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He is risen! ... does it matter?

4/10/2023

He is not here; for he has been raised The Lord has risen indeed
~ Matthew 28:6 ~ Luke 24:34

He is risen! Does it matter? Okay, spoiler alert (in case you need it): the answer is yes. The four gospels all end with the empty tomb and the disciples telling themselves and others that Jesus is risen. Clearly Jesus’ resurrection matters. So maybe a better question is “WHY does it matter?” Or even better, “HOW does it matter?” We can talk about eternal life or life after death but the interesting thing is that as we read through the gospels, we read much more about life before death than after. That is, how we live our lives more than what happens after we die.

To help answer the question of “why” and “how” I want to look at Jesus after he is risen. In all the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus that we read about in the gospels, there is always a physicality to the stories — Jesus is not a ghost or just some spiritual being. Jesus, even in his resurrected state, is a physical being.

When Jesus meets Mary in the garden, she wants to hold onto him but he tells her no. [John 20:17] Later, Jesus meets his disciples in the upper room and although he can pass through a locked door, he still has the marks from the crucifixion and even invites Thomas to touch his scars. [John 20:19-25] After this, Jesus shares a meal with some of the disciples on the beach [John 21:9-14] and another two disciples in Emmaus [Luke 24:30]. Jesus was (and is) concerned about the physical aspect of our lives. Being a follower of Jesus is not just a spiritual exercise.

Of course all of this is consistent with the way Jesus lived his life before the crucifixion. He fed people, he healed people, he cared for people, even those who were not accepted by anyone else. Jesus expects no less from us. “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father.” [John 14:12]. That is an incredible promise but it comes with responsibility. Because ‘He is risen’ there is much we can do AND there is much expected of us.

A Path of Prayer

2/1/2023

Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God.  And when day came, he called his disciples and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles…
       ~ Luke 6:12-13

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
       ~ Matthew 26:36

Lent begins on February 22 this year with Ash Wednesday. It has often been seen as a time of giving something up, sacrificing or offering to God something that is important to us — like chocolate or TV. The day before Lent begins is Shrove Tuesday or, as it was in my childhood home, Pancake Tuesday.

We never really observed Lent or talked about “giving up for Lent” in our Mennonite home but Pancake Tuesday was a regular celebration, even though it didn’t seem to hold any religious significance. My mother made the “Mennonite pancakes” (thin and crepe-like) and we eagerly filled them with syrup, chocolate, or fruit (sometimes all of the above). It is a nice memory and it especially reminds me of my mother’s cooking and her love for us as she prepared the meals (and especially the sweets).

However, Pancake Tuesday didn’t have any connection to church or the observance of Lent. It has only been later in life that I have come to appreciate the time of Lent. It is a time to slow down, step back from the pulls of our consumer society, and reflect. It is a time for prayer and contemplation.

I am reminded of the many times in the gospels that we read about Jesus finding a quiet place to pray. Jesus, in his humanity, needed these times to stay connected with God and to equip him for his work. We also need these times of prayer. Prayer is not an escape from the world but rather a way to stay connected to God, which in turn helps us live in the world.

Instead of seeing Lent as a time to give up something, maybe we can look at it as a time to gain something. Over the next 40 days, can we leave our busy-ness behind and gain time with God? Can we gain those quiet times to listen for the voice of God? Can we be refreshed by God’s presence? Can we find a path in prayer to be transformed by God’s power? Can we gain a new or re-newed direction?

May we allow this time of Lent to lead us along a path of prayer, that we may hear the voice of God guiding us and transforming us. May we move from Lent, having gained a revived and energized spirit.

Resources for Lent:
CommonWord Bookstore and Resource Centre has a number of helpful resources to lead you through Lent including 2023 Lenten Guided Prayer Experience: Shaped and Called. You can check out these resources at their website: https://www.commonword.ca/Browse/2643

The Ignatian Spirituality website also includes many Lenten resources which you may find helpful including some daily Lent emails you can sign up for. https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/lent/

God of creation and re-creation

1/1/2023

When God began to create the heavens and the earth, the earth was complete chaos, and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.  Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
~ Genesis 1:1-3

And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new."
   ~ Revelation 21:5a

Our God is a God of creation, as we often read in Scripture. However, as we come to the end of one year and the beginning of the next, we are also reminded that God is a re-creator, one who makes all things new. Although in some ways the start of a new year is an arbitrary designation, it does give us a chance to make a fresh start of things.
I have never been one to make (or keep) New Year’s resolutions but there is a sense of turning the calendar and trying again. It may be a matter of trying to do things better this year or it could be trying something new this year. Maybe it is smiling more, looking more to the positive things in our lives, living with more gratitude, and allowing God to re-create in us.
The new year may also help to put things behind us. This year I have heard a number of people say how glad they are that 2022 is done! For many it was a difficult year and we could go through the list of things that have caused (and still are causing) pain and hardship.
Turning the page on a calendar doesn’t magically make those bad things go away but my hope is that we can see how God has been with us even through the difficulties and continues to lead us into the year ahead. In Psalm 31 we hear the tension between trusting the God who is faithful and crying out to God in the midst of our struggles.

I run to you, God; I run for dear life.
    Don’t let me down!
You’re my cave to hide in,
    my cliff to climb.
Be my safe leader,
    be my true mountain guide.
Free me from hidden traps;
    I want to hide in you.
I’ve put my life in your hands.
    You won’t drop me,
    you’ll never let me down.
I’m leaping and singing in the circle of your love;
    you saw my pain,
    you disarmed my tormentors,
You didn’t leave me in their clutches
    but gave me room to breathe.
Be kind to me, God--
    I’m in deep, deep trouble again.
~ Psalm 31:1, 3-5, 7-9 (The Message)

We may also feel this tension at times as we wait for the re-creation of God. As we enter this new year, my prayer is that you will continue to see the love of God and feel the support of the community of God’s people around you.

The gift of silence

12/1/2022

Zechariah said to the angel, “How can I know that this will happen? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years.”  The angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.  But now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.”
~ Luke 1:18-20
Imagine being told that you would become parents of a baby at a very old age. Is it any wonder that Zechariah had some doubt about what the angel was telling him. As terrifying as a visit from an angel may seem, the message he received was even more a cause for alarm. “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.” [Luke 1:13]
By that time the prayer for a child was likely long forgotten and so we can excuse Zechariah for wondering how this could happen. Some say that he was punished because of his doubt. The angel took away his voice and he couldn’t speak for a time. I think that he was actually given a gift — the gift of silence.
God was going to do something spectacular in the world. Not just a baby to an elderly couple but God was doing even more than that. The gift of silence would give Zechariah time to think and reflect on what God was doing.
Life was hard for the people of God, for Zechariah’s people.  The Romans were harsh oppressors and the people cried out to God.  Many would have thought that God had forgotten them.  We also may feel that way when times are hard for us.  Where is God?  Has God forgotten me?
In Zechariah’s time of silence he had time to think about God and pray to God and especially listen to God. In the silence God reminded Zechariah that God remembered. Zechariah’s name actually means, “God remembers.”
God remembers his people.
God remembers his holy covenant and the promise made to the people.
God remembers to show mercy.
God remembers to show love.
God was redeeming his people.
God has redeemed us and God IS redeeming us.

Maybe this year we also need a gift of silence. A time in which we can listen to God’s voice. A time to hear what God is saying. A time to reflect on what God is doing and how God is redeeming, not only us, but redeeming the world. A time to see that God does remember.

It is my prayer that each of you can experience God this Christmas, in the silence and in the noise, in the joy and in the sorrow. I wish you a very blessed and peace-filled Christmas.

                                       ~ Len

The book that can speak TO us and FOR us

11/1/2022

I lift up my eyes to the hills--
    from where will my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day
    nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time on and forevermore.                (Psalm 121, NRSV)

The book of psalms is a unique book in the Bible. It is the prayerbook of the Bible and was also the prayerbook for the Jewish people, including Jesus. There are many references to the psalms in the New Testament. Jesus also quotes the psalms, most notably his cry from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.” [Matthew 27:46] This is taken directly from Psalm 22 and that psalm also includes a reference to casting lots for clothing. This psalm is closely associated with Jesus’ suffering on the cross and is often read during the Maundy Thursday or Good Friday services.

However, beyond these New Testament references, the psalms can also be significant prayers for us. The psalms are many and varied and offer us words for the different situations of life. There are laments and prayers for times of difficulty, in some cases providing comfort and at other times giving us words to cry out to God in our pain. These psalms may also make us more empathetic toward others as we read these words from the heart of the psalmist.

There are also many psalms of praise, psalms that sing out to God. The words of Psalm 100 can hardly be spoken without breaking into song.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
    come into his presence with singing.
Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise.
    Give thanks to him; bless his name.
For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever
    and his faithfulness to all generations.

In many ways the psalms can speak to us - words of joy, comfort, and the assurance of God’s presence. But the psalms can also speak for us. When we don’t have the words to speak ourselves, the psalms can provide those words. They give us permission to cry to God, and yes, to express our anger at God. No matter what we are feeling, God is big enough to hear these words. Throughout the psalms, even in the most sorrowful and angry psalms, there is never a suggestion that God does not exist. Even in the worst situation, when it seems that God is silent, the psalmist still knows that God is there.

May this prayerbook that we have been given also provide you with words that both speak to you and for you.

As I have said before, I enjoy photography and recently I have begun combining some photographs with the words of the psalms. The psalms are poetry and can speak to us in ways that touch the heart more than the mind, not unlike images. I have attached a few of these photographs below in hopes that these words and images may speak to your heart.

A Season of Gratitude

10/1/2022

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:16-17)

This is the season of thanksgiving, a time to give thanks for the harvest. But this thankfulness goes deeper than just having what we need. It is a reminder to be grateful, to live in a spirit of gratitude.

The autumn is a time that for me evokes various and sometimes conflicting emotions. It marks the end of the summer and warm weather; the birds are flying south, the trees lose their rich foliage, the warm breezes turn into cold winds. Fall is a time of seemingly sudden change — overnight it seems the trees have changed colour and then after another night the leaves are gone and the tree branches stand bare.

This time of year also brings back memories of taking our children to university as they began a new year of school and a new stage of life. After leaving them at school, I was left with the long drive home, knowing that life was changing as they struck out on their own.

Overnight lives change. But yet it is through this change that new life emerges. Jesus said, “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain, but if it dies it bears much fruit.” [John 12:24]. We may view the Fall as a time of looking back at what was, but the season also points us forward to what will be.

It is with a spirit of gratitude that we can look forward with hope to the Spring that lies ahead. A spirit of gratitude can also show us the beauty of a crisp Fall day and even the snow that blankets the land in winter. I give thanks that we live in a part of the world that experiences the seasons the way we do here. The rhythms of the seasons echo the rhythms of life — the life, death, and rebirth.

As I clean up my garden, reaping the harvest from this year, I also look to the promise of a year ahead. Through it all, enjoying the last colourful burst of the trees as they say their “auf wiedersehen” (until we see you again), I give thanks to the Creator, in gratitude for the presence of God in and through all that is around me.

We declare what we have heard and seen

8/1/2022

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of life… (1John 1:1)

This verse formed the theme of the Mennonite Church Canada gathering in Edmonton at the end of July. It has been three years since the nationwide church has been able to gather together like this so it was fitting that we would come together to declare what we have heard and seen.

At this gathering we heard stories of what has been happening in the church across the country and also beyond our borders through the International Witness program. Our time together included worship, sharing, workshops, and business sessions. Prior to the official gathering there was a day for Spiritual Leaders where we worshipped together and also heard from MC USA Executive Director, Glen Guyton as he spoke about activating congregations to spark lasting change.

During the Gathering 2022 worship times we heard “echo stories” - stories from the church that echoed God’s voice in the world. We heard from a congregation in Edmonton that includes some of the more vulnerable in society, ministering to them and being ministered by them. We also heard from an Indigenous person about how significant it was for her to have a song from her tradition (Cheyenne) included in the Voices Together hymnal.

In one workshop I heard how Anglicans and Mennonites are working together and breaking down barriers. Another workshop spoke about relationships between congregations in Canada and sisters and brothers in Burkina Faso, Benin, and elsewhere. Mennonite Church Canada is currently working with Iglesia Cristiana Menonita de Colombia as they seek to pair up congregations to develop mutual relationships.

On Sunday afternoon a group of us also went to worship at Edmonton South Sudanese Mennonite Church. Pastor Reuben spoke to us and encouraged us to “love God and love each other.” It was a wonderful time to share together with this small but enthusiastic group. The afternoon ended with a delicious meal of South Sudanese food prepared for us by the members of the congregation.

During the days of the gathering we spent much time in worship and it was good to hear the speakers, sing the songs, and celebrate what it means to be a part of the body of Christ, the church. I left the gathering confident that God is at work in the church and will continue to guide us and lead us. May we always be open to participate with God in this exciting “kingdom” work.

Following Jesus together across barriers

7/1/2022

Warman Mennonite Church
Monthly Letter ~ July 2022

Shalom (the peace of God) - In Indonesian you would be greeted with Salam Datang which also comes from the word Shalom.

As I am writing this, Anabaptist/Mennonites are gathered from around the world in Indonesia for the Mennonite World Conference (MWC) assembly. For 10 years I worked as a staff person for MWC and I was even able to travel to Indonesia on a few occasions to work on planning for the assembly. It has been difficult watching the events there from a distance and not being together with so many sisters and brothers whom I have come to know over the years. However, an event like the global assembly is a wonderful opportunity to see God at work in the church in so many places and in so many different ways.
The theme for this assembly is “Following Jesus together across barriers,” and there have been a few barriers to cross in order for this assembly to even happen. It was originally planned for July 2021 but then COVID came along and it was postponed until this summer. In addition, even though the assembly is now happening, it is much different from the plan that we had before COVID. We had anticipated having more than 6,000 participants (all in Indonesia), but that number has been drastically reduced and the assembly relocated to a smaller venue.
Through all the various challenges, the assembly is now happening both in-person and online. I am thankful for the technology that has allowed me to participate even with a 13-hour time difference. I have heard stories of how God is working in Indonesia, the country with the largest population of Muslims in the world, and also in the Philippines, Ukraine, Portugal, and Colombia.
It has also been encouraging to hear greetings from others, including the Indonesian Minister of Religion, Baptist World Alliance, Global Christian Forum, Lutheran World Federation, World Evangelical Alliance, and Salvation Army International. There is a unity around the world of sisters and brothers in faith.

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. [Acts 2:1-4]

As I have attended MWC meetings over the years, I have often thought of this passage from the book of Acts. In it we read a description of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came to the disciples and the early church. People had gathered from many places around the world and heard the message of God in their own language. In our meetings we used interpreters, but the important thing was that God opened the place of communication and communion between us.
The church truly is the body of Christ and it is at times like this that we can see that in a new way. My prayer is that this gathering in Indonesia can help spread the message of peace and hope that we have in God to the world around us.

Catching a glimpse of God's creation

6/1/2022

Warman Mennonite Church
Monthly Letter ~ June 2022

Greetings in the name of the creator God.

Genesis chapter one describes the activities of the creator God as creation took shape through the spoken words of God. “Let the earth put forth vegetation:plants yielding seed, and fruit trees of every kind on earth that bear fruit with the seed in it.” Later God also said, “Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the dome of the sky.” [Genesis 1:11, 20]

God’s creation is all around us but sometimes we need to have eyes to see it. The great mountains and mighty rivers leave me in awe. I have also seen elephants, giraffes, bears, and great wild cats and I am amazed at the sight of these wonderful animals.

But in amongst the large and awe-inspiring parts of creation, there are the small and seemingly insignificant. Can we see God’s creative work in the tiny plants that we step on as we walk; do we see God’s creative work in the insect that we wave our hands at without even seeing?

Sometimes we need to see with our hearts more than our eyes. We can experience God in many ways if we are willing to open ourselves up to unexpected beauty. One of my favourite pastimes is photography — seeing the world through the camera lens. What a joy it is to look at a photograph and notice something I didn’t even realize I was photographing.

One writer describes photography as “receiving photos” instead of taking them. I have certainly experienced this through some of the pictures that I have received. I would like to share some of these images with you and pray you will also receive a blessing. As we seek to catch glimpses of God’s creation may we also be brought into God’s presence.

He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” [Matthew 13:31-32, NRSVue]

It's Spring!

5/1/2022

Warman Mennonite Church
Monthly Letter ~ May 2022

Greetings in the name of the risen Lord! I begin with the words from the hymn In the bulb there is a flower. This song is often sung at funerals as a message of hope but I also think it is very appropriate in spring as we watch the world come back to life.

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
in cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
(#670 Voices Together)

Spring is here and the snow from the winter is fading into our memories. It is not a coincidence that we also celebrate Easter in the spring, as the world is being reborn. Easter is a time to celebrate the new life that Jesus brought through his death and resurrection.
The hymn I quoted above reminds us that there is much life that God has created and even though we may not see it, it is there waiting for that moment when it makes its appearance.
This spring, in addition to coming out of the cold and snow of winter, we are also coming out of our season of COVID. While the virus is not gone, we are beginning to open things up and getting back to some of our usual activities in the church. One of these activities is a BBQ on June 26 - the service is at 10:30 and the BBQ will follow. The Pleasant Point congregation will also be joining us that Sunday. These events are important in the life of the church and we look forward to sharing God’s blessing in this way.

Spring is also a time to celebrate how God continues to renew creation in all that we see around us: the plants, the birds, and wildlife. God also renews creation in each of us as we grow and draw closer to God.

Jesus said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head.” [Mark 4:26-28]

May you experience God’s renewal of your body and spirit along with the rest of creation in this season.

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