Advent, Christmas and Epiphany Programs (December 2010 to February 2011)

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Singin in the Rain

Hi there, me again.
One more reason why I love our church: we love to sing!
Maybe it's because, as Rev. Dancey pointed out this past weekend, we are surrounded by the songs of nature - mountains, water, wind, rain, even whale song (I'm sure you can find some tracks online. If you have never heard a whale song, it is worth finding.)
Singing, of course, goes back to the Old Testament, to the Psalms of David. David was called to the court of King Saul to soothe him with his harp playing, and ended up becoming King.
Singing is one of those activities that can lift you out of yourself, to higher realms, especially hymns and gospel music. Gospel music in particular, speaks to and from the heart. It can be joyful, hopeful, sorrowful. I love all different kinds of music - classical, country, rock, gypsy, Latin, etc. People sing for all different kinds of reasons and all different kinds of circumstances. You can sing in the shower, while you are vacuuming, working in the garden, even just when you are looking for inspiration. Singing is a very wonderful activity when you are working. It could be something mind-boggling boring, or just really hard slogging - singing helps make the work seem to go easier and faster. Convicts sing together working on a chain gang, women sing together washing clothes by the river. Singing lends a rhythmn to whatever you are doing. Children love to sing even when they are just playing on their own, and they love to sing at the top of their lungs. This is actually very good for your body, too.
This past weekend, we had a seminary workshop, focussing on the concept of "work". The concept that I liked best was that whatever you do, it should be done with JOY. Whether it is working for yourself, for others, some kind of endeavour for the future, and particularly when we come together in celebration, there can be joy, and one of the best ways to bring this about is in song/music.
Each season has its own special song. For us here in Vancouver, Fall begins with songs for Michaelmas and Thanksgiving coming together, followed by All Souls Day and Remembrance Day in November, honouring all those who have gone before us, leading up to the quiet song of Mary during Advent, to the crescendoing chorus of angels from all the hierarchies on Christmas Eve. Gratitude, Conscience, Hope and Compassion.
Yup, you guessed it, here in Vancouver, we're singin (and dancing) in the Rain! Come join us.

Sparky

Jellyfish image

Jellyfish

We have reached the time of year when the nights are getting longer, and the days shorter. Especially if you live in Vancouver, it can seem like there are days, even weeks, when you never see the light. The clouds settle in for the winter, and you don't know if you are going to get rain or snow, depending on elevation and location. Gone are those long, warm summer days. The ripened fruits of the field have been harvested, thanks to all that beautiful warm sunshine. We have had the chance to absorb all that wonderful light,and store it internally. It has to carry us through the winter, until the sun breaks through the clouds again, sometime in early spring. It's time for us to take what we have been given from the outside, process it inside, and radiate our own light. My favourite image to express this is the jellyfish. If you have a city aquarium,you might be lucky enough to have a display of these beautiful creatures, and see what I mean. This is a challenge for us in spiritual terms as well. Can we take the Light we have been given, and in turn radiate it out to the world, especially when faced with Darkness? You can actually see this quite clearly in the faces of some of the people around you. Some people just seem to have a brightness, or aura, of light around them. Take a look sometime into a crowd, and I bet you can pick someone out who seems to shine, or have a glow about them.
You can't force it to happen, you have to just be like the jellyfish. Let all the bad, dark stuff float away - don't hang onto it - and let that little light inside you shine for all the world to see.
Sparky
Song for the day: You Light Up My Life

At the Ringing of the Bells

Here is the next in a series of anonymous pictures with verse by Rudolf Steiner

Giving Thanks

Greetings:

I hope by now that anyone reading my blogs understands that the underlying intent is to express my gratitude and thanks to my church family and all the friends I have made. There is no greater gift than to have family and friends stand by you in times of crisis, and perhaps extend a helping hand to those who are not so lucky.

This weekend we celebrate the Canadian Thanksgiving. It's a time to think of all the things we have to be thankful for, and remember to Whom thanks is due.

The word "commune" comes from Latin, meaning com (with or together) and munus (gift). It also means an "intentional community". For us to be able to come together and worship who are like-minded, is a great gift. But as we know, it is not receiving but giving that is important. That is what we are now being asked: what can we give? in what shape or form? what should be our intent in reaching out to the world outside our doors? How, what, where, when?

Introducing a community point of view is the basis of threefolding, whose roots date back to the 19th century, to a movement in Germany called Lebensreform, of which Rudolf Steiner was a proponent. Combining thought/logic and feeling/love into something not just meaningful but inherently human - a social conscience. I have a feeling that once we get a handle on this concept, we will be able to perceive something else standing behind it - a 4th element. You only need to consider the image of a pyramid to grasp what I mean: 4 triangles standing together on a square, or rhombus. Long considered a magical or sacred space.

If you look on Dr. Emoto's website, you will be able to call up pictures of water crystals representing words like "love", "gratitude" and "joy". I think these are also appropriate for Thanksgiving. So let's pray, eat and love, not necessarily in that order, and consider the concept of Joy in Community - next blog.

Sparky

P.S. Instead of a song for inspiration, here's a dance: SAMBA!

The Jade Buddha for Universal Peace

"The Peace be with you."
This blessing is given to each person who participates in communion during our Sunday, or weekday, Service.
On a world tour right now is the Jade Buddha for Universal Peace, which I was able to take in recently. This incredibly beautiful statue was designed for one purpose - to bring people together and to think or meditate on, what peace means for each one of us, and for the world. It is truly an international icon, for the jade came from B.C., it was carved in Thailand, and will eventually make its home in Bendigo, Australia.
One first has to ask, why jade? In Asian culture, Jade has all the qualities we in the West normally ascribe to gold: wisdom, justice, compassion, courage. The ability to stimulate creativity and mental agility, to bring joy and happiness. To embody all that is good, beautiful and precious. In ancient Egypt, jade meant love, the harmonizing of energy and beauty, inner peace and balance.
Now for the hard part: how can one achieve inner peace?
My emotions have been in turmoil for more than 2 years, but I have finally reached a point where I needed to make peace with my Self. I had 3 very good reasons for doing this (see my profile picture), and that meant I had no time to lose. Through counselling, I am learning how to face my demons. Each time I go, it's a little like ripping off a bandaid, but I leave each time feeling a little bit lighter. My counsellor has warned me that I still have a lot to face, but for the sake of my children, I am willing to go through whatever is necessary. She is not only a counsellor, but a life coach and empowerment speaker. Suzanne always makes sure to give me something good to work on until we meet again. My friends are starting to notice a new me.
This is the good part: Jesus said, I stand at peace with the world. This peace can be with you also because I give it to you. I know somehow He will give me the strength to get through this. He knows exactly what I am going through, because he too, had to face the demons of this world, and came with the specific mission of sacrificing his Self for each of us. Not just giving up his Self for us, but to us. He didn't just appear and then disappear, leaving us to struggle on our own. He left a part of his Self in each of us. The trick is to find a way to connect with that little seed, and tap into its healing, renewing power.
I think that there will only be universal peace when each of us has learned how to be at peace with ourselves. No matter what demons you face, there is someone who can help, whether it is a priest, counsellor, friend, teacher. The first step is the hardest: tell someone you know you can trust and who will listen.
Happiness can be a very fleeting thing. It is not how many friends you have, or how much wealth or stuff you have. Peace of mind is a completely different thing. Which do you want? What are you willing to let go of, or undergo to get it? Someone loved you so much that He was willing to sacrifice everything for you. Maybe there is someone in your life for whom you are willing to do the same.
This is my wish for each of my friends and relatives: The Peace be with you.

Sparky

P.S. Song for the Day: I'm a Believer, by The Monkees