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Our Weekly E-mail

Not on our weekly e-mail list? To be added, e-mail the church at smruc at mymts.net, or just read the weekly e-mail below:

To the people of St. Mary’s Road United Church

For the weekend including May 27, 2012

Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Happy Birthday Church! This Sunday is Pentecost Sunday, the day we mark the story of the birth of the church (Acts 2); the story of the Holy Spirit anointing the apostles, so that they were empowered to speak the gospel in different languages to all peoples. Two defining characteristics of the gospel of Jesus have been exhibited down through the ages and across every culture: translatability and clarity. “What?!” you say. Yes. Through the ages the gospel has been used to bully and brow beat, but its staying power has been in spite of this. Its true power has liberated and given hope. And that’s where its true power remains. When the Global Exposure Tour Nicaragua 2012 set out, the group was going to a place where for many of them language was a barrier. “Preach the gospel always, and if necessary, use words!” (St. Francis of Assisi or someone else?) It is through experiences shared and stories made that the Holy Spirit speaks, connecting soul to soul. “All real living is meeting” (Martin Buber—I’m sure about this one!). And often She speaks most clearly when there are seemingly great differences. The gospel, at its best, does not destroy difference but helps us to appreciate and celebrate it.

On that note: this week Rainbow will be joining Tree and Journey in the East Sanctuary (Journey space). We will be hearing from the young people who participated in the Global Exposure Tour and went to Nicaragua to visit our partners there. There will be Latino music, lots of pictures and crafts and maybe some dancing. Come and listen to the stories. Hear what the Spirit is doing.

There will be a Loose Change Offering collected. All of it will got to our sisters and brothers of the Moravian Church in Managua to fix their roof: a tangible as well as spiritual way to offer Christian support and gratitude for the hospitality that they gave.

We look forward to seeing you! Fair trade coffee will be ready by 9:15am.

Paz, Shalom, Salaam, Shanti, Béke, Peace,

Lynda, Alice, & Phil