Assembly 2012

A busy day at the Synod Assembly. Approximately 350 people - lay and clergy delegates and visitors- are gathering in Waterloo to discuss mission and ministry of our church. The best part of the day to me was Michael Harvey's bible session. He asked if our congregations are inviting or welcoming. Most of us say "welcoming". How can we be welcoming if we are not inviting? A good point.

It's been a long day...stay tuned...more about Assembly tomorrow.

Riitta

Unexpected Gifts

My son, Aaron (12 yrs), went to a store with his friends the other day. He saw a man standing alone by a pole talking to it. Aaron felt sorry for the man, thinking he must be homeless. He walked to him, pulled out a toonie from his pocket and said:
“Here, I want to give this to you.”
The man said: “You don’t need to give me your money.”
“Yeah, but I want to give this to you.”
The man accepted the gift and said:
“Son, let me tell you something about life. Everybody comes in the world innocent but you can’t think that life is going to go well for you in the future. Don’t think emotionally about most things; you have to think more rationally.”
“Thank you for telling me this”, said Aaron.

This was just a brief moment; a spontaneous encounter and exchange of gifts. Something in this story reminds me of Jesus and how he met with people.

Many organizations and communities nowadays have reach out –programs; churches are no exceptions. We use a lot of time for planning projects and events for outreach; we may even have a budget line for it. Why? To reach out to people is a very simple thing – like listening to a person who has no one to talk to but himself or a pole.

Offering a toonie gave back a lesson that will last long - maybe a lifetime.

- Riitta -

Traditional is not always boring.

I attended a worship service, which was traditional yet entrancing. By traditional I mean that the liturgy was from the worship book, not the newest but the previous (green) one. It was a full Holy Communion Service. Three texts were read, a psalm chanted, prayers prayed, hymns sung, and a sermon preached. Was it long? I don’t know. I couldn’t check the time because I didn’t want to miss a moment.

Why was it so enchanting? First of all the worship team - a presider, a preacher, readers, an organist and acolytes - worked seamlessly. The liturgy flowed easily, congregation sang joyfully, and the presider somehow made every word sound alive and meaningful.

He read every word from the book – yet it didn’t sound like reading. It sounded like every word was a treasure that had to be given out with care. He believed in what he said. He lived out what he was reading. I did not hear a preacher’s tone in his voice – just joy and admiration. Liturgical gestures came naturally and elegantly.

In the middle of the service just before Communion, the pastor again welcomed people. He did that at the beginning, too. He also told where the washrooms could be found and asked if we had any concerns or questions. It sounded perfectly normal to do so as if it was a part of the liturgy.

I’m convinced that it does not matter which order we use for a liturgy; whether recently renewed or from the time of Irenaeus. It all depends on how you as a leader bring it to life and make it whole.

Where did I go? Georgian Bay Spring Conference meeting. What surprised me was that less than half of the pastors were present and only one had sent regrets. Conference meetings are part of a pastor’s job. Some pastors may say they don’t like business meetings. Why don’t they come for a worship service? I learnt a lot! If you weren’t there you missed a lot! And I missed you!

Riitta

He Asked

My son Aaron asked me today: “So how was your day, Aiti (mom)?”

I  said: “It was good. I was in the office all day.”

He asked: “What’s your plan of the game, so to say, when you’re in the office?”

The first thing I check when I enter to my office is if there is a red light on my phone telling me that someone has left a message. Before I touch the phone I set up my laptop.

I take my notebook and listen to voice messages, check emails and write a list of people I have to call to and things that I have to do. After making a list it’s usually time to worship. We have morning devotion (Holy Communion on Wednesdays) in our little chapel. After or before devotion I have a brief catch up –chat with our administrative staff.

Then it’s time to grab the to-do -list again and start chasing people who have left messages or who I need to talk to.  

“Who are they?” Aaron asked.

They are for example pastors, council chairs or call committee chairs.

“Why do they call you?”

They call if they have problems or they need to know about rules (constitutional issues) or salaries for example.

“What! Are you a counselor! What if you sometimes say ‘suck it up’? Have you ever said that?”

No I haven’t but I’ll keep it in mind!

I also write letters, tons of emails, have meetings with the staff and meet other people in my office. If I have time I update our website, plan forthcoming meetings and programs.

“And if you don’t?”

I do it when I’m home or on the road.

Before I leave the office I re-write my list for the next day. Sometimes it’s longer than it was when I started in the morning.

“When can I come to your office, mom? I like your buddies.”

Have I ever told you?

Have I ever told you why I decided to stay here in Canada and not to go back to Finland?

There was a man with a young family in my previous congregation. John came to church faithfully every Sunday with his wife and kids. After serving the congregation for two years I learnt that John got only two weeks of vacation a year and that one of them he volunteered at our kids’ bible camp, helping out his wife who at that time was the director of the camp. I was moved by his commitment and love to the church. To stay here meant uncertainty to me and my family. At that time I did not have a full time, permanent call (job), and I did not receive all the benefits I would have got in Finland. Yet I was so inspired that I decided to take a risk and start living and serving as if I would never leave.

During these 8 years that I have lived in Canada, I have met many more men and women whose dedication and enthusiasm has touched me deeply, most recently in Atlantic Conference and Trinity, New Hamburg. Parish visits – whether they are worship services or meetings – are the best part of my work. Seeing your witness gives me hope and energy for the rest of the week.

Your witness can change someone’s life. John’s changed mine.

I'm living out my dream!

When I arrived in Halifax I needed to rent a car. Usually I make a booking but didn’t this time. I just walked to a rental desk, a company that I always use. They had two cars left. One was way too big for me and the other one made me smile. The lady at the desk suggested that I would go to the next desk (other company) but I said: “No thanks, I take the little one. I’ve always wanted to try Fiat 500!” It looked so small on the parking lot with other bigger vehicles that I almost felt sorry for it. But it’s cute and handy and I feel I’m living out my dream when driving it.

When shopping (I don’t shop very often) I go to the same stores I always go; I use the same hair dresser, the same car rental company etc. I’m a loyal customer I could say. You may call me archaic or dull and maybe I am. I just don’t like shopping.

I’m not in to church shopping either. “Church shopping” is a phrase that is used for the process when people are trying to find a church or faith community they like. They visit several churches comparing them to find out which one offers what they need or want or where they can feel at home. I’ve never done that. Have you? Please, tell me about your church shopping experiences!

I serve and belong to a small church compared to many other denominations and churches. It’s like my little rental vehicle; it does not have all the fancy features and accessories yet it makes me smile and feel I’m living out my dream.

Packing again

Conference spring meetings keep me busy this time of year. Last weekend I went to the Northern Conference meeting which was held in Elliot Lake. Tomorrow I'm flying to Nova Scotia. I thought I would travel light this time but seeing the pile beside my little suitecase I realize it will not happen; in addition to my personal stuff I have to take 60 copies of Bishop's Reports and my mini office which includes a laptop, notebook, some handy constitutional and policy documents, a Bible, Occational Services -book, and my crochet project, which works for me as a rosary. I pray when I'm crocheting.

I know that my luggage will be lighter when I'm coming back. So will be my heart, I'm sure. Even though I go to these meetings - any meetings for that matter- with a wary heart, I always come back with a joyous one.