Pietro Mascagni - Cavalleria rusticana - Intermezzo

Caleb and I heard this at the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra a couple of weeks ago along with two other members of our church. It is one of those pieces that makes you feel... drowsy.

Schriemers - not just greenhouses!

 

Just a few glimpses from Schriemers - our oldest son, Luke's, place of employment.  He started working there in May and has worked steady through this month as well.  He got the job at the same time as 2 friends and it's been great to have them all working there together!

Up until this week it was mainly greenhouses - selling flowers, trees, bushes, veggie plants, seeds, pots, fertilizer, etc, etc - as well as their own tomatoes - grown right there on the premises.  And when I say tomatoes, I mean the real thing.  Big, red, juicy - absolutely delicious!  

And they've also now added a market garden, selling off local produce (except the Texas seeded watermelon - perfect for seed spitting competition, which has been nearly impossible to do anymore these days with all the seedless varieties......:).  It all looks to be a notch above what you'd see in the grocery store produce section - very healthy looking fruits and veggies, just begging to be brought home.

Now to mention what I'd consider a very smart move.  They added a soft serve icecream counter!  What a nice treat on a hot day - a perfect way to reward yourself for filling your gardens with quality plants and filling your fridge with delicious produce :)

 It's also just a fun place to visit.  The artsy section has very cute and whimsical touches to brighten up your home and garden - fun to browse through!

 The whole place just bursts with colour - it surrounds you at every turn - a feast for the eyes.  A tribute to the creative genious of the Creator Himself.  The owner, Harry, has done a great job putting this place together.

 And now a word about the hired help.........or maybe not.  I don't want to embarrass my son and his friend with glowing accolades to their industriousness or their cheerful willing spirits or their good looks........okay, I'll stop :)

 All in all, it's a great place to visit, to shop and to enjoy.  Not to mention a terrific place to work.  Stop in.  You won't be sorry :)

Synod Nyack 2012

Synod Nyack 2012 is now over and all the delegates have returned to their respective places after a long and tiring week. However this meeting was a tremendous encouragement to all who attended and very different from others that I’ve attended thus far. The two most encouraging notes: a season of prayer and brotherly love. We opened our week with a service of prayer where different ministers and elders led in times of intercession. This really set the tone for deliberations. This was evident in the brotherly spirit that prevailed throughout the week. Genuine respect and humility was shown towards one another, even when there were disagreements. It is obvious that we are growing closer and living up to our name of being the United Reformed Churches. As well, each day began with a brief sermon and prayer and each session included a time of singing, Bible reading and prayer. The singing was absolutely amazing!

Added to this unity was a great sense of harmony among like-minded churches around the world. We heard greetings from several fraternal delegates from Indonesia, Republic of the Congo, New Zealand (from Rev. Leo De Vos who is originally from Winnipeg), etc. We also heard from some of other federations in North America like the Canadian Reformed Churches, the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC), and the Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America (RPCNA) and others.

Some of the main decisions:

What is very apparent in our federation is our love for missions and desire to obey Christ’s commission to make disciples of every nation (Mt. 28:18ff.). There was a very passionate plea made by a number of delegates and missionaries. As Rev. Murphy, church planter in New York City exhorted us, “missions is not something we do; missions is our identity as churches.” To that end, Synod adopted many of the recommendations of the missions study committee (to whom yours truly is a member). This ad hoc committee which is made up of members from each classis is now the missions committee until Synod 2014. Synod also adopted the recommendation to create a missions coordinator position. The committee’s desire is to be a blessing to our federation by assisting our missionaries, Consistories, and Joint Venture Committees in the functions and tasks that were assigned to them at Synod.

With regard to the new Psalter Hymnal and the concerns that have been expressed by several consistories: rather than dealing with the three overtures on the agenda, Synod instead decided to direct them to our Psalter Hymnal committee. They also directed the committee to work together with the OPC so that each respective federation can together come up with their own song book. The Psalter Hymnal Committee figures that we will have a printed copy of a new hymnal for our federation around the time of Synod 2016.

Synod also adopted the division of Classis Southern Ontario to Classis Ontario East and Classis Southwestern Ontario.

Synod furthermore adopted the “Appendix of Guidelines for Theological Education” which will be included in our appendices found at the back of our church order.

After much debate, Synod also decided to follow the recommendation of our CERCU committee to enter into Phase 2 relations with the RPCNA. This was not a very easy decision as the RPCNA still holds to a position that women deacons can be ordained (as their fraternal delegate put it - "our distinctives as a denomination are in the areas of wine, women and music" -- paraphrased). It came down to a very close vote. It is hoped that this closer relationship will foster change within this federation as we continue to dialogue.

Synod also was updated on a recent legal change by the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) regarding our current Joint Venture Agreement (JVA). Our corporate status can no longer function as a body for collecting and distributing funds to US causes that are under this agreement. Otherwise our churches could lose our charitable status. Our Canadian treasurer Pam Hessels is investigating other ways around this new law.

The last day of Synod was the heaviest in dealing with the appeals, but the advisory committee did an excellent job of guiding us as a body.

To find out more details of the week, you can read the press releases from the URC website (www.urcna.org). The Acts of Synod should also be available soon for public perusal.

In summary, our delegates left Synod being uplifted and thankful for the work that could be done for Christ and His kingdom. Soli Deo Gloria

Some of the scenery at Nyack College located approximately 30 miles north of New York City. In the distance, you can see the Hudson River. My delegate and I took the train along the Hudson from Haarlem (downtown NY) to Tarry Town located very near to legendary Sleepy Hollow. A very beautiful ride along the river. But our transportation from LaGuardia airport to the train was... well... pretty wild. Those NY yellow cab drivers are hmmmm.... let's say "skilled", but crazy....

The entire body met in Olson Auditorium where this picture was taken. Thanks to Pompton Plains for organizing and thanks to our officers for leading us (in the front row): Rev R. Schuers (chairman), Rev J Bouwers (vice), Rev. D Barnes (first clerk), Rev. G Lubbers (second clerk), Rev. B Nymeyer (stated clerk).

Simpson Hall, where many of the delegates stayed, er... shared rooms together, sleeping on bunkbeds, well tried to sleep. As our chairman said: one of the things that we learned at Synod was how to greet one in another in the morning in the public washrooms. It wasn't a cheery "good morning". It was a deep, low, "morning" with head down ..... amongst other noises. I'll let your mind fill in the details...Ahem.


(pictures taken by Glenda Mathes)

The Muppets: Cårven Der Pümpkîn

What's taking up my time while I should be doing other things......

I've got a list a mile long of "things to do before we go to Ont.", and the days are starting to run short.  But nothing inspires me on that list right now, Rich and the kids are at soccer, Yvetta is sleeping in my bed and the puppy is napping in her house.  

So, c'mon.  I mean really.  Who, in their right mind, would be using this rare alone time to actually get things done when instead they could be perusing pictures and admiring babies?  

You know what?  Don't answer that question.  I don't want to know about how you take full opportunity of times like that and merrily check things off your "to-do" list.  I just don't need that kinda pressure right now, okay? ;)

 I know.  My dad pretending to be blind while stumbling around in the dark wearing his "post cataract surgery" glasses hardly fits into the "cute baby" category.  But it made me smile so it found it's way into this post anyhow.

 As did a few more.

 Cuties.  All of them.  All special creations of a God who enters into covenant with His creatures.  So we can look at these littles and know that they aren't abandoned to the world.  They, too, are put in special relationship with their Creator and Jesus Himself calls them to come.  Come. Isn't that a beautiful word from a perfectly holy God to a perfectly sinful people?  Look at the littles around you and be amazed.  And sing the doxology.  Go ahead.  Right now.  Nice and loud.  I dare ya.......... :)

Eclipse of the sun

This past Sunday night, we experienced a partial eclipse of the sun, sometimes referred to as the 'ring of fire'. We used a pair of binoculars to view them. No, we didn't view the eclipse by looking through the binoculars. We used them to refract the rays onto a piece of paper, kind of like the 'pinhole' idea -only this time using the prism of the binocs to refract the rays and the lenses to project them on paper.... Warning: Don't ever use binoculars to look at the sun during an eclipse. You will go blind and won't even feel any pain in the process.

Peacemaking Women Conference

 The best way to put our new peacemaking tools into practice, we thought, was to play a good, hard, serious game of volleyball together.  Well, maybe not good........and it wasn't particularly hard.........serious? Hah!  But we laughed a lot.  A LOT.  And that must signify something good and peaceful, right? ;)

(above) One of my favourite pics.  Why Laura is running full out in the wrong direction is beyond me.  But Robin obviously finds it funny :)

 Go Jo-anne!  She proved to be the secret weapon on that team with some killer serves that totally threw off our depth perception.........or something like that........

 Yah.  Sure Robin.  Like your one hand way out there is actually gonna return that ball ;)  This was one of the "funnest" volleyball games I've ever played.  And it could only be played with women.  In particular, women who would rather sink helplessly to the court b/c laughter is making them weak than have any semblance of a real game.  That would be us.

 The scenery was beautiful.  Friday saw lots of sun and warmth, ending with a spectacular display of lightning.

 Ladies.  Lots of ladies.  Which meant a lot of talking, sharing, laughing, crying, passion, discussion, agreement, disagreement.  But all with a really good spirit, ready to learn, willing to admit faults.  And that's the first step.  Well, after "How can I glorify God in this situation?"  Always glory first - to our Saviour.  Amazing how that can stop you in your tracks.  And make you realize that, even if  you're "in the right", you're still contributing to the problem with your attitude or your tone of voice or your lack of love.

 One analogy that keeps playing through my head is the mom yelling at her kids or husband and then the phone rings and she does a 360 turn-around and becomes all "Susy Spiritual" with a loving, kind voice and a big smile.  Then, hang up the phone, and the "other" mom/wife reappears.  The point?  We have choice.  Sin doesn't come upon us and leave us helpless victims.  God promises to never give us more than we can bear. Which means that we need grace for each step of every day.

Are you convinced that you are dearly loved by God?  Forgiven?  Given true peace?  Think of this verse - the first part of which we often pass over....... "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved...." (Col.3).  We pass over this part in order to get to the stuff that we can DO...."clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience."  But we need to remember who we ARE!  This is the difference between law and gospel.  We can have an unhealthy, unbalanced love for law.  We want to do stuff - earn God's love, feel good about ourselves - a little bit worthy of God's love.  And when we fail, we feel unloved.  This is a works righteousness and has no place in our lives!  Remember that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" - He didn't wait until we'd done something worthy of His love!  If we don't "get this", then we'll forever be extending grace to others in the same way we're perceiving it from God - we'll be waiting until others somehow "deserve" our grace!  NO!  We're all a mess.  We all need Jesus.  And when we see His perfection and trust in God's grace toward us in Christ b/c of our desperate PERSONAL need for forgiveness, we can then finally be real with each other.

He calls me His beloved b/c it brings Him delight!  Can you imagine!  Eph. 1: 3-8 - there's all the proof I need!  "In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will...."

As we grow in grace we see our sin more and we come to see the bigness of the cross and just how great His grace is.  We will also see that no one else's sins are somehow bigger than ours.  If I am not sinning a certain sin (one I erroneously find worse than other sins), it's not b/c I'm somehow better than someone else.  It's b/c of Christ.  Don't forget the cross when you look at others.  Be Christ-like......"The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin." Ex.34

Was this not a familiar scene?  Marcia laughing up front there?  Fun times :)

So incredible to be able to put the noisiness of regular life aside for a while and just concentrate on learning from God's Word.

Does anyone remember where this owl was?  Did you notice it?  I'm not even sure why I took this pic........

A few minutes after this (above) pic was taken, these tables filled up - with women, cups of tea or coffee, handfuls of jelly beans, dark chocolate and chips.  And many pens at the ready.

Sweet fellowship.  And a wicked game of Speed Scrabble Friday night!  Complete with the ever present "silent X".  Thanks, Juliann, for bringing that along and getting us going.  By the end of that game we were laughing at everything and anything and knew it was time for bed.........before we did or said things we'd forever regret......

And a bit of........yoga.  Or something.......

Notice the "DECAF" is taped over :)  However, for those of us who needed decaf, it was eventually found.

Extend grace to others.  So often my area of need for sanctification rubs up against my sister/brother's area of need for sanctification.  So I need to be real about my own sin & need for forgiveness.  We are all living out of the same grace.  All undeserving.  Yet God's grace is all the more precious for that.

And what I've written here so far is all from my notes on the first few pages of the study guide.  So much to learn, to take in, to live out.  In every situation of conflict, remember: 1. How can I glorify God in this situation? 2. Get the log out of your own eye - deal with your own sin first. 3. Gently restore - learn how you can SERVE others by helping them take responsibility for their contribution to the conflict (when your bother/sister is hurting, NEVER run away from them - always towards them!) 4. Go and be reconciled.  We cannot force someone to confess or forgive - only God can bring true reconciliation.  But we can seek peace and pursue it, inasmuch as it depends on us.  And that's an action statement - never allows for, "Well, that's her problem, not mine".  It takes no exercise of faith to deny an issue or ignore an issue and run away.  "Indifference is a true indicator of hatred" Ed Welch.

One of the last things I have written down from the conference is drawing from Matt.5:3-24, about being reconciled with your brother before offering your gift at the altar.  Tara challenged us by asking what church would be life if there was an "unresolved conflict detector" at the church doors.  Would I be able to walk through and freely go to worship?  Or would the detector starting screaming?

"If you are struggling in a broken relationship or with bitterness, depression, or any other sorrow.....get help!  Seek counsel from a wise friend or reach out to a church leader.  You are not alone!  There is grace and help for you." Tara Barthel

Does this not describe all of us?  Let's be real in our relationships - let's be true friends to each other, touching each other in our problems and sorrows, not just letting the friendship be on the surface.  Let's dispense grace, being ready to extend it in love, whoever we're with.  "Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity" Ps. 133