CANORA – During the celebration of 121 years of what is now St. Andrew’s United Church in Canora, as well as 100 years of the United Church in Canada, Thom Carnahan shared his reflection, going back to the General Store Church getting its Canora start in 1904
“Then the Presbyterian Church, the Union Church, the burned down church, the shared with Anglican church, then the St. Andrew’s United Church. We have worshipped, struggled, survived well and grown during our proud history.
“Ephesians is a prayer from Paul to the church in Ephesus, expressing thanks for their faith and love, and asking God for a Spirit of wisdom and revelation to better know Her,” continued Carnahan. “The prayer aims for believers to understand the hope of their calling, the riches of their inheritance, and the greatness of God's power. Paul also asks God to strengthen believers through Her Spirit, allowing Christ to dwell in their hearts by faith and to establish them in love. The prayer continues, requesting that believers might understand the immeasurable dimensions of Christ's love, a love for everyone.
“From John, we hear, on Jesus’ last night with the disciples he says that he is about to leave them. Jesus had given them as much information as he could about what was about to happen and how he would provide for them in the future. Now Jesus turns from offering information to them and begins to offer intercession prayers for them. Jesus is not offering instructions to the disciples or to the church they will lead. When Jesus asks that those who believe and those who do not yet believe ‘may be one,’ he is not requesting dialogue. What he was doing is praying that they be one. An important prayer and one of his last. We have tried to follow that.
“Throughout his ministry, Jesus has made known to us the One whom he knows so well. Now, Jesus prays, ‘As you Father are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us.’ That is our oneness. At the close of his ministry, Jesus intercedes not only for his own people but also for the world. He also wants help for his friends. Jesus asks for unity and love between those given to him and to God. And from our own earliest days, it is that unity among us that has helped us to thrive through uncertainty and tumult. And we insist on calling that ‘united.’ He wants us to be one.”
Carnahan went on to take a close look at where that Spirit has led the United Church.
“We announced that communion is not the physical body and blood of Christ as many believe and which never made any sense. What followed quickly in succession were a number of controversial at the time, changes which were all aimed at welcoming, accepting, loving and including marginalized people into full relationship in our church. Actually, a commandment to love everyone, even enemies and those difficult to love. Well, that scandalized a few, we lost a few and gained some – while most got over it.
“So, we have acted as one with God and Jesus. We have advanced together in some unknown areas and have succeeded in implementing the teachings of Jesus to love and include all people in God’s kingdom. We have courageously dared to go to unpopular and difficult places. This comes from that all-important new commandment of Jesus that ‘Just as I have loved you, you also are to love each other,’ from John 13. Jesus had repeatedly gone against the exclusive Old Testament laws that tried to keep the people separate from all others and not to eat or meet with any outsiders. If the world loved as Jesus loved, as he taught us, we would find a way through all our problems.”
Each time the Church came up with a new inclusion, some people were angered and confused.
“We lost a few people,” said Carnahan. “Many others were dragged screaming into the new adventure, and then the next adventure. Many, including some of us here, also welcomed this turmoil as good and necessary advancement of the cause of Jesus. We followed the push and the call of the Spirit. We survived it all. We grew. We were and are just, kind, fair and loving. Sheer numbers are not an important measure of our success- it is about what we do in following Jesus best we can – according to what we believe Jesus taught us. John’s gospel was right on! We have been able to achieve much more with God’s help than we were able to do on our own. And we did it together as well, as one.
“We did not allow misinterpretations of scripture or public harassment get in our way. The church has battled racism, hatred and stupidity while trying to educate and accept and include all of God’s people in God’s world. This will continue. There may be difficult relationships with others who do not understand the teachings of Jesus and who refuse his call to follow and to love all.”
In spite of the turmoil, Carnahan said the overall result has been positive for the Church.
“The guidance from the Spirit was good news, in fact great news. We support people, we welcome them, we brought in outsiders, included them, loved everyone. We were often the first one to implement these controversial, at the time, decisions. Then many others followed. That is what Jesus did. He did not fear controversy. He acted with love and compassion. Jesus would be happy with us. We worked together as one; one with God, one with Jesus."
Carnahan said that it is likely we are not finished with change and growth.
“There will be renewed focus on misunderstandings of the Bible. The biblical writers often exaggerated in order to make the good story even better. And it worked. I do that regularly, so do most story tellers.
“The Jesus story is wonderful on its own, as it happened and can stand on its own without adornments. But they added a bunch of unimaginable, unnecessary, implausible stuff thus making of it a fairy tale. Virgin birth- resurrection- subsequent appearances and discussions by the deceased- leaving by flying up to heaven. These things probably did not physically happen and were not needed for the story. In fact, several seminaries of various faiths are already beginning to teach this- after following the lead of the United Church. Of course, we celebrate the remembrance of Jesus, and we believe in the spiritual continuation and guidance of the Holy Spirit. We may be more forthcoming regarding these in the future. Some people, organizations, other churches, even governments will continue to see the wisdom of our actions, and they may follow. What is important is the love, kindness and helping others in practice.
“As to the social justice and inclusiveness issues, these things will continue into the future. I say bring it on to the next level. Again. And we are ready for it.
“Oh, and happy anniversary church! We don’t look any older than 121,” concluded Carnahan.
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