Excerpts From: The Messenger |
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"Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14.
Three days before reaching the New World, the crew begged him to turn back, fearing if they went farther they couldn't catch enough wind to return to Spain before running out of food and water. But Christopher Columbus had one word for his faltering sailors: Adelante! Adelante! - Onward! Onward!
You know folks that the Christian life is a life of discovery. When we take this journey, there will be twists and turns, victories and defeats, and many short stops. This can lead to a Christian life that can become stale, stagnant, and one where we can even get discouraged. And at times it feels as if we're like guests in an immense palace who have been given keys to every room, but go no farther than the entrance hall.
So in these times, how do we rediscover the great adventure of Christian living? How do we find the lost path to spiritual renewal? There are no easy 1,2,3 answers. On the other hand, I believe the answer to the question lies in cultivating a sense of wonder that is imbedded in the Character of God.
Knowing the character of God is the first step, because out of that knowledge comes the attributes that strengthen the Christian life. It is truly God’s Will to reveal more of himself to any one who is willing and open to learn of God.
For example: When was the last time you noticed the rose blooming by the fence (Enjoy it now before the frost comes), or the spangled sky on a clear and moonless night? When was the last time you stood amazed in the presence of Jesus Christ? When was the last time you stopped and gave thanks to the littlest things in life? There's more to Christianity than you and I have thus far experienced, more to the character of God than we've learned, and more to the Bible than we've discovered so far.
Adelante! Adelante! Adelante! "I press on, I press on " said the apostle Paul to the Christians in Philippi. "Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-14). In one of Jesus’ teachings about discipleship: He extended calls to people to come and follow him, but some came up with excuses.
Jesus concluded that “No one who puts his / her hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62) .
Besides cultivating a sense of wonder, we need to cultivate our spiritual curiosity, and stay fresh. Look for new discoveries every day in God’s Word, and enjoy God’s goodness, grace, and mercies which are new every morning. Ask God to show you new things in His Word. Like the Psalmist who prayed, "Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from your Law" (Psalm 119:18). There are more insights in familiar passages still waiting to be uncovered? Just Adelante! Adelante!
The Bible is simple, yet deep, and unchanging. But our understanding of its’ message and its application to our lives is a process of daily discovery that rivals any exploration in history. In my journey as a Bible student I have learned to have a "wide-eye” (an eagle-eye, so to say) in the midst of the wonders of God. The truth that has stuck to me over the years is that: “When we make God shallow, we become shallow, when we make God cheap, we become cheap.”
When we struggle with faith issues and doubts, or have trouble with a loved one, a bad report from the doctor, or a crisis at work - God usually enlarges our hearts, our spirits and we learn new dimensions of God’s faithfulness towards us and indeed we learn new lessons about our walk of faith. In such situations, when there is nothing left but God; that is when we find out God is all that we need. God is infinite. His wisdom is limitless (God’s character), and we don't grow up in Christ in a day. His ways are deep and wonderful, and it takes years of prayerful experience to search them out. Every day we should be making more discoveries and discovering new mercies.
The evening of October 13, 2007 St. Ansgar celebrated its 80th anniversary as a congregation in Montreal. Beck hall (our parish hall) was filled to its’ capacity with excellent food, music, and great fellowship. We concluded the celebration on Sunday with an inspiring worship service where the Korean Presbyterian choir and our own choir ministered to us with special music. For 80 years in Mission for others. Oh! What an opportunity to thank God with cheerful hearts and learn to press on to the higher goal of servitude in Christ Jesus. I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to each and every one of you who worked so hard to make this celebration so successful. What great teamwork!
Once again, a big thank to you all.
We must keep all the good memories, but we can’t live in the past. Let us dream new dreams ….. The character of God intends for us to be rivers, fresh and flowing, ever growing, never stagnant. Fresh and clean rivers where the weary and thirsty soul would stoop down and have a drink. God wants us to press on, to keep the wonder, and to think of our life in Christ as a Great Adventure.
So, as we journey on to our next anniversary, may we be the church where people would walk in and out of the doors: some for water baptism, affirmation of faith, others for marriages, others for a funerals, while others who have a broken spirit, mind, and body will find healing and wholeness in our midst as they are embraced with love and acceptance.
I say to you all Adelante! Adelante! Adelante!
\ God’s peace be with you all.
Best Wishes,
Pastor Samuel King-Kabu
Congratulations to everyone who helped make the 80th Anniversary of St. Ansgar’s Church a success. At the banquet we had wonderful food (organized by Rosa, of course) and entertainment. Linda played the piano, accompanying Thomas and Peter as they each sang a song. Peter sang Anywhere I Wander from the Hans Christian Andersen movie with Danny Kaye, if anyone wants to know, and Thomas sang O divine Redeemer by Charles Gounod. Afterwards Peter played several pieces on his violin, the most popular was Grieg’s Sovejg’s Song – it got people to hum along. Svend wrote a song to commemorate the occasion and Thomas accompanied Sister Beverley, who also sang a song. There were several speeches, as well. It was delightful to hear Pr. Thom Zumbrock speak about his years at St. Ansgar’s. Thanks also to the young people who were very attentive to the needs of the people at the tables.
We received several letters quoted below:
From Marian Holobow:
Your invitation to St. Ansgar’s Anniversary of 80 years brought back a flood of memories. It seems so recently that Marty and I were with you and we together celebrated St. Ansgar’s 60th Anniversary.
How I would love to share this Anniversary with you again. Unfortunately, my sister and I will be away on a long-planned trip at just that time. However my thoughts will be at St. Ansgar’s on that day and all of St. Ansgar’s precious members. God bless you on that day and many, many more.
Sincerely, Marian
From Pastor Sid and Elaine Nelson: (in part)
Thank you for the invitation to attend the 80th Anniversary of St. Ansgar’s. Elaine and I both would have liked to have been there. We do have hopes of connecting with the folks there next year, God willing.
We came to St. Ansgar’s in 1968 and we left that parish in 1981. So it was in those 13 years our children went to school and some of them on to University and College. Those were good years for us and the parish there.
The [mortgage] was paid off in full the day we left. [If we were to attend] we would miss seeing those we know who had moved away. [And it would cause us to rejoice] to see new faces and people who are new to St. Ansgar’s.
[Thirdly, we would] see the people we knew from those years when we were there, who are still there and active in the parish. Their endurance and faithfulness brings us a lot of joy…
[To] Susan and Samuel, our wishes for continued service and ministry [at St. Ansgar’s]. In spite of what members of the parish may tell you it was not always easy going and we had our struggles in those years. To live and work in Montreal has its own things with which to deal. If a parishioner here goes to hospital there is only one hospital I need to find.
[The parishioners at St. Ansgar’s are spread all over the island and even off the island.] Of course you must [also] suffer from all that good Danish cooking – that is one of the benefits there.
May you have much joy in your ministry.
Most sincerely in Him,
Elaine and Sid
From Pr. Eric Dyck:
It is with joy that I recall sitting at your Anniversary dinner for the 75th. It is with even greater joy that I and our congregation at St. John’s gives thanks for God’s blessings to you in now celebrating your 80th Anniversary.
The Psalmist says:
I was glad when they said to me,
“let us go to the house of the Lord!”
Peace be within your walls,
And security within your towers!
For my brethren and my companions’ sake I will say, “Peace be within you!”
For the sake of the house for the Lord our God, I will seek your good.
( Psalm 122; 1,7-9)Our Church Council and myself echo these words in giving thanks for the important place St. Ansgar’s has held in the ministry of Lutherans in Montreal.
Our prayers and blessings to you, along with regrets at not being present, due to another parish event this evening. May your parish and its people continue to be a sign of the coming Kingdom, now and unto eternity.
Your brothers and sisters in the faith,
Pastor Eric Dyck
David Schluze, Chairperson
E-mail from Linda:
The Anniversary was wonderful. Thanks to the Anniversary Committee for all their hard work. The evening and next morning service both were so meaningful - a real Thanksgiving to God for the blessings He has given us at St. Ansgar’s.
Thanks, Rosemarie and Pastor Samuel, for that amazing PowerPoint show. Where did you find all the pictures ? And put them all together so beautifully !
The Library was cleaned up so well - too bad the piano hid a lot of it on Sat. evening ! And the new paint job - great ! Of course, the FOOD was a tasty hit as usual. And where did you find those good-looking servers ?
Thanks, Thomas and Peter, for sharing your great talents. It was a pleasure to accompany you both. The leaflet you printed out for the Banquet was excellent. I was surprised to find Mari and me mentioned !
Once again, a big thank you to the Anniversary Committee and everyone else who worked so hard. And when I went to bed last night, I thought about the SONG that Svend wrote for our celebration ! Move over, Paul Harrison !
Sincerely,
Linda
Lakeview Memorial Garden.
The Danish Section.
History
The existence of “Lakeview Memorial Gardens. Danish Section” in Pointe Claire may be unknown to many Danish Canadians in the Montreal area.
During the early depression years, 1929 to 1934 many Danish Canadians living in Montreal were very poor and when they died there were no money for proper burial, which meant common and unmarked graves in paupers cemetery which was (is) located near the bottom of Cote des Neiges.
A situation like that did not sit well with Danes and on the initiative of The Danish Consulate in Montreal, two representatives from each of the two Danish Clubs in Montreal (Danish Canadian Society, Montreal and The Danish Club, Montreal plus St. Ansgar’s Danish Lutheran Church in Montreal and a representative from The Danish Consulate, got together in 1934 and they succeeded in raising $100 for which they bought 50 burial lots from Lakeview Cemetery in Pointe Claire, this assured that Danish Canadians in Montreal with insufficient means could be properly buried when they passed on. Pastor Vilhelm Beck, Elman (Nick) Christensen and Cyrus Petersen were some of the people forming the first committee. After having bought and paid for the first 50 lots Pastor Beck remarked that he was glad he no longer would be asked to bury Danes in a pauper’s grave.
In time many Danish Canadians chose to purchase a burial lot from the committee and thus the “Danish Section” evolved to become the chosen burial place for Danish Canadians of all income levels and not only reserved for burial lots for poor Danish Canadians.
Around 1954 an additional 50 lots were purchased for a total of 100 lots. The purchase price of these lots is unknown.
Around 1967 the committee of representatives from the Danish clubs and St. Ansgar’s Church was abandoned and the administration of the Danish Section was left to St. Ansgar’s Church only.
Today (October 2007) all 100 lots are occupied or reserved. The lots are small, only 2 ½ feet wide and 7 feet long.
In the late 1980s 25 lots were reserved to be part of the Danish Section. These lots were wider (3 feet).
The last 25 lots are owned by Lakeview Cemetery and can be purchased from them. There are 10 lots still available.
When Elman (Nick) Christensen passed away in 1988, his widow, Maren Elman Christensen made major improvements to the Danish Section by adding a large stone inscribed “The Danish Section” and the stone was placed in a beautiful flower bed. A Stone Bench was also added. Also all the burial lots were numbered with stone markers.
Thanks to the initiative taken in 1934 and the very generous additions given by Maren Elman Christensen, Danish Canadians in Montreal today have a very presentable “Memorial Garden”.
Svend Berg
[Read More About the Danish Cemetery.]
Web Page prepared by:
Roger Kenner
& Jette Blair.
Content-New Topics Last Updated: 2008/03/04
St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church - Montreal