There was a massive fire in Bella Bella BC this week. You probably didn’t hear about it. Bella Bella is on the BC coast. It’s a first Nations community. Located in the territory of the Heiltsuk Nation, Bella Bella is an important town and service centre. I know of Bella Bella because it is the home of a United Church of Canada hospital (yes, the United Church runs several small, remote hospitals). Bella Bella was part of a historic ministry of the United Church.

In our church, we recently started doing the Lord's Prayer at children's time. Prior to this, it was done later in the service - after the children leave for Sunday School. It has occured to me that the children probably don't understand a lot of the words and concepts in this prayer, so I have decided that, over the next few weeks, I am going to do some Sunday  School lessons on it for my group of 7-10 year olds. 

I remember my very first one. do you? Actually I remember my first three.

The author of this is "Anonymous", but I wish I had written it.  I value this as much as I hold it to be true, and am thankful it was sent to me:

Affirmations of Christmas

I BELIEVE that Christmas is more than a time for parties and ornaments; it is a time for remembering Christ and the incarnation of God's love in human flesh.

Do you say the Lord`s prayer (in some way - sung, responsive, other versions than  the traditional) every Sunday in your churchÉ

Would a church service seem strange to you without it

Any comments

As you plan to worship and pray tomorrow, Sunday, December 4th, please consider joining your prayers with ours as faith leaders at the COP17 climate change conference in Durban, South Africa.

‘We have faith’ is displayed boldly in every corner where the Faith Secretariat has a considerable presence here at the COP17.

The first and only other time I’ve visited Africa was in 2000, in Ghana representing The United Church of Canada at a gathering of African lay centres. And as soon as I stepped onto the continent again yesterday, memories of witnessing the deep faith of Africans were rekindled.

Too many responses to the Oslo bombing and Utoya Island shooting are, predictably, adding to the kind of hateful sentiments which give rise to such attacks. Remarkably, some have responded with a strength of heart and faith that gives energy to the way of love, as distinct from ways of fear. It appears that those who call themselves Christian are included in both groups: both those incline to perpetuate division and violence with their responses, and those who have allowed their broken hearts to open and embrace the pain of 'the other.'

I am on the Sojourner's email list.

I received a list mail on March 17th, which I find powerful on first read.

I thought I would offer it to you, so that you could seek our Sojourner's page and/ or comment on this letter