Crosses and Hearts

Dear Friends,

You may have noticed that this year, Ash Wednesday (the beginning of the season of Lent), and Valentine’s Day (the secular holiday celebrating LURVE), fall on the same day, this year.

It made me wonder: what does preparing for the mystery of Easter have to do with the celebration of love?   

 
Maybe the life of Valentinus of Rome holds a clue. While there is not a lot of reliable information about “St” Valentine, legends note that he was a priest (and possibly a bishop), and an evangelist, in the third-century church in Rome. This put him at risk, in a time when Christianity was illegal and Christians were persecuted by the Roman empire. In fact, the day we celebrate as his saint day, February 14, is the date of his execution by the Emperor Claudius II, for the crimes of evangelism and refusing to renounce his Christian faith.
 
He was also a healer, and there are several stories of him healing a blind girl – in one version, the daughter of a judge before whom he was tried, and in another, the daughter of his jailor. It is in one of these stories, that the saint wrote a note to the girl, saying, “from your Valentine”.
 
But my favourite legend about Valentine, is that he would defy the Emperor’s temporary ban on marriages, by secretly performing Christian weddings. Apparently military-age men were in short supply those days, and there was a custom that newly married men would not be required to join the military for a period of time. So Valentine’s secret weddings would then exempt the grooms from being conscripted into the Roman army, and being sent away to war. The legend adds that in order to remind the men of their vows to their spouse and of God’s love, Valentine would give them hearts cut out of parchment paper.
 
In the Godly Play telling of the story of St. Valentine, we say that “we remember Valentine because he loved so well, for God.” I suspect it’s no accident that loving so well, for Valentine, involved giving his very life for that love – just like the One he followed and proclaimed. The heart and the cross are interwoven, it turns out.

It is always powerful for me to receive the sign of the cross in ashes on my forehead on Ash Wednesday. Because, as Wendy Claire Barrie writes, “For me, the cross of ashes I receive on my forehead on Ash Wednesday is intimately connected with the cross of oil we receive in the same spot at our baptism.  Here’s the heart of it: From Love we come, and to Love we return.” We are beloved, and we are frail, imperfect humans who will one day die and return to the earth and to the one who made us. The heart and the cross are inextricably linked, in the life of Jesus, in the life of St. Valentine, and in our own lives.

I can only hope, and pray, and live, so that when I have returned to dust, returned to God, returned to Love, that I may be remembered for loving well, for God.

Knowing you are gearing up for book studies, discussion groups, special liturgy, and more for this season, you are in my prayers – for strength, sustenance, and deep peace, on the road to Jerusalem.

And, if you’re looking for your own Lenten practice, feel free to join in the following:

 
Deep blessings in this hard, holy, life-giving season ahead, 

Michelle

When two or more are gathered ~ Daring Justice: spiritual sustenance for the weary justice seeker in you

Dear Friends,

Last night at the Unleashing the Moral Imagination to Create a Flourishing World presentation with Afdhel Aziz, I learned the term “polycrisis” – defined as “a state where multiple crises intertwine, their causes and processes inextricably bound together to create compounded effects.” (Institute of Development Studies)

Photo: T Brotsky

It is a helpful way to describe the daunting challenges we face, at this time in human history. Yet, as followers of Jesus, we are called not just to name chaos and dysfunction, but to live into the kin-dom of God that Jesus proclaimed, and embodied. One way to do so, is to accept this invitation to this Lent/Easter practice with facilitator Jane Dawson - one of reflection, dialogue, and encouragement, unfolding in the company of others also seeking the shalom of God in their neighbourhoods, and the world.

~ reflection practices to unite social justice and sacred story


In Jane Dawson’s words: "If you are anything like me, you are probably feeling overwhelmed by the avalanche of mounting crises afflicting our world –war, the environment, homelessness and so much more. The church’s call to work for social justice feels more urgent than ever.
 

spiritual sustenance  ~

But sometimes the call to “do more” can lead to a sense of paralysis, not knowing how to make sense of things that don’t make sense or how to make a meaningful difference. During such times, we must look at the roots of our tradition for spiritual sustenance. It’s not a quick fix but a source of heart and strength for the continuing journey. “Daring Justice” is our next LeaderSHIFT offering -  a six-session course, online-only, spread over 12 weeks, held on Thursdays.

~ where two or more are gathered 

Beginning next Thursday, February 15, and meeting every second week for six sessions in total, Daring Justice's presentations, self-reflection, group dialogue, and contemplative practices will tune into the prophetic voice in our tradition and sacred story. These afternoon sessions will come to be a reprieve and a joy that enlivens and grounds in you again God's call to the work of justice-making.

For more information, and to register, click here: Daring Justice 6 Session Online Course with Jane Dawson — LeaderSHIFT UCCan


Blessings,
 
Michelle

This is your invitation to a 3-day conference, working toward living and being an anti-racist church: Anti-Racism Work & Action Leadership Conference 2024

Friends,

This is a powerful First Third Ministry event in partnership with us at LeaderSHIFT, the Pacific Mountain Region Council Justice Ministry Network, the Vancouver School of Theology, and you.

Anti-Racism Work & Action
Leadership Conference 2024
April 2-4, 2024

Held at the Epiphany Chapel, on the Vancouver School of Theology UBC campus, empower yourself to engage key learnings, work, and action in a Christian community of other children and family ministry leaders who are working for an anti-racist church.

LEADERSHIFT IS THRILLED TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FIRST THIRD MINISTRY!

Work, and action - in Christian community

An amazing line up of speakers, worship leaders, and hosts are already preparing to welcome, educate, and inspire.

Work, and action – in Christian community

Anti-Racism Work & Action Leadership Conference is an offering of Chinook Winds & Pacific Mountain Regional Councils First Third Ministry. First Third Ministry’s mission is to support those who work with those in the first of life’s three eras (children, youth, young adults and families) – yet, this conference is designed to resonate for leaders of any, and, all ages and generations.

For All in Leadership

Whether you’re paid or volunteering, staffing a community of faith or un-churched organization, focused on children & family ministry or serving older generations, this conference centers anti-racism principles and actions in your leadership.

You can expect

  • Varied learning formats and thoughtfully chosen content to engage key learnings, focus work, and empower action in your leadership.

  • A Christ-centered conference fostering connection and relationship with other leaders who are also working for an anti-racist church.

  • Discovery-based questions and reflection opportunities will help you to compassionately and faithfully examine your own ministry and leadership in your specific setting.

  • An introduction to the materials from the new United Church of Canada resource for children and youth, Becoming an Anti-Racist Church.

  • A convergence of your personal and professional call to anti-racism, with others like you – all seeking a new way of being church.​

Event Page: FirstThirdMinistry.ca/f3-conference-anti-racism-work-and-action

Amos 5:24. Amen!