Moment of Clarity With Rev. Lorrie Daly-Price

Jan 26, 2020 | The reading this week from John’s Gospel describes the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.  Jesus begins the dialogue with John’s disciples with a question, “What are you looking for?”  John’s disciples respond with, “Where are you staying?”  In other words, “Where will we find what we are looking for?”  And so they walk on, moving together in response to Jesus’ invitation, “Come and see.”

When we say to friends, family members and neighbours, “come and see,” we better have something to share that will change lives, our own and others. Jesus’ words call us to examine our ministries. What is our congregation’s gift to the larger world and to seekers waiting on the doorsteps? If we can provide bread for their journeys, then these seekers like Jesus’ first followers will respond with affirmation, “We have found the Messiah!  We have found meaning and joy here!”

January 12, 2020 | This week it’s all about water, flowing Jordan waters, and the waters that nourish our crops and our bodies. Without water, our lives are in danger. We can do without food for a few days, but water is a necessity, even in the care of persons at the descending edges of life. This Sunday we celebrate the baptism of Jesus.

Jesus comes to the Jordan river to be baptized. Although John is not eager to baptize one whom he believes to have a unique relationship with God, Jesus insists on being baptized to “fulfill all righteousness,” to be in solidarity with all who struggle to experience God in transformative ways. As Jesus rises from the Jordan, a dove descends and God’s voice is heard, “this is my beloved with whom I am well pleased.” While some believe God’s voice defines Jesus as other than us, a supernatural interruption in the ambiguous human history, I believe that Jesus’ baptism and God’s affirmation is, in fact, an affirmation that Jesus is part of our story and that we share in God’s love just as Jesus did.

January 5, 2020 | This week we hear a familiar passage from Matthew’s gospel about three travellers. What compelled them to take this journey following a star? A journey that must have been difficult from beginning to end.

They travel to see royalty and are led to kneel before a baby born of poor parents in an out of the way place. They must have had questions for themselves and what this meant for the rest of the world.

What stirred in their hearts to compel them to risk so much? What deep yearning for something other than what they had known led them to travel so far? What sign in the sky, would make us go that deep, that far, to discover its meaning for us?

December 29, 2019 |This Sunday we will hear some short reflections for the season shared by Dianne Smith. We will also have one last opportunity to sing some of our favourite carols. I hope you will join us.

December 24, 2019| The whole meaning of Christmas can be explained in one little four letter word…LOVE. God sent a gift of pure love to us that first Christmas. Love descended from heaven to be born of a virgin. Love lay in the scratchy hay of a manger in a meagre barn in Bethlehem. All of God’s love was robed in the delicate skin of a baby and wrapped in swaddling clothes. Tonight we reflect on the magnitude of love that was made manifest in Jesus.Beneath the stars, surrounded by all of the hosts of heaven, Love came. Welcomed by an earthly mother and father, shepherds and wise men, love came.

May your Christmas this year be filled to the brim with meaning, love and thankfulness ready to be spilled out in the lives of others.

Merry Christmas!

Rev. Lorrie Daly-Price

December 15, 2019 | This week we will hear some special music while we reflect on the story of the angel Gabriel’s visit to a young girl named Mary and the story of Mary and a family member, Elizabeth. These are stories that are rich with dramatic and mysterious themes that inspire wonder, awe, gratitude and a call to renewed faith and trust in God.

The essence of these stories is God’s deep and abiding love for all people. The love spoken about here, and in many places in Scriptures, is a deep and powerful love which originates in the Spirit of God and that is instilled in ordinary human beings like Mary and Elizabeth.

I Believe…Mary and Elizabeth, two women who assisted in helping God’s dream for the world become reality. What are we doing this day to help the dream be fulfilled?

December 8, 2019 | Due to poor weather conditions last Sunday we choose to have a short service and send folks home safely. So, on this second Sunday of Advent we will be hearing the reading from the gospel of Matthew. Jesus’ words to his first followers are words about being mindful and staying awake. There might just be holy moments that catch you by surprise so be ready he says to them. Jesus wanted to make sure that if a pivotal life event was to take place right then would they be too dull witted to recognize it happening. So he warns them to not sleep through their lives because if they do they might just miss the God moments that are occurring throughout the day.

December 1, 2019

November 24, 2019 | On this first Sunday of Advent we are given a reading from the gospel of Matthew. Jesus’ words to his first followers are words about being mindful and staying awake. There might just be holy moments that catch you by surprise, so be ready he says to them. Jesus wanted to make sure that if a pivotal life event was to take place right then would they be too dull witted to recognize it happening. So, he warns them to not sleep through their lives because if they do they might just miss the God moments that are occurring throughout the day.

Jesus’ words challenge us too to live faithfully. So stay awake! Live as if God is with us, precisely because God is.

November 17, 2019 | This week the Church celebrates "Christ the King" or "Reign of Christ" Sunday.  It is the hinge week between the liturgical seasons of Ordinary Time and Advent. It is the time when we pause to reflect on the meaning of Jesus’ kingship before we dive into the mysteries of light and darkness, hope and sorrow.

Given the pomp and circumstance that we typically associate with kings we might be expecting to find passages this week that sound, well, kingly. Something glorious perhaps about Jesus sitting on his throne decked out in splendid robes and a jeweled crown. At least a shiny moment from one of the Gospels like Jesus being transfigured on the mountaintop.

But no, we find none of these. What we find instead is a crucifixion scene. A stripped suffocating man wracked with pain. A crowd of mockers spouting out words of hate. A man hanging between thieves speaking blessing and promise to one less fortunate than himself. This is our King.