Our parish has had several requests for sermons to be available on video. So here is our first attempt. It is the 3rd sermon in a 5-part series on Luke 15 (and, NO, we didn't record the first 2 parts), but this is our test run to see if people like seeing them in this format. They are youtube videos, and so they are divided into 3 parts. You can click on them below, and PLEASE give me feedback on how well this is working. And, yes, I know already that the powerpoint screen is coloured poorly at times and the camera can pick up the writing clearly. Blessings, Paul+
Here she is! She is healthy! Her Mom is healthy! We are all very blessed! The reference at the end of the video is from the "Thanksgiving for a Child" service from the Book of Alternative Services (Anglican Church of Canada) which we will likely be participating in this Sunday.
I just finished watching Finding Neverland (the story behind playwright J.M. Barrie's creation of "Peter Pan") and I am amazed by how much I loved it. The amazement is due to the fact that I normally am not much of a fan of this type of movie. And, no, it wasn't Johnny Depp's brilliant performance that won me over (though this man IS a master craftsman). Instead it was the theme: how can a person find Neverland?
For Barrie (Depp), Neverland is the place of fairies and fantasies, where no one grows old. Idolizing adolescence, Barrie posited that such a place was accessible by children because children had been untainted by disbelief -- children could still believe in fairies.
Now I know that I am stretching this a bit far (or maybe I'm bang on here) but doesn't Jesus argue the same thing when he says "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3)? It can be argued that Jesus is talking here about humility, but if you couple this with the next chapter, maybe he sees children as possessing a unique ability to enter Neverland (uh, I mean, "heaven"). "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs" (Matthew 19:14). So, I wondered as I watched this film: have I lost my ability to believe? Now don't get me wrong. I "believe" our creeds, and I "believe" the historical, apostolic doctrines of our church (at least, I hope I do). But, have I lost my child-like ability to BELIEVE in such amazing possibilities like heaven? Or do I live too much in the rational and concrete? Do I allow myself to be swept up in a land I cannot see -- a land of God and goodness and truth and beauty and joy? Or do I spend my days pinned down to the "realities" of my bank account and my endless "grown-up" to-do list?
Lord, I long for my childhood eyes again. Lord, I long to believe. Lord, just empower me a little bit of pixie dust (hmmm, there is an interesting description for Pentecost).
Do you agree? Shall we go together? Second star to the right, and then straight on til morning!
NAME: Po (a.k.a. The Reverend Paul Donison or Daddy); AGE: 31; VOCATION: Anglican Priest; FAMILY: married to my best friend (who is awesome-attractive to boot), and together we are currently under siege from 4 small aliens (a.k.a. our 4 bright, spunky, and lovely daughters); ABOUT THIS PIC: this is my four-year-old's rendering of me (though I AM a hairy man, those are PANTS on my legs!).
When I was youth director at St Mary's (Victoria, BC) I started meeting with the youth kids (who are all in college now) after school on Fridays at the local Starbucks. There were so many of us, that we often took up most of the store (at least most of the chairs) and so I would try and get us to sit as far away from the other patrons as possible. Where we always sat was in the corner under the wallpaper advertizing Starbuck's Ethiopian Blend. So, the group time was called, "Under Ethiopia" and it was really just a time to say anything (a lot like this blog!).
What is "Po" ?
When my wife and I started dating I told her that I had aways been bummed by the fact my name couldn't be shortened -- I had always been envious of Matts and Robs and Dougs. So she shortened my name, though somewhat unconventionally, to Po. And it stuck. So if you are in my wife's company, don't be surprised if she calls me Po. And, for heaven's sake, please don't think she is calling me Poo. With a baby in the house, we have plenty of THAT already, thank-you-very-much!
