Immanuel United Church

06/18/2022

Now, the pie time, after the beautiful jazz celebration of life service, remembering our dear member and companion, Al Matheson. The reflection will follow later.

06/10/2022

(Photo: Ha Na at Martha and Richard’s home - at the first Council meeting — on my birthday, Sept 7th, 2017)
Hi everyone, here’s something I would like to share with you…
Dear Immanuel United Church,
As I write this letter, I hold each one of you in gratitude, from the bottom of my heart. I hope and pray that you will be able to do the same for me.

Dear Immanuel United Church, As I write this letter, I hold each one of you in gratitude, from the bottom of my heart. I hope and pray t...

04/17/2022

Immanuel United Church invites you to ponder…

“It is extremely significant that Easter did not come at daybreak.

The rising of the Human One of God was not synchronized with the rising of the astronomical sun of our heliocentric interplanetary system.

The light of day did not cause Easter.

The light of day only revealed to human sight the Easter event that had already occurred “while it was still dark” (v. 1). (Charles G. Adams)”

Scripture: John 20:11-18 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two ange...

04/16/2022

Palm Sunday sermon…
Immanuel United Church invites you to ponder…

“That’s the true Easter that passes on generation after generation, as long as God still creates new things amongst us and in creation on earth, (like a crocus as the sign of spring, still surrounded by melting snow), and as long as we plant the invincible name called Hope (which Emily Dickinson sings in her poem, “I sow my pageantry / In May —”). I remember, in December, a month before Linda departed from us, I asked her what message she would like to hear from the church, and she answered, “Hope”. At the time, a certain word-arrow pierced my brain at lightning speed which I didn’t say out loud — ‘How can anyone find hope from someone else‘s words, when it can only be generated from within by their own self…’

But Ha Na, my soul, doubtful Thomas, you should know that Hope abounds, you can hear it, touch it, embrace it, convince yourself of it, when friends, family, creations are able to share it. Everyone has a piece of it, and we need each other. We can hear words of hope from each other. We definitely can hold it high with each other. We can expect it, express it, when we intentionally put our small pieces together to make the whole circle of hope, and therefore, hope abounds. It becomes the seed for us to plant in the ground. Hope ripens when we can share it. Hope breeds more hope.”

Reflection: On the Silent Cry… ‘The hope whose ground is not in certainty but in its abyss, its void; … God who is not the winner but pr...

03/13/2022

So, how did the Korean War start, and why?

And how did the Korean War end?

This morning, I would like to share with you what I have learned this week about the tragedy of the Korean War (1950 - 1953) — why it happened and how it went; the discoveries and lessons we’ve learned — and why we must end the Korean War and call for “Peace Now!” on the Korean Peninsula.

We live in a world in which all are interconnected. Peace in Korea matters, not only to the Korean people. Your peace, our peace, ultimately, depends on peace in any small part of the world that suffers from division, war, violence against the vulnerable by the powerful. I hope that today’s reflection on Ending the Korean War can help us all gain insight to understand why all wars, ultimately, are not justifiable, and that we, as children of God, must nurture our hunger for justice and peace. As we witness the extremely traumatic attacks and human suffering in Ukraine, we hear God’s call for us to be a channel of peace, to be the river-makers of peace in the hostile deserts of division. To do so, we need to equip ourselves not only with compassion or aid, but a historical and critical lens to not repeat the mistakes of the past. We need to act with understanding.

Introduction to the Scripture: In this season of Lent, we are journeying through the Deserts of Divisions. Our theme and our hope is for ...

03/08/2022

Immanuel United Church invites you to ponder…

“This week, our hearts overflow with sorrow and indignation as we listen to the news of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Shock and outrage mingle with our tears at this horrific violation of innocent people in a sovereign nation. We have witnessed Russia’s horrifying swath of murder and terror, the Ukrainians’ desperate resistance and fight, and the outcries of more than one million innocent souls trying to flee from Russia’s barbarity, all in the space of one week. This onslaught of horror has led me to think more deeply and do more research in order to shine the light of scripture on the root cause of this evil. Today’s story of Jesus being tempted in the desert is a good place to start.”

Reflection: “All the Kingdoms of the World” (Luke 4:5) Luke 4:5: Then the devil led Jesus up and showed him in an instant all the kingd...

02/20/2022

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is very intentional in asking questions.

“If someone strikes you on the cheek, what will you do?”

“If someone takes away your coat, how would you respond?”

“If someone takes away your goods, what could be your response?”

Reflection: Jesus’ “If” Questions… “If someone strikes you on the cheek, what will you do?” “If someone takes away your coat, how would...

02/06/2022

Immanuel United Church invites you to ponder... “God’s Wordle”.

“Have you seen the online game, ‘Wordle?’ It has recently become very popular. You may have noticed friends talking about the ‘word of the day’, or posting cryptic grids of coloured boxes on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Have you, perhaps, joined this trend?

The reason why I share this Wordle story in today’s reflection is because I am inviting us to look at today’s Gospel story as a (logic) game.

Reflection: God’s Wordle Scripture: Luke 4:21-30 Have you seen the online game, ‘Wordle?’ It has recently become very popular. You may have...

12/19/2021

The Labyrinth Walk: Journey to Bethlehem today, after service, was such a beautiful, spiritual, heart-felt and deep experience. It was as if we were walking into the story and exepriencing the meaning of Words personally. You can also watch the video we created last year:
https://youtu.be/5b0aw6m7r0c

12/15/2021

Over a two week period, students and staff collected more than 15 boxes full of food that would be donated. A group of Grade 5 students walked to Immanuel United Church and delivered all the items using wagons and sleighs. The volunteers at The Immanuel United Food Bank were overwhelmed with the generosity of the school community. 🎄🎁 🥰 Thank you, École Neil Campbell School, for the spirit of generosity and community

In early December, every classroom at École Neil Campbell School collected non-perishable items for two weeks to help people in need in their local community.

Over a two week period, students and staff collected more than 15 boxes full of food that would be donated. A group of Grade 5 students walked to Immanuel United Church and delivered all the items using wagons and sleighs. The volunteers at The Immanuel United Food Bank were overwhelmed with the generosity of the school community.

We are so very proud of these students and their school community for helping the school in their efforts to support those who are in need. 🎄

12/06/2021

Immanuel United Church invites you to ponder…

”In the past, I often felt that today’s reading, one of the staples of the Advent lectionary, is a disturbing text. Disturbing – and problematic for us, who live in the 21st century. We’ve witnessed the catastrophic consequences of giving ourselves unlimited power to alter nature according to human needs and greed. (Show the pictures of the former Sumas Lake and others). Make nature’s path “straight… Every valley shall be filled… Every mountain and hill shall be made low… The crooked shall be made straight… And the rough ways made smooth.” Whenever I read this passage, I could not think of anything but images of big construction projects. Dividing the mountains and cutting the hills to build a highway. Splitting natural habitats and living water’s course; shutting down nature for man’s convenience. I often thought, “This can’t be the only picture for us to envision how to prepare the way of God!””

Reflection: The Lungs of Prophecy In the past, I often felt that today’s reading, one of the staples of the Advent lectionary, is a dis...

12/03/2021

Immanuel United Church invites you to ponder…

“Our Nativity story is not really about whether everything happened exactly as told, word for word, in the Bible. It’s God’s apocalyptic sci-fi, theatre, horror, lullaby. It uses the sci-fi freedom to tell the truth, the horror and the beauty - the story of Herod, the story of the Roman Census, the story of the failed plan of slaughter are the stories of horror, which are gently wrapped and enveloped with the story of the quiet, holy birth of Jesus, therefore, the story of hope.”

Reflection: An Advent Theatre/Sci-fi/ 1st Advent | Seeking the Spirit of Hope, 2021 Advent and Christmas stories are like two ri...