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I know ‘laughter’ and ‘Presbyterians’ are not words that are often paired together. But perhaps all the more reason to consider that humour might be a spiritual exercise of which we have been particularly negligent … Curious? Teasers: a) there is quite a bit of humour in Scripture, and b) might being able to laugh at ourselves, acknowledging our foibles and failings, not open a space that would allow God to be God?

This is also ‘Presbyterians Sharing Sunday’.

‘Presbyterian’ takes its origin from the Greek word ‘presbyturos’, often translated ‘elder’ – Presbyterian describes not a theology as much as a governance, a church that is governed by ‘elders’. Each congregation is governed by elders, elected by the people – including the minister, the ‘teaching elder’. But it is also a governance by which individual congregations bind themselves together into regional presbyteries and a national assembly, with each greater body having authority over the individual members, acting like a corporate ‘bishop’. We believe we are stronger together than we can be apart, with different perspectives shared and greater resources pooled. Within this, in the Canadian context, this includes a financial commitment to extend our witness … through Presbyterians Sharing, congregations from coast to coast support three theological colleges; ministries on university campuses, with indigenous communities, in rural areas as well as new church developments; partnerships with churches around the world, and much more. Rebecca Wystma will share some of her experience at Canada Youth 2018, supported by Presbyterians Sharing.

If you are in the area, we hope you can join us. A nursery and programme for children are offered during the service. Parking is found free on the streets about, including a civic surface lot just behind the church off Queen Street (and note that the time-of-day restrictions on the streets north of Queen are not in effect on Sundays.) We would welcome the opportunity to introduce ourselves. Have a look at the Order of Service, the readings and the announcements.

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In the 1970’s, pastors and theologians sojourned amongst the Mafa people of the Cameroon, West Africa, and after reading portions of the Gospels, asked them to enact what they heard. Photographs were taken of the dramatic creations. An accomplished local artist was commissioned to translate the photos into paintings. And the resulting seventy paintings were then used to share the gospel in other Mafa communities. It was a wonderful initiative, and has benefitted Christians of many cultures and nations since who ‘see’ Christ and the Christian way anew.

This morning is ‘Students’ Sunday’, and it is our pleasure to welcome the Rev. Oliver Kondeh Ndula to St. Andrew’s Kingston. Oliver is a minister of the Presbyterian Church in the Cameroon, and is one of the international students at Presbyterian College Montreal, completing his Masters of Sacred Theology this year. Oliver will share with us an African perspective upon the gospel.

Have a look at the order of service. It is found below in a format meant for printing, so may be difficult to follow in places as the pages will seem to jump around, but we hope you at least have an idea of who we are and what we are up to – if you are in the area, we hope you are able to join us. And there is even a congregational potluck lunch afterwards! (A nursery and programme for children is offered during the service. Parking is found free on the streets about, including a civic surface lot just behind the church off Queen Street – and note that the time-of-day restrictions on the streets north of Queen are not in effect on Sundays.) We would welcome the opportunity to introduce ourselves.

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I like this most ancient painting that evokes the scene of Jesus and the Samaritan woman. It shows Jesus radically breaking accepted social conventions of his day, embodying the radical embrace by God of all humanity.

A Jew, Jesus is in the company of a Samaritan. As a male, he is conversing in public with a woman. The painter takes the scene even further, showing the Samaritan woman strongly upright in Jesus’ presence, of equal height, looking straight into his eyes. (I also love seeing a rendition of Jesus long before long hair and a beard became seemingly mandatory!)

In the stillness of the scene, I have the sense that the Samaritan woman is listening to Jesus. It is a wonderful scene to reflect upon for many reasons, and particularly this Sunday as we explore the spiritual discipline of listening. In anticipation, I pass on these words of Frederick Buechner, in his book Whistling In The Dark

Let us say that I can see you: you exist for me in space, which is where seeing happens. But let us say that I can not see you and only hear you, you exist for me not in space which is where seeing happens but in time, which is where hearing happens.
When I have only the sound of you to go by, I do not experience you as an object the way I would if you stood before me, something that I can walk around, inspect from all angles, more or less define. I experience you not objectively but intimately, more like the way I experience the beating of my own heart or the flow of my own thoughts, hearing you speak brings you to me by the most direct of all routes.

Listening to God, speaking through Jesus by the work of the Holy Spirit, is a foundational way of growing intimately in relationship with God and for good … but it is a discipline!

Join us this Sunday morning in worship, including both praise and listening. Have a look at the Order of Service, and the announcements. We would welcome you warmly! (There is a nursery for infants and a programme for children offered during the service. There is free parking available in the city surface lot off Queen Street just behind the church, and on the streets around. Please note that the time of day restrictions on the streets north of Queen are not in effect on Sundays.)

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This is an image from the catacombs of Callixus in Rome, from the mid second century A.D. It portrays the prophet Jonah, under a shelter of vine leaves, seemingly resting from his labours.

It is good this weekend of all weekends to rest, to rest from our labours and acknowledge God’s labours. If you are in the area, we warmly invite you to join us for a service of worship in the beautiful and historic sanctuary of St. Andrew’s. (Have a look at the order of service below for a preview. There is a nursery for infants offered during the service, and ample parking can be found in the municipal surface lot just behind the church off Queen and on surrounding streets – note that the time of day restrictions on Clergy north of Queen are not in effect on Sundays.) If you are not able to join us in person, you might consider joining in this prayer, placing our labours in the context of God’s labours …

God of wholeness,
you have created us bodily,
that our work and faith may be one.
May we offer our worship
from lives of integrity;
and maintain the fabric of this world
with hearts that are set on you,
through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Janet Morley (contemporary)

The interesting thing about the scene from the catacombs above, to be highlighted in the sermon, is that Jonah is not in fact at ease but rather is angry (Jonah 4). He is frustrated and upset over how God could be so gracious to include not only God’s particular people but all people, even the Ninevites. Perhaps our greatest challenge in life is to accept and participate in God’s work of embrace and inclusion in this world …

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