Were you at church last Sunday when we all helped to tell the story of Jonah?  It was great fun! We had the wind and the waves, the whiny sailors and of course the big fish ("Gloop!"). Poor Jonah. He really did not want to hear what God had to say to him. He really did not want to do what God wanted. He argued, he pouted, and he ran away. But God persisted and eventually Jonah did what he knew he had to do. Reluctantly yes, but eventually he did. A wildly imaginative story to get an important point across.

But who could blame Jonah for all his antics? What God wanted him to do was kind of scary. Jonah was meant to go to the people of Ninevah - his sworn enemies - and tell them the truth. Tell them that what they were doing was pretty much exactly the opposite of what they should be doing. That's scary - telling someone they are doing it all wrong. You risk a lot telling the truth sometimes. 

But what happens when you see something going on that you know is wrong, that you know is hurting someone else, and you don't do anything about it? What happens inside you? 

Prophets are truth tellers. In the Bible they are the ones who bravely (even though sometimes reluctantly) tell the truth about God.

In the world today it's pretty much the same thing. Truth tellers. Those who say "this behaviour is not right, it's not healthy, it's hurtful. And it has got to stop". There are many prophets in the world today, just as there are in the Bible. The ones whose voices resonate around the planet are the ones who speak for truth and justice. Those same qualities that the prophet Jesus spoke out for. 

Who are your "truth-tellers?" Who has helped you see which way you need to turn?
​And what truth will you risk telling today?

​The traditional date for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is January 18-25. The week has been celebrated continuously since 1894, but was a dream of many Christian leaders since the early years of the 19th century. 

This year the Churches of the Caribbean were chosen to draft the material for this year's study and worship resources. The contemporary Caribbean is deeply marked by the dehumanizing project of colonial exploitation. Very regrettably, during five hundred years of colonialism and enslavement, Christian missionary activity in the region, with the exception of a few outstanding examples, was closely tied to this dehumanizing system and in many ways rationalized it and reinforced it. Whereas those who brought the Bible to this region used the scriptures to justify their subjugation of a people in bondage, in the hands of the enslaved, it became an inspiration, an assurance that God was on their side, and that God would lead them into freedom. (source: World Council of Churches)

We at Aylmer United Church have ties with the people of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. For several years, since the massive earthquake in 2010, through our partners we have sent bed mats and children's clothing as assistance to some of the poorest people in Haiti. 

Haiti and Haitian people have been in the news again recently. During this past year asylum seekers from the US streamed across the Quebec border, fearing the rhetoric there. Just this week Haitians have been added to the list of "unacceptable immigrants" to the US. 

During Epiphany we talk about the light of Christ shining in the darkest corners of the world. This news is a "dark corner" that the light of Christ exposes and brings to our attention. Our task as Christians - as ones who profess to follow that light - is to take the next steps to work for justice and unity. May it be so. 

​The traditional date for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is January 18-25. The week has been celebrated continuously since 1894, but was a dream of many Christian leaders since the early years of the 19th century. 

This year the Churches of the Caribbean were chosen to draft the material for this year's study and worship resources. The contemporary Caribbean is deeply marked by the dehumanizing project of colonial exploitation. Very regrettably, during five hundred years of colonialism and enslavement, Christian missionary activity in the region, with the exception of a few outstanding examples, was closely tied to this dehumanizing system and in many ways rationalized it and reinforced it. Whereas those who brought the Bible to this region used the scriptures to justify their subjugation of a people in bondage, in the hands of the enslaved, it became an inspiration, an assurance that God was on their side, and that God would lead them into freedom. (source: World Council of Churches)

We at Aylmer United Church have ties with the people of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. For several years, since the massive earthquake in 2010, through our partners we have sent bed mats and children's clothing as assistance to some of the poorest people in Haiti. 

Haiti and Haitian people have been in the news again recently. During this past year asylum seekers from the US streamed across the Quebec border, fearing the rhetoric there. Just this week Haitians have been added to the list of "unacceptable immigrants" to the US. 

During Epiphany we talk about the light of Christ shining in the darkest corners of the world. This news is a "dark corner" that the light of Christ exposes and brings to our attention. Our task as Christians - as ones who profess to follow that light - is to take the next steps to work for justice and unity. May it be so. 

In a couple of weeks we will start up our book study group again. The first book we studied (3 years ago) was The Heart of Christianity by Marcus Borg. We found his writing and his approach so helpful that we are going back to study more of his work. Even if you are not able to attend the study session read the book anyway. Go to Amazon.ca and order Marcus Borg's Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith. 
Why do we need to read such a book? Why do we need to know who Jesus was? And Is? Because we cannot be the church if we don't know what he stood for and what he really taught and preached. 
The book is a very helpful and engaging read. It will be another guide for us as we continue our visioning work as Aylmer United Church.
Wednesday evenings from 7 to 8:30 in the parlour 
Jan 24 chapter 1
February 7  chapter 2
February 21 chapter 3
March 7 chapter 4
March 21 chapter 5
April 11 chapter 6

Why do we look at the stars? What do you see on a cold winter's night when you turn your face skyward and look into the depths of the universe? What do you see in those pin-pricks of light? Do you see science? Do you see mystery? Do you see both?

This weekend is the celebration of Epiphany.  Epiphany is the "church" word for the time when educated VIP visitors arrived at the the place where Mary, Joseph and the child Jesus were. Some versions of the Bible call them astrologers, some say kings. The Bible does not tell us how many there were. Tradition has concluded that there were three because there are three gifts mentioned in the story in chapter 2 of the gospel of Matthew. Neither does the Bible story mention camels - but camels have become a lovely part of our creche scenes and pageants! 

Sometimes we lose some of the meaning of the story in the embellishments.

There is much we do not know about these travelers from the far east. What we do know is that they represent for the gospel writer a global event in the birth of Jesus. This event of the love of God bursting into the world like a new star born was for everyone. All nations, all peoples. Once again we hear the reverberations of the covenant made so long ago "I am your God and your are my people". 

​Love explodes in the galaxy and showers blessing on all creation. Our task is to expand that Love and make sure it finds its way into every corner of darkness. May we have the courage of wisdom to make it so.