REYNOLDS RAP
August 21, 2010
BEFORE WORDS
Last week’s Rap was late. Blame the computer. I try to send the Rap Saturday morning at 1:00am so that people will have it for the weekend, when there is hopefully less traffic and more time to “read and inwardly digest.” This means setting a delayed delivery on the computer. This past weekend we were away for a family weekend at Whistler (north of Vancouver, remember the 2010 Winter Olympics last February), and the machine didn’t cooperate.
This week, the last of the series of “memories” from my ministry, a moving story (for me at least) of the working of God’s Spirit. Next week, the story of our Whistler weekend and why it may be important to others. Then back to work.
“WHO THROUGH LIFE HAS BEEN MY GUIDE”
Edith McLellan was an active member at Ryerson United Church in Vancouver, where I was minister for a number of years. She was in the choir, a member of “Fifty-fifty, a couple’s group. But like most United Church members, her faith was private. She didn’t go around talking about it and left the public act of prayer to the minister in the Sunday service.
Edith was diagnosed with a brain tumour and scheduled for an immediate operation. I went to see her the night before her operation. After a long visit, late on a Sunday evening, as I was about to leave, I offered to pray. She accepted this offer and I took her hand, closed my eyes to lead in prayer. Something (or Someone) stopped me, and I asked if she would like to say the words. She said no, and I went on with my prayer. After I had said Amen, she held onto my hand and said that yes, she would like to pray.
She said a most beautiful prayer, praying for the surgeons and the medical team, praying for her husband and children if she didn't come out of the operation, and committing her life to God.
She did come out of the operation. The growth was benign, but it was large and the operation left her with only partial strength on her left side.
Even so, following the operation it was like she was “born again.” She was literally filled with joy, filled with the Spirit I would say. She began to say she wanted something else to do with her life other than her present work. I felt that I should be able to help her. Over the course of the following weeks, I thought and prayed about what that might be, but no answer came.
One day she came into my study. She told me that she had signed up for a Pastoral Training course. I didn’t have to solve her problem. God was working on that.
Edith went on to take theology at the Vancouver School of Theology. With her physical limitations it was often difficult. But she did it, was ordained, and was active in her ministry both before and after her retirement. In the last years of her ministry, she was Pastoral Minister at Shaughnessy Heights United here in Vancouver and was so well regarded in the congregation that she was appointed "Minister Emerita," a title justly deserved and of which she was very proud.
AFTER WORDS
The response to last week’s request to clean house was in part very encouraging. A number of people replied that they read the message every week “from cover to cover.” Margaret Romans phoned from Nova Scotia to say exactly that, and to express appreciation of the messages. No one asked to be signed off. Who could ask for more?
In reply to the Rap on how difficult it is to know if we are effective in ministry, these replies from a couple of teachers:
Don Wade replied: Ministers and teachers share some of this same lack of feedback...we never know if / how much our work "sticks". For teachers, about half of what we do never comes home to roost until the student hits 30...if then. For both of us, it's the faith that keeps us doing it...the belief that we're doing some good in the world even if it seems speck-like in size. Keep 'em coming.
And from Dave Jones: Indeed in the ministry, and in teaching, we usually don't know at the time just what we have achieved. But, thankfully, confirmation does sometimes come later if not sooner. And while we are called to faithfulness, a little effectiveness goes a long way toward sustaining our faithfulness.
And finally from Cliff Moase (Rev., ret’d): I'll never forget the woman in one congregation who was on the church list but seldom, if ever, came to church. I visited in the home from time to time. On one such occasion she said something like this: "Mr. Moase, you know we don't go to church, but you keep visiting, and that makes me believe that God still cares about us".
LAST CAST
An elderly gentleman had serious hearing problems for a number of years He went to the doctor and was finally fitted with a set of hearing aids which allowed him 100% hearing.
A month later he went back to the doctor who said, “Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be pleased that you can hear again.”
The old gentleman replied, “Oh, I haven’t told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I’ve changed my will three times!”
Finally, something I learned today, something for people (like me) who are left handed: “The right brain controls the body; therefore it is only left-handed people who are in their right mind!”
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
It’s a Rap. Grace and peace. Alan
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
REYNOLDS RAP, July 31, 2010
REYNOLDS RAP
July 31, 2010
BEFORE WORDS
Over the next few weeks, I’d like to share with you a few bits of memorabilia. A couple of years ago, I wrote a series of memories of events of my own ministry, Memories of Ministry. I wrote it for the possible interest of my children and grandchildren, any fellow travelers on the ministerial tracks, and curious friends who wonder how I got that way. Here is one memory.
FIRST BAPTISM
BE PREPARED, BUT EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
Most newly-ordained ministers are familiar with the horror stories of others beginning their ministry whose first wedding, baptism or funeral had been something of a disaster. I was newly ordained and new to the congregation. I was determined that my first baptism would not be remembered for my fumbles and botches. I prepared thoroughly. I memorized the baptismal service and considered every move that I would make.
The little village of Waterford sits amid the hills of southern New Brunswick in a beautiful valley where two streams join. The Waterford United Church sits on a knoll of solid rock in the midst of the village. It is a well-proportioned church with a high steeple, “beautiful on Mount Zion.” The entrance was at the front of the sanctuary, resulting in some embarrassment for visitors arriving late and on entering, finding the whole congregation looking at them.
On this particular Sunday morning, two baby boys were to be baptized. All was going well and we were singing the baptismal hymn, when I looked down from the pulpit and realized that there was no baptismal font, no bowl, and no water. This was 1954, and the Waterford church, typical of country churches of the time, had no electricity, no running water, no kitchen – just sanctuary and vestry. What to do?
First, I remembered that there was a brook about fifty yards down the road. There was water. But the hymn would be finished before I could get there and back. Well, the congregation would just have to stand there and wait.
But what to carry the water in? An elder of the congregation lived next to the church, perhaps I could get a dish there. What if the house was locked? (They were all in church.) I would just have to take the chance. People in those days usually didn’t bother to lock doors.
I started for the door. As I came down from the pulpit platform, I noticed the wood stove used to heat the church in colder weather. I remembered that there was an old rusty tin can used in the winter to throw kerosene on the wood to get the fire started quickly. If the house was locked, I could get water in the kerosene can.
I went to the stove, got the kerosene can and started back for the door. All this seemed like an eternity in my own mind, but the congregation was still singing the baptismal hymn. As I got to the entry at the front of the church I noticed the flowers of the communion table. There was my water!
Going to the table, I poured water from the flowers into the rusty kerosene can and turned to the congregation just as they were finishing the hymn. The baptism proceeded without further interruption.
Some twenty-five years later, I was invited back to this congregation for an anniversary service. I was extremely pleased (and maybe a bit relieved) to find that these baby boys, now young men, were both elders of the congregation. Water from the flowers in a rusty can, but I guess the baptism “took.”
AFTER WORDS
Brenda and I have just returned from a couple of weeks in Nova Scotia, visiting family and friends. We jumped from the Maritimes to the West Coast in 1971. Maritime roots still run pretty deep.
We had a great trip, enjoyed Maritime hospitality, and had lobster twice! There were even left-overs, reminiscent of “olden times” when my Aunt Lucy would take the left-over lobster, chop it up, and heat it in the frying pan with butter and lemon juice – then serve it on toast. It was and is delicious! But there are seldom lobster left-overs these days.
LAST CAST
The following is from Ralph Milton’s “Rumors” which he and Jim Taylor (“Soft Edges,” jmt@quixotic.ca) produced for a good number of years until Ralph “retired” last spring. Reynolds Rap is but a pale imitation of Rumors which, because it was so interesting and with such humour, expanded to a readership of over eight thousand. I may imitate Rumors, but I have no hope or desire to equal its success.
The Puzzled Philosopher:
* Can you cry under water?* How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?* Why does a round pizza come in a square box?* What disease did cured ham actually have?* How is it that we put a person on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?* Why is it that people say they 'slept like a baby' when babies wake up every two hours?* Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?* Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you naked anyway.* Why is 'bra' singular and 'panties' plural?* If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him? * Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane?* If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn't he just buy dinner?* If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?* Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?* Why did you just try singing the two songs above?* Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?
It’s a Rap. Grace and peace to all. Alan
July 31, 2010
BEFORE WORDS
Over the next few weeks, I’d like to share with you a few bits of memorabilia. A couple of years ago, I wrote a series of memories of events of my own ministry, Memories of Ministry. I wrote it for the possible interest of my children and grandchildren, any fellow travelers on the ministerial tracks, and curious friends who wonder how I got that way. Here is one memory.
FIRST BAPTISM
BE PREPARED, BUT EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
Most newly-ordained ministers are familiar with the horror stories of others beginning their ministry whose first wedding, baptism or funeral had been something of a disaster. I was newly ordained and new to the congregation. I was determined that my first baptism would not be remembered for my fumbles and botches. I prepared thoroughly. I memorized the baptismal service and considered every move that I would make.
The little village of Waterford sits amid the hills of southern New Brunswick in a beautiful valley where two streams join. The Waterford United Church sits on a knoll of solid rock in the midst of the village. It is a well-proportioned church with a high steeple, “beautiful on Mount Zion.” The entrance was at the front of the sanctuary, resulting in some embarrassment for visitors arriving late and on entering, finding the whole congregation looking at them.
On this particular Sunday morning, two baby boys were to be baptized. All was going well and we were singing the baptismal hymn, when I looked down from the pulpit and realized that there was no baptismal font, no bowl, and no water. This was 1954, and the Waterford church, typical of country churches of the time, had no electricity, no running water, no kitchen – just sanctuary and vestry. What to do?
First, I remembered that there was a brook about fifty yards down the road. There was water. But the hymn would be finished before I could get there and back. Well, the congregation would just have to stand there and wait.
But what to carry the water in? An elder of the congregation lived next to the church, perhaps I could get a dish there. What if the house was locked? (They were all in church.) I would just have to take the chance. People in those days usually didn’t bother to lock doors.
I started for the door. As I came down from the pulpit platform, I noticed the wood stove used to heat the church in colder weather. I remembered that there was an old rusty tin can used in the winter to throw kerosene on the wood to get the fire started quickly. If the house was locked, I could get water in the kerosene can.
I went to the stove, got the kerosene can and started back for the door. All this seemed like an eternity in my own mind, but the congregation was still singing the baptismal hymn. As I got to the entry at the front of the church I noticed the flowers of the communion table. There was my water!
Going to the table, I poured water from the flowers into the rusty kerosene can and turned to the congregation just as they were finishing the hymn. The baptism proceeded without further interruption.
Some twenty-five years later, I was invited back to this congregation for an anniversary service. I was extremely pleased (and maybe a bit relieved) to find that these baby boys, now young men, were both elders of the congregation. Water from the flowers in a rusty can, but I guess the baptism “took.”
AFTER WORDS
Brenda and I have just returned from a couple of weeks in Nova Scotia, visiting family and friends. We jumped from the Maritimes to the West Coast in 1971. Maritime roots still run pretty deep.
We had a great trip, enjoyed Maritime hospitality, and had lobster twice! There were even left-overs, reminiscent of “olden times” when my Aunt Lucy would take the left-over lobster, chop it up, and heat it in the frying pan with butter and lemon juice – then serve it on toast. It was and is delicious! But there are seldom lobster left-overs these days.
LAST CAST
The following is from Ralph Milton’s “Rumors” which he and Jim Taylor (“Soft Edges,” jmt@quixotic.ca) produced for a good number of years until Ralph “retired” last spring. Reynolds Rap is but a pale imitation of Rumors which, because it was so interesting and with such humour, expanded to a readership of over eight thousand. I may imitate Rumors, but I have no hope or desire to equal its success.
The Puzzled Philosopher:
* Can you cry under water?* How important does a person have to be before they are considered assassinated instead of just murdered?* Why does a round pizza come in a square box?* What disease did cured ham actually have?* How is it that we put a person on the moon before we figured out it would be a good idea to put wheels on luggage?* Why is it that people say they 'slept like a baby' when babies wake up every two hours?* Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?* Why do doctors leave the room while you change? They're going to see you naked anyway.* Why is 'bra' singular and 'panties' plural?* If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him? * Can a hearse carrying a corpse drive in the carpool lane?* If Wile E. Coyote had enough money to buy all that ACME crap, why didn't he just buy dinner?* If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from?* Do the Alphabet song and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star have the same tune?* Why did you just try singing the two songs above?* Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog's face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?
It’s a Rap. Grace and peace to all. Alan
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