Reflections
These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the World ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)
I have reflected on these words of Jesus following our Lenten and Easter celebrations. And, indeed, we had an excellent Lenten program organized by Fr. Alain Brosseau on Wednesdays, which was very well attended, and also good Easter celebrations.
There were a few challenges, however. Our front stairs, after suffering through a lot of freezing and unfreezing this past winter, finally fell apart and we had to block them off for almost 2 months. Now that temperatures have risen, repairs are currently being made, but this was an unplanned-for expense. Yet despite this situation, I almost think our Sunday attendance has increased, because people seem to be up for the challenge of finding the side green doors to come into! It is good to see a number of new and younger faces in the congregation too.
Our fire alarm system, after many stops and starts, has finally been installed and after several lucky Sundays, it went off on Maundy Thursday. Well, it does get your attention as anyone who has heard it and seen the flashing lights knows!
Our front porch is even in more need of repair than we first thought and scaffolding should be going up any day now. Yet this is all to be expected when we have a building almost over a century and a half old. At the recent launch of the Cathedral spire fund raising, I was speaking to an architect describing the beauties of Christ Church and then she said “... but of course, St. John’s is a real jewel.”
Together, these problems are all rather minor irritations; if very time consuming to your Rector. On the other hand, and by comparison, we have, in recent weeks, also had the serious flooding on the Island of Montreal, which will disrupt people’s lives for many months to come, and the attack in Manchester, UK. We, even as people of Faith will not be without our challenges and difficulties, and yet the message of Easter and Pentecost is that we need not walk alone, even through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, for Jesus will be there beside us, even if we always don’t recognize Him.
So let us with a sense of hope and confidence in the promises of Christ that we are not left comfortless. and endeavor to work through the challenges we have been presented with.
In Christ,
Keith +
