Wenceslas, St, Stephen, and Warming Centres

  

Good King Wenceslas looked out,On the feast of Stephen,

When the snow lay round about, Deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shown the moon that night, Though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight, Gathering winter fuel.

Verse 1 Good King Wenceslas

When our kids were quite young I began involving them with readings in worship services, particularly at Christmas. They were all good readers but coaching was involved. We would go to the church sanctuary and they would stand in the pulpit to practice. I would remind them that older ears required them to read sloowwly and that their voices needed to be "deep, and crisp, and even." 

This phrase was borrowed from the hymn, Good King Wenceslas, which narrates the legend of a kind and generous duke from the 10th century who goes out of his way to provide aid to a peasant in need in the bitter cold of winter. As the first verse reminds us, this took place on the feast of St. Stephen, which is today.

This morning in worship Rev. Isaac Mundy, one of those child readers from years ago, made the connection between the story of Wenceslas and the opening tonight of the warming centre for Quinte West which will be in Trenton United Church. This is the first year for this initiative which has required coordination between Trenton UC, other community agencies, and different levels of government for the funding. As it happens, this year there have been negotiations for a warming centre in Belleville at Bridge St. United Church, the congregation I was serving at the time of retirement. 

The forecast for tonight suggests that the frost will be cruel with a windchill below -10C, the temperature which triggers opening the centres. It's hard to imagine people trying to survive these cold winter nights without some form of shelter and sustenance. 

I commend Isaac, the council members of Trenton UC, and the congregation, for the effort and resolve to bring this warming centre into being. There has been a meal ministry out of Trenton UC for years and in some respects this is an extension of hospitality to those who live on the margins. These are caring people who understand the need and are willing to respond with practical compassion. Their celebration of Christ's birth yesterday extends to heeding his calls to care for "the least of these." 

May God bless those who seek shelter through these Winter nights and those who support them.  

Here is the link for today's worship service for Trenton United:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=310Lqk9MCNs&feature=youtu.be

Verse 5

In his master's step he trod, Where the snow lay dented.

Heat was in the very sod Which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure, Wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor Shall yourselves find blessing.

                                                                   Trenton United Church