Revs. Susan/David

Passage: Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 & Acts 17:28    

  Description: A conversation between Susan & David about how we understand time from a faith perspective.

Passage: Galatians 5:16-25 & John 14:15-27    

  Description: Rev. David & Rev. Susan talk about the Spirit of God. How do we know the Spirit? What is the Spirit's role in our lives? Why would we want the Spirit of God active in our lives and our congregation?

Passage: Exodus 3:1-14    

  Description: Rev. Susan & Rev. David share the moments in which they have experienced God's presence and what they understand about experiencing God's presence. From making a snow angel as a child to praying the Lord's Prayer together in church, personal stories as well as stories from scripture help us learn more about sensing God's presence within and around us.

Passage: John 4:1-15    

  Description: As the two of us sat with what turned out to be an on-going conversation this past week about “peace”, Susan was reminded of her Ukrainian heritage and how during the war many Canadian Ukrainians were sent to prison camps because they were considered “enemy aliens”. It was not enough to be enemy. It seemed better to attach the descriptor “alien” as well. Ukrainians were considered to be wholly “other”. It was a very difficult time. In the same way, consider Jesus’ conversation at the well with the Samaritan woman. In the eyes of the Jewish people, Samaritans were enemy aliens. The fact that Jesus a Jewish male was not only in conversation with a woman but also a Samaritan, would certainly turn the heads of those around him. But here he was at Jacob’s well, a place of common history between the two peoples engaging conversation with the “other”. As we pondered peace this week, David remembered the 19th century Jewish theologian Martin Buber who did some deep thinking around what it means to be in relationship with the other. For the two of us, we recognize that peace happens when the relationships are right, just and healthy. Further, peace is practiced and advanced when there is room for open and trusting dialogue. Buber identified two kinds of relationship: 1. I – it, and 2., I – Thou. The I – it relationship is the one where the “other” is objectified and dehumanized. We see plenty of evidence of this relationship in history and in modern times showing up in racism, misogyny, and warfare. The I – Thou relationship is characterized by creating room for relationship with the “other”. There is wisdom that shows up in the “in-between”. I and Thou is the relationship we share with God. The I – Thou humanizes and creates room for conversation and dialogue leading to a deeper appreciation and understand. It is a spiritual practice of welcoming the “other” into a relationship embraced by a holy and embodied expression of compassion. This is the way that leads to peace.