MINISTER’S MESSAGE
Rev. Steve Gillam
Greetings, everyone. And Happy Mother’s Day to all moms and to the women of our found-families and faith family who nurture, teach, and guide. God bless you.
This is a time when we celebrate, honour, and remember our mothers. So, of course, I’ve been thinking about my mom, Ruth, who passed away in September 2020. And that got me thinking about her namesake in the First Testament. The Book of Ruth is one of only two books in the Bible named for women. Ruth’s story has been called the “chick-flick” of the Bible. (Okay, I’m the one who called it that, with respect and admiration!) No battles, or explosions, or chase scenes; just a touching story about the relationship between a woman and her devoted daughter-in-law.
But don’t be fooled. The story of these two women is filled with strength, love, faith, loyalty, and a mighty powerful surprise ending.
The Book of Ruth has been placed in our scriptures between Joshua then Judges and then Samuel and Kings (1 & 2). In the overall story, it serves as a link in the historical change in leadership style from judges to a monarchy. However, Biblical scholars have shown that it came to us much later, and should be placed in scripture after the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. In the year 538 BCE, after more than 50 years in exile in Babylonia, Jews were permitted to return to their homes in ancient Palestine. They found that the holy city of Jerusalem, as well as the temple itself, had been destroyed. It was a joyful time, but a devastating and difficult one.
Historically, in times like that, leadership tends to swing to the right, with fundamentalist and conservative ideologies taking center stage. Enter Ezra and Nehemiah. God had punished the people, they said, for their disobedience (the exile), and now God had blessed them with a return home. But things had to change. It was a time of puritan-fundamentalist-return-to-the-basics. Some good came out of this time of returning to their faith, but so did some not so good…
During the decades of exile, some of the men had married local women, non-Jews, and started families. However, in this age of “purifying” themselves, there was no place for so-called mixed marriages. Foreign women and their mudblood children (a shout-out to Harry Potter fans) were thrown out into the streets with no means of taking care of themselves. Ethnic cleansing. Not a shining moment for God’s faithful.
It is into this moment of history that the Book of Ruth appears as protest literature from an anonymous source. Have you got a moment for a short recap of the story? Here goes.
A man named Elimelech and his wife Naomi, Jews living in the country of Moab (east of the Dead Sea), had two sons. They grew up and married Moabite women. Elimelech and the two sons die. Naomi tells her daughters-in-law to go back to their families. Women couldn’t live alone and had to connect themselves to a male relative’s household. Orpah eventually leaves, but Ruth vows to stay. They go and live with Boaz. Naomi and the young widow Ruth, a foreigner.
The story unfolds with tales of Ruth’s hard work and faithful devotion to Naomi. With each beautiful part of this story, I can imagine the first audience hearing about Ruth responding, at first, by being cautiously impressed, and then being fully enamored with her. “What a good girl! For a foreigner.”
Ruth ends up marrying Boaz and they have a family, bringing honour to Naomi. The story ends with a huge punchline that most people don’t recognize. Ruth and Boaz have a son named Obed, who would have a son named Jesse, who in turn would have a son named David.
Ah… Isn’t that a nice ending to a sweet story.
“Wait!!!! David? You mean King David? The greatest King in Israel’s history? That David? His great great grandmother was a Moabite?! A foreigner?!!!” And eventually the proverbial penny would drop and the writer’s first audience would realize that if Ruth had been alive in their time, she and her impure children would have been tossed out into the street, and David never would have been born.
Bazinga. (A shout out to The Big Bang Theory fans.)
This sweet story carried a powerful message in its day. And it still does. So, this Mother’s Day we thank God for the strong, passionate, and courageous women who have shaped our stories.
People like you.
Peace.
Rev. Steve
Sunday, May 12, 2024
11:00 AM
Worship Song: VU#381 “Spirit of Life”
Hymn: VU#161 “Welcome, Happy Morning”
Connections: “Hello! My name is…”
Hymn: VU#226 “For the Beauty of the Earth” (verses 1, 2, 3)
Scripture: John 17:6-19
Reflection: Full Joy
Hymn: MV#154 “Deep in Our Hearts”
Prayers and The Lord’s Prayer (sung VU#959)
Offering and Sung Dedication: VU#191 “What Can I Do?”
Hymn: VU#477 “I Come with Joy” (verses 1, 4, 5)
You may join us 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
Previous services may be viewed on YouTube at:
April 28th: https://youtu.be/5x3wkSQVs48
May 5th : https://youtu.be/RC3Gew3nUuI
|
|
THE KITCHEN CREW
As we come down from the high following our recent murder mystery dinner show, we’re left with great memories of working together as a faith family. Thanks for all the work, the fun, the creativity, the laughter. And if there was a prize for Best Laughter, it would have to go to our brilliant Kitchen Crew!
Photo: Lynne Lesiak, Pam Fraser, May Walker, Joan Schrag, Fiona Wardrop and Jane Giffen
COMING UP
Sunday, May 26th, 11:00 AM “A Musical Celebration of the Holy Spirit” presented during the service, by our choir, joined by some additional singers.
Sunday, June 9th, 11:00 AM Communion. Sundae Social following the service.
The next rummage sale in our Balcony Boutique is Saturday, May 11th, 9 AM to noon. There is a large collection of gently used clothing for men, women and children. After shopping join us for fresh coffee and tea, baked goods and conversation downstairs.
Zoom coffee continues every Wednesday morning at 10:00 AM. This small but loyal group, really enjoy their weekly chats. Newcomers are always welcome! Join in at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7197797321?pwd=RmF4Q0c1UVJlN1BIaUhEM1gvTk1MZz09 Meeting ID: 719 779 7321, Passcode: 442730
A JOYOUS AND HISTORIC DAY
On April 27, and after four years of study at Sandy Saulteaux Spiritual Centre, Ronwahaweta Robert Thomas Patton was ordained in his home community, to be the first Mohawk minister from Kahnawake. Before him, Chief Sose Joseph Onasakenrat (Swan), land defender from Kanehsatake (Oka, Harvey Gabriel’s ancestor) and first translator of the Gospels into Mohawk, was ordained in 1880 by the Methodist Church of Canada, headquartered in Montreal, at St. James (now UC). There was also a minister from Akwesasne in the 1930s.
The Methodists supported the Mohawk communities and ministers for the Mohawk Chapel until Union in 1925. Robert fulfilled a promise to his mother, Josephine, and spent over 44 years of serving the development of the autonomous Indigenous Church and the establishment of the Indigenous ministry training colleges that he finally graduated from. This was the fruit of that dedicated work from so many Elders’ vision. Kahnawake, where he now ministers, belongs both to the National Indigenous Circle and the Nakonhaka Regional Council, so that right relations can be lived out for all of us.
The ordination service opened with a Welcoming to the territory by the Grand Chief, Kahsennenhawe Sky-Deer. Guests included the former (Cree) Moderator Rev. Stan McKay, and people from the National Indigenous Circle, Former All Native Circle, and Nakonhaka Council as well as family and members of the community. The service was followed by a joyous feast in the Church Hall.
Congratulations, Rev Patton. We share your joy.
CHURCH IN THE WORLD
Seven months of suffering in Gaza raises faith questions for us.
After watching endless news reports of a situation getting worse every day, we turn to scripture. Jeremiah 31: 15. Matthew2:18. “A voice is heard in Ramah….Rachel weeping for her children…because they are no more.” Rachel weeps today for all her children in Palestine/ Israel.
Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, evangelical Lutheran pastor and Dean of Bethlehem Bible College visited South Africa this week, and preached in the same pulpit in Cape Town in the Afrikaans Groote Kerk, where apartheid had been supported years before. Change is possible. Their choir sang a lament, “ What have we done?” He preached on James 5, the healing of the paralyzed man through faith, and that such persistence for peace and healing as his friends had can bring about ceasefire and an end to such suffering.
His sermon is available on YouTube ……Munther Isaac, Groote Kerk, South Africa, 5 May.
Again, If you want to see the responses of the United Church……..go to United Church of Canada, Support Justice and Peace in Palestine and Israel…see links to: pray, donate, advocate (letters to government) ……and related – Moderators ceasefire pilgrimage to Ottawa, May 22.
Maureen Scott Kabwe, Co-Chair
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
On Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Lakeshore-Trinity-United-Church-101331995747334
