Author Archives: Patricia Ann

God’s Gain

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Our loss is God’s gain. Yesterday, we lost another wonderful member of our congregation. Joan was a true servant of God, wearing oh, so many hats, as she went about quietly seeing to many matters of our church. She was a friend, advisor, chief cook and bottle washer on many occasions, a money manager, a session member, a choir member, and the list goes on. As well as being so many things to her church family, Joan was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and devoted sister.

Psalm 116:15 says it well, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints”.

I’m sure Joan is marching with all the other saints in heaven as we, her friends and family, take comfort in the fact that our loss is God’s gain.

Rest in peace, Saint Joan, rest in peace.

Among the Gods

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Almost a year ago I posted, “Only One God . Period”. I still believe that. However, this morning I came across the following in my daily devotions. “Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;…”  See that? “Among the gods…” So, perhaps it is not good to be so adamant about one’s beliefs, but, at least now I can see the other side of the argument…”there is more than one god.”

For me, though, there is only One God among the gods. Period.

A Person of Interest

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Here’s part of a piece that was tucked away in one of my spiritual notebooks. It was written in the Toronto Star, April 16, 2000 by Reverend Deborah Vaughan. It was an Easter article that year.

“Every time we let something go, something new and wonderful can fill our empty, waiting hands. Life is full of little deaths, denials, griefs. Every beginning marks the end of what has gone before. This is the cycle of life. No beginnings without ends. No ends without new beginnings following after. “Rejoice, all is not lost. Something better, something you cannot imagine is coming to you.” (Angels at the Tomb)

I found this little blurb about Rev. Vaughan on the Internet:

Deborah is now the Presiding Bishop of the Community Catholic Church of Canada (Old Catholic). Deb is a graduate of Trinity College and has a degree in Journalism from Ryerson. An Anglican priest for almost 20 years, she has enjoyed ministry in diverse congregational settings.

I’m so happy to have found out about this lady and her writing…she really is a person of interest.

Hymn of Promise

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Sometimes we just cannot help sharing something that touches us in a profound way. That’s how I feel about this hymn. The words are truly so promising and deserve to be pondered as well as sung.

Hymn Of Promise

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;
In cocoons, a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!
In the cold and snow of winter there’s a spring that waits to be,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There’s a song in every silence, seeking word and melody;
There’s a dawn in every darkness, bringing hope to you and me.
From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
In our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity,
In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory,
Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

What a beautiful promise!