HELLO!

Two things I want you to know about this Sunday, September 27^th, 1) please wear an orange shirt as we acknowledge Truth and Reconciliation Sunday (the actual day is Wednesday the 30^th) and 2) please plan to stay after the church service for the SHINE 2 event downstairs, where 35 different Woodlawn United ministries will be represented at tables, filled with information and persons who are passionate about their work. It’s an opportunity for you to let the Spirit guide you to new adventures.

Reconciliation typically has three parts: a recognition of wrong done, a request for forgiveness, and a commitment to a new relationship. Constructive dialogue can achieve win-win outcomes by focusing on the needs of the other party (Philippians 2:4). Destructive dialogue is self-centred and has only one winner. In the 1800’s instead of welcoming Indigenous nations into Canadian confederation in the same way colonies became Canadian provinces, the new Canadian government chose to assimilate Indigenous peoples as individuals. This was the purpose of the oppressive policies of the Indian Act, including the residential school system. Residential schools were created to eliminate the concept of Indigenous “nationhood.” They were meant to eradicate Indigenous cultures, traditions, spirituality, and ways of life from Canada. Young children were forcibly removed from their families to attend these schools. To heal these wounds, we need to understand and experience these cultures, traditions, spiritual practices as gifts to our common life.

In our reading for Sunday (Philippians 2) Paul is writing to the early church and says beautiful things about the Christian life. Paul finally gets to what's bugging him: "Please! Think as one, love as one, be united and in agreement. Don't do anything out of selfishness. Instead of looking out for number one, watch out for the good of others. Act like Jesus!" There's a lot we don't know about Jesus. But one thing we know for sure is he brought people together. He begins his ministry by assembling disciples, people who had nothing in common except Jesus had called them to walk with him. Jesus got into trouble for uniting despairing sinners and presumptuous saints. He saves us by assembling us, by putting us in a group, by teaching us to call those whom the world regard as strangers or enemies as "kin". The surrounding Roman culture said, "Look how they love one another!" Too often the world looks at churches and says, "Look how much they fight with one another." Paul encourages the church to focus on our originating cause, our great mission - to allow Jesus to gather us, to overcome our boundaries and divisions and to be one in love. In other words, to show the world what Jesus can do. Along with unity, Paul appeals for humility. “Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3–4).

Reconciliation, the ministry of others, we see/feel the presence of Jesus. Peace, Kevin