This past Saturday, we celebrated the life of Caroline Burgess. 

It was a lovely celebration - and it was also really difficult to do. Caroline was beloved in this community, and she loved us right back. 

About a year ago, maybe longer, Caroline decided that she wanted to read more poetry. She started asking people around her who their favorite poets are, and she began to compile her favorite poems.

If you were with us on Saturday, you would have heard one that she chose to have read at her memorial.

Thinking about Caroline and how much she enjoyed poetry makes me think about the Psalms - our ancient book of poetry, song and prayer, maybe because I am reading through the book of Psalms right now. 

In the introduction to our Psalter in the Book of Alternative Services it says:

The origins of the Psalter were liturgical. Even the psalms which speak in singular voice presuppose a corporate setting and presentation. They are the voice of a people in the various moments of its experience of life: moments of aspiration, degradation, ecstacy, and hope.(p.700)

The psalms still speak to us and about us and our experiences of, frustrations and anger with and longing for and joy in God. They are daring and beautiful. 

I used to think I didn't like poetry, or didn't understand it, but I love the Psalms.

And I am grateful that Caroline's love of poetry helped me pay attention to them again.

What is your experience of the Psalms? Do you love them? Or dislike them? Have you ever really thought about them?

I would love to hear. 

In gratitude for our ministry together.

Marnie

Readings for next Sunday include:

JOSHUA 5:9-12; PSALM 32; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:16-21; LUKE 15:1-3, 11B-32

You can find the link here

Join us for this sung evening prayer service on Wednesday evenings in Lent. 

Or stream the service on Our Saviour's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@oursaviourlutheranchurch-r6416/streams

The Practicing the Way Course features eight sessions of teaching, guided conversation, and spiritual exercises designed to lay a foundation for our faith practice. 

We will meet in person on Wednesdays at 11:00am and online on Thursdays at 7:00pm

Here is the Zoom link:

St. Anne's Steveston is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Practicing the Way
Time: Feb 13, 2025 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
        Every week on Thu, until Apr 3, 2025, 8 occurrence(s)
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Weekly: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/tZwkfuGtpjItHdZb-ZPKeROrKmfvz46KzMwQ/ics?icsToken=DFdRqyzrunOtwAW30wAALAAAACaZ_OWebEm5GKsL9U4NNjmzln-9856LZzWcOudKsi5zph2wzLPuPVc9HPSwHZFXXEFyeHwWwfV-hGSLLzAwMDAwMQ&meetingMasterEventId=w9NcDXf5Tl2PLdwqsd43Xw
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88998589772

Meeting ID: 889 9858 9772

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Meeting ID: 889 9858 9772

Find your local number: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kbbYtOC4Ay

We are looking for people to join the team of people who lead our prayers at the 10am worship service.

If this is something you think you would like to do, please speak with Marnie to learn more.

Growing up near the troubled city of Belfast, Gareth Higgins was schooled in suspicion, mistrust, and
paranoia. Years after the Troubles ended, he wrote How Not to Be Afraid, identifying how fear feeds on
stories of scarcity, negativity and othering. In the book, Gareth delves into the mechanisms of fear, as
well as the quiet, immense strength of individuals and communities to resist these mechanisms.
Grounded in personal experience and expertise on violence, conflict transformation and trauma
recovery, Higgins points to vulnerability as a strength to address seven common fears that plague each
of us at some point in our lives. By examining fears of isolation, scarcity, violence and death, he invites
us into habits of hope rooted in Celtic spirituality and the mysteries of love.

This event is co-hosted by the Vancouver School of Theology and supported by SSHRC. Registering by the
early bird date of March 20 will give access to a lower registration fee.

Register here or contact Michelle LeBaron at lebaron@allard.ubc.ca if you have any questions.
Gareth Higgins (Ph.D)
Peacemaker, Writer and Story Activist at the Intersections of Spirituality, Justice and Art

Click here for more information