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First Thoughts From The Rev. Canon David Smith:

Most weeks Fr. David sends out an e-mail with his first thoughts on the upcoming Sunday readings. These reflections are designed to encourage people to consider the readings before they come to worship which we hope will enrich Sunday worship. People are invited to respond to David with their own thoughts and sometimes interesting ideas and conversations occur that end up in the sermon. If you would like to receive these weekly e-mails e-mail David at dsmith@ontario.anglican.ca .

Browsing Archive: November, 2014

Reflections on the Readings: Sunday, November 30, 2014 - Isaiah 64: 1-9, Psalm 80: 1-7, 17-19, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, Mark 13: 24- 37

Posted by Emily Sanderson on Sunday, November 30, 2014,

Hi everyone and Happy New Year as we celebrate the church's new year, Advent 1, on Sunday

Attached is an article I wrote for the Mirror. I was moved by the movie Shadowlands which we watched last week. I used it for the December edition because for me it portrayed Christmas. C.S. Lewis truly entered into the joy and pain of love. I could not express it well but I tried to use his story as an illustration of the incarnation in that God in Christ truly
experienced our life , love and pain. But t...
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The Joy and Pain of Love

Posted by Emily Sanderson on Friday, November 28, 2014,

Readings for this Sunday Isaiah 64: 1-9, Psalm 80: 1-7, 17-19, 1 Corinthians
1:3-9, Mark 13: 24- 37

Thanks to Feasting on the Word Year B Volume 1 pgs 2-25

In the old days the liturgical colour for Advent was purple to invite us to
enter a time of repentance and preparedness for Christmas much like we still
do in Lent for Easter. But in recent years the colour has changed to blue
to make it a more joyful season as we wait expectantly for the arrival of
Christmas and the final return of Christ.

The p...
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Reflections on the Celebration of Christ the King

Posted by Emily Sanderson on Friday, November 21, 2014,

This Sunday is the last Sunday of the liturgical year and it is often referred to as Reign Of Christ Sunday. In other words now that we have observed in worship throughout the year all of the great moments of Christ's ministry we want to acknowledge and worship Him as King, and to think about what it means to crown Him King of our lives.

St. Paul in our reading from Ephesians describes the glorious power of Christ declaring in a doxology that He is far above all rule and authority. All of...

Reflections on the C. S.Lewis based play, "Narnia" as we celebrate Narnia Sunday at St. Philip's

Posted by Emily Sanderson on Friday, November 14, 2014,

I realize this is a busy time of year but I hope a lot of people are able to
attend the production of Narnia. It will not be Broadway but I guess that is
the point as community theatre is a great way for children, teens and adults
to work together to produce something beautiful and meaningful. To have the
opportunity to sing with a chorus and to act on a stage and to be part of a
team that makes people laugh and think is great so I hope people come to
support community theatre. And of course you ca...
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Reflections on Readings for Sunday, November 2, 2014

Posted by Emily Sanderson on Wednesday, November 5, 2014,

Readings : Revelations 7: 9-17, Psalm 34 : 1-10, 1John 3: 1-3, Mathew 5: 1- 12

Hi everyone,

My apologies for not sending out first thoughts the past two weeks. Last Saturday and Sunday I was working in Bancroft. I was preaching In The Parish of North Hastings and as I was helping them with Natural Church Development I looked at the readings with the perspective of NCD and I was reminded again how valuable it is to look at parish life in relation to the very important principles of Loving R...