Writing and music is like praying to me. So many have poured their prayers into the text for hymns, and so many musicians souls have overflowed with notes to create the beautiful tunes we live to sing each opportunity of worship. What a privilege it is to sing our prayers to a God that hears what's emanating from the heart. Moravians love to sing, and in Labrador, with over 200 years of practice, that is especially true. Happy Valley Moravian worshipped in a Lessons and Hymn Service for the 5th Sunday of Lent. With the sound of a pump organ, it was a joyful experience.
Thank you Spirit, for dwelling in our presence May you ever triumph in our hearts!
Celebrating the Epiphany of our Lord
Introducing Brim Leigh Buchanan - our newest grandchild!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Moravian Light in the HV Community
Give a girl a chainsaw, and look what can happen?!
Winter games have come and gone - all the athletes went home, but the Happy Valley schools go on Easter break and a whole new week-long celebration begins; Sno Break. Opening competition is an ice-sculpting event George & I went to watch - not realizing that the "celebs" weren't going to show up for the competition, so I was recruited. My only thought was that George was going to do the chain saw part, and I would do the hand drill fine-tuning.
The chainsaw was really lite, and it was like all this power in your hands (heh-heh) - so I sawed away - and wa-la! A Moravian lovefeast candle. It was a beautiful hour and George & I met alot of people in the process. I handed out alot of my new pastor cards, so we'll see how Our Lord works with this. Jesus is the light of the World!
Winter games have come and gone - all the athletes went home, but the Happy Valley schools go on Easter break and a whole new week-long celebration begins; Sno Break. Opening competition is an ice-sculpting event George & I went to watch - not realizing that the "celebs" weren't going to show up for the competition, so I was recruited. My only thought was that George was going to do the chain saw part, and I would do the hand drill fine-tuning. The chainsaw was really lite, and it was like all this power in your hands (heh-heh) - so I sawed away - and wa-la! A Moravian lovefeast candle. It was a beautiful hour and George & I met alot of people in the process. I handed out alot of my new pastor cards, so we'll see how Our Lord works with this. Jesus is the light of the World!
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Baby Steps in Large Pastures
O God, make the door to our church wide enough for all searching hearts. Make the windows able to reveal your light. Make the sidewalk smooth enough that no one will trip and fall, and make the church bell a beakon of invitation to your eternal Kingdom. Gracious God, make our congregation one of infinite grace that receives all peoples; rich, poor, hurting, fearful, seeking, searching, and in need of your love. May we be witnesses to your grace and love, and servants for Christ.
The past 4 weeks have whizzed by with Lent almost over. We have settled in - quite actually, it feels so much like home I almost feel guilty about not missing state-side life. George and I miss our friends, Moravian family, and of course our kids, but pretty much feel like they're all 'with us' in spirit. George I know misses his regular soccer and it gets old being unemployed, but he's making the best of the situation. He bakes alot of bread - hopefully a small income at some point - and is upping his computer tech skills as our computers both crashed.
We're still settling in, but there was a little bit of time to enjoy the Labrador Winter games, held every 4 years here in Happy Valley Goose Bay. Their Inuit Games are the favorite thing to watch where people of all ages compete in the Seal Walk, the High Kick, and many many more events. Imagine kicking a little stuffed seal toy hanging 6'9" from the ground.... and then landing on one foot! The girl that did that was only 5'5".
For the most part, most of my work to date has been in meeting and visiting people where they are; homes, senior care, hospital, and in community events. It is quite humbling to offer prayer and be thanked. My heart simply weeps for the spiritual hunger of these people. Surely God has amazing things in store for them over the coming year. Some of the exciting things happening include:
The past 4 weeks have whizzed by with Lent almost over. We have settled in - quite actually, it feels so much like home I almost feel guilty about not missing state-side life. George and I miss our friends, Moravian family, and of course our kids, but pretty much feel like they're all 'with us' in spirit. George I know misses his regular soccer and it gets old being unemployed, but he's making the best of the situation. He bakes alot of bread - hopefully a small income at some point - and is upping his computer tech skills as our computers both crashed.
We're still settling in, but there was a little bit of time to enjoy the Labrador Winter games, held every 4 years here in Happy Valley Goose Bay. Their Inuit Games are the favorite thing to watch where people of all ages compete in the Seal Walk, the High Kick, and many many more events. Imagine kicking a little stuffed seal toy hanging 6'9" from the ground.... and then landing on one foot! The girl that did that was only 5'5".
For the most part, most of my work to date has been in meeting and visiting people where they are; homes, senior care, hospital, and in community events. It is quite humbling to offer prayer and be thanked. My heart simply weeps for the spiritual hunger of these people. Surely God has amazing things in store for them over the coming year. Some of the exciting things happening include:
- A choir has begun at Happy Valley Moravian. They are a faithful few, and are bilingual.
- Table Talk - a Lenten Bible study where a subject is put out for the evening, and people are free to discuss, ask questions and share about it's relevancy in their lives. It was an idea taken from Martin Luther's passion for piety which has been well attended here since Ash Wednesday.
- Lenten Services on Wednesday evenings full of music, stories, and prayer.
- George is assisting with a men's fellowship breakfast to plan action for the year.
- Finance-Stewardship Committee. A wonderful group of people that whave been effective in prayerful planning.
- An education team working to begin planning an education program for Sunday School and a youth program come the fall; preparing teachers and leaders as well.
One exciting thing going this year is an anniversary "homecoming"; their first real one. In checking the archives, the foundation stone was first laid in October. So they're excited about this opportunity for a lovefeast, & they're inviting people to come in before the snow.
Another bit of excitement is a wedding taking place in July for which I was invited to officiate, and will be delivering the vows in sign language for the groom. I'll be brushing up on my sign language over the coming months, and the congregation is absolutely joyed for this occasion.
Last Sunday was especially nice in that as people left, it felt like they had just gotten up from a big "Thanksgiving' meal; full to the brim. What an amazing feeling. God is so good - and has been dwelling among us all around here. Staying focussed on Christ at all times is the challenge. We are so blessed by being here - I can scarcely fathom why this gift has been given to George and I. Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and pleneous; in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures. Eze.36:30. It's like Happy Valley is ready to grow in Christ. My hope is that all will come to the table and be refreshed, renewed, find peace, and find that the joy of this earthly life is Him, not all the other things. What wondrous love is this?! These people are a bless-ed beloved lot. Thank you for your prayers as we walk; one step at a time.
Your humbled servants, Glenna & George
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Amazing Love! How can it be that you, my Lord, should die for me?
How many times do we say that to ourselves? The hymn by Charles Wesley rings in my ears like life-giving blood. George and I are so grateful for your prayers - they were surely answered in many profound ways. Here's the journey in brief . . . Our departure was delayed for a day as the winter storm descended upon the east coast on Feb. 6th, so we left Sunday morning and oddly enough, Hwy 81 was totally clean and dry and the skies were sunny and warm. We stayed in Philadelphia with friends after they had been hit with 4 ft. of snow, and left early Monday morning, when oddly again, they received 4 more feet of snow as we're crossing the Canadian border.
We stopped at the border ready to 'hang' for a few hours, and they gave both of us our working documents and not a question was asked about the 2 dogs in the front seat or the truck full of stuff. On our way within an hour, we stayed in beautiful Montreal.
Despite the 9 hour driving days again on dry roads, we made it through Baei Comeau, most northern city of Quebec and into Labrador City by Wednesday. We were met by some friends from Happy Valley who came simply to get us over the last 586 kilometers - the infamous Labrador Transcontinental Highway. This is where our Southern naivity showed in abundance.
The highway was snow-covered ice. Short of it is, we spent 3 hours in a snow ditch, but met some really interesting and lovely people passing by. After the 2nd descent into a ditch, 2 French truckers (36 wheels combined) hooked up all of their chains, used their walkie talkies, and pulled us out. The 6 ft. ditches seemed to be a gift, as we could've been in one of the many ravines or cliffs. That nite we stayed in Churchill Falls to regroup, and for George to muster his confidence a bit. Day 2 on this highway, our friends stopped to point out all of the pitfalls (mountainous inclines/declines/plow patterns/ and moose crossings) and drove ahead of us the rest of the way. We saw 2 caribou, a moose, and a silver fox. The many white partridges we saw reminded us of doves; giving us a glimmer of hope along the way.
Overall, God's hand surely was upon us this trip as the skies opened for our passage and then shut behind us, and bringing us an escort across the highway which we wouldn't have made otherwise. I'll post pictures soon, but the highway looks like a sea of white.
We are in our new home now; the manse, the dogs are already climbing snow drifts, and yet it has rained all week. Strange.
George and I covet your prayers. Come to Jesus.
love, us
How many times do we say that to ourselves? The hymn by Charles Wesley rings in my ears like life-giving blood. George and I are so grateful for your prayers - they were surely answered in many profound ways. Here's the journey in brief . . . Our departure was delayed for a day as the winter storm descended upon the east coast on Feb. 6th, so we left Sunday morning and oddly enough, Hwy 81 was totally clean and dry and the skies were sunny and warm. We stayed in Philadelphia with friends after they had been hit with 4 ft. of snow, and left early Monday morning, when oddly again, they received 4 more feet of snow as we're crossing the Canadian border.
We stopped at the border ready to 'hang' for a few hours, and they gave both of us our working documents and not a question was asked about the 2 dogs in the front seat or the truck full of stuff. On our way within an hour, we stayed in beautiful Montreal.
Despite the 9 hour driving days again on dry roads, we made it through Baei Comeau, most northern city of Quebec and into Labrador City by Wednesday. We were met by some friends from Happy Valley who came simply to get us over the last 586 kilometers - the infamous Labrador Transcontinental Highway. This is where our Southern naivity showed in abundance.
The highway was snow-covered ice. Short of it is, we spent 3 hours in a snow ditch, but met some really interesting and lovely people passing by. After the 2nd descent into a ditch, 2 French truckers (36 wheels combined) hooked up all of their chains, used their walkie talkies, and pulled us out. The 6 ft. ditches seemed to be a gift, as we could've been in one of the many ravines or cliffs. That nite we stayed in Churchill Falls to regroup, and for George to muster his confidence a bit. Day 2 on this highway, our friends stopped to point out all of the pitfalls (mountainous inclines/declines/plow patterns/ and moose crossings) and drove ahead of us the rest of the way. We saw 2 caribou, a moose, and a silver fox. The many white partridges we saw reminded us of doves; giving us a glimmer of hope along the way.
Overall, God's hand surely was upon us this trip as the skies opened for our passage and then shut behind us, and bringing us an escort across the highway which we wouldn't have made otherwise. I'll post pictures soon, but the highway looks like a sea of white.
We are in our new home now; the manse, the dogs are already climbing snow drifts, and yet it has rained all week. Strange.
George and I covet your prayers. Come to Jesus.
love, us
Friday, January 15, 2010
Journey to Labrador....Our new home
[This grace] has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 2 Timothy 1:10-11. Dennis Kinlaw said, "In Jesus' day, Israel did not think the way that God thought, and so when God came, they crucified him. He didn't fit their pattern for a Messiah. The apostles didn't crucify him; they simply forsook him. Jesus was willing to go so far as to redeem us for himself. He was willing to take on human form so we could visualize him in our human minds. God's love and willingness to change form for the sake of humanity was absolutely beyond the expectations of all the disciples."
Now that we have the benefit, the blessing of the written Word, how far are we willing to 'Go'? As we prepare to depart for Labrador for hopefully the next few years, I am in awe of the peace that surrounds us. He takes care of all the details, and lights the path brightly in front of us. The power is in the Word. May each day renew us with His wonder. May God show Himself each day and the words Jesus spoke be proclaimed throughout Labrador with vitality, sharing His glory, and fall upon open hearts and minds. I love you Jesus!
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