Everyone is welcome. We leave from the Allan St. ramp.
This is one of the programs you can participate in to
LIFT LONELINESS!
If
I was queen, I would be a fairy God-mother kind of queen, so I could have a
magic wand.
If
I was queen with a magic wand, I would wave it over my kindom, and gift each
person with time in my cozy den of heavenly bliss.
My
cozy den of heavenly bliss is a room in the heart of a tree, with a round
window to let in sunshine and can open to hear the birds. On cold days the
window is closed tightly, and the best seat is a comfy reading chaise tucked in
a book nook, ready for one to curl up directly in a sunbeam, wrapped in a homemade
quilt, with a book in hand from the intricate bookshelves lining the walls.
There are rich coloured rugs on the wood floor, and a smell of pine and warm
apple cider with cinnamon and a hint of orange peel, fills the air. A hot mug
of whatever warm beverage tickles your fancy is on the side table. You are alone
and comfortable in this heavenly den of bliss.
If
I was queen with a magic wand, I would wave my wand so that all could live in
this tranquil place. From the tree
house, the resident can see the outside world, can have someone over for tea; can
go out to church, participate in community events, lend a hand; go into the
neighbourhood for groceries, write notes, make calls, text with friends – The
tree house dweller is connected and at the same time content to be by themself.
We
celebrate this final Sunday of the church year as the Reign of Christ. For the
past few weeks our readings have been escalating in intensity to focus on Christ
in all Christ’s glory, and Christ as the centre of the God’s kindom. These, end
of the church year Sundays, highlight our eschatology. Eschatology is theology
concerned with death, judgement, righteousness, end times, final destiny, beliefs
of heaven and hell, and the coming of God’s kindom.
I
saw a meme this week that said:
Inaccurate
eschatology causes the church – causes us- to:
Wait
for a King who already reigns. Wait for a Kingdom we’re already in.
Wait
to become what we already are. Wait for an age that has already come.
Wait
for victory that’s already been won. Wait to do what we should already be
doing.
We
have spent a year together walking through the life of Jesus. We have heard Jesus’
teaching, witnessed the miracles, wrestled with parables; we have died with
Jesus and risen with Christ. Today our eschatology should be clear: Christ
reigns. God’s kindom is here. We are followers of Jesus and workers in the
kindom. Death is no more. Love reigns. We are about sharing and proclaiming this
Christ, this kindom, now.
In
our heart-of-hearts we believe this to be true, or in the very least hope that
is true – it is increasingly difficult to face the world and see that Christ
reigns, experience that God’s kindom is here, that death is no more, and that
love reigns.
Weekly
we receive calls and emails – desperate calls from people looking for a room to
rent – people who are nurses, working two jobs, teachers who can not find a
place to live. This is not how the kindom of God is to be. It is like we are
living in the kindom when suddenly the bridesmaids’ lamps run out of fuel. The
persistence of these calls wears on my heart; and I succumb to worrying about
tomorrow: what shall I wear, what shall I eat, where will I live. The
Gospel hits me hard this morning and sits uncomfortably – I am overwhelmed by the
hungry, the naked, the sick, the unhoused, those who are alone.
This
time of year, I start to consider what my focus will be for the coming year. I
like to do this when kindom stories and the Reign of Christ immediately influence
my thoughts. Last year much time was spent working together discerning where we
go as a church on the property front, and this is well in hand and work that
continues in good hands. I also spent time engaging with the neighbourhood
through neighbourhood sparkle events- this was the appetizer for this coming
year. My heart is being drawn to lifting loneliness - as our contribution to
feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, accompanying the
lonely.
I
heard a conversation this week on CBC Radio about loneliness. Loneliness is the
largest silent crisis in our midst – 1 in 3 people are experiencing mental or
emotional discomfort from being lonely. Loneliness is different from being
alone. One can be alone and not be lonely. Loneliness though is coloured by a sense
of disconnect between the person and community, being isolated, often mixed
with feelings of depression. Loneliness stems from social needs not being met
or an inability to get the social connection desired; such is often caused by major
life change whether retirement, different employment, a move, an empty nest, sickness,
death of someone close, divorce… Loneliness debilitates and has serious mental
health and physical consequences.
All
of the eschatological readings this morning, have something in common. Did you
notice the images and language are community based? We hear an image of God
searching out sheep like a shepherd; sheep are pastured together, travel
together, the stray is brought back to be with the flock. Ephesians is a letter
written to the church community in Ephesus. The letter gives thanks for the
community and highlights love toward all saints and inheritance among the
saints. Paul speaks of the church as Christ’s body, the fullness of him who fills
all in all. The kindom parable from the Gospel speaks of the gathering of all
nations, where sheep and goats get separated into two flocks. The readings are
about groups, community, and relationship. Food, drink, clothing, shelter,
connection – to lift loneliness. In God’s kindom, loneliness evaporates in
community.
Feed and quench loneliness. Cloth loneliness.
Visit loneliness. Heal loneliness. House loneliness. Accompany loneliness. As a
community we can do this! My New Year’s resolution is to do this – lift loneliness.
And I am going to do this with a little help from my friends.
I
began by dreaming, if I was queen and had a magic wand …everyone would be given
the gift to be in my cozy den of heavenly bliss. We are a community that can be
a cozy den of heavenly bliss. Contributing a little time and being present once
or twice a month in activities to lift loneliness we can change the visibility
of God’s kindom, now – and fulfill Christ’s call to address the needs within us
and around us.
On
this Reign of Christ Sunday, I boldly confess:
Christ
reigns. God’s kindom is here. We are followers of Jesus and workers in the
kindom. Death is no more. Love reigns. We are about sharing and proclaiming this
Christ, this kindom, now.
I
am excited to get started! Loneliness be gone! Alleluia!
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