HELLO!

As mentioned in a previous blog, please keep Nancy Greene in your prayers. Her husband Gary died recently. I offered our support to Nancy last week. https://www.dartmouthfuneralhome.ca/obituary/gary-greene Also, please keep Lori Errington in your prayers, her mother Vera died last week. https://www.arbormemorial.ca/en/atlantic-dartmouth/obituaries/vera-isobel-errington/169338.html Vera’s funeral will be held at Woodlawn United Church Friday November 13^th at 11 am.

This Sunday, November 8^th we focus on sacrifice, remembering those who offered their lives for a cause larger than self. The service will include the familiar rituals, words and hymns, not to mention participation by those in uniform, past and present. In the sermon section of the service I will dialogue with Chantal Beaulieu, who coordinated the Poppy Event so many of you attended last Sunday. I will be asking her what inspired her to do this, how the event has evolved and about her own faith.

Here is a litany of posts on Facebook about the Poppy Event: https://www.facebook.com/oakwoodterrace/posts/oakwood-terrace-is-honoured-and-grateful-for-the-opportunity-to-share-our-poppy-/1997537731574725/

Some of you have heard me share my experience as a Reserve Civilian Padre with the Canadian Forces. I served both a Service Battalion and an Intelligence Unit. I served during the Afghanistan deployment, every Reserve member who wished to serve in that conflict was required to first meet with a Chaplain or Social Worker to discuss the risks involved.

I remember a friend in the US suggesting I read a book about a Chaplain who served in Nuremburg, Germany during the Second World War. I would recommend, Mission at Nuremberg, by Tim Townsend to anyone interested in how a Christian relates to those who have participated in evil. The author focuses on Lutheran Pastor Henry Gerecke, whose work in prison ministry, Lutheran affiliation (like many Nazi war criminals), and his ability to speak German made him a perfect candidate to serve as the Chaplain (a right for all military prisoners of war) to those Nazis being tried in Nuremburg. If interested, here is a video of the author: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwKbvmZ6Sy0 (It’s an hour long.)

Service is offered in many ways. Our faith gives us the inspiration and determination to make a difference in the times we live in. Peace, Kevin