whether this was, as my seven year old said, ” a trick of the light from God’s voice being in the bush.” Four little voices chimed in their views on the subject and those elder of us in the front seat were amused by this, our children’s first theological debate. It is exciting and also a relief to see our children growing, in body and in faith, and also a wonderful thing to see the numbers of children in the congregation of St. Andrews growing too.

The growing dusk of a fall Sunday seems to me a very appropriate time for commitment. Because, when there are no challenges, commitment isn’t a challenging choice. But commitment to light is seems to be the only path to growth. And commitment is valuable precisely because it is a challenging choice to move forward on a path guided by meanings where, as Andrew noted, as Steve Jobs noticed, though he was so creatively blessed before his untimely end, things so often don’t seem to go right.

Rebecca

But listening to Andrew speak on Mark 3, it turns out that we don’t have to be pushed or guilted into change. The truth is that we have the freedom to change. We don’t have to be trapped by the old ways of doing things, the old institutions and the old traditions. We are free to follow the better way. Jesus has bound the “Strong Man” and he no longer controls us.

Right away, my mind was brought to the Occupy Wall Street movement. Now there are some people trying to change the old, unjust, unequal ways of doing things. These are exciting times when people are recognising that being the richest is not the best and only goal. And there’s even more we can do – we’ve been freed, remember? What about some personal things that we’ve been called to change in our own lives? What about the gifts we’ve been given that we can share with those around us? We don’t have to be afraid, we can choose to walk in the new way.

From the last hymn, Lord, you give the great commission:

Lord, you show us love’s true measure:
“Father, what they do, forgive.”
Yet we hoard as private treasure
all that you so freely give.
May your care and mercy lead us to a just society;
with the Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry.

Maureen.

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The hymn we sang immediately before the sermon made me pause, particularly the final verses:

Give thanks, my soul, for riches
of wood land, mine and hill
but know that gold and timber
are the Creator’s still.
God lends to us, as stewards,
abundance we might share,
and thus provide earth’s children
the blessing of God’s care.

Give thanks, my soul, for labours,
that strength and days employ;
but know the Maker’s purpose
brings toil as well as joy.
Show forth, O God, your purpose;
direct our will and hand,
to share your love and bounty,
with all in every land.

I, like so many other people, have been following the current protest on Wall St. which has spurred protests in other cities as well. Talk has begun that Ottawa may soon see a similar protest in our downtown. While the sentiments and goals of those occupying Wall St. and elsewhere may be varied or even disorganized, the voice of dissatisfaction and discontent is clear. Many people are not happy with the way things are. As the we sang in the hymn, we are called as stewards to share the bounty of this world. Policy prescriptions aside, the crowds massing in cities across the continent suggests that we are failing to do so: something is very wrong.

It leads me to wonder what we, as Christians can do to better fulfill our role as stewards. Are we playing things too safe, fearing that we will offend? Jesus was very clear with His disciples that the world would not always be kind or accepting to them. As Andrew noted this morning, Jesus was very honest and forthright about the cost that came with choosing The Way. In John 15 He said “I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you.” Drawing the ire of the rest of the world has little appeal, but I find myself considering more and more if that is precisely what Jesus needs us to do in these days.

And then today we find ourselves at a time we have appointed for the specific purpose of celebrating and giving thanks for the bounty of another harvest. Andrew made the point this morning that our emotions can follow our actions: it need not always be the other way around. We live love and thus we feel love. We live thanksgiving and so we feel thanksgiving. In a time in which there is so much focus on what people lack, in a time of recession and war and discord, such a prescription seems more apt than ever. We need to live and embody thanksgiving. We need to reach out in the spirit of gratitude and generosity to remind not only those we encounter, but ourselves as well, that God is indeed gracious and we are truly, very blessed.

Darlene

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Geoffrey

Ottawa’s police, to whom I waved today, and to whom I feel a great deal of gratitude, are in a lot of trouble right now for a series of ostensibly unrelated assaults and misconduct allegations. These allegations speak to systemic problems. As a one time defence lawyer, I am both grateful to and wary of police. I am deeply ambivalent about the militaristic pomp of the police memorial. Thinking about my daughter’s birthday made me wonder what my parents gave me on my seventh birthday: I don’t remember. I have ambivalence about that too, thinking that everything I have done for my children, my parents worked hard to do for me. Hundreds of years of church history at St. Andrews are a legacy for which I feel deep gratitude, and with which I feel somewhat disconnected, being a relative newcomer to this city with no roots in Ottawa, with all of the family names celebrated on the church windows and walls that belong to another time also being unfamiliar to me.

It is a lot of things pulled together, like the wind rushing into the sanctuary when the doors opened after the service, like the rainbow patterns on the walls, a swirling of many things, and greatest among them for me today gratitude. I am grateful that others built this church: grateful that my family has been welcomed into St. Andrews’ church family and hopeful we can for many years become part of its history. I am grateful for the contributions of the police to my safety and that of others. I am grateful for my own family. In the paradoxical way that it is possible, I am grateful for lost and forgotten gifts. They may be gone but a legacy is left by the intentions of justice, love and peace in their giving.

Rebecca.

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What is baptism

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It is expected that a couple desiring a Christian wedding are looking to live together in a Christian marriage. For this reason, it is also expected that they will be committed to the Christian life, a part of which involves being professing and active members of the Church of Christ, presumably of St. Andrew’s. Couples will be asked to meet with the minister to plan the wedding service and speak about their faith, and also to attend a weekend course of marriage counselling.

If you would like to explore a wedding at St. Andrew’s Church Ottawa, further considerations are available for download (PDF). Please speak with our minister, the Rev. Andrew Johnston (aj@standrewsottawa.ca) and request an application through from Elizabeth at the church office (office@standrewsottawa.ca).

This seemed the perfect passage for the beginning of the Sunday School season. The gathering of children to hear the good news and learn how we, as Christians, are called to live, but also because our children do not take themselves to church: they are brought. Before they are old enough to understand why, we teach them the truth of Jesus Christ. They learn of our collective devotion to God and His devotion to us long before they can begin to understand what such devotion means.

As I was contemplating the message in today’s sermon this morning, I wondered: where does love fit in? If we obey God’s call first and then understand what that means and develop our faith afterward, when do we apprehend the love of God? If we follow because we perceive the power and authority of Jesus Christ, when do we perceive His love and His faithfulness? As I sit writing this post, however, I’m struck by the thought that perhaps God’s might is made manifest, in part, in His love. Is it in His love that God’s authority declares itself? Admittedly, my personal bias and lens is that of a parent and mother, but I see a similarity in my relationship with my children – one founded on love but also authority – and the manner in which Andrew described our collective response to Christ’s call.

People often talk of wishing to have “the faith of a child”. Obedience without understanding. Following without questioning. Believing without reasoning. We are called to emulate this, to cast down our nets, our preconceptions, our goals and priorities and follow Jesus, not for some wise or clever reason, but simply because He is LORD.

- Darlene