Updates Archives - BEACH UNITED CHURCH

Sacred Journey

We are past the halfway point in the journey of Lent and getting closer to Jerusalem and the events of Holy Week. Now more than ever it is important to pause for a moment. So I invite you to make some quiet time, take deep breaths and relax into the place you find yourself.

Perhaps you just need to breathe for a few moments, connecting with your breath and your body. But if you are drawn to words, read Ann Weems’ poem slowly and see if a phrase resonates. Then take this with you into the rest of your day.

The way to Jerusalem is cluttered

with bits and pieces of our lives

that fly up and cry out,

wounding us as we try to keep upon this path

that leads to Life.

Why didn’t someone tell us

that it would be this hard?

In the midst of the clutter

the children laugh and run after stars.

Those of us who are wise will follow,

for the children will be the first

to kneel in Jerusalem.

Peace, Karen Dale

in ministry with Beach United Church

Click here for Heartbeat February 2019 edition

An African proverb says,

“You must treat the earth well. It was not given to you by your parents. It is loaned to you by your children.”

These words of wisdom are a saying of the Kikuyu people of Kenya, who have long had a keen sense of their responsibility to care for the earth. The Kikuyu name for Mount Kenya, the second highest mountain in Africa, literally means “God’s resting place.”

Imagine, if those of us who name ourselves Christian believed the whole earth was the resting place of God. That we didn’t just say the words, perhaps on a Sunday morning as part of a prayer or creedal statement of belief; but lived this in our lives. That we not only acted upon this at a personal level but became activists in our cities, provinces, and country.

Imagine joining with others who follow a different path to God and those who question the existence of a higher power. It would mean joining together with scientists, musicians, economists, business entrepreneurs, politicians and world leaders of all stripes. And most importantly of all, humankind would listen to the earth and learn from our fellow creatures, who have so much to teach us.

Please join me on Sunday mornings in February as we look for the “vital signs” which would enable us to “cool it” in this increasingly hot and volatile world. So that Beach United Church could say the words of Tom Rand [from his book “Waking the Frog”] – “We get it. We’re on it!”

With hope, Karen Dale

in ministry with Beach United Church