Christmas Appeal for 2020

Every year at St. Andrew’s we dedicate our Christmas Eve offering and December appeal as gifts to a local, a national and an international ministry that we support. Normally you would receive envelopes with the bulletins on Sunday or in the pews prior to Christmas outlining offerings for the season. With COVID-19 things are different but we are still going ahead with our appeal. This year we are supporting Gracefield Camp, the Kenora Fellowship Centre, and the Depestre Foundation.

Please indicate which charity you are supporting. If it is not indicated the donation will be divided amongst the three. Tax receipts will be issued at year-end for gifts of $20 or more. Gifts can be made:

• via electronic transfer from your bank account using Interac e-transfer. Please use the e-mail address donations@standrewsottawa.ca. No password is needed as the funds are automatically deposited into the Church’s bank account and the office is informed of your donation for tax receipt purposes. Please include your envelope number in the message box.
• by mail to St. Andrew’s Church at 82 Kent Street, Ottawa ON K1P5N9. Please do not mail cash.

A Letter from Karen

“in the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings favoured one! The Lord is with you!” Luke 1:26–38

I have a question for you: If you could go back to being six or seven, maybe eight or nine years old and the pageant was being cast at church… What character you would want to be? I wonder… Will you be a shepherd, counting your sheep, searching out what they need? Will you be Mary, called out of the ordinary to be part of God’s marvelous plan to bless the world? Will you be Joseph, faithful and righteous? The innkeeper? A wise man? What about the angel?

Who wants to be the angel? We don’t always get a lot of takers for this role but there is only one line you need to remember really well and it begins like this: Fear Not!

It’s almost a prerequisite for the angels. They need to know this one line and they need to know it well. If you can do that then maybe the angel role is for you. If you learn this one line well then you will be more than ready for several of the appearances the angel needs to make… from the priest in the temple named Zechariah to the young girl Mary and then to the shepherds in the dark hill country… when the angel shows up to each of them, one of the things they most need to say is Fear Not!

Now you can leave behind your younger self contemplating their pageant role and come back to who you are today, because I have a second question I want to share with you. One that I have been pondering and it is this—why—why is the message to fear not, so important?

Is it because the angels themselves are so terrifying? Is that part of being an angel? I can imagine that having a celestial being showing up in your ordinary life to be a very disturbing experience. Or could it be the rest of the message the angels are given to announce is invariably going to be one that turns many people’s lives upside down, particularly the life of the person they are addressing… the angel gets to break the news that the future the person they are talking to had planned is now undone… the certainties they had about how the world and their life ran are about to change… the unbelievable is about to happen! God is about to do something, the angels have come to say, and you are part of it!

…Fear Not!…

Fear is part of being human, part of being made of flesh and blood. We all know it and experience it. It is part of a physiological reaction that happens within our bodies when something is “not right”. When something strange has happened, or… in the case of an angel showing up… someone different and strange to us has arrived on the scene… we don’t know what to make of it. Is this a possible threat?

Adrenaline starts pumping, our fight or flight reflex kicks in: we either seek an escape from what we are facing or struggle to fight against it.

As a trigger that tells us something is wrong, perhaps there is danger around, fear can certainly save our lives… in that context it is not a bad thing at all…

But here is what I am thinking: that while the fight or flight response is good in a dangerous moment it is not a way to live day by day. And it is hard as well, to respond in, or live in, hope or faith or even love when fear is the driving force for our behavior. When we are afraid we feel it in our bodies, it takes up a lot of our mental and spiritual energy as well. The urge to fight or flight makes it hard in such a situation to give of ourselves, to be present to another, to feel hope or offer peace.

So let’s go back to the angel, and one angel and his work in particular. Gabriel is sent to a young woman named Mary. She is startled when he shows up and greets her and calls her favoured one and tells her the Lord is with her. And so he says “Fear Not!” and he reminds her again that the Lord is with her as he tells her she has found favour with God.

“The Lord is with you.” And this… this is the whole reason why Mary need not fear, why we need not fear. God is with us. God is for us and we are not alone. This is the good news that calls us through the very real fears we all face so that we might live in hope and peace and joy and love. So we can answer whatever call God is putting in our own lives.

When it comes to the Christmas pageant, one thing I am convinced it teaches us is that there is a role for everyone in the story of God coming into the world. Ordinary people, kings, innkeepers, young and old, you and me… .

Our acting out the events of the birth of Jesus, year in and year out, reminds me, in a good way of the dressup games we played when we were young. Trying on roles like teacher or parent as we played with our friends, seeing how it fit as we contemplated who we might grow to be.

Now if you are still wondering about my first question, who would you want to play in the pageant this year, let me leave you with this: Give thought to the angel!

We need our shepherds and our Marys and our Josephs, our wise men and our innkeepers… and in other years you can try those on… but the angels are particularly important this year. You can put on wings if you want but sometimes I think the angels looked a lot like ordinary people, showing up in people’s lives with startling messages of hope and good news.

Consider the role of the angel…

We know only too well this year the reality of fear and anxiety. In the midst of pandemic there is much loss and we all want to receive again the gifts that Advent brings, that the Christ child might be born in us anew this year.

Consider the role of the angel… You have only one line, you know it already and you probably know it well. You can say it with words, you can bring it to life in your actions. And I am entirely certain that there is someone out there that God is sending you to who needs to hear it:

Fear Not! The Lord is with you!

Mark your Calendars: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

An annual ecumenical celebration where Christians around the world are invited to pray for the unity of us all. It began in 1908 as an observance within the Roman Catholic Church. Since the founding of the World Council of Churches in 1948, many other Christian denominations around the world have come to celebrate the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and since 1968, the Faith and Order Commission of the WCC and the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity have collaborated to produce materials for use over this eight-day period.

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in 2021 was prepared by the Monastic Community of Grandchamp in Switzerland. The theme that was chosen, “Abide in my love and you shall bear much fruit”, is based on John 15:1–17 and expresses Grandchamp Community’s vocation to prayer, reconciliation and unity in the church and the human family.

The Christian Council for the Capital Area, of which Reverend Karen is the Presbyterian representative, will be providing an ecumenical service using the materials provided by the Grandchamp community, recorded and posted online on January 24th. Stay tuned in the new year for more information.

News from Kirk Session

Andrew Moir, Recording Clerk

Kirk Session met in early November and discussed pastoral concerns, current topics and the works of the various committees serving the congregation. Thomas Znotins provided an update on the financial outlook for 2020, and we also confirmed the charities that will be supported through the Christmas offerings this year. The offerings will focus on the Gracefield Christian Camp, The Kenora Fellowship Centre and the Marco Depstre Foundation for Haiti. A discussion was held to confirm how we can proceed with a Christmas pageant which may look different this year due to the pandemic. We also reviewed and approved the purchase of copyright licenses to ensure that our online services comply with copyright laws and will allow for a greater variety of music to be performed online.

Thank you to all of the members of the congregation of St. Andrew’s for your participation and discernment in the recent elder elections. The Kirk Session is delighted to welcome five new elders in the New Year, Aisling Boomgaardt, Gail Bowes, Tim Patterson, Althea Goodman-Williams and Elizabeth Philipson.

As always, the Kirk Session continues to actively monitor available public health information and review the updated guidance from the City of Ottawa relating to COVID-19 in order to determine when it will be safe to re-open the sanctuary to in-person worship services once more.

Update on Church School from Superintendent Koko

Koko Bate Agborsangaya

Join us for Church School this Advent! Every Sunday at 11:15 a.m., for ages 0–12, we celebrate the birth of Christ! We will be doing games, crafts, bible stories and songs. Please contact Sydney at sj@standrewsottawa.ca to get the Zoom link. God bless.

We have started a Bilingual Church School where songs, crafts and Storytime will be done in French and English. Nous sommes très enthousiastes pour notre première école bilingue du dimanche où les chansons, les bricolages et l’heure du conte se déroulent en français et en anglais. This will take place on the first Sunday of every month.

The first one was held on Sunday, November 1. Please save the following dates for the next ones which take place on Zoom at 11h15 during regularly scheduled church school.

• Sunday, December 6
• Sunday, January 10
• Sunday, February 7

Nous espérons vous y retrouver.

Christmas Pageant

Reverend Karen

The Christmas Eve Pageant is an important part of our celebrations at St. Andrew’s each year. It proclaims the good news of Christmas: that in Jesus Christ God has come to dwell among us. It affirms the important place that children have in our worship and life as a congregation. As we, in the pageant, give ourselves over to making the story come alive for another year, we remember as we do that there is a role for everyone in the story of Jesus Christ. From Shepherds to Mary, from angels to Joseph, from the gentile Kings or Wise Men to King Herod, as we consider the infant Jesus and cradle him in our own hearts we are confronted with the question: will you let him be born anew in your heart this year? And how are we, each of us, being called into the work God is doing to redeem the world and make all things new?

As we are not able to be in the sanctuary this year things are definitely very different—but we are still having a pageant! It will be posted to YouTube and be available through the church website (www.standrewsottawa.ca)

The Script we are using is one where all the speaking roles involve narrators who we will invite to record their parts from home. Different households will also be needed to act out the various scenes of the Christmas Story, also from home. Our Music Director, Tom Annand, will record carols with our soloists so that we can sing along at home as well. Karen and Sydney will offer the prayers and one of our families will lead us as we light the Christ Candle on the Advent Wreath.

Many thanks to Paul Mzandu and Hugh Dimock who are our recording team and editors, taking our individual contributions and creating the service in its final form.

Please be in touch with Reverend Karen or Sydney (kd@standrewsottawa.ca or sj@standrewsottawa.ca) if you have questions and to volunteer.

White Gift Sunday

Jeanie Hicks and the Christian Education Committee

St. Andreans always look forward to White Gift Sunday in December when we donate books (wrapped in white paper) to the library of a local school. 2020 is the second year of our commitment to supply books to Cambridge Street Public School, a kindergarten to grade six school located near the church in Centretown. Although many of its students were born in Canada, Cambridge Street Public School serves a predominantly multicultural population of students and families originally from locations such as China, Vietnam, Myanmar, South Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa and South America. After completing Grade 6 its students go on to attend Glashan Public School or Fisher Park for grades 7 and 8.

In response to the limitations placed on us by the pandemic, the Christian Education Committee has decided, that this year, instead of collecting books from the congregation we will instead send Christmas greetings to the school along with a monetary donation for the support of their library or another school initiative. The “Elves” will miss delivering books to the school and will look forward to celebrating White Gift Sunday when we are back together again in the sanctuary.

For St. Andreans who also wish to send a card, they can be mailed to:

• Principal,
• Cambridge Street Public School
• 250 Cambridge St N,
• Ottawa ON K1R 7B2

Thank you and Blessings

Invitation: Anti-Black Racism Discussions

“I became conscious of my blackness. I had come from a white world. … we are people of skill and creativity. I was a black man and I was a somebody. I started standing tall.” Lincoln Alexander

On October 3rd St. Andreans who potentially identified as Black Canadians were invited to take part in an open discussion on the issue of Anti-Black Racism.

This was a first step organized by the Christian Education Committee (CE) with the support of the Kirk Session. It involved a facilitated discussion in a safe space between Black St. Andreans with several leaders of the church present. It was an opportunity to share thoughts and lived experiences. It will be followed by a second discussion to which all St. Andreans will be invited that CE is planning for the early New Year.

The goal of these discussions is greater understanding, to ensure that all voices can be heard. We look forward to everyone’s participation and input. Some may welcome this discussion, while others may not feel comfortable participating. As members of the church community we all have the power, the ability, and the responsibility to build a better, more inclusive community for all of God’s children.

The facilitator for October 3rd was Doretta Charles. Doretta holds a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Resolution and a Masters in Public Policy and Administration from Carleton University. Doretta also has a combined honours degree in Political Science and Philosophy from Western University in London, Ontario. She has worked in the federal government for over 17 years, and currently works full time as an informal conflict resolution practitioner. Outside of work, Doretta is a volunteer coach, mediator, facilitator and trainer with Community Mediation Ottawa.

The October 3rd meeting was a very positive one and a high-level report from the event, that was written by Althea Goodman-Williams in collaboration with the facilitator, is presented below. It has been shared with the participants already, as well as with the Kirk Session and raises potential questions for our discussion in the New Year. We hope you have questions too, leading us together into a deeper discussion and understanding.

Submitted on behalf of Christian Education

Althea Goodman-Williams (co-convenor of Christian Education) and Karen Dimock

What Was Heard: Anti-Black Racism Discussion at St. Andrew’s, October 3, 2020

1. Systemic anti-Black racism definitely exists in society's institutions and organizations, causing enduring harm to Black Canadians as a people and as individuals, and also has significant negative impacts on the broader society. Not much has changed in the broader community (schools, workplaces, etc.) to respect and provide fair treatment and access to Black Canadians. There is some experience of anti-Black racism within St. Andrew's Church Ottawa.

Such racism impacts the current and the next generation as overt and more subtle acts of racism are experienced by church members in schools, community, etc.

There is a need to define what is racism, call it out when witnessed or experienced, stop it when it is happening, teach/learn how to deal with it, and acknowledge its impacts on individuals and society.

Question: Are there any policies/guidelines/principles and supports within the church to help people who have experienced or are experiencing racism? How do we communicate and implement such policies?

2. Understanding the impacts of anti-Black racism is necessary in order to move towards eliminating it. Racism significantly reduces the ability of Black Canadians to maximize their human potential due to: mental health impacts (stress, anxiety, reduced self-confidence), physical health impacts (high blood pressure, diabetes, COVID-19), economic outcomes impacts (reduced access to proper education and jobs/career paths), and unfair treatment by police and the justice system (abnormally high arrest/harassment and incarceration rates).

Question: What can be done to improve understanding? More open communication, more sharing of stories and experiences amongst the congregation, more willingness on the part of the broader community to understand the truths of the lived experiences of Black Canadians? How about access to different voices in the church, including Black guest speakers and ministers?

3. Micro-aggressions and unconscious bias occur on a daily basis, including in the church. This needs to be addressed to enable Black members of the congregation to feel welcomed, included, supported, and valued.

Question: How do we work to address micro-aggressions? How do we institute microaffirmations?

What can be done to ensure no-one is left to feel invisible in our church? How do we work to develop a stronger sense of community within the church?

4. There is a need for greater understanding and respect for cultural differences. This includes understanding the newer Canadian experience—racism is different from other elements of social status (i.e. “I was not Black until I came to Canada”).

Question: How do we work together to improve cultural understanding, and thereby reduce/avoid the harms that result from lack of understanding.

5. There is a need to include children and youth in the discussion of anti-Black racism.

Question: What conversations should we be having with all children? What resources are available in the church and at Sunday school to facilitate understanding, empathy and a new path forward?

6. Everyone expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to take part in this very important discussion.

Question: Where do we go from here?

Today is November 11th, 2020

A personal essay by Kethy Sosso-Kolle

Remembrance Day in Canada

A day to remember the brave men and women who died for the freedom we now enjoy. A day to celebrate Veterans in ways that truly support their physical and mental health after having sacrificed so much for our beautiful country. It is also a day to remember that in the throes of World War II, as brave nations banded together in the fight against fascism, Black Canadians also had to overcome racism and discrimination to enlist and serve in this country’s military, the air force, and the navy.

4 days since Mrs. Kamala Harris became the 1st Woman Vice‐President, the 1st African-American Vice‐President in the United States of America

Wonderful firsts to celebrate and a cause for pause. We celebrate the manifestation of a brilliant woman in power, a Black woman who will inspire millions of little Black girls—and Black boys—to truly believe they can be whoever they want to be, so long as they apply themselves to their craft, their dreams. We also pause and ask, “What took so long?”

It is Race and gender inequity, that is what took so long. The intersection of being Black, South East Asian, a Woman, a first-generation Immigrant; identities that combine to further oppress. The distinction between equality and equity.

It is because women must work twice as hard for half the return when compared to men. A white male in a leadership role is still the norm, and gender roles are so entrenched in our community’s DNA that women who aim high are considered aggressive, less nurturing, too ambitious.

It is because, even after 4 years of Donald Trump as the figurehead for White supremacist ideologies, half of the White American population still chose him in the 2020 U.S. Election, to maintain the status quo of an America that was never liberty and justice for all.

It is because the insidious vestige of slavery continues to stealthily oppress Black people as we join the socio‐economic power race with a 400‐year handicap.

40 days since the first St. Andrew’s Anti‐Black Racism discussion

My heart and mind were reeling after that video call during which Black members of our congregation shared their lived experiences. I remember the ache in my heart. Fighting the rage and sadness as I listened. Pacing in my kitchen. Wanting to cry and scream. Wanting to hug someone.

A church member talked about being bullied in school for being Black, for looking different from their peers. Parents teaching their Black children how to be resilient in the face of racism and discrimination; how to behave during an encounter with the police. The Talk. Parents shielding their Black children from the ugly realities of racism, knowing full well the pain of that first encounter is inevitable.

Research shows society considers our Black boys and girls to be more mature and less innocent than their non‐Black counterparts. Our Black boys are super predators, and our Black girls are oversexualized. Black children misbehaving in school are more likely to face punitive measures such as suspensions and police arrests compared to disobedient white children, who are offered medical and mental assistance.

A member of our church mentioned not getting a job when they used their “ethnic‐sounding” name, but as soon as they used a more “palatable” name, doors opened. Often, Black folks do not even know that we are being discriminated against based on our skin – no, not until much later, when we unpack our feelings of deep hurt and give the offense its ugly name.

160 days since the Anti‐Black Racism March on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, to protest the violent and unjust deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Abdirahman Abdi

Minneapolis, Minnesota: Floyd was killed by a police officer who pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck for an agonizing 8 minutes and 46 seconds – for allegedly passing a counterfeit $20 bill at a store.

Glynn County, Georgia: Arbery was pursued, confronted, and fatally shot by 3 vigilantes in a truck while jogging – a modern day lynching by civilians.

Hintonburg, Ottawa: Abdi, who struggled with his mental health, died of cardiac arrest following an altercation with the police – repeatedly punched in the head by an officer with reinforced gloves.

D. L. Hughley, an African American comedian, recently released a book entitled “How not to get shot: and other advice from White people,” as a satirical response to non‐Black folks suggesting victims of police brutality must have done something to meet their demise. Often, the media dredges up the Black victims’ unsavory past. He was an ex-con. She was verbally hostile. The child was holding a toy gun or a bag of Skittle. She was a bad mother. He was jogging in a neighbourhood he did not fit in. He ran from the police. Behold, the police – and their White vigilante – feared for their life and now another Black person is dead.

Never mind that the police always seem capable of arresting a White mass shooter – alive and smirking for the cameras – but routine health checks within 4 weeks of each other by police in the Greater Toronto Area led to the deaths of Regis Korchinski-Paquet and Ejaz Choudry. Research shows that when Black folks encounter the police, we are less likely to be given the benefit of the doubt. Never mind the video footage and the nonchalant way a Black person’s last breath is circulated in our media. Just another Black life gone. Another News cycle. The public outrage. The protests. The court circus. Case dismissed. Blue Blood wins. An acquittal. A possible compensation in civil court. The city and the country move on. What is a Black life after all?

Peaceful rallies and violent riots stirred America’s streets this Summer. Tense conversations with White people feeling cornered and judged by the term “white privilege”. Folks with opinions on the “right way” for the demonstrators to demand the end to systemic racism and oppression. To loot or not to loot, that was never the point. A memorable quote by African American actor and activist Jesse Williams comes to mind: “the burden of the Brutalized is not to comfort the Bystander. […] If you have a critique for the resistance, for our resistance, then you better have an established record of critique for our oppression. If you have no interest in equal rights for Black people, then do not make suggestions to those who do.”

Over 230 days since the first time our Canadian government announced the first Covid‐19 pandemic lockdown.

Unprecedented times have forced us into isolation, to do some introspection. Too often, we define racism – anti‐Black racism – by its more blatant forms. We think SLAVERY, SEGREGATION, RACIAL SLURS. We think HITLER and KU KLUX KLAN. Racism is a spectrum: overt to covert, microaggression, macroaggressions. It is etched deep in our being – our implicit biases. The way we were raised, the people in our circles, the breadth of our experience as humans and our contact with others outside of our communities.

It is saying things like “everything is not about race,” and gaslighting individuals when they share their personal experience of racial discrimination.

It is colourism on TV shows where the mother in the Black family is always a light‐skinned woman with long silky hair. Using the word “fair skin” to describe lighter skin tones. The realization that the term “nude colour” for our band aids and stockings is equivalent to “for white skin”.

It is finding a name too difficult to pronounce and opting for a nickname.

It is asking a Black person where they are from and not being satisfied until they mention their ancestral background 4 generations back – only to then refer to a trip to a predominantly Black country 2 time zones away from theirs.

It is when an African accent is unfairly equated to “not speaking proper English” and becomes the measure of a person’s eloquence – but a British accent is considered sophisticated.

It is the way characters in children’s toys, cartoons and books are almost always white.

It is a professional hair stylist saying they are not trained to do “Black hair”.

It is clutching your purse a little tighter when you are in an elevator with a young Black man.

It is Bill 21 – the laicity legislation in Quebec – and how we all know it would not exist if nuns in full habit were public employees, rather than women wearing hijabs.

It is Canada patting itself on the back for being diverse and inclusive, while keeping Indigenous communities oppressed with treaties that are never honoured and policies that continue to push them into the margins.

Today is November 11th, 2020 and we are 51 days away from the end of the year

Now what? Well, the time for complacence – of blissful ignorance – is done. Enough is enough. Staying informed and educated on matters that concern others’ well‐being should now be our civic duty.

It is not enough to not be racist. It is time to be anti-racist.

Where to start? It is the little changes can we make in our lives, in our families, our circles, our communities. There will be difficult conversations, some with hurt feelings and tears, but these conversations are necessary. Life-changing. Life-saving even. The road to equality, long and dreary, and – like Abraham, like Moses – the fruit of our emotional and physical labour might not come in our lifetimes or our children’s children. Nevertheless, keeping our eyes on Christ, let us actively engage in social justice and the fight against racial discrimination and oppression, with the hope that the generations to come will have a brighter future.

Food Centre Walk a Big Success

Rob Robertson

St. Andrew’s received the following letter congratulating the All Saints team:

The Lord’s Supper at home, in a time of pandemic

Elizabeth J. Phillipson

When we were all put into lockdown on March 16, who would have thought that here we would all still be, trying to cope with life, and church life at that, during a global pandemic?

And although our beloved St. Andrew’s reopened, with restrictions, in September, the doors were closed again only three weeks later as caution and the care of our congregation prevailed.

For many of us, life with online worship has worked, to a large degree. I find myself trolling through a treasure trove of services on YouTube: I am a regular ‘worshiper’ in services from Glasgow, Dornoch and the Black Isle in Scotland, Canterbury Cathedral in England, the Church of Scotland in Paris, St. John’s Dixie in Mississauga…as well, of course, Rev. Karen’s services at our home church here in Ottawa.

But what about Communion, The Lord’s Supper? Can we all partake of this central pillar of our faith so essential to our lives as members of God’s family, while sitting at home alone with a laptop or tablet?

Yes, indeed, yes.

My first experience came early: I had become ‘Twitter friends’ with the Rev. Susan Cord and her spouse, the Rev. James Bissett a couple of years ago, and so when Rev. James offered a Maundy Thursday Communion service from their home in northeastern Scotland (he and Susan have the care of five Church of Scotland parishes in the area known as the Black Isle), I decided to see what it would be like. I prepared my wee glass of wine and an oatcake (I thought that would be appropriate!), set up my table, and began my solitary worship.

Here was a Scottish minister, in his kitchen thousands of mile away, connecting with me in Ottawa, through the body, blood, and word of the Lord.

I had a chance to tell James weeks later how much that worship meant to me: how he moved me to tears feeling connected with the Word (I am sure many of you saw the worship service in June that Rev. Karen conducted with James and Susan through Zoom; well, I was able to be part of the initial Zoom contact, and finally ‘met’ and then ‘introduced’ my Twitter pals to Karen!). James told me that he felt rather saddened and disoriented having to conduct a Communion service that way, but I assured him that his worship moved me greatly, as I am sure it did so many others, as we all sat in lockdown: apart but together.

And now we have had two Communion Sundays in our St. Andrew’s congregation: the first in June, when Rev. Karen joined us from her home, and the October World Communion Sunday service filmed in the sanctuary. That is the service in the top photo: I set out the elements (yes, an oatcake again, that has become my norm), lit a candle, brought out the Celtic cross that my dear friend Joan brought me from Ireland, a few heads of grain: ready to worship with the Lord, and with all of you. And I have been just as moved each time as I was with Rev. James on Maundy Thursday: the wonders of our faith do not diminish, just change, adapt, grow, as they have for millennia. Yes, we are missing our church, our community; yes, we are feeling alone, lonely perhaps, fearful. But we are still a wonderfully loving, kind, engaged community. When this is all over, we will never go back completely to what we were before, but surely that is not a bad thing?

And so, as we approach the beginning of Advent, we will celebrate another service of The Lord’s Supper on December 6. Most certainly we will be worshipping from home once again, alone together. Set the table: get out your elements, light a candle, open your Bible. The Lord will be with you, with all of us, wherever we are, from wherever we worship.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)

Would you like to try another type of Communion service? Rev. Karen is conducting our Wednesday noontime services once more, this time on Zoom. It’s a lovely half hour when we share communion, reflection, community. Contact Vivian in the church office for the link (office@standrewsottawa.ca) or Rev. Karen if you have any questions. Join us, please do!

Memorial Minute for Barbara Sawh

God’s plan is to make known his secret…and the secret is that Christ is in you… (Colossians 1:27, Good News Translation)

Barbara was a woman of deep faith and heartfelt joy. She knew God’s secret; her roots were deeply planted in Christ and her joyful thanksgiving radiated to every service and friendship.

Barbara was born in Guyana. She was educated in the Ursuline Convent of Georgetown, Guyana. She moved to Canada in 1967 after living 5 years in England, settled in Ottawa and began her career at the Dept. of Employment and Immigration.

Barbara had an extensive, close, loving family network whom she celebrated and adored.

Barbara began attending St. Andrew’s around 1974 and became an Elder on May 30, 1993. It is hard to find a role at St. Andrew’s that Barbara did not occupy or a person that Barbara did not affect. Serving faithfully (through 4 different ministers), Barbara in her humble, persistent, caring way, shaped the very heart of St. Andrew’s.

She was a devoted Elder and core member of the Pastoral Care committee.

It was part of who she was, to take not only extraordinary care of her district and many others in the congregation, but to welcome the stranger, seek out and embrace the lonely, celebrate the young, visit those who were sick, and prepare food (taking it to those homebound at all hours of the day or night) and to pray…continually.

In heart, faith and in service to St. Andrew’s, Barbara prayed both in solitude and alongside others throughout her life. At the end of each day (with her long time St. Andrew’s friend, prayer partner and ally, Yvette), Barbara prayed specifically for members of our congregation.

Barbara’s response to need was immediate and she often abandoned her own affairs to attend to those in crisis. I recall one occasion I was asked to meet a church friend whose father faced imminent surgery at the Heart Institute (where I then worked); I left home immediately, but even as I arrived to the waiting room, Barbara was already there, holding hands and uplifting the family. It was a profound gift of Barbara’s—to be there and to be truly present.

We all know of Barbara’s culinary skills and her continuous presence in St. Andrew’s kitchen, making specialized food for every event: congregational meals, mission meals, Kid’s Church, VBS or special events.

Many enjoyed her treats of home-made hot sauce, cookies, sweets and soup (spicy!).

Barbara enjoyed the congregational weekends at Gracefield and could be found sitting or praying on the patio chairs (which she donated in memory of her god-daughter) or out boating on the lake, basking in nature’s serenity.

She was the convenor of the Settlement committee (within St. Andrew’s Refugee Committee) which sponsored the Al Aje family from Syria. She helped coordinate the location and decorating of their apartment, the team to assist them in navigating Canadian law, health and school and she extended a warm personal welcome to our church home.

Barbara was on the Search Committee for the Director of Christian Education. Her thoughtful discernment, careful questions and heart-felt welcome were instrumental in securing the successful candidate and her ongoing care and devotion ensured their close, life-long friendship.

Volunteering generously in the church office, Barbara allowed staff time off when needed.

As VP of the Marco Depestre Foundation (disaster/poverty relief in Haiti), Barbara, in devoted partnership with Yvette, succeeded in registering the foundation as a charity and bringing its mission to St. Andrew’s.

Barbara enticed many St. Andreans into the joy of charitable giving by dancing and feasting in her fundraising for the Friends of Serviam (a charitable service of her Ursuline Alma mater).

Mixed with her abundant energy and humble spirit, Barbara was so dearly human; feisty determined and fun-loving. Barbara was open to everyone, always sincere, loyal and ready to serve.

Small and mighty, she had a persuasive gift that wouldn’t take no for an answer and found ways to get people involved, despite themselves…which inevitably led to belonging, community and gratitude.

We will miss Barbara. The back south pew is lonely without her.

We were blessed with her presence, but we too know God’s secret…and know we shall meet again.

Thanks be to God for the life and service of our dear Barbara.

Memorial Minute for Charles Murray

Respectfully submitted by Stuart McLeod, Elder

Charlie Murray passed into the keeping of our Lord on August 24th, 2020, at the age of 97. He was raised in St. Andrew’s as the youngest child of long-time members, G. Scott and Caroline Murray.

Charlie and his wife Barbara contributed to the Congregation in many ways. Barbara was active in the Women’s Guild, while their daughter, Ruth, performed in the Handbell Choir and their youngest son, Ted, was active in the Youth Group and Handbell Choir.

Charlie was a man of deep faith and served St. Andrew’s as an elder as well as serving on the Temporal Committee. He played a key role in the development and implementation of the reconstruction project which culminated in the building of St. Andrew’s Tower and the restoration of the historic sanctuary. This project revitalized our church building and church finances with the creation of the Heritage Fund administered by the Glebe Trust.

Charlie and Barbara spent their retirement years in Perth, Ontario, while maintaining close contact with their many friends at St. Andrew’s. At the time of Charlie’s passing, he and Barbara had celebrated 70 years of matrimony.

News from the Centretown Food Centre

Rob Robertson

St. Andrew’s welcomes Diana Mahaffy as the new Manager of our Centretown Emergency Food Centre. Diana is a member of St. Stephen’s Presbyterian Church, and most recently was the interim Director of Gracefield Camp and Conference Centre.

Diana begins her new role at what is obviously a complicated time for all social service agencies. The pandemic has required the Food Centre to change its method of serving clients. Previously there were individual interviews and food allotments according to particular needs. Now several standard baskets are prepared and dispensed to clients. This reduces the social interaction. As well, the hours have been reduced to ninety minutes three days a week.

The Food Centre now serves about 350 clients per month. This is roughly half the usual flow. There are a number of explanations for this. Some vulnerable clients no longer visit and the Ottawa Food Bank has instituted home deliveries. As well, the closing of our borders to refugees and other migrants has diminished somewhat the number in our community needing this helping hand.

Members of St. Andrew’s are encouraged to continue donating money to the Food Centre, and specific food needs will be publicized when it becomes possible to resume our collection of food at the church.

St. Andrew’s Youth Group Meets

Timothy McIntosh

On November 6 the Youth gathered on Zoom for a night of baking cookies and reading from the Epistles. Katie, Riley, Aisling and I went the classic route and made chocolate chip, while Lucy and Heather decided to flex their creativity by making shortbread cookies in the shape of bears.

Afterwards we joined together to read through the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, and used this opportunity to share with our youth the comfort and lessons that can be found in the Epistles. This chapter also reminded us that, as verses 7–8 say, “in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.”

Online Devotionals

Reverend Karen

Looking for a daily devotional that you can subscribe to online and that will pop up in your inbox or on your phone first thing each day? Here are some recommendations gathered from the Pastoral Care Connectors Group:

PresbyCan Daily Devotional is at presbycan.ca. Contributors to this devotional are members of the Presbyterian Church in Canada from across the country. One of our members writes: “This works for me. It’s in my inbox each morning and is the first thing I open. Some contributors become “friends”. As soon as I start reading, I often know who the contributor is… I appreciate the nudge to pray and think as the day begins.” There are also links provided for activities that include reading the Bible in one or two years.

Today Daily Devotional is provided by the Christian Reformed Church (Reformed church). Go to today.reframemedia.com/to see it.

Richard Rhor’s Daily Meditations from the Center for Action and Contemplation. Richard Rohr is a Franciscan Friar, an ecumenical teacher and spiritual writer. To see today’s message and sign up to get them in your daily inbox go to cac.org/category/daily-meditations/

Frederick Buechner (pronounced BEEK-ner) is an American writer and theologian. He is the author of more than thirty published books. This daily devotion provides a “quote of the day” from those writings. To learn more about him, read today’s quote of the day and sign up for delivery to your inbox go to www.frederickbuechner.com/quote-of-the-day

The God is Still Speaking Daily Devotional is written by pastors and ministers of the United Church of Christ. Again, to see today’s message and sign up please go to ucc.org/daily_devotional

Looking not for an email but a phone app? Try Pray As You Go. It leads you through a time of prayerful reflection that includes music, the reading of a Scripture text, and short reflections that guide you into prayer based on the text. It is available, free, in both Android and Apple versions.

Foodgrains Bank One of Canada’s Top Impact Charities for Third Year

Canadian Foodgrains Bank

Canadian Foodgrains Bank is pleased to announce its inclusion as a Top 10 Impact Charity by Charity Intelligence Canada for 2020. CFGB is the main agency through which St. Andrew's international relief donations are channelled by Presbyterian World Service and Development.

“This repeated public affirmation of our work, and the work of our members and partners, is truly welcome and celebrated,” says Foodgrains Bank executive director Andy Harrington. “We realize that people who support the Foodgrains Bank place a great deal of trust in us when they make a donation. Unlike a local charity, it’s difficult for everyday Canadians to see the impact of our work firsthand, so this affirmation from Charity Intelligence is particularly meaningful.”

Charity Intelligence is a third-party independent organization that examines different Canadian charities annually and assigns ratings based on donor reporting, financial transparency, funding need, cents to the cause, and demonstrated impact. The Top 10 Impact Charity list is a subset of the larger list, and examines only one thing: for every dollar donated, what is the impact?

“We realize that we are only able to achieve this level of impact and accountability thanks to the relationships we as the Foodgrains Bank and its members have with churches, individuals, local partners and government, in Canada and around the world,” says Harrington. “I’m deeply grateful for the way we’re able to work together for a world where no one goes to bed hungry.”

Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a partnership of 15 churches and church agencies working together to end hunger. In the 2019-20 budget year, the Foodgrains Bank provided over $42 million of assistance for over 866,000 people in 34 countries. Canadian Foodgrains Bank programs are undertaken with support from the Government of Canada provided through Global Affairs Canada. Assistance from the Foodgrains Bank is provided through its member agencies, which work with local partners in the developing world.

Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a partnership of the following churches and church agencies: ADRA Canada, Canadian Baptist Ministries, Canadian Lutheran World Relief, Christian and Missionary Alliance, Development and Peace—Caritas Canada, Emergency Relief and Development Overseas, Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada, Mennonite Central Committee Canada, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Canada, Tearfund Canada, The Salvation Army, Presbyterian World Service & Development, Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund, The United Church of Canada, World Renew.

Alone but together: watch a movie with the Film Group!

Jen Curtis (Chair, St. Andrew’s Film Group)

A hushing audience as lights dim, a collective gasp or burst of laughter, or a room of silence while confronting fear or sadness on the screen—all this disappeared last March as COVID-19 descended upon us. But the St. Andrew’s Film Group is thriving! While theatres have re-opened, the group has become virtual. We try to use free streaming services such as Kanopy but also tap into paid services such as Netflix.

About once a month we come together on Zoom and after some chit chat, we discuss the film–what we liked, what we didn’t like and what we took away as Christians. Recent titles include Good Will Hunting (which, for most of us, brought new insights 23 years later), Easy Lessons a quiet but enlightening movie about a Somalia girl trying to break away from her culture as she builds a new life in Hungary, and The Social Dilemma, a documentary that unveils the hidden machinations behind our favorite social media and search platforms.

November’s film is Hearts Beat Loud, a nod to music and fatherhood, and then in December we will discuss The Trial of the Chicago Seven, a riveting feature film about the high-profile 1968 trial of activists, including Abby Hoffman, that is currently streaming on Netflix.

Everyone is welcome! Interested viewers can email me at jcurtis@magma.ca for info and Zoom links.

Wednesday Evening Bible Study

George Boomgaardt

Wednesday evenings this fall, I have been blessed to participate in a Zoom Bible study led by Reverend Dimock. Each week we study the Bible texts for the upcoming Sunday sermon. These evenings are especially enriching as everyone generously shares how they relate to the text being studied and shares their personal faith journeys. The Bible study also enriches the Sunday service. In a time where physical isolation is required, Wednesday Bible study is a special time to gather together and study the Word. Our Wednesday Zoom sessions continue through December 16, and we would love to have you join us.

Wednesday Evening Studies

Aisling Boomgaardt

Sydney McIntosh is leading one of the Fall Wednesday Evening studies, which is based on Paul’s letter to the Philippians. The course is based on a study book by Jennie Allen called Get Out Of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts. I will admit I did not relish the thought of having homework each week, since we are able to work through the study guide in the lead up to each week’s session. It turns out that the interactive lessons have been rewarding–when days get busy it seems that regularly reading the Bible is the first thing to lapse. So it has been helpful to read scripture and respond to the questions Jennie Allen asks us to reflect upon in her study.

At each Wednesday evening study, held via Zoom, we watch a video, share our insights, and reflect on Paul’s central message that we should aim to become more humble and Christ-like if we are truly to be followers of Jesus. We have had meaningful conversations in our small group about how we can easily let our thoughts make us feel hopeless, anxious, and incapable of making a difference. When these negative thoughts come to us, we should remember to focus on our relationship with Jesus as well as our relationship with other Christians. What we have found so far is that Paul’s letter is still meaningful to us today, in 2020.

News from India

Aisling Boomgaardt

Cyclone Nisarga touched down with a vengeance in early June. Though it mostly centred on Mumbai, the outskirts reached Amkhut and caught people off guard. The road connection to Amkhut was cut off, so a new temporary bridge was built. Many homes were damaged because people had already started the annual roof repair work in preparation for the seasonal monsoons later in the summer. If their roof is soft, they must check it every year and either replace or repair it; the cyclone was a surprise and a number of homes were flooded because the roofs were already open to the elements.

In late June we received news that there was a shift of the local ministers and Rev. Emmanuel Ariel is once again pastor in Amkhut. Rev. Navneet Vaskala will be pastor at Jobat.

At the beginning of the pandemic it seemed that everyone was being very diligent. In Jobat every house was visited regularly by a health official and they took data regarding symptoms. By the summer the lockdown had taken a toll on people who rely on regular work in order to provide food for their families. The news from the region sounded as though the people had resigned themselves to catching the virus. At first the report was that there were 35 cases of COVID-19, then 190, followed by 230 and more. It was difficult to receive these numbers, but the most recent report in November was that Jobat and region is free of COVID-19 for the time being.

Sunday church services have even resumed in Jobat. They have four shifts of 30 minutes each, and the church is sanitized between each worship service. Everyone must wear a mask and use hand sanitizer; people are separated by at least two metres; and people older than 65 are advised not to attend.

On September 16th I awoke to several messages from friends in India that Dr. Deborah Tezlo had passed away in Jobat from a sudden illness. Dr. Tezlo had been Superintendent at Jobat Christian Hospital for many years, inspired confidence as a community leader, and exhibited deep faith throughout her life. As is tradition, her body was buried that evening. Her presence is greatly missed. Dr. Tezlo was one of Pauline Brown’s best friends, even traveling with Pauline to Canada, and her father had been one of the first local Christian pastors in the region.

A Berry Merry Christmas

The Mission and Outreach Committee

Congratulations to Gail and Bob Bowes for selling nearly $900 of frozen berries for Christmas baking. All the profits will go to St. Andrew’s Millennium Refugee Fund to support our sponsorships.

Job Bible Study: When Bad Things Happen

Reverend Karen

1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 10:30 a.m.

The book of Job is the story of an entirely good and righteous man. There is no one like Job (even God says so). Looking at the Scriptures for ourselves there is no one else who is described in such positive and faithful terms as Job. And to top it all of, he has a very good and successful life… until disaster strikes: warring tribes descend, natural disasters arrive and in short order Job loses everything including his children, and eventually his own health.

The first couple of chapters of Job provide some insight into the discussion that is going on in the heavenly court about Job but on earth… he and his friends struggle to understand what has happened to him. How do they make sense of the pain and suffering he is experiencing? This is the part of the book we are at in our study at the moment.

At first, right after the disaster strikes, Job’s friends come to him and together they sit in silence for 7 days. A full week. Job’s suffering is so terrible and his friends, well they must have been taken aback with what they see. Seven days and not a word.

Then Job speaks… And it is hard to listen. He is angry and he wishes he was never born, he demands justice, he wants to demand an answer from God’s own self!

Job’s friends seem to be taken aback. They try to correct him. They try to explain what is happening according to their own understanding. Job must have done something one of them argues. To think otherwise risks making their own efforts to live righteously futile. Who are mortals beside God another asks… and it can be said quite fairly (indeed Job says it himself) that the friend’s attempts to comfort Job only add to his pain.

One of the things we talked about in Bible Study that interested me was Dorothy Soelle’s observation that the only thing worse than hearing Job speak was if he had kept his silence. In his speaking and protesting he is beginning to search for hope she says… .

Eventually if we keep reading, eventually, God does speak to Job, we just aren’t there yet in our study. And if you want to join us and be there when we get to that part then please let me know and I will send you the Zoom link for our discussions.

I anticipate that that we will be reading Job through to the spring. We are a curious group, by which I mean we ask lots of questions, and we always welcome new people and what they bring into the conversation. Before the pandemic we would have had hot coffee and yummy treats to offer you as well but until we can meet again in person you will have to bring your own coffee or tea to the conversation and bring your own Bible as well please. It is really interesting to share differing translations. Speak to me if you are interested in joining and I will send you the study notes from our conversation to date and put you on the list to get the Zoom link.

Below are some words from Rabbi Harold S. Kushner in his book The Book Of Job: When Bad Things Happened To A Good Person (published 2012 by Schocken Press Books, Random House of Canada Ltd, Toronto). I have been using it as one of the references for this study.

“There is one place in the Bible where serious theological conversation about the nature and thought process of God does take place, prompted by the conflict between the human wish to see the world as a moral sphere where people get what they deserve, where everything happens for a reason, and the inescapable reality that ours is a world where good people suffer for no apparent reason. The book of Job is a full-length argument about whether the misfortunes that befall ostensibly good people come to them from the hand of God. If we want to believe that ours is a moral world, the scene of justice and fairness, we need to confront the arguments presented in what is probably the most challenging book in the entire Bible: the book of Job.” – page 14

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