HELLO!

Bethe and I hope to see you Saturday, November 1^st 11 am – 2 pm at the HARVEST FESTIVAL. Woodlawn United Church is delighted to be hosting this Woodlawn Residents Association's annual Harvest event (scheduled for our parking lot if weather permits, inside if it does not). Join neighbours to celebrate what makes Woodlawn such a special place to live, work, serve, and experience joy. Explore tables featuring local businesses and organizations, enjoy free hot dogs and pizza, and meet new people.

Speaking of seeing new people…in his essay, The Weight of Glory, C.S Lewis challenges readers to see themselves and their neighbours as Jesus sees them. To see the extraordinary and the immortal in all people. In our Gospel story this week, Luke 19:1-10, Jesus models this kind of vision. Standing under a sycamore tree, Jesus gazes up at Zaccheus with loving, penetrating intensity, a gaze transforming not only the man in the tree, but everyone around him. Jesus enables both Zaccheus and the crowd to become the immortal wonders God created them to be.

The name Zacchaeus means righteous, which is pure irony in this story. Luke describes him as a "chief tax collector." He was a Jew who collected taxes for the Roman oppressors, thus he was a traitor. In the rabbinical literature, tax collectors are akin to robbers. Luke also says Zacchaeus was wealthy. How did a Roman tax collector get wealthy? By extortion and embezzlement. By taking advantage of the elderly, exploiting the poor. Zacchaeus was not only corrupt and rich, he was famously short.

After Zacchaeus takes the bold step of climbing a tree to better his vision, Jesus calls for more. "Come down," Jesus says. “Come down, come here. I have greater treasures for you.” Here is one of the profound truths of this story: there are no ordinary people in the realms of God. There are no mere mortals once salvation knocks on our doors.

Where are we in this story? Zacchaeus? Jesus? Twelve years ago, I met Charlotte, she visited a church I served. In our visit, at a local coffee shop, she told me she wanted to preach about Zacchaeus. I told her about Brunswick Street Church, how we met in a circle of 20, would she share her story there? Charlotte told us about feeling like Zacchaeus, trying to see Jesus, get his attention, feeling small and unseen. She told me, she told all of us, we could share her story with whomever we met. Sadly, Charlotte died a few years ago. But whenever I think about Zacchaeus I will always think of Charlotte. I hope to see you Sunday.

Peace, Kevin

PS Don’t miss this very special event at our church, Sunday November 2^nd at 630 pm. OAKWOOD TERRACE PRESENTS “POPPY TRIBUTE SHOW” featuring 13,000 handcrafted poppies on the exterior and interior of our church. Admission is by donation.