Probably for a long time, but certainly in the past six or so years, I've been increasingly aware that my personal theology is strongly attached to the idea of connections. Maybe it was when I first heard the adage concerning the butterfly that flaps its wings half way around the world having an effect on something in our own area, that I began to form this notion. Some people would name this a theology of relationships - and it's not a bad adjective to describe the idea, but I still like 'connections'. This is not just a theology of person connected with person, but a theology that includes connections with everything in the universe. In quantum physics, the search for these connections, and the theory that ties them all together is sometimes called the Grand Unified Theory. It's fascinating, even if only barely understandable to me.
I write about connections today not because of some sudden Grand awareness of a cosmic connection of the Grand Unified Theory variety, but because I had a day of simple connections that was both pleasing and affirming of that theology of connections for me.
What were these connections that have left me feeling a certain sense of well being?
Because of all my recent travel it has been three weeks since I was last able to attend a weekly Northern United Place coffee break. Originally I wasn't supposed to be there this week again, but a change in plans, which will be detailed below, meant that I could go. It's a simple thing, but this small community gathering which started a couple of years ago, has become an important ministry as well as a place of connection not only between residents, but a place of connection between Yellowknife United Church, and some of the people who call Northern United Place their home.
The other connections I made today were with a small group of children who signed up to participate in an Easter Drama Day Camp. This is the second last day of a two week March break for school children in Yellowknife. The first week off was taken up for some by the Arctic Winter Games which this year took place in Grande Prairie, Alberta. It has been our practice at Yellowknife United Church over the past few years to offer a kind of Vacation Bible School day near the end of the winter break, often with a focus on Easter. This year it was advertised as an Easter Drama Day Camp, but because some of the participants were involved in a community dramatic production, we decided this year to make it a half-day camp. That's why I was able to attend the Coffee Break in the morning.
So, a small group of us - three adults and five children - spent the afternoon in worship, singing, playing and learning some things about Easter as we heard and acted out the story in a number of different ways.
It was fun, gentle, and respectful.
The way I see it, God is always to be found in connections. And so today, I at least, found God
Yellowknife
March 18, 2010
Talking about connections at the
Yellowknife United Church
50th Anniversary Worship Service
