Message from Our Minister Reverend Mary White
This Sunday is Pentecost, and we will be celebrating the Sacrament of Communion. Please have your bread and juice/wine ready for the service.
Even though it was originally a Jewish festival, Christians describe Pentecost as the birthday of the church. Today, this would be called cultural appropriation, the taking on of a component or components of a group’s values or uniqueness by members of another group. This can be troublesome when members of a dominant culture appropriate from minority cultures. As Pentecost marked the birth of a movement, so too in these times – movements arise and evolve but we must always be aware that cultural identities may be taken by others with hidden agendas. By appropriating from another culture, we may be taking something that is special, and an identifier of a minority group, making it common and therefore diminishing the minority group. Let us continue to appreciate the diversities that we observe without trying to make them our own.
With Love,
Rev. Mary White
POEM A Hollowed Place To Be Filled
A cup must be empty before it can be filled.
If it is already full, it can’t be filled again except by, emptying it out.
In order to fill anything, there must be a hollowed-out space.
Otherwise, it can’t receive.
This is especially true of the Creator’s word.
In order to receive it, we must be hollowed out.
We must be capable of receiving it, emptied of the false self and its endless demands.
When Christ came, there was no room in the inn.
It was full.
The inn is a symbol of the heart.
Creator’s word, Christ, can take root only in a hollow.
by William Breault, SJ
Message for Young Families from Brenda Pielle
Dear Families and Friends:
One of the songs I like to sing on the Parent Tot video has the words: "the more we sing together, the happier we will be". These words have sure been true in my family. My parents both loved to sing so whenever we were in the car together we would be singing. My brothers and I all learned to play guitar and to this day, when we get together, we sing together and have a great time.
This week the Parent Tot video has the following songs: "The More We Sing Together", "The B-I-B-L-E", "God Loves Me", "1 Little, 2 Little, 3 Little Dinosaurs", "Dinosaur Song", and "I See the Moon and the Moon Sees Me." There is a story book about a dinosaur shared called, "RAWR".
The Family Fun video has some readings from some books about dinosaurs, as well as the following songs: "I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy", "I Only Want to Be With You", "Your Song", and "Over My Head".
Enjoy these offerings and continue to take good care.
Sincerely,
Brenda Pielle
Reaching Out to Families
Powell River United Church
READING Excerpt from Hearts on Fire
Edited by Michael Harter, SJ
“Were not our hearts on fire?” the two disciples are reported by Luke (24:32) to have said to each other as they hurried back to Jerusalem to relate what had happened to them in the village of Emmaus. What the disciples told their companions about their experience and what they in turn heard from their friends about their own encounters with the resurrected Jesus deepened their faith an enabled them to carry on with renewed energy and hope. Those who ponder scripture know that what those disciples experienced can happen to any Christian who searches for a closer relationship with their Higher Power. When a person explores his or her deepest desires or questions—and talks about them with someone else who is on a similar journey—each person in the conversation receives new understanding, new insight.
If everyone who opens and reads this email newsletter clicks and votes for Powell River United Church as the Best Church in Powell River, then we might just win the Best of Powell River Awardfor 2021. Please click the button below and fill out the PR Living online survey and vote for PRUC!
PRUC Online Worship Service
Please join us this Sunday, May 23rd
PRAYER
Creating Creator
We place ourselves with you, asking you to help us enter into a mindful attitude of listening and contemplation. You are aware of how insufficient our words are and how detached we are from your truths and will. We ask that you help each one of us. Help everyone who is united with our prayer as we search for new understanding and new insight. May we be emptied of all that causes us to be in the shadowing places and be open to the Light so that we can give and receive unconditional Love. Fill us with all that is required to serve with loving-kindness.
Amen