Can we be Deep, Bold, and Daring as the United People of Christ?

 

Spirit, Spirit of gentleness,

blow thro' the wilderness calling and free,

Spirit, Spirit of restlessness,

stir me from placidness,

Wind, Wind on the sea.

4 You call from tomorrow, you break ancient schemes,

from the bondage of sorrow the captives dream dreams,

our women see visions, our men clear their eyes,

with bold new decisions your people arise.  R

                            Voices United 375

Today many United Church of Canada congregations from sea to sea to sea are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the denomination even though the actual date is June 10th. In some communities multiple UCC congregations are coming together for celebratory services combining Pentecost, the birth of the Christian church, with our natal day a century ago. 

At Trenton United we will enjoy a catered meal following the service. And I've been asked to share the reflection/sermon time with son Isaac, who is the called minister at TUC. This is a privelege even though this makes me Father Time. When I joked with him about this he came up with the graphic at the bottom of this blog. That'll teach me. 

When the United Church was born not everyone in the amalgamating denominations was happy. About 150,000 Presbyterians decided that they wouldn't join. There were  Methodists and Congregationalists who weren't thrilled either. In many communities the congregations became United without really being united. I wrote once about the two United Churches in downtown Oshawa across the street from one another for decades although both have closed now, casualities of our secular times. Change can lead to turbulence in any time. 

In our message time we will both share about our experiences within the United Church. Isaac was born in Newfoundland where I was sent for my first pastoral charge.  He grew up in active congregations where a  lot was offered for kids but when he was a teen I did try to discourage him from answering his call to ministry because I was aware of the changing times. The Holy Spirit was at work in him despite me and he has made his own way forward as a Christ-follower and Christian leader, despite the challenges. 

You might search out the Trenton United Youtube recording of the service and hear what we have to say. 

I do hope that the United Church will be "Deep, Bold, Daring" in whatever time God gives us in the days ahead. I hope the Holy Spirit won't allow us to be complacent and that we will be faithful to Jesus as the Living Christ. 

And so we sing of God the Spirit,

     who from the beginning has swept over the face of creation,

     animating all energy and matter  and moving in the human heart.

 

We sing of God the Spirit,  faithful and untameable,

  who is creatively and redemptively active in the world.

 

The Spirit challenges us to celebrate the holy

  not only in what is familiar,  but also in that which seems foreign.

 

We sing of the Spirit,  who speaks our prayers of deepest longing

  and enfolds our concerns and confessions,  transforming us and the world.

                            From a Song of Faith, United Church of Canada