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eSpirit...weekly news from Beach United ChurchThis weekly enewsletter is sent every Friday and lists upcoming events happening at Beach United Church plus a message from one of our ministers.
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Resending for a live connection to Heartbeat
Hands up if you know the words of this chorus?
And I will raise you up on eagle’s wings
bear you on the breath of dawn
make you to shine like the sun
and hold you in the palm of my hand
So wrote Michael Joncas in a poetic version of Psalm 91
I love singing this psalm. I find hope in a God that will raise me up and I find solace from a God who will comfort me when needed.
This Sunday these words will reassure us once again that our God will both raise us up and comfort us. Why do we need both reassurances?
Unless we have really solid egos, we are reluctant to let ourselves shine, to raise ourselves up and offer our gifts. Instead, our God is ready to do that. God raises us up not just to stand upright and tall but to be raised on eagle’s wings, to hang on the breath of dawn, alive and shining like the sun.
And because life can throw us a few curves, God is also fully present to comfort us, to hold us gently in large strong hands that cradle us.
As individuals we need both reassurances. Also, as a congregation we need to be both raised and held.
Beach United Church is an amazing congregation, an amalgamation of two visionary founding congregations. In 2010, we reflected on memories of Bellefair United Church. This Sunday, our visioning continues as we reflect on memories of Kew Beach United Church. Neither congregation was originally United Church. Bellefair was originally a Methodist congregation and Kew was Presbyterian. Don Gray will help us to reflect on our ever-changing history, a story that has responded to current needs with grace.
Now we are at another stage in our history of change as we move to an interim worship space at St Aidan’s Anglican Church. What an adventure! God has brought us to this time and place, has raised our hopes, and has stirred our imaginations. We are ready to move forward in faith. However, for those times when we doubt and worry, we can also be assured that God is readily present to hold us gently until we are ready to shine once again. Amen—so be it!
Abigail
To access our newsletter, Heartbeat click /Content/10457/Oct 30.pdf
Or go to our web site: www.beachunitedchurch.com
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