Advent 2008
Dear Friends,
With the economic crunch now biting down upon us all, the retailers
are concerned that we might not be spending enough this Christmas
season. The weeks just before Christmas are the happiest time of the
year for the stores as they expect the bulk of their sales to be
realized. But what if we don’t show up? What if we cut back on our
spending and don’t buy all the gifts that we normally do? What then?
Like most of us, I am not an economist. But I do understand that as
we slow down on our spending, the retailers and those who make the
goods (those of us employed to do so) are also affected. Car
manufacturers are already feeling the pinch, as will makers of large
appliances, the sale of electronic goods is down, building supply
stores will be hurting, and so on. The only industry actually
showing some growth is the video game industry. Well, boys will be
boys.
While none of us like to hear about layoffs in manufacturing, we
must admit that the slowdown in spending can only be a good thing
for North Americans, who for too long have been spending beyond
their means. While the credit crunch can be blamed on the
questionable practice of the loan sharks in the USA, it is fuelled
by all those who have been using credit as a way to buy the
American/Canadian dream which we could not possibly afford. While my
parents and grandparents would never dream of buying something they
didn’t have the cash for, my generation and those younger than me
have grown up believing that it’s okay to buy now and pay later –
even when the ability to pay off later was not realistic.
Can it be a bad thing to be brought up short? Can it be wrong for
our culture to do some self-examination and ask whether our desire
to acquire and our bloated expectations have gotten us into this
mess? I sense that a lot of people are using this economic crisis as
an opportunity to ask themselves: What is important in life? Does my
house have to be this big? Does my car need to be this large or that
new? Do I really need all the stuff the commercials keep promoting
to be happy in my life? And where does happiness come from – the
shelf or from a life well-lived?
I would wager that as we are challenged to rethink our lifestyle,
Canadians may indeed find an opportunity to seek out a deeper
meaning for their lives beyond that of being consumers. We are made
for greater things than that! People may even begin to ask
themselves about the meaning of Christmas. God never really told us
to go out and buy things for people. Instead, God said, here is my
free gift to you, my presence, my life here among you. Do not be
afraid, I am with you always.
Perhaps released from our anxiety and fears, we can find meaning not
in accumulating stuff, but in resting in the presence of God here
among us. God who loves us and call us to give the gift of love to
one another, which is a gift no money can buy.
Since our last newsletter, we remember in our prayers all those who
have died: Morris Crittenden buried on October 11th; Archena Sherrer
on November 9th; Stephen Culley on November 17th;
and Arlene Royea on November 21st. “Rest eternal grant unto them O
Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them.”
Please do join us on Sunday mornings at 10:30 am for worship and
fellowship afterwards at coffee hour. We are always pleased to
welcome new people to church. And do join us in the upcoming
celebrations of Advent and Christmas.
Upcoming Events in December 2008
• Chantons Noël/ Christmas Carols for the Whole Family on Sunday,
December 14th at 3 pm at
Grace Church Parish Hall. Carols in French and English with lots of
cookies, juice, fun and friends; sponsored by the churches of
Sutton.
• Foyer Sutton Ecumenical Christmas Service on Thursday, December
18th at 2 pm.
• Christmas Eve Service on Wednesday, December 24th, at 7:30 pm.
• Christmas Day Service on Thursday, December 25th, at 10:30 am.
2009
• Our Annual Vestry Meeting of Grace Church on Sunday, February 22nd
following the 10:30 am service.
• Annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on February 24th, beginning
at 5 pm.
• Ash Wednesday Service (the beginning of Lent) on February 25th, at
7:30 pm.
On behalf of the churchwardens, Doreen Page and Terry O’Regan, we
wish you and your family a wonderful Advent and Christmas season.
The Rev. Tim Smart
Grace Anglican Church, 52 Principale sud, Sutton, Quebec. JOE-2K0.
450-538-8108
The Rev. Canon Tim Smart tsmart@montreal.anglican.ca