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March 15, 2011
Lenten
Greetings!
Lent is a season of preparation for Easter, a time to look deep within
ourselves, listen for the Spirit’s calling, and draw closer to God in our journey of new creation. Our journey as Toronto Southeast
Presbytery has been witnessing to transformation through the Spirit, and rising
to the challenge to create new ways. It is my observation that the teams and
committees function its mandate as faithfully as possible, with many hands
joining together while some of us dream big dreams. In the midst of many
difficult situations of the congregations, Presbytery attentively listens and
faithfully acts fast while it supports, empowers and supervises with passion
and compassion. I value that the Presbytery is working in mutual and respectful,
and just and generous ways as we work and serve co-operatively and trustingly.
We as Presbytery are moving into building mutual trust relationship with the
congregations.
In
the Executive meeting, members reflected on their expectations when they say
YES to participating on Executive. As we can imagine, the members shared their
passion to be visionary, to work collaboratively and open up ways for new
discussions, to bridge from old to new and move towards being more organic, to
get things moving with energy, and to empower the whole of the Presbytery. As
part of sharing ministry vocations for those who are in leadership of the
Presbytery, there has been a gathering for the chairs of teams and committees and
executive members. This gathering will enhance the Presbytery move with clear
vocation.
All
these creative and passionate expectations come to pass, although some have
been slower than anticipated. However we continue to strive for bringing our
hopes and dreams into vision to become “Today’s Church for the Future World.”
We as TSP need to be sensitive to our chronological time and how the world
changes. However we also need to be mindful of our connectedness with all those
in our global village. The United Church of Canada is sensitive to the change
of the world by seeking to prioritize intercultural ministry. It is time for us
to consider seriously how we, as TSP,
the church in a culturally diverse context, strive for searching the way to
live with the spirit of intercultural to actualize “unity in diversity.”
The Agenda Planning Team has been
working hard to bring different ways through listening to the presbyters and
searching the need of the Presbytery that is with and for the whole of
congregation as well as the whole of the United Church that strives to be the “Today’s
Church for the Future World.” At the March Presbytery meeting, we gather with
the theme, Ministry Vocations, and special
speaker, Rev. Dr. Catherine MacLean. We will have new experience of what it
means to be the partners in God’s new creation. As we journey together, I hope
we may affirm our connectedness first with each other who gather at the
Presbytery meeting and we move on to realize what we need so that we can
actualize one household of God in our global village.
Blessings,
John
Lee
Chairperson, Toronto Southeast Presbytery, Toronto
Conference, The United Church of Canada
Website:www.johnleeucc.com
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