Excerpts From: The Messenger |
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What a Smile, it Brightens Sadness!
“For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.”
(2 Cor. 4:5)
The season of Lent is a highlight in the Christian Church calendar. But it is mostly forgotten in many circles in the Christian discipline. Lent is an opportunity for "spiritual self improvement." Lent focuses on an increased emphasis on prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Lent is a wonderful preparation period for the joy of Easter and the final victory over death in the Resurrection.
Several years ago I followed a fast through the forty days of Lent and found that it changed my view of Easter, and that it changed me. Fasting and meditating on my own short comings helped me grasp the intense significance of the crucifixion, and gave me a deep and powerful longing for the resurrection, which then became joy on Easter Sunday.
The theme for this Lenten journey is “a smile that brightens sadness.” Whenever we step out into the church of everyday life, we take God with us. And the teachings of Jesus compels us to let God’s light shine through us. Today, tomorrow, whenever you are out….on the street, big town, small town…take the time to actually look at people’s faces. It is quite interesting what you might see.
In the fall of 1977, I was invited to speak to a group of Christians in a free church in Herning, Denmark. I had just started my sermon when I noticed a middle-aged couple walked into the service and took their seat in the rear of the church.
There was nothing extraordinary about my message, I thought, but this couple noticed something unique that they later shared with me. They said my smile! What about my smile I inquired? They felt, even though they couldn’t grasp everything I talked about. They concluded that, I spoke with confidence of my faith in Jesus Christ, which showed in my smile. They left that evening encouraged in their own faith journey.
In my travels to different countries, I have noticed that one can actually observe amazing and interesting things by people’s facial expressions. It is the unreserved, smiling persons that are attractive and, then we look in their eyes. It is through the eyes that one can see God’s light. It actually shines through and it is authentic, it is said that the “eye is the window to the soul.”
A smile without the sincerity of the eyes is just a smile, another part of a mask we may wear. But a smile from the heart penetrates the very being of a person who does actually preach Jesus unknowingly. That person can’t help it. When such a smile comes your way, you know it is God himself who is smiling at you and saying, You are special. The awareness of God’s grace in our hearts that emanates as a glorious light for people around to see. Every day we have the opportunity to change someone’s day. Just with a sincere smile. Think about it! And Just keep smiling you will never know who you might touch.
Lord, let your light so shine from us that the world will know you. Let this light dispell darkness that surrounds our every day.”
Amen
Best Wishes in your Lenten journey. Be blessed.
Your friend and pastor,
Pastor Samuel King-Kabu
A Taste Of...
Episode 2 of the 4th season of our cooking/baking competition “A Taste Of…” This season it is about Tea Time Around the World”.
On the 1st episode, we visited the delights of London and it was phenomenally successful. Our contestants contributed very creative and inspiring dishes. Among the traditional English entries like scones and classic cucumber sandwiches we also had Queen Victoria sponge cake, Lamington’s and Eccles’ cake. These 3 were new to most of us and a delight to taste. Curiosity was set off to inquire about these deserts so this is what was found out about them. The Queen Victoria cake was named after Queen Victoria as reputably it was her favourite cake at Tea time. (Guess that is not a surprise!)
Eccles cakes are named after the English town of Eccles. It is not known who invented the recipe, but James Birch is credited with being the first person to sell Eccles cakes in 1793.
The creation of the lamington is not so clear. It is Australian in origin. Generally, it is agreed that it was named after Lord Lamington, who served as Governor of Queensland from 1896 to 1901, or after his wife, Lady Lamington. One account claims the dessert resembled the homburg hats that he favoured. Another claim has them named after the village of Lamington, South Lanarkshire in Scotland. Even among those who attribute the name to Lord Lamington, there are different claims as to the exact location and creator of the cake itself. The first known mention of "Lamington cake" appears in an 1896 newspaper account of a "Lamington Function" at Laidley in Queensland. The event was in honour of Lord Lamington, although it appears he did not attend.
This time, on Mar. 1st, we move over to the romantic city of le Tour Eiffel, Paris. Take a dip into the French haute cuisine with the following amuse-bouches suggestions: canapés, merguez sausages, croissants, baquettes, escargots, baked brie,vol-au-vent, cretons, rillettes, salmon mousse, tartlets, French cheese puffs (gougeres), foie gras, and a miriade of sweets like petit-fours, éclairs, madeleines,macarons, chocolat fondant, feuilletes!
Our final destination will be the other romantic city of the Fontana di Trevi, Roma on a soon to be announced date. The original date chosen is no longer available (May 3). Please stay tuned. Please plan to join us, as a contestant or taster on these dates. Speak to Rosemarie or Sabine for more info. Hope to see you there!
Rosemarie Grabs, Editor
Web Page prepared by:
Roger Kenner & Jette Blair.
Content-New Topics Last Updated: 2015/06/25
St. Ansgar's Lutheran Church - Montreal