Perspectives by Rev. Feras Chamas

Transitions

People and institutions are always changing. We are always in a state of transition it seems.

We make the transition from fall to winter – although maybe grudgingly. 

Our families change as deaths, births, marriages, divorces and illness occur. 

Our local community changes due to the social and economic pressures of our time. 

Our country changes as our governments strive to protect and provide for all of us.

Transitions are processes. They are not goals. It is not a product that we consume. It is even a bodily process and not only emotional or intellectual or even a spiritual one. 

The very cells in our bodies are changing and making transitions and renewing themselves every day. Yet we remain recognizably ourselves. 

As much as any of us living here is part of a community, faith or otherwise, at the same time we always have to be open to making transitions, and not be afraid of that six letter word- CHANGE.

We all know what happens when we have stability without change. We become stagnant. We curl up in our favourite chair. The chair is called  “this is the way we have always done it”!

Communities of faith – churches – are transitioning too.

We need to be fully aware of the effects of our culture on the church as we are part of that culture outside of the church buildings. 

Perhaps the real scariness of the changes in our lives lies in admitting that God can work in each of us however, whenever, and through whomever or whatever means that God chooses.

Our faith in God is not a one size fits all kind of faith. This has to be worked out by each individual whether you are part of a faith community or not. This is a daily and life long process. Change is about seeing ourselves and the ordinary people in our families and the people who surround us every day and seeing them in a new light. 

It is good to remember that it is not about us, and it is always about God!

Rev. Norine Gullons

Sth. Dundas Evangelical

Lutheran Parish

Morrisburg/Williamsburg

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A Christmas Challenge

So, are you ready for Christmas? That may seem like a dumb question (especially for those of us who do things last minute), but it’s pretty obvious that Christmas preparation is in full swing. 

People are out shopping (no doubt a few of you keeners are all done yours). The decorations are up. Lots of you have been wisely using these lovely fall days to put up your outdoor lights. (Thankfully I leave most of mine up all year; it’s the red neck in me).

Soon we’ll be into the thick of the Christmas parties, concerts, and other family get togethers. Christmas may be a great time, but it’s also a busy (and at times, stressful) time. It’s also, may I add, expensive. 

I read a recent survey that says that we spend on average about $600 on food, gifts, and entertainment. And it’s more like $1,200 when travel is factored in. Ouch.

Even though we’re plenty busy with all of this over the holidays, let me throw out a challenge. Whether we’re religious or not, attend church or not, I would think that most of us know that Christmas has something to do with Christ. 

So here’s the challenge. How about a little bit of going back to the roots of Christmas? Of checking out where all the fuss started. Who is this Christ? Why do we celebrate his birth?

Sure, we’ve heard things about him. He may even be part of our vocabulary. But how much do we really know about who he was and what he did?

Hence the challenge. Do you have a Bible somewhere? Pick it up and over the next month read the book of John (you’ll find it listed in the index).

Let’s see, early on you’ll discover that he never came to condemn this world, but to save it. A chapter later he tells us that he came to quench a deep thirst that we have. Then a bit later he makes this incredible statement that he came so that we’d have life, but not just life, something he calls a “full life” (or in other accounts, “abundant life). In the next chapter he promises to take care of the ‘death’ problem. “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies,” he says.

And the stories go on. There’s one about him stripping down and washing his disciples’ stinky feet. There’s these amazing stories of him doing miracles like feeding 5,000 men (plus women and children) with five loaves of bread and two fish. 

And it all ends with him dying and being raised from the dead.

Let’s see. There’s about a month left until Christmas and there are 21 chapters in this book called John. That should make reading it doable. 

Are you up to the challenge? Go for it. If you need a Bible, I’d be glad to hand deliver one to you (just write pastorccrc@ripnet.com)

Sure, I admit, I’m biased. But I think when you read the story of Jesus Christ you will be intrigued. Fascinated. 

If you already know him, you’ll love him all the more. If you don’t yet know him, you may very well be drawn to him.

Pastor Clarence Witten

Community Christian 

Reformed Church

Dixon’s Corners

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Life Happens

I was weeding my garden the other day when I began to think about life.

Now don’t get me wrong,  I’m not about to go into a long litany of wrongs or problems that are happening in my life. 

As a matter of fact life is good, really good actually. We are enjoying our retirement. I told someone a little while ago that if I had known it was going to be this good, I would have done it when  I was thirty.  Of course it wasn’t at all possible back then.  However, let’s get on with my thoughts.  

As I knelt there that day, I began to reflect on my life, as well as on the life of other people I have known. Really, it can be compared to the weather we have been experiencing lately.  It is great when the sun is shining and it’s warm.  Good for golfing, boating, gardening, etc. 

However it is not always sunshine.  Some days it rains and in most of our minds we would probably say TOO MUCH.

I also began to think of life as a person walking through a luscious green valley.  Do you know that there would not be a valley if there were not  mountains on either side.  While it is good and pleasant in the valley, if we are going to broaden our horizons, we need to climb the mountains every now and then.

 I think it was Tammy Wynette who sang the song “I never promised You a Rose Garden.”         

 But there was someone else who gave us these words long before she was born.  Let me refer to the original Author of these words.

Back in the Old Testament, the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 20, verses 1 thru 4.  God is speaking to the Children of Israel as they are about to enter the Promised Land and possess what God had promised their Fathers. 

As we read this passage, we will find some promises to us.  The first one, most of us would like to pass on.  It says, “there will be battles against those who would not want them to possess the land.”  That is true for us in this life as well.  

In John`s Gospel, chapter 16, verse 33, Jesus told His followers (that includes we who believe on Him today), “that in this world they would experience all kinds of opposition.”

 Back in Deuteronomy, God gave the Children of Israel three more promises.  The promise of His Presence, to go with them  The Promise of His Power, to fight their enemies for them, and the Promise of His purpose, to save them. 

As we look at John 16:33, we find likewise, the promise of Our Lord, “Do not be troubled when you face all kinds of opposition,” Jesus says, “for I have overcome the world.”

No one likes trouble in their life but the truth is, “life happens” and that includes trouble, opposition, sickness, etc.  

So what do we do.  Well here are our choices; we can try to fix the problem ourselves, or we can rely on the Promises of God.

Bye the way, I expect that about the time you are reading this, I’ll be pulling weeds again because LIFE HAPPENS.        

Rev. Duncan Perry,

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