With Thanksgiving

Preacher: Rev. Jenn Geddes | In our “Anxious for Nothing” Bible study, each week we focused on a different verse from the Philipians text. Max Lucado used incredibly wise words to help us in our anxiety or frustrations or concerns. However, it is week three’s words that have had the greatest impact on me and influenced how I planned for our AGM. I have to admit that I don’t always look forward to the AGM. I get anxious just thinking about it. The third step to relieving anxiety comes from Philippians 4: 6. “In everything by prayer, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Praying about the AGM is obvious and had been going on. But it was that little instruction between prayer and requests that caught me, “with thanksgiving.” There is so much going on at the church and we need to give thanks! Max said, “Gratitude is a mindful awareness of the benefits God has provided us in life.” There are an abundance of benefits in this church and today we get to celebrate them! Today we do not think of “if onlys” but “alreadys.” Today we do not dwell on what we are not but rather what we are. And we do it with thanksgiving. From the man who comes in every Friday to quietly rearrange the chairs to the woman who changes the banners to fit the church seasons. There are incredible things being done behind the scenes. I took the annual report and went through each report and offered them up to God with thanksgiving and something happened. I was not anxious about the meeting. The AGM is not supposed to be a meeting we dread but a celebration of all that is abundant and good in this church. Paul commands us to rejoice! Imagine, Paul writes these words from the horrors of a Roman prison. Yet, Paul gives reason for this rejoicing by stating that the Lord is near. And Paul tells us to focus our minds on what is true, honourable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise. Despite the struggles of being a church in the early 21st century we are surrounded by so much that is true, honourable, just, pure, pleasing, commendable, excellent and worthy of praise. So let’s dive into the annual report with thanksgiving.
While the task of the archives committee is one of collecting and preserving important records it is also a Biblical practice. Even in our short 24 year history I have seen the way looking at those old photos brings back happy memories – from the first Easter service on the Janes Farm to the soil turning on this property. As we remember the days of old we are reminded of all the ways God has guided us to be a church in the Comox Valley.
Speaking of being a church – we are grateful for the opportunity to have a permanent building and one that is incredibly well kept. Thanks to the meticulous work of the Building Committee we not only have a place to worship but it is clean and cared for. Just this past year the Building and Maintenance committee dealt with 14 big and small projects. This building provides as space for us to grow in faith. The Harvest Gardens is a place where neighbours meet. As one of the neighbours who has a plot in the garden I know this to be very true. What a gift it is to the surrounding community.
This dwelling place allows us to learn. Through our Christian Education Committee we have Bible studies, the library and our Sunday School. The Sunday school teachers and those who assist them provide an amazing gift to our younger members and it is obvious that they enjoy coming and learning just by the utter joy that escapes their mouths when I say they can head off to Sunday School. But faithful learning is not limited to our children but also to us. Take the opportunity to attend those studies.
Leading with Care is an important piece to that as well. This committee makes sure that our policies are updated so that we can be the safest place for children, youth and adults to come and experience worship. Leading with Care enables us to make sure no one is hindered in their faith.
Thanks to the Church Breakfast we are able to learn not only about one another but also about other interesting people and resources that are available in the valley. Whether it is a talk about genealogy or development projects in Union Bay the church breakfast is not just about enjoying a meal together but enriching our minds.
Every month the Fellowship Group gathers, sometimes it is here at the church and sometimes it is over lunch. But it is their work in fund raising that is amazing. Three thousand dollars was raised at the Chili dinner for the roof and furnace fund. It is this group that also helps whenever there is a reception being held at the church and their knowledge of the kitchen is incredible. Fellowship is one of the first practices established in the early church. As evident in Acts 2:42 when it says. “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
The Finance Committee works hard to not only make sure all the bills are paid, or that there is enough in the account to pay said bills, but they work diligently and thoughtfully to invest and use the funds entrusted to them. This is entirely possible because of the donations you give. It is not easy to talk about finances but we were so incredibly close to having no deficit last year. That is all thanks to your donations and the finance committee’s hard work! And thank you to the offering counters who each week do the careful work of counting those blessings.
One night while working late in my office a rental group was using the sanctuary, three women walked in and as they passed my office door I heard one woman say to the other, “Oh! this is the church with all the nativities. You must check them out this year.” Churches often have reputations in the community but this is a reputation I am proud to wear. With dozens of volunteers, over 200 sets and approximately 500 visitors, Joy to the World is a major part of the Christmas celebrations in this community.
While knitting is not a pre-requisite, I would not know how to knit had it not been for one of the ladies in the Ladies’ Circle. This gathering of women meets over devotions and tea and those who do knit bring out their most recent projects. They also maintain the Prayer Shawl project – offering prayer shawls to those in need of a special gift. It is one of the most relaxing ways to spend a Tuesday afternoon.
It is a blessing to have such an active Mission and Outreach committee. Acts 20:35 says
“In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”” Through this committee’s work we as a congregation cause ripple effects within our community and the wider church. In a couple of weeks I will be attending a performance by Hummingbird Ministries at the Women’s Gathering and I am told that some of the instruments being used are from last year’s lenten project.
Acts 20:28 says, “Pay careful attention to yourself and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God.” Pastoral Care is an integral part to our community and through the gift of card writing, a summer time tea, and visiting we continue to connect with one another in meaningful ways.
It is a very special thing to come together to intentionally pray. Prayer Group and Centering Prayer do this in two different ways. Prayer Group meets in the evenings and prayers are spoken aloud. Centering Prayer gathers each Friday to meditate in silence. These two groups personify in their special ways what it means to persevere in prayer. Even Tai Chi provides a prayerful expression through motion and balance.
Finally, it is our leadership, the session and Al, Elvera, and those who make sure things run smoothly each week that we celebrate. This past year we began our New Beginnings journey and as we look to implement some changes, programs and ministries, it is the leadership behind all these that will help us look to the future knowing that God is with us. In everything, we must give thanks to the Lord! And this thanks continues as I invite Mike Day, Wayne Penner and Heather Philip to come forward.