Matthew, Mark, Luke and Susan
We’re glad you’re here!
Welcome to the weekly blog for Burlington East Presbyterian Church.
First things first: feel free to fill in your name instead of Susan. John might already be taken.
Here, you’ll find a weekly reflection which I hope will give you an opportunity to stop for a few minutes, to see yourself in God’s story of our own lives, of the community, and of creation. We’ll be thinking about what it means to live in God’s love for each of us, to grow as disciples and to follow Christ. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me at [email protected].
Looking forward to journeying with you.
Peace in Christ,
Susan
February 27, 2025
Pancakes and Prayers
Something to think about:
By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.
-Psalm 42:8
Next week, we will be eating pancakes. Then we get ready to travel through forty days to Easter.
People used to take the time to use up the butter, leaven, and all kinds of baking stuff in their homes before the days of Lent. In a nutshell, the practice was a symbol of getting rid of something excessive in order to spend time more time being aware of God. The practice has taken a lot of turns and interpretations, but many still celebrate Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Tuesday) before the thoughtful quiet of Lent. This year, Lent starts on March 5, the forty days before Easter (not including Sundays).
Growing up, the question around our house was “What are you giving up for Lent?” Often it was chocolate (was I crazy?) or some other treat. Forty days to think about things differently–but often, I would get caught up in what I was giving up and miss the whole point. Lent is not about what WE do.
Lent isn’t a time to celebrate us and what we give up, but it’s all about what God gave up for us. Christ gave his life-and the journey of Lent is preparing us to be new people in light of the crucifixion and resurrection, to live life without fear and to live in hope, courageous love and unlimited grace.
The question of Lent is really, “How am I getting better prepared for this journey with the risen Christ? And what needs to be put aside in my life for me to do that?” Maybe it’s not something we give up, but something we pick up such as a time of daily prayer, a walk where we open our eyes and ears to what God is showing us in our neighbourhood, a quiet place to read one psalm each day. Time to let the quieter, stronger life of the Spirit flow in amid all the noise that’s around us. Time to say no to the things that are telling us that we’re not good enough, not rich enough, not going to make it if we don’t do it ourselves.
Jesus came to do away with all of that.
During Lent, from March 12 – April 14, we’re having a number of different worship opportunities that will give you a chance to join with our community of fellow travellers as we look to share and live Jesus’ love. On Monday evenings from 6:30-7:30pm, we’ll meet for quiet worship, some songs, a story and a chance to chat. On Wednesdays at 12:30pm, we’ll gather for worship, songs, a story and soup. Please know you are welcome, and we’d love to have you join us at the church. There are more details on the home page.
Here is a daily prayer we can use together through Lent:
Lord, you have given up so much for me. In You I have life forever.
Let me put aside everything that’s keeping me from the direction you have in mind for me.
Let me choose You, knowing that your love and grace are more than enough.
Let me choose You, knowing that You died and rose for me before I ever knew that I needed that.
So let us go on into this day with all of its happy, sad, dancing, walking, resting, eating, working, playing, caring, loving, questioning moments–and let us live together.
Thank You. Amen.
Peace in Christ,
Rev Susan
Content © Susan Kerr 2025. May not be reproduced or circulated without permission of the author.
February 12, 2025
The rebels
Something to think about: Matthew 7:24-25
There they are. Surrounded by green, standing out like something that shouldn’t be there at all. But there they are.
They were created as giant snowpeople in the neighbourhood park late one night during the snowfall before Christmas. Tall sentinels with solid bases that couldn’t be knocked down–the base was too strong and the snowmen too big. Even when the temperatures started to rise, they stayed, and lasted until the next snowfall because they had been built well.
The neighbourhood kids are waiting for the next snowstorm to build more.
In our lives as Chrsitians, there are a lot of things we need to speak up for, a lot of places that need to hear about the love of Christ in situations where that love is not present. We need to be the snowpeople in the green field. Standing where we’re not supposed to. Standing out, standing up. Standing with. Speaking out when we see places where there is injustice, inequity, and people not living the words “Love the Lord with all your heart, soul strength and mind, and your neighbour as yourself” (Mark 12: 31).
It’s not easy to be a snowperson in a green field when the temperature is rising. We stand and bear witness to God’s love because we know what we’re made of, and what our strength is. How do we do that? Reading some of the Bible each day, practicing sharing our story, seeking God in the small moments and the big ones, prayer, talking with each other about faith and faith questions and journeys all help us to have a foundation that can’t be melted when our environment shifts. Like these snow giants, the growth and foundation aren’t there instantly, It takes work, and practice and day to day learning to build that foundation.
When the temperature rises, we might not look like perfect snowpeople any longer. But we are still there. Still present. Still changing the landscape. We will have the foundation to last and stand out when we need to until the next snowstorm comes around.
And perhaps, just perhaps, we will stand out so much that those around us will want to be like us too.
May you find blessing and strength in your conversations with God this week–strength that will give you the foundation to be a witness for Jesus in everything.
Peace in Christ,
Rev. Susan Photo and content © Susan Kerr 2025. May not be reproduced or circulated without permission of the author.