Excerpts From: The Messenger |
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'Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16, NIV).
This is a story about a little girl who, while on the way home from church, turned to her mother and said, 'Mommy, the preacher's sermon this morning confused me.' The mother said, 'Oh! Why is that? The girl replied, Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?' 'Yes, that's true,' the mother replied. 'He also said that God lives inside of us. Is that true too?' Again the mother replied, 'Yes.' 'Well,' said the girl, 'if God is bigger than us and He lives inside of us, wouldn't He show through?'
Children have an amazing way of getting down to essentials without the pretenses that often accompany adults. What the little girl said in simple innocence was, indeed, a great theological truth. God is a big God, yet small enough to live within us.
Jesus said this when he requested the children come and be blessed: “ I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Like 18:16).
‘Like a little child’ the spiritual lesson here is that with total dependence, full trust, frank openness and complete sincerity is how we approach God in our search of Him.
But how is all this possible? The truth of the matter is, when we receive Christ as our personal Lord, and surrender totally to His will for our lives. God does begin to live inside of us, and gradually transforms our lives to be like his (from glory to glory God is changing us, “As the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more.” 2 Corinthians 3:18b ). After we receive Christ and we begin to walk in the life of faith and obedience, His life should be seen in us. In fact, we should become more invisible and Christ more visible.
As a result we are not ashamed or embarrassed to pray in public or be known about our alliance to the Lord Jesus Christ. Demonstrate the characteristics of the Spirit at work in us such as: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control.
This is not natural to us; therefore we need God to help us as we pray to God to empty us of self at the same time fill us with those spiritual attributes. This was reflected about Jesus, when John the Baptist exclaimed, 'He must increase, but I must decrease' (John 3:30
).How do we decrease and how can He increase in our lives? The answer lies in the writing of apostle Paul’s, 'I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me' (Galatians 2:20).
As we journey on this Lenten season, may God press upon our heart the need to have faith like a ‘little child’ believing that God is a big God! Yet small enough to live within us, and do wonders.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Samuel King-Kabu
Rosa Christensen has just been notified that she has been given the “Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award” – in recognition of her years of social ministry to the sick and elderly in the Danish community, in and around Montreal.
When Rosa learns that someone is sick and without anyone to care for him or her, she is the first person to visit – with food. And to help with washing, clothes and dishes and, if necessary, to arrange for other parishioners to help out. But above all, to convey that the person in question is loved and important.
Also, her home is regularly the scene of elderly people’s birthday celebrations; or lunches for lonely parishioners, visiting or brought home after church service; or a place to simply talk things over – over a cup of coffee. - Says her minister at St. Ansgar Church, Pastor King-Kabu: “Rosa is an open minded individual, who receives anyone with open arms.”
Around Christmas time Rosa prepares numerous “care boxes” with assortments of her Danish ‘småkager’, maybe some homemade ‘sylte’, or liver paté and ‘rødbeder’ or ‘asier’, to give to seniors who can no longer make these ‘Christmas related essentials’ themselves. – To brighten their lives !
On the third Wednesday of each month Rosa prepares and – with helpers – serves a three course dinner with wine, coffee and cake for 25 – 30 seniors at Beck Hall. It is a highly popular event and an opportunity for older members of the parish to get together. (In some cases possibly their only social event on their calendar.) Rosa prepares the food and provides the wine. The charge per person is a mere $5.00, and the accumulated funds are subsequently saved – to pay for a summer outing to the - 5 - Kitzbuhl (Swiss) restaurant on L’Ile Perrot – at no charge for the seniors! - Another of her personal projects to care for the elderly.
Without fanfare, Rosa is also the heart and soul in organizing a number of fundraising events for the Church in the course of the year, including first and foremost, St. Ansgar’s Christmas Bazaar – which nets a very substantial amount of money in just one day. It’s an exceedingly popular event – and crowded – as people of Nordic background come to stock up on Danish food specialties and shop for X-mas decorations, etc. – and enjoy Danish Smørrebrød (open faced sandwiches) with beverages and desserts.
The event is backed by lots of volunteers, who simply come “to help Rosa”. And most of the articles for sale, knitted or sewn by members of the congregation, have been collected by Rosa in the course of the preceding twelve months, or made by herself, including popular food items such as large glasses of ‘Asier’ (Danish pickles) and ‘Rødbeder’ (pickled beet roots), preserved in her backyard during the summer. Or ‘Sylte’ (head cheese) or homemade ‘Rullepølse’ (Danish spiced sausage).
Other fundraising events include a ‘Pakkefest’ (parcel auction), rummage sales, musical concert performances, card evenings and a ‘Spring Luncheon’ for 60 to 80 people. – Rosa prefers to stay in the background. For many years she was treasurer of the ‘Ladies Aid of St. Ansgar Lutheran Church’, but never headed it. Her inspiration and drive permeates it, though.
Rosa keeps tabs on people’s anniversaries and round birthdays and when needed arranges celebrations for them. – On Christmas Day 2006, she drove 700 km. back to Montreal to prepare for the 100-year celebration of a parishioner, Mrs. Ellen Brodahl (who would not have been able to make any arrangements on her own). The event was attended by numerous guests – and congratulations were received from the Queen, the Governor General and Quebec’s Lieutenant Governor.
When someone needs friendly advice, Rosa is always available. She will listen to a person’s problems. And, as the peacemaker she is, she will help straighten out differences between parties. – But if someone praises her efforts in one context or another, her standard response is: “Oh, that was nothing special.”
Seeming always in good spirits, and positive, Rosa is a friend of those in need of attention – and spreads sunshine around her. She unquestionably loves to make other people happy!
Article by - Knud Petersen [See Original Article from Krøniken]
(Note:The actual presentation of the Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award will take place at a not yet fixed date this spring.)
Congratulations, Rosa !!!!!!!!!!
Web Page prepared by:
Roger Kenner
& Jette Blair.
Content-New Topics Last Updated: 2008/03/04
St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church - Montreal