The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises. The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again. All things are wearisome, more than one can say. Thus says “the Teacher” . . . also known as Qoheleth . . . also known as “the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes”. The passage is found at the beginning of the book.
When “the Teacher” writes All things are wearisome, more than one can say, a lot of us know exactly what he’s talking about. He seems to describe the ongoing cycle of school closures, school re-openings, and school re-closures; the work-from-home orders; the effect of lockdowns and of limits to social gatherings and of . . . He was speaking of life in general but could have been speaking directly to Coronavirus pandemic! Can we say . . . enough?
*I was originally going to call this the it’s getting cold edition but Omicron continues it’s grip on us and won’t let go; the cold comes and goes!
Yesterday we began a series (or continued a series that had been on hold) titled Directives for Christian Living – More from the Mount, which will look at parts of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. We began by looking at look at our influence in our world and Jesus’ instruction that we are to shine. We have far more influence than we realize . . . and far less influence than we realize because we allow other people to speak for us through their lives, through their words, and through their actions. It can be difficult for us to speak out against the evil in our world. It can be just as difficult for us to speak out against those who would use the Christian church for their own ambitions and purposes. We are not to try to gain power over the world, but to simply live for Jesus . . . and as I’ve suggested on many occasions, Paul’s words found in Romans 12 (click here to read it again) show us how to live well.
It is easy to have a them versus us or a them versus me attitude – and I want to be careful not to do that. Instead, I must focus on me – on my own attitude. Jon Tyson wrote I often ask myself, would the Church be better if everyone followed Jesus like I do? This leads me to humility and repentance & getting the log out of my own eye. Let your godly, humble, passionate life be its own critique. To be honest, that challenge is frightening. It is so much easier to look at other people (through the log in my own eye) than to look in the mirror at myself, my life, my attitude. But Christianity is deeply personal. Jesus calls us to come to Him -- but we don’t come to Him as a group, it is as individuals we first come to faith. The hymn is I would be true. The prayer is be Thou my vision. Let us – each one – shine brightly for Jesus in the days ahead as people who love.
It was nice to have Chloe back with us over her Christmas break (she has returned to Toronto to continue her university studies, but will be back for study break next month) – and I appreciate each member of our worship team as they lead us each Sunday morning. You can “revisit” yesterday’s service . . . it can be seen on our Facebook page (click here) and on our YouTube channel (click here). Watch . . . be challenged . . . be blessed. The message transcript is available on our web site (click here).
Thinking of the opening words of today’s Musings . . . tomorrow evening we’ll meet at 7:30 to continue our study of the book of Ecclesiastes, looking again at what “the Teacher” has to say to us. Read chapters 3 and 4 and join us for a great discussion as we learn together. Please e-mail the church for log-in information.
Wednesday evening at 7:00 – as we do each week – we’ll gather for our virtual prayer time through ZOOM. Some pray silently . . . some pray audibly . . . but we come to meet with God. Join us for this important part of the life of the church, as we search for God’s direction and power as a congregation. Please e-mail the church for log-in information.
Then this coming Sunday we’ll continue our series Directives of Christian Living – More from the Mount as we look at our influence in the world and at what Jesus has to say to us. It’s not just what we do. It’s not just where we go. It’s not just what we say. We’ll look at Matthew 5:21-26 (it’s a command; it’s an explanation) and be reminded that Attitudes Count!
If you do not feel comfortable joining with others in the congregation in person please join us through our Facebook feed (click here) or our YouTube feed (click here) – or link from our web site (click here). Please “check in” – let us know if you worship with us “live or delayed”. If you do join us “in person”, remember to give yourself ample time to go through our COVID protocol.
Thank you again for your faithful support of the work we are trying to accomplish for Christ through what we do as a church . . . for giving generously of your tithes and offerings to the meet the needs of the local church. We continue to receive our tithes and offerings through e-transfer (ottawatrinity@rogers.com) and through the Canada Helps web site (click here).
Receipts will be given for last year’s giving (through envelope at the church or through e-transfer) in the next short while. We appreciate Anna, who is faithfully giving her time as a ministry to record our giving and to prepare these receipts. Immediate receipts are provided to those who use the Canada Helps site.