Time Capsule, dedication on the music stand and of the Memory post

Rob Ireland explains  what will be in the time capsule.
The post that was built to help people up and down the stairs provides a superbe space to place a time capsule....

Together We are Canada

Drama moment ; July 1st :  Together We Are Canada
Poem by Leanne Guenther 













My name is British Columbia
The jewel of the West Coast.
Forestry and fishing are
The things that I do most.

Hi, I am Alberta
A wild west kind of place
With cows and oil and mountains
And lots of open space.

I am Manitoba
And I’m Saskatchewan
We’re the golden prairies
Where fields of wheat grow in the sun

Hi, I am Ontario
The home of government
To me each year the leaders
Of our democracy are sent.

Bonjour, I am Quebec
Here French is my language too
When I want to ask “how are you?”
I say, “comment allez vous?”

Newfoundland, New Brunswick
And Nova Scotia -- those are we,
We are Atlantic Provinces
The three musketeers of the sea.

I’m Prince Edward Island
And I know I may be small
But without me all the rest of you
Would have no potatoes at all.

The Yukon, Nunavut and North West
Territories are up north.
Through ice and cold and polar bears
Few brave souls venture forth.

Together we are Canada
One nation strong and free
With sharing, friends and happiness
Forever we will be!  

---

Sermon By Harley Bye   : Confederation of LOVE!
Networking made Confederation
Canada day 2012 , 145th anniversary
Text Psalm 72 :3-14
Psalm 72:8
King James Version (KJV)
8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

Words : Confederation - defines the union of colonies into one federal state, at the same time, keeping certain powers locally. Networking.


In 1864, the independant British colonies of North America were in great danger. The American Civil War had just ended and the victorious North had built a powerful Victorian Army,chafing at the bit for more battles to fight. There was a movement in Washington to have the army march North and force those colonies remianing with Britain,to be part of the U.S.A.. The policy became known as "Manifest Destiny".


"These colonies in question would be easy picking", separated asthey wereby miles and miles. Fom Newfoundland in the East, to British Colombia in the West Yhey would fall faster than dominoes in a playpen!"


It was the political genius of John A. MacDonald that forged at least four of these colonies into one state ( Ontario, Québec, N.B., N.S.) United, they would put up a better defense.


MacDonald's biggest headach was to get agreement of even few, and the worst migrain was liberal leader George Brown of Ontario (Upper Canada).


George Brown was a bachelor, lonely,  cranky, humorless, dour and jealous. He knew full-wellm that if the Confederation deal went through, John A MacDonald would go down in history as Canada's first Prime Minister. George Brown wanted that spot. He fought MacDonald on every point- untill 1864 when something mysterious happened : He changed his mind and became pleasant and cooperative. He jumped on board  the Confederation ship helped to out-vote the remaining "nay sayers", and on July 1st 1867, Canada was born. (Our official name was the "Dominion of Canada" Ps 72 Only four province at first, others came later.(Today, 11 provinces adn 2 territories) But it is July 1st 1867 that we celebrate.


What happened in 1864 that caused a quantum leap in George Brown? A leap to a higher orbit, with no explanation? What broke the log jam? What could possibly take a dour, jealous leader of opposition and make him a teary man?


It was not a religious conversion. He was born Presbyterian, and died Presbyterian. The explanation that best fits is that he fell in love with a women: During a trop to England the story goes. May be  apocryphal? It is on record that John A MacDonald found his second wife on the same trip to London in 1864. (His first wife had died 9 years before) It was certainly a new happiness that made them work to the coalition. A program on CBC radio 2 weeks ago claimed that their new wives and their loving influence made Confederation happen! 
Not in text books but credible indeed.
On the stage of life, it is behind the curtain, off-stage , out-of sight, where the real networking happens which leads to successful endavours.... building a church, or a nation, or one's family, even a solid friendship.


What we don't read in the newspaper or watch on TV is that very often, the real heroes are usually unknown/unknowable. Real heroes are often lost in the network.


Today July 1st 2012, we celebrate Confederation of British Noth America.
We are also honouring our Rockburn church's past with the content of the memory post. Documents going back 100 years, and together with the music stand, we state our belief in the future.


Certainly the church. Today is far different than 100 years back.... No tuning fork, no long prayers or 1hourand a half sermon.....
One of the iron laws in "God's unchanging hand" is the iron law of change. We can hardly imagine the church 50 years from now, butit will be different than we know.


Somethings will be the same= people sharing, networking, communicatations and joining ain a coalition of friends for the greater good of all.


God-creative energy
Jesus of Nazareth- historical prophet who really lived
Salvation by God's love- universal Brotherhood of all persons
Continuous growth of mind and soul