Suffering---God, Humanity & the World

As an intercultural church, seeking to be simply present in the world for others, we look to the story of Jesus and his suffering but also to the lessons of suffering and hope beyond our own tradition. The Lent series will be a chance for us as a community to explore suffering through the ages and within different faith traditions. Beginning with the wisdom literature of Job, the series will also look at suffering from other faith perspectives, and move towards Palm Sunday considering the way of the cross within the early Christian and current context. So often the church of Christendom has moved quickly to the glory theology of an Easter church, however, we know the pain of humanity including the anxiety and pain in our own lives, and so we are thankful for “the way of the cross” as we search for meaning in our own lives, and translate this meaning into our work within our community and the world. Lent is not a time to simply endure through to get to Easter Sunday, but rather the journey we take as we experience the many trials and tribulations of life, having faith that there will be new life even in our darkest times.

The series will also include a focus on Godly Play as part of the Table Talk. This will be a chance for us to hear and wonder about the stories of Jesus, as we prepare for the mystery of Easter.

Services in this series included:

• Sunday, Mar. 24
  Palm Sunday - The Way of the Cross
  Karen Rodman

• Sunday, Mar. 17
  Lent V - Suffering Christ
  Ralph Carl Wushke
  

• Sunday, Mar. 10
  Lent IV - Christ's call to right relationships
  Ann Russell

• Sunday, Mar. 3
  Lent III - Suffering within the Buddhist tradition
  Ken McEvoy

• Sunday, Feb. 24
  Lent II - AGM (Annual General Meeting)
  

• Sunday, Feb. 17
  Lent I - PTSD in Light of the Book of Job
  Sharon Goodier
  

Awakenings, Epiphanies & Revelations

This year, our Epiphany series looked at epiphanies, revelations and awakenings. Beginning with the story of the Magi, we continued with present day epiphanies including those that come through news events like the recent shootings and epiphanies on the road to mental health. The revelations and awakenings that come to us in our daily lives are seen as moments when God or the Spirit breaks in to our consciousness, or when Jesus meets us on the road and brings a new dimension or point of view to our struggles.

Services in this series included:

• Sunday, Feb. 10
  Transfiguration: Making Faithful Change
  Ralph Carl Wushke & Judi McCallum

• Sunday, Feb. 3
  Epiphany 5: Epiphanies on the Road to Mental Health
  Sharon Goodier

• Sunday, Jan. 27
  Epiphany 4:Palestine Solidarity
  Lillian Patey

• Sunday, Jan. 20
  Epiphany 3: Addressing Guns & God
  Cathleen Fillmore

• Sunday, Jan. 13
  Epiphany: The Spirit's Call - the Baptism of Jesus
  Ralph Carl Wushke

• Sunday, Jan. 6
  Epiphany 2: Jazz Communion Service
  Ralph Carl Wushke, the Tony Quarrington Trio

Seeking Shelter

Our Advent theme this year is taken from the recently published KAIROS Advent 2012 Ecumenical Resource for Justice Seekers, 'Seeking Shelter'. The resource focuses on a Central American and Mexican Advent tradition that may have indigenous roots called 'Las Posadas' (poe-SAH-dahs), a living and vibrant tradition in which Mary and Joseph walk through town searching for shelter. This ancient search for shelter and for open doors is a reality for many in our world, whether the shelter people seek is fair wages, land rights, or clean water. Join us as we mark Advent with this powerful resource.

Services in this series included:

• Sunday, Dec. 30
  Sunday After Christmas: Seeking Shelter – The Posada, Migrants and Refugees
  Ralph Carl Wushke

• Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 10:00 pm
  Joint Communion Service with Trinity-St. Paul’s (in the TSP Sanctuary)

• Sunday, Dec. 23
  Advent IV & Christmas Breakfast and Seeking Shelter – The Posada and Bethlehem.
  Allison Piercey and Ralph Carl Wushke
  

• Sunday, Dec. 16
  Advent III: Christmas Choral Service
  Bev Lewis and the Choir

• Sunday, Dec. 9
  Advent II: Seeking Shelter – The Posada and Women of Courage.
  Allison Piercey, Ralph Carl Wushke.

• Sunday, Dec. 2
  Advent I: 150th Anniversary Story Telling Celebration.

Doing Justice in Today's World

During our November worship, we will celebrate and build upon Bathurst United's 150 years
of commitment to social justice in the local community and in the world. On the first Sunday,
our guest speaker will help us recall the earlier years of that involvement. On the following
Sundays, we will highlight some of the issues we are currently addressing through education,
action and advocacy. Throughout we plan to tap into the experiences of our members over
the years with the multiplicity and variety of ways in which Bathurst has consistently and
passionately sought justice.

Services in this series included:

• Sunday, Nov. 25
  "Restorative Justice for Prisoners" This service came at the end of Restorative Justice Week. Shauna Mayer, Community Chaplain with Women, Mennonite Central Committee, talked about how community chaplaincy equips communities to support healing and reintegration among women after incarceration.

• Sunday, Nov. 18
  A joint service with the Aboriginal Rights Solidarity Group, Trinity St. Paul's and Bathurst United

• Sunday, Nov. 11
  "Mining Injustice and Accountability" The Social Justice and Community Engagement committee and Bill C-323, the international promotion and protection of human rights act. The Bill would require greater accountability for Canadian mining companies abroad.

• Sunday, Nov. 4
  "A Catholic in the Basement of Bathurst United: Gordon Domm Remembered" Our guest speaker was Ted Schmidt, former editor of the New Catholic Times and a dedicated social activist, who grew up in the 40's and 50's on Palmerston Ave. and attended the boys' club at Bathurst United. He shared memories of those times, and also spoke to the need for churches to be socially and politically engaged.