MINISTER’S MESSAGE
Rev. Steve Gillam
Happy New Year! Health, happiness, and love-loaded wishes in 2024 for you and yours.
Do you want to test your memory? Think. What were you worrying about one year ago today?
For most of us, that will be a difficult thing to remember. Worries are often temporary. Yet, we still put so much energy into worrying. And although life – and no doubt this new year – brings many challenges for us, for our loved ones, for our world, we put a lot of ourselves into worrying about things over which we have no control.
It is said that worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere.
It’s Tuesday, January 9th, as I write this. We’ve just had a Sunday gift of snow. And we spent a lot of time complaining about how late it was. Some white Christmas! Of course, if it was snowing at Christmas, we’d be worrying about everyone travelling. And today we’re expecting more snow. So that gives us something else to worry or complain about.
Just got a text from my brother with a photo of about as much snow as we have now in front of his Penticton home. My sister replied. She and her husband spent the holidays in the Eastern Townships, with barely any snow, and are currently driving back home to Mississauga. And it’s starting to snow. Now. The three of us shared a moment of group text whining.
Then I sat down to write this.
Although worrying about, complaining about, and generally over-discussing the weather is a national pastime, we know that many of us have even more life-altering things to worry about. Health, finances, work, family… It’s true, we do have much that gives us concern. However, I don’t know about you, but it’s just barely one week into the new year and I’m already tired. Worrying is exhausting. It’s like carrying an open umbrella everyday, just in case it might rain. Tiring. Cumbersome. And your hands aren’t free to do so many other interesting things.
So, let’s do something about it. I don’t make New Year’s resolutions. I always figure that it takes more than one day to fix all of my issues! For me, addressing our life choices is an ongoing thing. As we move into this new year, perhaps we can think about altering our responses to life. Why waste energy complaining or worrying about things over which we have no control. Sure, concern for the wellbeing of our world, of others as well as ourselves, is important, but stressing about it just saps our spiritual energy, sometimes leaving us helpless to respond.
I always say that we write our script and then act it out. If you wake up thinking that this will be a miserable day, there is a good chance that it will be. We don’t have control over what happens, but we do have control over who we will be, how we will choose to live. How about opting for gratitude and hope and possibility, instead of immediately defaulting to despair and worry and why-even-bother.
As the Moses story in Deuteronomy says, it’s a new journey. You won’t have control over what happens. That’s not your job. But you can, and must, decide who you will be. If you want to choose curse and death, that will be your reward. But if you want to choose blessing and life, something new might just surprise you. Either way, God will be with you through everything. But imagine if you and God were on the same page how much more beautiful the day would be.
Blessings.
Rev. Steve
Sunday, January 14, 2024
11:00 A.M.
Worship Song: MV#115 “Behold, Behold, I Make All Things New”
Hymn: VU#82 “A Light is Gleaming”
Connections: A dream…
Hymn: MV#157 “I Am a Child of God”
Scripture: Mark 1:1-11
Reflection: Chosen and marked by God’s love.
Hymn: VU#703 “In the Bulb There Is a Flower”
Prayers and The Lord’s Prayer (sung VU#959)
Offering and Sung Dedication: VU#55 “In the Bleak Midwinter” Verse 4
Hymn: MV#161 “I Have Called You by Your Name”
You may join the service via Zoom at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7197797321?pwd=RmF4Q0c1UVJlN1BIaUhEM1gvTk1MZz09
Meeting ID: 719 779 7321, Passcode: 442730
Or by phone at: 438-809-7799
COMING UP
The Balcony Boutique is back! Saturday, January 13, from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Come and check out the new fashions, then stop for some coffee and goodies and conversation in the hall downstairs. There is also a good selection of books on offer for your next cozy winter read.
Zoom coffee continues. For a friendly morning social gathering from the warmth of your own home, check it out! Wednesday mornings at 10:00. Just click: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7197797321?pwd=RmF4Q0c1UVJlN1BIaUhEM1gvTk1MZz09 Meeting ID: 719 779 7321, Passcode: 442730
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WE GIVE THANKS
The email address for e-transfer is: ltuc98givings@gmail.com. Please include your envelope number and indicate how you wish to have your offering divided. If not indicated, it will be designated as local offering.
Cheques should be made payable to Lakeshore Trinity United Church. They may be dropped in the mail slot at the church or sent by regular mail if you are not attending church in person.
Rev. Steve Gillam can be reached by phone or text at 514-235-9383 or by email at macduffsdad@hotmail.com.
Lakeshore Trinity United Church
98 Aurora Ave. Pointe-Claire, QC, H9R 3G7
514-697-6459
The church office is open Tuesday to Friday mornings from 9 AM to noon.
email: lakeshoretrinityunited@gmail.com
website: www.lakeshoretrinityunited.ca
On Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Lakeshore-Trinity-United-Church-101331995747334
