Communion

I made it to church this morning.  I woke at 630 and that was that. I couldn’t go back to sleep.  No reason not to get up and take Madigan for a walk, do my normal morning routine, and make it to church.  If I sleep in it doesn’t happen. It’s been months since I was last there. Months since last communion.  Zoom doesn’t quite make it. There was a time I was in church daily. Meditating with Benedictine monks.  Studying theology three nights a week.  Now I pray and meditate and know the time is ahead for meeting God , levelling up , through death.  There is no denial of death. I even like Leonard Cohen’s approach

As I lay dead on my love soaked bed

An angel came to kiss my head

I caught her gown and wrestled her down

To be my angel in death town

She shall not fly, she has promised to die

Oh what a lucky corpse am I.

The whole of life’s form, the clothing, the shell, the identity and all the memories and wars and loves are let go. They are on some iCloud but I and these ‘ego’ related ‘creatures’.  My thoughts are not my ‘self’. My ‘self’ is ‘soul’ and that which I am will remain and go to a different form. Heavenly or reincarnation.

I will meet God and ask him what was it all form.  Love , I’m sure.  Like the Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, some random number, will be the answer.  

I’m growing deaf. My dog was a rascal in church. There was another dog. Older well behaved. But that lead my dog to ‘rebel’ against me , his chosen master. He whines if he’s not with me. The sermon was on rebelllion.  The need for us as Christians to remember that Jesus wasn’t a goody goody two shoes. He was rejected and killed by church and state. He was a rebel and an outlaw.  Today Christians are persecuted again.

26 churches burnt to the ground. The lying Prime Minister would have declared Martial Law if only a few Mosques were burnt to the ground , or Synagogues.  26 churches burnt to the ground.  Who is the threat to authority?  The Communists, the religion of aetheism, have always persecuted the church. The Muslims have always persecuted Christians and Jews. The Middle East was once all Christian, Zoroastrian and Jewish. Mohammed changed that with his Jihad and war.  The lie is Islam is a religion of peace. Just like Marx said of his religion, Communism, there will be war until we win. So too there will be war until Islam wins.  

I want love and peace.  I’m a Christian.  The bullies always lie about the Crusaders. The Crusaders were defending Christian Civilization from Muslim Barbarism.  Mohammed men had invaded Spain and were only stopped at Venice.  Christians are slow to anger,. They turn their cheek seventy times seventy and then ‘that’s enough!”  “Enough is enough”. And the Christians fought the Nazis Socialism.   The Christians fought Chinese and Korean aetheists.  Today the traitors have welcomed the Trojan horse. The 5th columns are in place.  Corporations and Communism are Aetheist.  The aetheists have ‘God’s.’  They just don’t acknowledge them as such. They worship power and Monet. The communist God is the State. The corporate God is Money.  The Christian God is Yahweh, the same as the one God of the Jews.  The Brahma of Hinduism is akin to this God.  The Buddhists have a creator as the Taoists and Pagans. The tribal God of traditional society was one and many.  The aetheists communists and corporate aetheists are materialist. They worship the Golden Calf.  St. Paul called the Christian God the ‘unseen God’.  The God ‘within’.  

One must be humble and open minded to learn.  Aetheism is arrogant and closed minded.  

I’m a scientist. All is hypothesis to me.  Scientists are mostly spiritual. The essence of science is debate and possibility.  

I felt good seeing Emilie, the priest I know.  She was a friend of Vivian who has gone to the ‘happy hunting grounds’ of her people.  I am visitted by those who have passed before me. They visit in my dreams and I know them in synchronicity.

I ate the body of Christ.  This is my body I have shed for you.  He died. He rose. He will come again.  Jesus is my Lord.  Jesus son of God.  God omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent. I too am a son of God.  He is the first born.  My saviour.  In death he will join me in light and carry me over to the other side.  There will be family and friends and a wonderful reunion. A big meeting in the inner sky.

My dog was a rascal.  At the end he wanted to leave early. He bit his leash which he’s not supposed to do. He fussed.  He had the devil in him.  I laughed thinking of Molly another puppy who must have the naughtiness walked out of her.  Madigan had sat most of the hour and been quiet. I had to pick him up a few times.  He settled when I did. I forgot to bring a chew for him. A chew is like a dog’s colouring book.  But at the end , he’d had enough.  Even growled at me. I’d have swatted him for ‘talking back’ but he knew he had the upper hand, Witnesses and cameras. If we weren’t at the end of the service I’d have walked out but I wanted to hear the sending forth.  I was confused too because Emilie welcomed me from the front. I can’t hear without hearing aids and masks that muffle voices. Meanwhile Madigan is fussing and I think she asked his name but I gave her my name like she didnt know.  I used to bring Gilbert who she knew but Madigan is the year old and smaller and not the bishop blessed dog Gilbert was.  Madigan despite being at times angelic during the service, sleeping, was full of devilment when she was talking.  Covid and masks and hearing are a challenge. The stem on my glasses was lose so they were sliding off.  Another parishioner spoke to me in a whisper. I didn’t understand her but nodded like a fool.  We survived. Emilie asked us to join the others for coffee. I thanked her but said I had a meeting.  I wanted to get a lone with Madigan and wring his neck. But once he was out of the church he played with her dog and was adorable. He was so happy with our outing. In the car I couldn’t very well chastise him now. He was a really good guy, happy to be with me. Happy with all these people and happy to have made another dog friend.

God might well be a dog. 

Zoroastrian’s celebrated the dog,

In Hitchiker’s guide to the Galaxy the mice were the higher species doing experiments in the labs on the scientists.

God is good, All of the time. 

With Madigan I realize the challenge my parents had raising me.  I love that my nephews and god children are being raised by loving parents. I’m not very tolerant of Madigan in public. At home he walks all over me. But in public I notice I’m still embarrassed when he jumps up on people. He launches himself right into the crotches of women head first. They definitely have mixed reactions. But I try to stop him .  I don’t blame him. I’d like to meet and greet that way too. Now with Covid we are all so far apart.  I’ve so little contact in my virtual world.  Madigan is my hug buddy.  He’s learning not to jump up on me though he forgets and does. I’ve spent little time teaching him. My previous dogs had much more time and expectation and training,  I’m still teaching him ‘down’ and ‘no’ and ‘sit’.  He has food available all the time and doesn’t particular care for treats unless they’re from my plate.  I know the way is to control him with food but I don’t do that.  He’s ‘spoiled’. He’s more a room mate than a dog. 

Lord Jesus help me with my dog Madigan. Help me have patience and take time to train him more .  

Thank you for all my teachers and mentors. Thank you for the leaders I’ve been blessed to know. Thank you for this life. Thank you for St. Barnabus and Priest Emilie. Thank you for the mall where I must head out to again today.  

I’m getting red finger nails and toe nails for Christmas.  

Pentecost Sunday - Church on the Hill

St. Barnabus Anglican and Shiloh-5th Avenue Church joined together for their Pentecost Sunday service. Pentecost Sunday was called the day of the Birth of the Christian Church.  Pentecost Sunday was also called Whitsun Sunday as a day to wear white.  Red is also the colour of Pentecost. Today many ladies and men were dressed in splendid combinations of red and white.  I could understand strangers seeing the church members congregating wondering if they were going to as baseball game.

Rev Emilie of the Anglican Church wore a red hat and red shoes while Rev. Shannon of the United wore a long white skirt.  

In the Holy Bible Acts 2.2 describes the Holy Spirit descending like flames on the gathered Apostles. They spoke ‘in tongues’.  Each gained the capacity to see truth and phophecize.  Jews from all over gathered about them because they were speaking all the languages of the world.  Peter gave his first sermon.  Thousands joined the community and the spread of Christian love and wonder began.  Jesus Christ. Jesus Messiah. 

Emilie and Shannon and members of the congregation spoke together words of Hebrew but in their own languages. The church was full of many languages.  Many in the church had immigrtated to Canada.   It was a powerful message.  Shannon then  dancerd the words o faith that Emilie read .  The hymns were Pentecostal songs chosen from the Hymn books of both congregations.  One song referred to the great wind that had preceded the fire on the day of Pentecost.  

Our marvellous pianist played a Pentecost hymn so lively we were all singing and dancing in the aisle. Gilbert even barked at the festive nature.  Fritz the ministers dog was happy to greet Gilbert when we all walked about during the Peace greeting each other individually. Emilie had lead the children’s time addressing the important question of whether God had a big toe, a story a Rabbi had written for children’s time.  Now Shannon lead the prayers asking individuals who and what they wanted prayers to be this day.  There were names of the sick and prayers for those suffering chronic pain and gratitude for care givers , professional and otherwise. As a congregation we recited the Iona Creed together. 

Communion involved grape juice which Shannon had called ‘grapefruit’ to the amusement of all. She corrected herself.  Emilie had the regular bread but there was gluten free bread and wine and wafer. Shannon shared the secret hand signal the United Church used to indicate if one wanted a wafer.  I was beginnng to think I was at Starbucks with the expansion of choices.  The congregation, lively with the Holy Spirit, joined in lines to participate in the great supper.  Bread and wine , the blood and body of Jesus.  Some consider it literally others symbolically.  All are welcome at the table.  

It was very moving service.  I was moved and thankful to have joined with other Christians in  celebration.  It was even fun and at times deeply touching. All is better not only with Jesus but also with church.  Thank you all for the joy I felt today.  

I was there early so could get some pictures before the church filled.

Palm Sunday at St. Barnabus Church

We arrived at church this morning to find it empty. I immediately assumed we were at the wrong time or wrong Sunday. Thankfully a lovely parishioner told they had all assembled in the church hall to make a procession around the neighbourhood. We were encouraged to join but I figured I’d best stay in the church rather than get lost searching for the congregation. Let them find us.

It was a truly delightful combined service with St. Barnabus Anglican and Shiloh Fifth Avenue United.  The combined congregation eventually returned carrying cedar and hemlock branches in lieu of palms, singing Hosanna,  beating drums and tambourines.  Despite some with walkers, chairs and canes they were a robust group with hearts and limbs lightened by the Lord.  Rev. Emilie and Rev. Shannon proceeded to lead the service together like a regular “tag team” event. Satan was nowhere to be seen. Great chant leaders and marvellus songs drove the devil far away.  He’s likely preoccupied in Ottawa and Victoria.  So we were blessed with peace and joy.  What a great little community.  I love the PEACE as we move about acknowledging each other  individually. Gilbert thinks it’s the best part as he gets to sniff other dogs and people’s pant legs.  

I loved the New Creed of the United Church.   

Communion is always a moving time. It was just so hopeful, so spring like, so moving forward.  The sadness of Easter is coupled with the joy of resurrection. As Rev. Emilie said , the rocks are singing hossana till this day.  The Cosmic Christ.  God Within. God Will Come Again.  Another year has passed and we are celebrating this central event of the Christian calendars. So much happening at this church with these two congregations and their loving leaders.

(If anyone is “curious” about Christianity or fallen in attendance , especially the “C&E” (Christmas and Easter) Christians this is the time of the year to drop in and feel the warmth and welcome.)

Springtime in Burnaby

It doesn’t get much better than this. I’m out in the back yard with my iPad Pro and keyboard sitting at the picnic table. This is the first time I’ve been able to sit outside and type in Canada in at least 5 months.  I know in Doctor Zhivago, he’s writing in the cold with fingerless gloves.  He’s writing poetry. Poets’ are crazy enough to write in those conditions.   As a blogger  in Canada I just moved in side.

I’ve walked outside this winter,  in my bathing suit, something you didn’t see Dr. Zhivago do. I’ve a pool and hot tub a couple of hundreds yards away. That hot tub really helped me through the winter.

Now the Cherry Blossom trees are in bud.  Flowers are coming up from bulbs. Daffodils and the first of the tulips.  Soon it will be Tulip Season full on.  I love to go to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival just across the border. It’s vast and a true psychedelic explosion of colour.  I feel it wakes my brain up so I better see the good things in life. After the rainy Vancouver winter and the sun delinquent, , hemmed in by normally beautiful snow capped mountains, I feel a tad trapped. I  need a chiropractic twist to see God’s love everywhere. 

Even the Bloom , the smaller Abbotsford Tulip Festival nudges a soul in the right direction. Last year we walked around the Bloom with the god kids and Gilbert. They’re so funny and alive together.  It was a day of colour and wonder. We’d all been to church before that  to sing God’s praise.  

Coming home from work today I heard Matt Maher’s Glory, Let There Be Peace song on Praise 106.5.  We loved Matt Maher when he accompanied Third Day as their opening act when then came to Abbotsford.    

The birds are returning.  I saw a Blue and Black Stellar’s Jay. I heard The Great Herons are nesting again in Stanley Park. I hope the great heron and eagle that nest near here return. I always look forward to the king fishers.   I’ve seen the Stanley Park Great Heron’s nexts  I usually drop by  when I drive the motorcycle  around the park and head out to the university passing the beaches to Point Grey.  Doing that circuit of the park always reminds me of the early days on the Ruckus or when Laura and I would ride the Buell 600 around that route.    Spring in the Pacific Northwest is something to behold.  

The Canadian Author Association Can Write 2019 is at UBC this year. I’m signed up for it.  So much to learn. So much fun. The best of authors and poets and writers and the enthusiasm of all those along the path from beginner to accomplished. 

I just rode my KTM690 motorcyle over to the post office to send a box to my eastern family.  We’re all waiting expectantly with a growing new mother. I love the babies and puppies on my Facebook pages.  I like the cranes too above the city showing all the investment in new buildings, the construction.  Life. It would be easier to believe the hoaxes,fear mongers and doom sayers were the  elite to stop building new high rises on the coast.  I don’t know where they would do their money laundering though. 

Here I am in paradise with light clouds and blue sky above.  The hemlock hedge beside me is lush green.  Gilbert’s yellow tennis balls and sticks are scattered about on the lawn.  I’m longing again to be camping in the new Adventure camper.  Laura had her cousins over this week. We’re attending David Berner’s Story Telling evening tomorrow.  We even hope to get to St. Barnabus and let Emily see us before the summer comes. I’m a ‘winter Christian’.  Summer and fall I start camping, hunting and fishing whenever I can.  There’s motorcycling too.  Church attendance falls off.

It’s not like Anglican’s have a high bar. I can wear women’s underwear.  Men can sleep with men. Women can sleep with women. We’re not much concerned with what goes on under the sheets.  Battering women, punching folk, screaming obscenities in church, shooting up in the pews, making false promises in business, stealing from the poor, lying as a politician, hurting children, poverty, all of these are cause for concern. It would be very much frowned on if I peed in the pews.  Having sex with animals in church is also probably taboo since the whole matter of consent would be suspect despite what Australians might say. 

I don’t feel it’s a test when I go to church.  I like to dress up, especially the underwear. My mom was a big fan of clean underwear.   She seemed very concerned that we’d be in a traffic accident or die and we’d not have clean underwear. We wore clean clothes to church. 

 Working as an Emergency Doctor I saw most people piss or shit themselves in major accidents. Just for those concerned about such things, doctors and nurses don’t check if it’s old or new. We also don’t care if the men are wearing panties and the women are wearing Stanfields. The hospital, like our church, has more important concerns today.

I loved what Father Mathew, of the St. Jame’s Outreach Initiative said to me when I apologized for being late one morning.  “Don’t worry. Think of the church as your parent’s home. Your mother wouldn’t care if you were late for dinner. She’d rather you’d drop in if only for a few minutes than not come at all because you were worried about being late or anything else.”  Father Mathews’ a deeply loving and considerate man who touched my heart with his wisdom and compassion.

Last Sunday, I’d come late St. Barnabus so took in the Shilo 5th Avenue Service that follows the Anglican service. I had a moment of ‘guilt’ thinking that Rev. Emilie the Anglican priest would think I was being a traitor to the Anglican’s attending to her United Church friend Rev. Shannon’s service. Well, God has a sense a humor. Rev. Shannon was away and Rev. Emilie helping fill her place.  

“I’m sorry I missed your service. I slept in. ” I said as I was leaving. She shook her head, laughing, “It doesn’t matter. Don’t worry, it’s just good to see you in church.”

I thought of my mom then. She always liked when I was somewhere I wasn’t likely to get in trouble. If she heard I was in at bar, climbing a mountain, crossing the tundra on snowmobile,  sailing across an ocean or biking with gangsters she was concerned.  She said she  rested easy when she knew I was in church.

Spring feeling is like church feeling.  

It’s nice that Christmas lands in the middle of winter. The old Christians usurped the ancient ‘mid winter’ celebration.  It was an orgy and wild by all reports. A truly Baccanalian  event to break the monotony and horrors of ancient winters.  The carbon tax will bring that back in the north. Working as a family physician in Canada  I remember seeing the sick and elderly unable to afford the heat.  They’d save money by not turning on the furnace or not buying buying wood.  I’d do home visits finding them bundled  in layers and layers of clothing. You could see your breath in the living rooms.  Now our deeply callous elite communist government is dictating a return to those times.  More Canadians will opt for the new Health Care Plan, MAID. I expect a spike in the service in fall as the carbon taxes increase.  

I couldn’t believe the cost of gas at the pump today, thankful to be riding my  motorcycle.  I see so many people afraid to go out. “I don’t spend money if I stay in bed,” a woman told me sadly today.  She’s on a disability pension. It hardly pays the rent. She hasn’t money for the electric heat but she was able to get food at the church food bank earlier this week.  I thought she was young for a ‘tea and toast’ lady.  Here we are in the lap of luxury with unbelievable resources. All of while they  are being squandered by this government’s corruption and waste.  

I went to Costco this week. I stocked up on their  their incredible  Marie Collander’s frozen chicken pot pies. Costco has incredible savings but I’ll be eating potato salad for a couple more days. Thank God for refrigeration. I don’t know how the young people can eat out so much. Dining out is a wonderful way for socialization. I don’t think many people know how to cook. So many of the arrogant youth who are so politically active lack any real practical skills. 

I miss the dinner parties we hosted during the university and medical residency years.  Cooking and hosting was such a matter of pride and the dinner time discussions were so enriching.  The brilliant young women, like my ex wife, were all so beautiful too. 

 I loved later the great game feasts I’d  host on after shooting a moose.  Given I’ve shot 7 or 8 of them I’ve hosted a lot of great barbecues.  My old hunting buddy Bill Mewhort, the greatest hunter I’ve ever known, always had game. Now Victor appears when I’ve had a poor year. Like Bill, Victor always gets a moose or deer. .  They both live in the country. I’ve got a lot further to go to hunt and this medical practice to maintain.  Bill’s son, Bill Mewhort has followed in his dad’s footsteps. I wanted to introduce him to Derek, my hunting friend. In Langley  whose already planning a bear hunt this spring. 

Willie Gutowski, the great Christian psychiatrist, told me he’d hunted when he was young but gave it up, like my Dad did, when he got older.  Last year I got out a few times but I only watched the sun come up once despite driving all the way to the back woods.  I preferred sleeping in and then  riding around the back woods on my KTM690 Enduro, scaring the game away so I don’t have to clean and haul it.  I still had a great time and have enjoyed cooking up the grouse I shot. I still have a rabbit to barbecue.   Now Derek is talking about spring bear hunting.  I may have to bring my rifle with me the next time Laura, Gilbert and I head out with the Ford F-350 truck and the Adventure Camper.

Rev. Vivian has been hosting meetings for the Urban Aboriginal Society. I’ve been on the board and passed on bear, moose and venison for their gatherings. Now Michel, the genius west coast French Canadian computer programmer has completed her website. 

I was glad last month to go to Ethiopia, visitting the Rock Hewn churches of Lalibela, chatting over Ethiopian coffee with the Anglican jazz musician and talking to his friend the Adis Ababa Professor of Religion who speaks Hebrew, Ethiopian, English and a few more languages, a deeply spiritual, brilliant raconteur. I loved  seeing the hippos, the Fish Eagles and giant white pelicans in Lake Tana.. It was truly a blessing to meet a humble holy monk.  He was radiant as such men are, his smilechildlike, his statements and questions profound. 

I was blessed to be with my nephews, their loved ones, my sister in law, Adell and her family and share a fabulous Christmas turkey dinner that reminded me of all the Christmas turkey dinners my mother made.  Priorities shift as we age. Some things we appreciated young but now find so special because of tradition. 

I fear the winter. It wasn’t so bad when I was skiing or even sailing. Now my joints are sore in winter, so many aches of aging.  I don’t exercise enough. I swim several times a week, love the hot tub, and walk the dog.  But the refridgerator and the couch have so much more appeal. I love watching NCIS and reading westerns.  At the end of the day especially after seeing so many unknown patients it’s often all I can do to pop a Marie Collander’s Chicken pie in the microwave.  

I’ve enjoyed the evening meetings. Despite my complaining about being out late at theatre, ballet and concerts, as if I’m being unfaithful to my couch and tv, these cultural shakes ups have been a god send for my spirit. Jesus Freak last weekend at Pacific Theatre was extraordinarily moving. Sarah Brightman was rejuvenating. I’m looking forward to the SFU Pipe Band Concert and later Carrie Underwood. 

I feel this spring is conspiring with God to revive my soul.  I rejoice in being alive.  I am so blessed and thankful , at least this minute. Here outside, smelling the clean air, liking the light breeze.  I’ve got fresh buns from Cobb’s Bakery and some duck pate. Gilbert would like a little walk before the sun sets.  He’s been enjoying the neighbour’s fast growing “puppy” Thor.  He has his regular friends we meet as we walk the neighborhood, his little tail going a mile a minute especially when he sees friend Emory.  

God is good. All of the time. Thank you Jesus!!! I love the flowers of spring.

Brunette River

Vancouver DTES

Vancouver DTES

Vancouver

Blind Gilbert listening and sniffing at the screen door, Burnaby

On KTM 690 today in Burnaby

  

  

St. Barnabus Anglican Church, First Advent

I’m not used to 10 am Church.  I’m often late even for 11 am services. But not wanting Gilbert to occasion a loud doggie greeting from the Reverend’s pouch I endeavoured to get us there before the start of the service.  Gilbert was disappointed because his evangelical friend wasn’t present.  The church though was brimming with families with children and all sorts of “salt of the earth’ folk.

The pianist Sathia Aruliah really is a god send. She was practicing hymns with the congregation until Rev. Emilie appeared in her new coloured cloak.  Purple, blue and violet are the traditional cloak colours for advent in the liturgical calendar. It was the first day of Advent.  Reverend Emilie’s  enthusiasm was joyous.

We sang the first hymn, O Come , O Come Emmanuel. It felt so good to sing in unison as a congregation. . Anglicans love to sing.  So few realize that Elvis Presley era and later 60’s, 70’s and 80’s music was as original with such great musicians and singers thanks to so many beginning their rock and roll career in church choirs.  Country and Western music is still under pinned by the training musicians and singers gain in church.  Seeing the young people listening and following Sathia ,I thought of these unsung contributions. 

Later when Reverend Emilie asked if anyone knew what Emanuel stood for, I loved that a beautiful young girl raised her hand. Called upon, she said in the sweetest voice. “God is with us.” And Reverend Emile said , Yes Emmanuel means God is with us.  

And it felt like God was with us there in that church as we all partook in responsive readings, shared in prayer, and the first candle of Advent, symbolizing Hope, was lit.  The sermon from Thessalonians was moving too. Hearing of this early congregation of Christians in what is now Turkey was moving.  Learning the meaning of “Don’t be a Jeremiah”and history of the first temple of Jerusalem.  I love the reverend’s sermons, always something to learn, inspirational,  but down to earth.  Gilbert loves the peace because then he can walk about and sniff everyone’s legs.  I like the prayers of the people and enjoyed the quiet time reflecting on those and asking help for those I personally know are suffering this time of the year.  Eucharist and then more songs and the closing prayer

“Glory to God

Whose power, working in us, 

Can do infinitely more

Than we can ask or imagine

Glory to God from generation to generation

In the church in Christ Jesus, for ever and ever.” Amen

There’s coffee after in the hall but I’ve not yet had time to enjoy. I do look forward to eventually being able to. Much of the joy of church is coming to know other parishioners.  Some of my best friends today I’ve met in the after church coffee years past.  No better place for conversation and cookies.

Thank 

There’s a craft and bake sale, I think, Tuesday, December 11, sounds tasty.

St. Barnabus Church Morning

Laura and I were up early on a Sunday morning. Sleeping in is such a temptation. But Gilbert likes to get out and have a pee. It’s healthiest not to sleep in more than an hour. We wake at 7 am weekdays so there we were 8 am, sharp , crawling out of bed to dress and go to church. We’d watched Straw Dogs Thriller the night before.  Rank evil with lots of urban and rural Hollywood predjudice.  Good movie.

For the first time we didn’t get lost finding the church so we arrived only minutes late.  Rev. Emilie was about to begin.  Gilbert appeared and her greeter dog gave off two great barks with both wagging tails as Gilbert dragged me into the church. 

We grabbed  a  church program and a Common Praise hymnal. I love the church architecture. Lots of wood.  Holy ground.  Churches are consecrated. When they close them up and sell them for other purposes they have to be ‘deconsecrated’ .  I doubt that really doesthe trick.  People praying and singing praise change the very fabric of the local universe. Grass grows better. People are happier. The sun, when it shines is,brighter. I just love the spirit of this church.  Lovely people in the congregation too. Old and young.  I learned some spoke Spanish.  A truly lovely lady, classic Anglican elegance,  was born in the 1920’s.  Another gentleman hails from the same between the wars era.  An infant always likes to be held by her loving father’s arms.

I like the Bible Readings.  I love the prophets and the psalms.  I like the repeatitive format, like a good story. The service unfolds.  Gilbert loves the peace. We walk about and shake hands, look in each other’s eyes, smiling. Christianity is about joy. There’s joy here. Gilbert rubs noses with Rev. Emilie’s dog. He’d do more but I hold him back with the leash.  Laura is giggling behind me.

The sermon is about Pontius Pilate questioning Jesus.  Pontius Pilate is the Roman Empire’s man in Israel at the time of Jesus, when Herod was king of Israel. He’s asking Jesus about his kingdom and Jesus is responding he’s not of this world.  The essence of Christianity is that God became man in Jesus, lived ,died and was resurrected.  There is heaven and earth and Jesus declares the Kingdom of God is beyond the limits of this world.  The leaders of the world are worldly and arrogant and ride into towns in chariots, tanks or step off great planes. Jesus came to Jerusalem on a donkey.  He died by crucifixion. There’s that pesky ‘Thy Will Be Done. Not My Will’ element in Christianity.  Jesus asked on the mount to take this death from him.  But he followed the story to the end. One imagines he could reign missiles and napalm down on Rome and light it up with laser fire.  Rev. Emilie didn’t get into this but focused on the humility of Jesus and the choice one made in life. She ended by quoting Bob Dylan’s song, you’ve got to serve someone, maybe the devil or it may be the Lord.  She says we serve the Lord at St. Barnabus. 

The coming of the king, Advent, in the calendar begins next week and the whole season of Christmas, the birth of Christ, is a coming together of the church and community with feasting and song and ritual.  Her enthusiasm is palpable.

Communion, eucarist, is the symbolic or actual sharing at the table in Christ. He said, at the last supper, Taking the bread, he said, this is my body, shed for you, and taking the wine, he said, this is my blood.  So we all join in what materialists untouched by faith, outside of the insight of grace, take as an ancient cannabilistic feast.  Yet Jesus has become the cosmic Christ and creation is imbued by the soulfulness of Jesus. Together we participate in the soul feast.  At least that’s what it is subjectively to Christians. And who cares what the ‘unwashed’ think To quote a teacher at Regent College who laughingly said, ‘they’ve been wrong before.”

Laura holds Gilbert then I take over and she joins the feast.  Soon the service is over and we’re filtering out to another weak. I always feel lighter, healed in some place, touched by the community, by the ritual.  It wasn’t ever thus. I’d just participated like doing exercises of any kind till one day a miracle happened and I liked it.   It was the same with study.  Lust is for everyone but love is for those who stay.  I liked the C.S. Lewis book Four Loves, and definition of love of God as charity.  I can’t command God’s love but I sure do feel it.

After church Laura and I walked Gilbert, and had Mexican breakfast at the great Mexican restaurant in New Westminster. (I’m not telling anyone where it is because it’s already so popular that there’s a line up each time we go.) Then we went next door to Vision Bookstore, now owned by the daughter of the great man I’d visit and chat with 20 years ago.  His grandson was there. I love family businesses.  I bought a little Brother Lawrence book for a friend while Laura was pleased to get Christmas gift stocking stuffers and a little angel for her 18 inch tall Christmas tree she plans to put up this week.

Now we’re reading with Gilbert and George fighting over who gets to sit closest to Laura.  I’ve just been reading about the monozygotic Newman brothers separated at birth who both become firefighters, both had steel rimmed glasses and identical moustaches as adults. Genetics and neuroplasticity are fascinating reads.  I’ll never forget being married to an identical twin who became ill at the same time her sister did thousands of miles away. It’s hard to ignore God when the foot prints are all around you. 

 I love McGill’s Neuroscientist Mario de Beuregarrd’s book Spiritual Brain where he discusses the PET scans he did of meditating Carmelite Nuns.  Rev. Emilie had compared Black Friday with the traditional Sunday years past when it was a day of rest like the Sabbath I celebrated in Safed Israel.  No phones. No business. No liquor stores.  Contemplation, family and quiet.  It’s good to go to church. I’m thankful for St. Barnabus.   

Remembrance Day and St. Barnabas Anglican Church, New Westminster, BC

I loved to go the Remembrance Day services when my RCAF father was alive.  One of my fondest memories is of him sitting with the WWII vets at the Vancouver cenotaph. I was so proud.

Yet the Rembrance Day  services were outside ,I was down with flu, and back pain made standing for a service level less appealing. Attending church seemed the more physically wise decision.
Laura and I like St. Barnabus Anglican Church because they are dog friendly.  It was the right decision.  Gilbert and I had met Rev. Emilie Smith but Laura hadn’t.

 “I really liked her.” Laura would later say.  “She’s so uplifting but also so down to earth.’  Gilbert liked her dog and Laura liked that her dog had it’s own pillow bed.  The congregation was small and intimate.  There’s a sense of community.  We’re outsiders but we felt welcomed.  

I loved that Rev. Smith talked about the ‘war to end all wars’ and that Remebrance Day was not to glorify war but to honour the men and women who made such sacrifices for peace.

In a very inspired and moving moment, Rev. Smith walked away from the altar to the walls where there were plaques recalling the men of St. Barnabus Congregation who had fought and some who had fallen in the war. She read the names. She shared of her own experience of Remembrance Day growing up in BC Interior and asked others to share of their experience of those who’d been in war.  Some did.  In her sermon she spoke of the women and orphans and the call to Christians to care for the widows and orphans.
I felt at home as she spoke of love.  I felt the living water of Christian spirituality wash over me.  Grace.   I enjoyed the Prayers of the people. During the service Laura pointed up as we heard the planes flying over as part of the Remembrance Day fly overs.  I thought of my RCAF father and mom and all the air shows we attended as children. My neighbour Mack who had attended the Langley Remembrance Day service would name off the old war planes that had participated. I told him Laura and I had heard them in church.

The piano was vibrant.. I loved the hymn ‘Come and Fill Our Hearts.’I was sorry we arrived late as the first hymn’ Be Thou My Vision’ is one of my all time favourites. Seeing it chosen gave me the sense I really was in the right place that morning. 

Gilbert loves the Peace when everyone greets each other individually. A little girl clapped her hands and greeted him.  He was also able to get enough leash to sniff the reverends dog.   Laura and I smiled and shook hands with all the fine and welcoming people.  

Eucarist.  Communion. Breaking of bread.  Partaking of the Blood and Body of Jesus. Finally the Sending out.  Reverend Smith, said “Go forth in peace and love, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.’ And we all said, “Thanks Be to God”. 

There was coffee after and I was tempted but with a cold and feeling tired I was glad when Laura said another time as we had to get home today.  

Such was another great Sunday service.  

St Barnabas Anglican Church and Shiloh-Fifth Avenue United Church

St. Barnabas Anglican Church certainly is a welcoming church.  As Gilbert and I arrived Reverend Emilie Smith, Parish Priest and Rector welcomed us. Her frisky little dog immediately barked a greeting to Gilbert and Gilbert’s little tail wagged up a storm.

I loved the interior of the church. Since moving to Burnaby I’ve been a church tourist and delighted to see this church while running errands in New Westminster yesterday on my motorcycle.   When I saw at their website that (stbarnabasparish.ca) that this day was to be an early St. Francis Blessing of the Animals day I knew Gilbert and I had to go.

The building is exquisite. Warm and old and holy.  The young pianist was practicing with the very little choir who were however very good.  The Rev. Shannon Tennant, the Shiloh-5th Avenue United Church Minister, the parish’s were mixed to day but normally use the church together, 10 am Anglican Sunday worship, 11:30 am United.  Rev Shannon’s beautiful white dog immediately greeted Gilbert.  The lovely blond sitting next to me welcomed me and got me the program and song books.  They were using a mix of Anglican and United.  

While Gilbert was blessed by Rev. Emilie, Rev. Shannon conducted most of the service today.  Rev. Laurel Dykstra from a watershed ministry gave the sermon, more social and political than my taste. I seek the inspirational and traditional in church, most uplifted by the sermons of Dr. James Houston of Regent College.  I prefer, Repent the End is nigh to Repent the Planet is dying.  However I  love the Christian history of Stewardship and Environmentalism so that this was a very apropos sermon for the Blessing of the Animals day.  The congregation all around me very much enjoyed the talk. 

At communion. I was glad to receive grape juice from Rev. Laurel, having noted that the bread was much better than the flat wafer. I wonder if that reflected the gentility of the Anglican set over the United or vice versa. Perhaps with combined resources they can serve better bread. Tran substantiation is beyond such earthly consideration, of course.

When I attended a church in California the screen writer who gave the sermon did quip about the Californians having a better selection of wines than neighbouring states.  I love ecclesiastical humor and noted that the ministers were all delightfully light hearted.  None took themselves too seriously. No pomposity or airs at St. Barnabus.

At the Peace, greeting neighbours I delighted in the pleasantness of everyone. Gilbert escaped and greeted a big dog he’d been wanting to visit up to that point. They had a marvellous visit till their owners pulled them apart.

It was all really friendly and welcoming. An inclusive church. Something for everyone.  I liked the children. A church is always best when there are children and dogs. I like churches where dogs are welcome.  Gilbert really liked this church and he’s the best judge of churches I know.

After the blessing, we all filed out.  There was a potluck lunch today instead of the normal coffee and tea. I’ve had some really fine church lunch experiences with great fellowship and conversation but today I’d other plans.

Laura texted me that she’d enjoyed the website and would enjoy attending some time when she’s visiting.  Gilbert would like that.  We’ve attended many church services together.  

I did like also that they’re planning a 5 week series on Thursday to go through the Letter to James.  The Holy Bible is such a moving book. I really wish my schedule allowed me to participate more in such activities. The Letter to James is fascinating and small group study and discussion is so rewarding. 

Thank you Jesus for St. Barnabas Anglican Church and Shiloh-5th Avenue United Church.