The Messiness of the Incarnation

Oh the weather outside is frightful,

but the fire is so delightful,

and since we’ve no place to go,

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

To be honest, I’m devastated that we are not gathering together at Cochrane Street United Church this evening. The thought of not being together as a congregation on a night like this, to celebrate this most wondrous story is frankly, unthinkable to me. It is, however, a reminder that we often take such things for granted, things like a Christmas Eve service or the birth of Jesus Christ, born in a manger in Bethlehem so many years ago. Situations like this help us to remember that such things are perhaps more complicated, more entangled; messier than we initially assume.

When we contemplate, reflect upon, and commemorate Jesus’ birth it is easy to romanticize that night in Bethlehem. We sing carols that speak of silent nights, telling us “little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes” – we think of the nativity in idealized terms, softened and censored. But that is not the reality of the story, the real story of Christmas is much more complex, much messier than we would like to admit.

“In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn” (Luke 2:1-7, NRSV).

There are a lot of details missing from this story: a lot of crying, screaming, pushing – a lot of literal blood, sweat, and tears are missing from this story. The incarnation and nativity of Jesus Christ is raw, it is messy, it is human.

When we talk about our own Christmases, we often try to idealize our own situations as well. We do not talk about the grief and sadness many of us experience at this time of year, we do not speak of awkward and challenging family dynamics that we may have to encounter. Instead we take the messiness of our lives and try and hide it, opting to become picture perfect like a Hallmark Christmas movie, rather than come face to face with the reality of the situation.

On a messy evening such as this, with snow and ice and wind, I take great comfort in knowing that the very first Christmas happened in such less than ideal circumstances, it was not picture perfect, and the circumstances were not the making of a Hallmark movie.

It is the story of long journey to partake in a census ordered by a tyrant. It is the story of an inn with no vacancies. It is the story of a young and scared girl giving birth to her son with no midwife or other medical personnel to be seen. It is the story of a birth among animals with nothing but a feeding trough to act as a crib for the child. And yet, this is the birth of God. This is the birth of Jesus Christ in less than perfect circumstances. There is nothing more human than for God, who could have come to earth with power, might, and authority, to instead be born as a helpless child, to a young woman in poverty, among animals and laid in a manger.

At Christmas, we celebrate that Jesus Christ was born into this world fully human and fully divine – and that means he is born to fully experience what that means – both celebration and sorrow, both tears of joy and tears of sadness, experiencing all that human life has to offer, both the good and the bad.

At Christmas it is easy for us to focus on making sure that everything is perfect: we seek to make our homes perfect, to do all of this baking, decorate to the nines, purchase extravagant gifts, to present our lives as “picture perfect,” but the hope of Christmas is that Christ will still be born, even in less than ideal circumstances. Even if all of our Christmas preparation doesn’t get finished, Christ will still be born. Actually, as much as it pains me to say, even if do not gather together in our Church on this the holiest of nights, Christ will still be born. Christ is born in less than ideal circumstances, no matter if nothing is done to prepare for Christmas, Christ will be born again and again, regardless of if our homes are ready and regardless of whether we have a Christmas Ever service or not. Jesus Christ will be born again and again in our hearts and in our world, today and everyday, because God is in the business of taking the less than ideal, the messy, the disastrous even; and turning it into something wonderful, something magical, something so special that language fails to do it justice.

Jesus Christ is in the business of being human, along with all of the messiness that entails. Jesus Christ comes into the world, complete with the literal blood, sweat, and tears with which we all enter this world. And Jesus Christ cries the holiest of tears as Joseph wipes the amniotic fluid from his body as he hands her to Mary and she smiles despite her exhaustion. And in the midst of that holy mess, Christmas happens. In the midst of the messes that our lives can be, Christmas happens. In the midst of this messy and stormy night, Christmas happens.

And so we remember that this messy night is a holy night; just as God intended – it is a night of messes, a night of surprises, a night that is very human. It is a night that does not go the way that we expect it to, it is a night that challenges us and inspires us, all at the same time. This night, this holiest of nights, is a reminder that God’s love will always find a way to break through in our lives, despite the wind and the snow, the messiness that we encounter, even (or perhaps, especially) when things do not work out perfectly. God doesn’t deal with perfect, God deals with messes and storms and snow and babies born to young mothers in stables -- and from those things God creates holiness, hope, peace, joy, and love where those things seem impossible.

This night, this Christmas night, let us take comfort in the knowledge that God is with us in the midst of imperfection, creating everything out of nothing, making hope radiate from stables, seeing the perfectness in imperfection turning it into wonderful, majestic, and magical possibilities.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not, will not, cannot, overcome it. For that good news, thanks be to God! Alleluia! Amen.

 Oliver Dingwell

Tuesday, December 24, 2019

REFLECTION September 15, 2019

Devastation…but not Completely!

By Karen Critch

September 15, 2019

The mood of this chapter is one of an immediate threat. The possibility of repentance is still open to Israel, but time is running out fast. Plans for death and mourning are already laid. The people seem doomed.

The first couple verses in this passage talk of a hot, strong wind. It is not a refreshing wind that cools the body and spirit but an overwhelming display of strength and force—a whirlwind. Moreover, the origin of the wind is God. God will be in the judgment and destruction. God will be active in the desolation of Judah.

For many, this is a disturbing understanding of God’s involvement in evil and punishment. Jeremiah sees God as an active participant (leader!) in using Babylon to punish Israel for its wrongdoings. To connect God so closely with destruction makes modern readers uncomfortable. We do not want to associate the Holy One with natural phenomena such as a strong wind or tornado. And we do not want to associate those types of events with punishment for sin.

There are four “I looked” sentences.

First, this watcher sees the earth turn back to “waste and void,”. This was the characteristic of the world at its beginning when watery chaos covered the earth. This world had no light because God had not spoken it into existence. The earth is undone and returns to this disordered state as God’s judgment.

Second, the watcher sees quaking mountains and rocking hills. Solid terrain becomes unstable.

Third, both people and birds have left because of the earth’s transformation. They flee because of the earth’s devastating transformation.

Fourth, the land that produced fruit and food transforms into an unproductive desert, while the cities are laid to ruin. Magnificent city structures are torn down.

Creation suffers because of people’s actions. The judgment against the people has a profound effect on the natural world and all its creatures.

The link between the judgment of the people and the desolation of creation is an essential reminder to us that our actions affect more than just ourselves. They affect more than just other people. The whole world is interrelated.

One might suppose that all hope is lost. Yet, even now, there is reason to hope. Even now, with cities laid in ruins, with neither bird nor human to be found, with the earth in mourning and the heavens covered in black. Even now when the earth is void and the heavens give no light. With mountains moving and the fruitful land a desert, even now, the relationship is not ended.

The message of the consequences of evil and the possibility of healing and wholeness is as today as it was in Jeremiah’s time.

People wonder why our God would even consider such devastation here on earth back then and now. Is it because evil outweighs good? Is a balance that needs to be met or if not, there will be consequences? Still today we see the damage through major forest fires, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes and of course humans. Why do these events still occur, have we not learned our lesson? On the west coast of Canada, you hear of the massive forest fires spreading over BC and Alberta this happens every year, but has it gotten worst yes. But after a forest fire what happens to the ashes which are full of nutrients are returned to the earth to help the trees that have survived the fire. Giving hope the forest will flourish again.

Or during the first world war where there was so much bloodshed between the world until one day in Flanders field a John McCrae wrote a poem. There were poppies growing over the graves where fallen soldiers lay, despite the despair the flowers gave hope to the Veterans and survivors. Thanks to his poem we wear the poppy today remembering that seen long ago giving hope for the Veterans and survivors.

The last couple of weeks our friends in the Bahamas were struck with a category 5 storm. I look at the devastation these storms cause yet again these storms are not uncommon they are happening more frequently and stronger each year. The whole chain of islands is faced with devastation, yet they still live there why. Is it because generally the weather is nice and the tourism industry? After the storm they start to rebuild their community with only to find out that another storm is on the way. What are these people feeling, what are they thinking how can they find hope in this situation? Just before the storm was announced there was help on the way, people were organizing backpacks of necessities needed for the people at this time.

This past week we remember the tragedy of 911, this was the 18th anniversary of when two planes would change a city a world. After going through the rubble there was a Callery pear tree found at ground zero. It was in bad shape roots snapped burned branches. This tree was taken from rubble and sent to Van Cortlandt Park where the NYC department of Parks and recreation nursed the tree back to health. The thought at first it would not survive but later returned in 2010 and is now know as the “Survivor Tree”. Now the tree has new growth which surrounds the old stump this clearly shows that not all hope is lost even through the worst devastation  and gives us the strength to rebuild it times of great loss. This tree also spreads its hope across the world through its seedlings, there are three seedlings given out each year to the communities who have endured such tragedy & despair in turn giving them the hope they need to rebuild their future.

God’s affirmation of the divine decision to bring disaster, “I have not relented, nor will I turn back,” is not the last word. The decision not to relent combined with the decision not to make a full end of things leaves open the possibility for repentance and for a remnant to rebuild the nation. This glimmer of hope is present because, ultimately, God seeks healing and wholeness for the nation, not an end to the relationship. Who knows what is instore for us or what is yet to come, let us always find hope when all is thought to be lost! Amen.

Why Go to Church

Why go to church? It’s a great question! Especially in a time when people are choosing increasingly not to go church. There are some Sunday mornings I wake up and I long to do what people who don’t go to church on Sundays do. Read a book. Sit and sip a good cup of tea in my backyard. Meet friends for breakfast. Finish one of those half finished projects. Even as I’m saying it sounds relaxing and nothing like the scramble we sometimes face going to church. I know for many families it is their only day at home together. So why would we, why do we bother going to church?

I asked some friends on Facebook and here is some of what I got:

1. For spiritual and cultural reasons

2. For music – even it is not always fulfilling

3. For the people – not going to church would have meant missing out positive relationships.

4. Because it is the place where we are loved and welcomed

5. For the spiritual knowledge, spiritual uplift and connecting with others

6. So you can get through the week.

7. To be reminded that worship is about God. “

8. For the rich theology of hymnody.

9. The quiet contemplation of prayer.

10. The studious sharing of the sermon.

11. The gathering of the saints of God, warts and all, which affirms that I belong.

12. It is intentional community revolving around the deep mysteries of faith which are foundational to all that I have been

13. This one I can’t summarize so I quote, “I go to worship God. I think often of the quote I read, in a book that I think may have been written by Marva Dawn, of a colleague of hers who was greeted at the door with a parishioner who said they didn’t get one thing out of that service and the officiant replied, “Well it wasn’t for you, it was to worship God “. Our society’s addictions to capitalism and ME, ME, ME...are hard on a soul. Worship is one way of reminding myself that I’m not the centre. God is. In my life, in my family, clan, church community, town, my national identity as a Newfoundlander or as a Canadian, a dweller on our fragile earth. Being the centre means you have to carry it all, but being reminded that She who always was, can and will do it all with or without me is such freedom.”

For those of you who want to read more, check out Rev. Rob Cooke’s reflection “Why do we need to go to church and some response by congregation members. Links provided in my sermon on our website! (https://stmarksanglicanblog.wordpress.com/2017/06/20/why-do-we-need-church/?fbclid=IwAR02FRey0qBpMEkyl-RHpewU720tDBIEWd-BczF2Qfrg8U-AawjEYrF14eE and responses: https://stmarksanglicanblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/?fbclid=IwAR1kwJREzZScW__PSDH8Z0qIkqoO3PSb2ur6aackyCmuOk7sM4xPORqlIPo)

No one shared why they don’t go to church but I’m guessing that my Facebook friends group is heavy on the church attenders! I’m guessing that there as many reasons as there are that people come and the some of the reasons have to do with difficult experiences at church. One person said they go but they are barely hanging on to church attendance.

Now it’s your turn. You are here this morning? Why do you come?

I come to church because for me it is home. When I first moved to Newfoundland and Labrador, I was often homesick. I was living for the first time away from my family and friends. Sometimes I longed for the bright lights and busy streets of Toronto because that’s where Scott was and sometimes for my home in Nova Scotia filled with family and friends. I remember very clearly driving home from Nova Scotia, getting off the boat at Port Aux Basque and beginning the drive back home to Newtown. I was missing Nova Scotia already. It was Sunday morning and I was longing to feel at home. As I came up to Deer Lake I could see the church steeples and hear the church bells. I wondered – is there a United Church there? It was still early – 10 am maybe but I thought, I’m going to church. I walked through the doors and I felt that warm peace of home. I can’t tell you what we sang or what was preached but I can tell you it made the rest of the trip back to Newtown easier.

For me, I go to church for so many reasons: it is the people, it is the music, it is those fleeting but beautiful moments where it seems that God has come close, it is for the music that lifts my spirits and it is for the reminder that I am not alone in this journey through life.

As I thought about what passages from the bible to include for this week, I kept coming back to the story from the book of Acts. Church was different – in fact they probably wouldn’t have called it church. For some it was the way of Jesus. For some it was a new revelation about God. Our reading from Acts follows right on the heals of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit comes like a flame and gives birth to something new. After some heard Peter’s Spirit inspired sermon people asked what to do next. Peter said to repent and be baptized. Here is what is says about the early church, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to breaking the bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:42 – 47)

Somethings have changed and some have stayed the same. We still break bread together –whether it is at the communion table or in our fellowship time after church. We continue to pray as a community and learn from the apostles teachings. While we don’t hold all things in common, we still do our best to ensure the welfare of people in community. The food was so important because in that early community there were people who had plenty and people who had nothing. They had different social and economic backgrounds and they had to learn to how to be one in “Christ’s body” It says it so well in Galatians, “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28)

This is the strength and the beauty of the church – we come from different backgrounds, different generations, different life experiences but we come here to be one in Christ Jesus. Why come to church? Because here we are all beloved children of God and together we bear Christ’s light in to the world. Amen.

What Cochrane Street and the United Church mean to me

Our newest members share their thoughts on becoming members of Cochrane Street United Church and The United Church of Canada