PASTOR'S CORNER

Give thanks with a grateful heart
Being at the right place in the right time
"The word of God shall never come back void." Isaiah 55:11

How God touches others' lives. In the 1800s a preacher prepared a wonderful sermon he had intended for many men to hear to encourage them to give their lives to Christ. He arrived at church very enthusiastically and was disappointed when he looked at the pews and only seven or eight women were there to listen to him. He went on anyway. Little did he know there was a young boy of about 8 to 10 years who listened to him that day was moved by his message. This young boy grew up and became a pastor and served as a missionary in Africa for many, many years. This young boy was David Livingstone. This is how God impacts our lives.
Yes! God does have ways of impacting each and every one of our lives and this brings me to this: I would like to share a unique story with you about one of my parishioners who was in Denmark recently. It all began about five years ago when I asked several Danes with connection to friends and church organizations in Denmark to secure me a Danish preaching robe known as "Dansk Præstekjole." I yearned to wear one of those robes. But the result had always been negative, as this type of robe is quite expensive, even a used one. There was no way I could afford that (we are looking at about 15,000 Danish kroner or $3,000 Canadian and more).
Well, all hopes were gone, until June this year when Hanne and Svend were going to Denmark so I asked them to kick the can one more time. Svend took it upon himself and called friends and organizations as he thought that might be able to help. He searched the internet for a used "Dansk Præstekjole" to no avail. Meanwhile Hanne was in Kolding having a good time visiting her family and friends. She was invited one evening by one of her friends to attend the Danish Lutheran church abroad's annual meeting being held in one of the churches in Kolding.
She felt a bit out place, she daid, as St. Ansgar's in Montreal is not affiliated with the Danish Lutheran church abroad, but went anyway, hoping to gain some experience in church politics. After the meeting was over and the people were enjoying their coffee and refreshments, Hanne seized the opportunity to inquire about the Dansk Præstkjole. She spoke to some of the pastors in attendance about her request, but they were not encouraging. Some did not think St. Ansgar's should use such a preaching robe anyway and were not so helpful.
Hanne is unequivocally a person with strong determination. While she was sipping her coffee slowly, she spotted Biskop Niels Henrik Arendt of Haderslev in the corner of her eyes and dashed toward him with a similar request. "I am looking for a Dansk Præstekjole for my pastor in Canada and a used one will do just fine because we can't afford a new one." Bishop Niels Arendt paused for a moment, sipped his coffee and then asked what our pastor's height and size were. And as the story goes, the rest was history.
Hanne was in the right place at the right time and spoke to the right person. Biskop Niels Arendt had a used one, almost like new, at his Haderslev Stift and was willing to give it to St. Ansgar without a krone in exchange. She was so excited and got in touch with Svend, who was then in the Ringkøbing area and told him the story and asked if he could travel to Haderslev and pick up the "Dansk Præstekjole" which he did and brought it back with him to St. Ansgar. It was kept secret for a surprise and it really worked. I felt like I was in third heaven when I found out we secured a Dansk Præstekjole. Many thanks to you, Hanne, Svend and Biskop Niels Arendt for your courageous acts. I really cherish what the Dansk Præstekjole means, an identity with the culture in Montreal.
We can walk freely in our calling when we understand what God has given
us. If we strive to walk in a role He never gives us, it will result in frustration and failure. God wants to reveal His plan to us by His Spirit. This requires a willingness to seek and accept what He gives. It may be different from what we thought.
It may require adjustments to follow His path for our lives. As we learn from the life of Jesus Christ we will become like him. The summer has drawn to an end and we are back to our normal schedules. Have we learned life's lesson of gratitude? I hope we all did. Therefore we give thanks to God with a grateful heart for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us and will continue to give.
"Thank you for the grace you have shown to us, and help us to
mirror your grace to others."

God is Good, God richly bless and keep you in
peace.

Pastor Samuel King-Kabu
Pastor@st-ansgars-montreal.ca

Web Page prepared by:
Roger Kenner & Jette Blair.
Content-New Topics Last Updated: 2003/11/18
St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church - Montreal