More F Words

There will be a Fundraiser for the Furnace on Palm Sunday, April 17th, at our church. Just in time for Easter, we're calling it Fun with Fondant. If you have been wondering and watching any of the shows about cake decorating lately, you will know this is the latest Fad, so come on out and see what all the Fuss is about. You will be taking home a beautifully decorated cake, as demonstrated by our own budding baker, Steve Johnson. Class size is limited and children are welcome. Watch for our Easter appeal letter for more information. Sparky

Healing

Dear Friends:

I have been racking my brain for the past week on the devastation in Japan and what could be done. Then I finally thought of Dr. Masaru Emoto and his work. He has been busy working on this disaster, too. Check out his website at masaru-emoto.net. He has already posted two articles since Mar.11. It seems to me that he is best qualified to help, and there are several suggestions on his website on ways you can be involved in a meaningful way. March 22 happens to be World Water Day, so let's join together in thought and prayer on that day for the people and land of Japan.

Through water all places in the Earth are connected.

Through the blood of Christ, all people of the Earth are the same.

Arigatogozaimasu

Sparky

The "F" Bomb

Hands up, how many of you watched the Academy Awards Sunday night? Since my daughter started working at a local video store, I'm much more up on movies than I used to be, so I was curious to see how they would go. I admit, being a girl, I love to watch just to see what the women are wearing, and the fact that Colin Firth (one of the best looking 50 year olds on the planet) was there in person, was a bonus!
There was a bit of a stir when one of the award winners dropped the "f" word - you know the one.
For your board of directors, though, it stands for FURNACE. The poor thing has been limping along for some years now, and you know it's bad when your 80 something retired priest is stamping his feet, walking briskly, trying to get the blood flowing before the service, because there is NO HEAT! This happened again this Sunday, apparently, in the middle of a freak snow storm. That's another word we don't like here in Vancouver. So, instead of leaving the church with that warm, fuzzy feeling, people were just glad to get into their warm, heated cars. Susan Locey was left holding a monkey wrench in her hands, and I'm sure certain words were going through her mind, too.
We got the bad news from the plumber this week - our furnace has officially bit the dust, and a new one has had to be installed. So this Sunday, let's hope all is well - and come check out the newest addition to our family.

Warmly,
Sparky

New Year's Resolution

Kung hei fat choy!

Did you know that although our New Year's is already passed, the Chinese New Year is just gearing up? If you live here in Vancouver, it's hard to miss. That means it's not too late for all of you who have procrastinated on setting a resolution for this year, including me. Two events happened recently at our church, though, that have helped me make up my mind. The first was a community meeting discussing questions sent out by international executive committee. The second was a very special baptism.
The whole community comes together to witness and celebrate certain special sacraments, baptism being one of them. It means we will support this child in whatever way we can, through to Confirmation, and beyond. But where are we during the Children's Service? If we don't have children of our own attending, we often give it a miss. What does this say to the parents and the children themselves?
This was one of the points made in our response to the executive - the need to support the Children's Service. Now this service is very special to me. It was one of the things I missed most during the 14 months that we waited for an active priest. The language is simple yet beautiful, or one could even say, beautifully simple, and it speaks to me in a way that the adult service does not. So I have made up my mind this year to come half an hour earlier, and be present for this service whenever possible.
How about you?
Sparky

Bonanza

Hi there:

We had a great meeting this Sunday, discussing the questions sent out by the Executive Committee of the Foundation The Christian Community (international). (These were sent out with the Advent letter.) The atmosphere was most heart-warming and positive. More will be sent out to you later on this.
Since we had to give up our planned 2012 Conference meeting, I thought I would send along this nugget.

Do you remember an old western style tv show by the name of Bonanza? It was very popular, and one my dad used to like to watch. This is also a term one finds with regard to the subject of gold or treasure. What does the word mean? It means a mine or vein rich in ore. A sudden and unexpected source of luck or wealth. This is how I felt last week when I found the 1942 lecture of Rev. Alfred Heidenreich.
In Spanish, bonanza also means good luck, or calm sea. Hmmm, now where have I come across the term, calm sea before? In the Bible of course! There is a very famous pictorial of Jesus calming the sea, while the disciples are out on the water, and then walking out on the water to meet them.
This term still is present in our modern language. To be able to walk on water means someone who can do the impossible, or for whom there is no such thing as "can't be done".
Lord knows I have been swimming in very rough water the past 2 years, but things are finally calming down. In the process, I have learned a little more about putting my trust in God, and that whatever seems impossible or insurmountable to me, is possible with Him. I have had to learn that God's time is not the same as earth time. Also, Heidenreich writes that going through a crisis is actually a growth process. Finally, I hope I have learned to look at other people and situations with new eyes, and with more compassion and understanding.

Calm sailing to all.
Sparky

Psst, pass it on

Did you know that this time of year can be very depressing? This is brought on by lack of sunlight, poor diet, and stress, stress, stress.
By now a lot of people are fed up with Christmas. They have been listening to Christmas carols for at least a month, and frantically fighting crowds of shoppers to get that perfect gift, not to mention baking, cleaning and more baking. The decorations and tree come down smack on the 26th of December, and everyone breathes a sigh of relief.
Got the post Christmas blues? Have I got good news for you! The commercial aspect of Christmas is over, except for diehard bargain hunters, but the REAL Christmas is just beginning.
Every day from Christmas day to January 6th, you can destress, take some time for yourself, recharge your batteries. Is that a spa, you ask? No, it is celebrating the Act of Consecration of Man. Every day at our church, there is a service during the 12 Holy Nights. That's a myth, you might think, but you are misinformed. In fact, orthodox churches do not celebrate Christmas until January 6th, or, as we know it, Epiphany.
Don't believe in angels either? I most certainly do. She is standing at the altar every morning during this time of year, whether anyone else is there or not. You see, this is a very special time of year. It is when "angels bend near the earth, to touch our hearts of gold". This is the best time to raise your Self up to the heavens, for they are very, very close. The world in solemn stillness lies, to hear the angels sing.
Hey, it ain't rocket science, it's just an hour out of your day, and it was specifically designed for YOU.
Be still, for I AM near.
See you there.
Sparky

A Christmas Story

More radiant than the Sun
Purer than the snow
Finer than the ether
Is the Self
The spirit in my heart
This self I am, I am this self

R. Steiner

Here's a Christmas story from my family to yours:

My daughter, in her mid 20's, works for a local video store in a small strip mall. She's very outgoing and a great favourite with the regular customers. In this mall is also a cafe, where she often pops in to grab a coffee and a snack. The lady who runs this store does not have very good English, but is very nice. One day, Victoria popped in and asked, How's business? Business not very good, was the sad reply. Well, said Victoria, I will tell all my customers to come over to grab a coffee and snack after they get their videos. Now, this is a great marketing strategy, since if you're going to stay up watching movies, you might as well grab a coffee and a snack while you're at it. So this is what she did. Later in the evening, Victoria turned around, and there was her friend from the cafe with a tray of baked goods. Victoria, she said, we have good business today. People come in and they say, Victoria sent us. We are closed now, and will not be open tomorrow, so this is for you to say thank you. Needless to say, she and her coworkers devoured the treats and a new relationship was born.
You can make your own moral to this story, but for me it is this: never let language, culture or religion be a barrier, for a whole world of possibilities and opportunities is waiting.

Sparky