So, how are you doing with those New Year’s resolutions?

If you’re like the majority of people (including me), probably not too
well. Indeed, surveys show that roughly 23% of us abandon our January 1
goals by the end of the first week. Then, by the time the calendar turns
from January to February, anywhere from 43% to 80% of us (depending on
the poll) have done the same. So, as many of us know, it can be really
hard to stay the course and keep the resolutions we’ve set.

Some, of course, simply shrug this off. But it’s also possible to see
this failure as a sign of a deep moral flaw. And that’s because we’ve often
been told that change is primarily a matter of will, and that those who can’t
triumph over adversity are weak and incapable of doing much of value.
Indeed, many of us were taught to believe that, with enough resolve,
discipline and clarity of purpose, we can become better. More efficient.
Less needy. Less troubled. Happy. Successful. A leader. A champion.

Of course, that outcome seldom happens. So, when we don’t
measure up to the standards that we or others have set, how might we
respond?

A theologian I really like, Kate Bowler, addresses this question head-
on when she reminds us that failure is a natural and inevitable part of being
human. There’s no cure for it, she states, “because finitude, vulnerability
and dependence are not design flaws. They are the design.” Therefore,
failing to achieve many of our goals is really no surprise. It’s part of who
and what we are.

To be clear, this doesn’t mean it’s wrong to try. Bowler herself is a
self-confessed overachiever who’s long prided herself on being productive
and efficient. Therefore, she’s the last person who’d encourage someone
to give up on themselves and turn away from what’s important. But she’s
come to recognize that there are some things we simply cannot do and can
never fix, regardless of how hard we work at it. So, she says, it’s important
to acknowledge this reality. But doing so DOES NOT make us a failure.
Rather, it makes us human.

So, Bowler concludes a recent newsletter with these words: ”I want
to encourage you to stop trying to it all, and focus instead on ‘trying to try.’”
“Try something small and be kind for yourself,” she counsels. Learn to live
within your limits. Enjoy and celebrate what you can do. And try to
remember that you – like all of us – aren’t perfect. But that you are always,
always loved.

Last Saturday morning, about 90 people gathered in the church gym for the first rehearsal of the new Healing Voices choir. And, for many of us who were there, it was a memorable day. This group was established by our own Kelly Galbraith for those whose lives have been touched by cancer – be as a patient, caregiver or family
member. Kelly came up with the idea in the fall as she was finishing her own series of treatments (“I woke up one morning and thought, ‘I’m supposed to start this choir,’” she says) and the St. Mark’s Board unanimously agreed to sponsor this initiative so that people could participate free of charge.

The response has been overwhelming, and the choir is obviously meeting a real human need – to gather with others who’ve faced, or are facing, similar challenges – and to experience the joys and benefits that come from making music. As Kelly put it in a recent interview with CBC, “when you sing in a choir, your heartbeats line up, you breathe deeper… you have to listen to each other… it creates a bond… and it allows you to let go and let the music wash over you.” The songs that the choir is singing reflect that theme, including Bridge Over Troubled Water, Lean on Me, and That’s What Friends Are For.

A fundraising concert will be held on Sunday February 15 at the church,
with all proceeds going to the Horizon Health Network’s Stay Strong Program.

I am proud to serve a congregation that so willingly supports initiatives such as this. And the great “55+” programming that Debbie McLeod has been putting into place is another important way that we at St. Mark’s are contributing to the physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being of those in the wider community. Serving, caring and helping is basic to the Christian calling, and I pray that the Spirit will continue to lead and inspire us to continue such work in the weeks and months to come.

 

A few weeks ago, I walked into the sanctuary for the UCW’s annual evening Service of Lights, Carols and Memories, and stood in awe at the beauty of the decorated space.  The ambiance set the tone for the lovely service that followed, and I found myself paying particular attention to the candles that shone at the front of the sanctuary, and by the side windows.  That night, they helped make the church seem especially warm, inviting and peaceful.

Of course, churches have lit candles for centuries to symbolize that Jesus is the “light of the World” who offers hope, faith and guidance through times of  darkness.  But the practice of placing lit candles in windows has its own particular history. Indeed, it’s rooted in Irish and New England history, and was intended to do more than simply bring light and peace to a home or church.  Placing a lit candle in a window also told those who were passing by that “you are welcome here” – and that “there is room at our table for you.” 

Indeed, historian Kate Bowler writes that this message of welcome and inclusivity was especially important to the early immigrants on the Atlantic coast who found themselves alone in a strange land.  It reminded them that there were people in their new community who cared, and that they weren’t alone.  Some traditions also connected this practice to Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging after following the light of the Bethlehem star, as if to say, “if the Holy Family knocks here, they will not be turned away.”  So in this part of the world, the joy and love of Christmas has long been connected to the practice of hospitality.

Therefore, when we glimpse the candles that light our sanctuary or that shine in our windows, may we be reminded that the love and joy of Christmas is to be shared – freely and generously – with all.  May we be open to receiving the gifts that come our way, do our part to share the blessings that we’ve been given, and know the joy and peace that comes from embracing Christ’s spirit during this holy season.

Earlier this week, I visited a local store to buy some new Christmas lights for our outside deck.  To my initial delight, the shelves were full.  But I was soon overwhelmed by the range of options that were before me.  There were big lights and small lights – long multi-coloured rolls or shorter strands of blue, red or white bulbs – and assorted brands and prices.  Choices abounded – and I found it really hard to make a decision.

In the overall scheme of things, choosing the type and colour of Christmas lights is a minor matter. But many of us have to make lots of other decisions during the Christmas season that are of far greater consequence.  What should I get for those special but hard-to-buy-for people who  already have everything they need?  What upcoming concerts and events are at the top of my list to attend, and what ones aren’t a priority?  What charities will I support, and how much time and energy can I afford to give?  

This coming Sunday the church celebrates the “Reign of Christ”, and makes the claim that a focus on Jesus’ life and work can provide us with a template that can help inform the choices we make.  He was a “king” who served and sacrificed, so what can we learn from his example?  Can focusing more attention on his call to love and care for those around us help us make decisions that are wise and faithful?  What might the coming weeks look like if we remembered that the season is really about sharing the gifts of hope, peace, joy and love – not only with family and friends – but with those who are struggling and alone?

Through Jesus, God’s love for the world is made real.  And his reign is revealed whenever we listen to the truth of God, and put God’s truth into action.  May we all do our best to do that in the days and weeks to come. 

Have you walked into the grocery store in recent days and been shocked by the prices?  Would you like to do something to lower your food bills?  If so, you might be interested in an initiative that we’re thinking of offering here at St. Mark’s.  And we’d love to know what you think.

The idea is to join the “Saint John Food Purchasing Club” – an organization that helps people like you and me stretch our food dollars by offering access to good quality vegetables and fruit at affordable prices.  Debbie McLeod, Lora Snead and I attended a meeting about it this past week, and learned that it’s a non-profit, volunteer-based group that buys produce in bulk from reputable wholesalers and then distributes it to various depots across the city.  Then the members who’ve placed orders can pick up their food – and enjoy their fruits and vegetables! 

A produce pack is available once a month at the cost of $25.  The orders vary from month to month depending on the season, but here’s an example of the vegetable and fruit order for September 2024.

5 Apples, 2 lbs Bananas, 2 lbs. Carrots, 1 Celery, 1 English Cucumber. 2 lbs. onions. 5 lbs. Potatoes. 1 lb Red Grapes, 2 Avocados, 1 Green Pepper, 1 Red Pepper, 1 Romaine Lettuce, 1 lb Tomatoes.  

What’s more, recipes are offered every month as well!

Debbie, Lora and I think this is a great idea that’s worth pursuing, as the program could offer some tangible and important benefits to us and to others in the wider community.  So we’d like to know what you think. 

Would you consider participating in such an initiative? 

Do you think others in the surrounding community might find it helpful? 

Please reach out to Lora, Debbie McLeod (debmcleod10@gmail.com), or me (revianmanson@gmail.com,) with any thoughts, questions and feedback you might have.
In these and other ways, we at St. Mark’s are committed to doing what we can to help meet the spiritual, social, and physical needs of those in the community, and to being Jesus’ hands and feet in West Saint John

Since I was ordained a few decades ago, a lot of changes have taken place with respect to how end-of-life decisions are made.  And the legalization of MAID (Medical Assistance in Dying) in June of 2016 has been an especially significant development.  MAID allows an eligible person to request assistance from a doctor or nurse practitioner to end their life, and the criteria was expanded in March 2021 to include individuals whose natural death is not reasonably foreseeable.  Since 2016, over 50,000 MAID death have been recorded in Canada, and the number of individuals who choose MAID continues to rise every year. 

While I know of several people who have chosen MAID over the last few years, there’s still a lot I don’t know about the protocols and procedures that govern it.  Thus I think that the information session we’re hosting on “MAID and Advanced Directives” this coming Friday, October 17 at 10 am is especially timely.  It’s part of the “Coffee and Conversation” series that the St. Mark’s “55+ program” is offering in conjunction with Horizon Health and UNB, and that is being organized by the three nursing students who are with us this term.  Our guest speaker is Chantal Arseneault, and I’m sure it will be an informative and interesting session. 

I hope you can join us on Friday at 10 am.

At our “Blessing of the Animals” service this past Saturday, we had the opportunity to meet a number of friends and neighbours who dropped by with a beloved dog or cat (or with some special photos) for a special blessing.  Services like this are inspired by St. Francis of Assisi and his deep love and respect for all animals (his actual feast Day is October 4), and a lovely spirit abounded. Kelly has produced a delightful little video capturing some of what happened – and here’s the link.  Special thanks to Ralph, Dayle, Debbie and Kelly for all their great work.

As Kelly and I have five critters ourselves, I’m acutely aware of the important place that pets can play in our lives. They really do become part of the family.  So, when one of them becomes ill and has to be put down, the sorrow, and tears, are real.  Therefore, I was especially touched that two different families brought the ashes of a their beloved pet with them for a final blessing.   One family actually drove down from Fredericton with the remains of a special dog that had died several years ago, and it was clear that they still hadn’t recovered from this loss.  Another couple had just had their dog put down the night before, so were also rather raw with grief.  But they all needed to talk – they needed a safe place to tell stories and to have a chance to give thanks for all the love they’d both given and received. It was a real privilege to meet them on Saturday, and to be able to offer some comfort and solace. 

In the wider scheme of things, the importance of little encounters such as these can easily be overlooked.  But in this week’s reading from Luke gospel, Jesus’ uses the image of a tiny mustard seed to remind us that even small acts of compassion and kindness do matter, and can mean more than we might ever know.

I look forward to seeing you this coming Sunday morning as we celebrate Worldwide Communion, and give thanks for the opportunities for love and service that come our way.   

Like many of you, I am absolutely appalled by the havoc that Donald Trump and his acolytes are wrecking south of the border.  Analysis abounds, but what it clear is that the President seems intent stifling all dissent, destroying free speech, and establishing a dictatorship in which he rules with omnipotent power.

It’s hard not to feel powerless.  But this week I found a helpful response to situations like this in a most unexpected source – namely in Chapter 2 of the little book of 1 Timothy.  I hadn’t looked at this book in some time.  It’s usually considered to be one of the “Pastoral Epistles” that addresses questions of how Christians are to live together.  But to my surprise, the book actually contains some cogent and powerful advice about how Christians can faithfully cope with the realities of tyranny and dictatorship.  So we’ll explore some of Paul’s message from this oft-neglected book, and (hopefully) find some guidance and wisdom for the living of our days.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday morning at 10:30 am.

Despite what the calendar may say, I’ve always regarded the beginning of September as the “real” start of the new year.  For this is the season when school starts, when regular programs and activities resume, and when things return to “normal” after a summer hiatus.  Depending on our life situations, the advent of fall may or may not be welcome.  And I confess that there have been years when I’ve found it challenging to get enthused about the coming year. 

But this is NOT one of those years.  Indeed, I’m delighted to be returning to St. Mark’s after being away for July and August.  I’ve certainly missed being with you over these past weeks.  And I’m especially excited by the great new initiatives that are on tap for the fall.  Over the summer, our new 55+ Coordinator Debbie McLeod organized two delightful evenings of “Music on the Lawn” and a lively Walking Group that continues to meet on Wednesdays.  As well, she’s also done a great job of lining up a terrific range of programs and activities for the months to come – which look great!  I sense a new spirit and energy around the place – and am really happy to be part of this new chapter of ministry here.

So I look forward to seeing you this coming Sunday as we launch our Fall Programming and join together for a “welcome back lunch.”  In worship we’ll also be focusing on Paul’s short letter to Philemon in the New Testament and on what a welcoming and inclusive church community can look like.  This topic, I think, is especially timely.  Over the coming year, we’ll have a unique opportunity to build some new relationships with the wider community and provide some important opportunities for grace and care to be experienced and shared.  According to Paul, that’s what the life of faith is all about – and benefits abound for everyone when this wisdom is heard and heeded.  In the weeks and months to come, may we seek to do just that. 

I hope to see you this Sunday morning at 10:30.