Sunday December 30, 2007

When It Is Safe To Do So, Make a U-Turn
Rev. Anne Treadwell
On her vacation this summer, a friend of mine rented a car with a fancy Global Positioning System, the kind that talks you along your way. Of course it can't make you conform perfectly to its spoken directions, and at one point my friend passed an exit she should have taken. She didn't know how the system would respond and was even feeling a bit guilty that she'd "disobeyed", but was much reassured by the patient and non-judgmental voice which simply said, "You have missed your exit. When it is safe to do so, make a U-turn." At this time of year we often think about making major or minor changes in the direction of our lives. A U-turn is a major change, a "conversion experience" of a sort. If this is not the time for making one in your life, perhaps you can remember or imagine when it WAS or WILL be such a time. When is it "safe to do so" -- or as someone has suggested, is safety an illusion in any case? Let's ponder U-turns today, as well as smaller changes of direction, and how we can muster the courage and determination to make them when they're called for. Music: Mag Horman.

Sunday December 23, 2007

Blue Christmas Rev. Felicia Urbanski
Blue? Yes, blue as in the blues. As in "I am feeling blue." Not everyone is up and cheery for the Christmas holidays. Dealing with the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce or separation, coping with the loss of a job, living with cancer or some other dis-ease that puts a question mark over the future, and a number of other human situations that make parties and joviality painful for many people. Let us attend to the needs of people who are blue at Christmas. Let us create sacred space for people living through dark times. Our service will be quiet and reflective, accepting where we really are, and holding out healing and hope. Music: Tracey Clarke Rankine.

Sunday December 16, 2007

The Joy of Christmas
Rev. Felicia Urbanski, Sherry Lawlor Alexander and the Children's Religious Education Committee
Our intergenerational service will feature our children participating in singing and reading for the congregation! Join us for a potluck and carolling after the service. If you wish, plan to go out with us to sing carols for "at home" members and friends, as we bring them holiday warmth and they share theirs with us. Music: Tracey Clarke Rankine.

Sunday December 9, 2007

Beyond Theism: Do We Have a Prayer? Rev. Dr. Neil Carver Our speaker will attempt to respond to at least two interpretations of this question: "Without theism, do we have a hope?" and "Is prayer meaningless without a theist God?" Neil Carver has lectured on mystical theology at Huron University College in London. He is a founding member of Interfaith Grand River and a Director for the Canadian Centre for Progressive Christianity. Service leader: Jay Moore. Music: Boyd McDonald and Julie Baumgartel.