Knox Bayfield newsletter Rev Dolson April 10 2020
Greetings church family and friends,
The grace of Jesus Christ be with you. Today is Good Friday, when our traditional worship service is a time for quiet reflection. The season of Lent has finished in this Holy week. You will find an interesting offering about Maundy Thursday (yesterday) with this newsletter. Keep reading here to get the news of the church and a message for Good Friday.
First, it is good to report that Session met early this week. We experienced the wonders of a virtual meeting to discuss the business of the church. In part, we reviewed our efforts to reach out to you, the congregation. Please contact me if you would like to talk or need additional support. We are here for you! Are you aware of the new ways we are reaching out to you? Perhaps you discovered the weekly sermons on our website https://pccweb.ca/knoxbayfieldpc/ The printed sermons are also being delivered each week. Would you prefer to receive a paper copy? I can also drop off supplies or pick up your correspondence for the church. My route takes me from Kitchener through Huron Perth.
During the meeting we discussed the uncertainty of this time and the challenges faced with planning events right now. The plant sale, yard sale, and Kintail on the Road camp are annual events at our church. All of these events are currently ‘on hold’. Updates will be sent out as soon as decisions can be made. In other words, we will let you know as soon as we know!
Have you heard that a new initiative is underway? The creation of a Knox Bayfield Cookbook will need your help. Look through your favourite recipes and send your top choices to Deb Cosford. A limit of ten recipes from each person has been suggested. Send your recipes to deb.cosford13@gmail.com or PO Box 1594, Clinton ON N0M 1L0. A traditional church cookbook offers years of experience and great cooking.
Tradition offers the comfort of known expectations, rituals, and events. Our Christian Easter traditions are rooted in the Jewish tradition of Passover. Jesus and the disciples were celebrating the Passover meal, which ended with the command to love one another (remember to read about Maundy Thursday). Then, that eventful evening passed into a day filled with sorrow and fear. On that Friday, the followers of Christ went into hiding.
Do you get the sense of being in hiding? We are supposed to be staying home as much as possible. Many of us are disoriented, confused about the state of the world, and the state of our lives. Many are afraid to venture out because of the pandemic COVID 19. We are staying behind closed doors, some with and some without family. In many ways, this is how the original followers of Christ spent this day. The disciples were confused and disoriented. Things had not turned out as they expected. Had they been wrong to follow the man called Jesus? They had witnessed amazing miracles, watched Him heal people, and tried to understand his teachings. He had walked on water! How could it be that he died? Some had left the city by the road to Emmaus but we know that they would soon return.
On this Friday, we know that Jesus will be raised. Hindsight is wonderful. This day allows us to be mindful that new life comes at great cost. In the same way, baptism is not just about rising with Christ, but dying and rising with him. Part of our baptismal identity is given to us today, giving us the courage to face the pain, suffering, and injustice in our lives and in our world. Seeing those things through the Good Friday story, we are better able to glimpse the promise of Easter.
Take good care of yourself and others knowing that you are kept in prayer. May God bless you and keep you … now and forever more. Amen
Peace
Lisa
Rev. Lisa Dolson