Freelton Strabane United Church

To live our discipleship with integrity and grace.

Horseshoe Falls Regional Council

Twenty Second   Sunday of Pentecost 

October 20th   2024

Minister:  Rev. Will Wheeler, B.A. M. Div. 905-659-3380 E-mail: [email protected]

 Music Director Joan Simpson 

Sometime people may think “if only everyone saw things the way that I saw things, things would be better.”

But like looking through the view finder of a camera, we only see a small bit of what is there. 

When some people look at a rock they see a rock. I see the wonder of creation and just want to find my magnifying loop and look deeper to what is there. 

In building Miniatures I have had to lean to see what is beyond what something is to what something can be. Like an electric fan front can become a dome for a conservatory. A green piece of painters tape can become the frond of a palm. 

Ancient Celts and Norsemen felt that the divine Or God provided us with wisdom. They would use small clay tablets with marking on them which meant different things. They would draw them to see or try to gain insight into God’s divine ways. These where called Ruin Stones.    We as Christian look primarily to the scriptures to try to gain insight God’s divine way, we use prayer and meditation to open ourselves to God.     

One of the Ruin stones is an X which is the stone symbolizing partnership. The wisdom of the stone is that in all partnership there is an equality. That there is a union with oneself but also with the divine.   The ultimate gift of this Rune is the realization of the Divine in all things.  That God always enters into equal partnerships.   

For us as Christian we are reminded that God’s love is within us that we share a special relationship with God because of His son.  That there is a Divine light in each of us. It is a matter of setting our own self a side and listen to what God is telling us through the teaching of Jesus, the gospeller, the epistle writer, Nature and yes maybe even ancient Ruin Stones. 

There is a Story of a Clergy person whose son had some difficulty is school. They took him to a psychologist who put him through a battery of test to find out why he was having a tough time. Then he and his wife were called in to discuss their son’s test results. 

The Doctor said  “Your son is a wonderful kid. Unfortunately he has and exaggerated sense of empathy for other people. He gets distracted from his school work by anyone else in the room who is having difficulty. He is kind, sympathetic and really concerned about others.  “ Well what’s wrong with that? “ the parents asked.  All those are esteemed Christian virtues.  They felt well Congratulations you have done a good job of raising a Christian . Unfortunately, none of those traits lead to success in a public school

What is it to be kind sympathetic and really concerned about others.  The unfortunate thing with our society is that we attempt to show these traits outwardly but inwardly there is sometimes more concern for oneself and how we come across looking to the world The giving of oneself freely without looking for something for the self.  We fail to see the partnership, the balance. We don’t at times open ourselves to other ways of experiencing God. It is far too easy to fall back to the script. “ if only everyone saw things the way that I saw things, things would be better.” 

Like the disciples we miss the point. Yes James and John had the courage to accept the same baptism as Jesus and to take up the cup. But there motivation we somewhat skewed.  It was not about being the center, but seeing the partnership, the balance. 

It’s not about who did this or that or who we may find a greater standing in the community. Who sits on the right who sits on the left who gets to eat the last piece of Raspberry pie.   Its about how we give of our time and of our talents.  It is about seeing beyond the self.   

How do we receive the gifts that other offer to us. Are we able to see the divine servant in those around us and allow them to be a part of our lives and journey?    Or do we look to our own ends. 

One of the saddest church stories I have is the about the person who offered to set all the tables for a church supper. The tables looked wonderful accept they were all set backwards. An older person came in and proceeded to reset the tables. They failed to see the gift, the beauty that was there. 

Commissioning and Blessing

 One: Go and serve the Lord with Joy wherever God sends you.

All: We have known the goodness of God and rely on God’s favour day by day.                       

One: Witness to your faith in your actions and rejoice and give thanks for all the gifts god has given you.

Blessing

One: Now may you know Peace and  May God the one who brings us comfort surround you, May Christ our Joy walk with you. May the Continued presence of The Holy Spirit illuminate our path and keep us safe until we can gather again in community. Amen