2nd Anniversary: Soccerinos

It's been two years since the soccerinos started playing soccer on saturdays. I'm amazed at this great group of friends that I have. Week in, week out, regardless of the weather - rain, sleet, snow, or sun, we get together to enjoy friendship and sport. Frankly, they are my closest community. I wish my church community was like my soccer community: gracious, generous, genuine.

The soccerinos were started by two Chilean women, Ceci and Mariana. They wanted to make a women's futbol team for two reasons: 1- because they never had the opportunity to play in Chile; and 2- because they wanted to build a Latin American community in Vancouver.

Well, two years later, the group is still together, and bigger than ever. The philosophy of the team has evolved somewhat too. The team's no longer just for women: men are invited to play, and also, non-Latin Americans are welcome also. So we are a mixed group: men, women, Chileans, Chinese, Colombians, Mexicans, Canadians, Argentines, Bolivians, and even a token Paraguayan. :D

Last night we had our 2 year anniversary party. Here are some pics:

Bright Wednesday

Last Sunday was Easter, for Christians in the Orthodox tradition. That means that this week, the week after Holy Sunday, is the only week all year where they don't fast on Wednesdays and Fridays.* My good Orthodox friend Mark, invited me to his place for a "Bright Wednesday" feast celebration. A food feast, in lieu of the fast.

It's been a pleasure getting to know him, and learning about his journey from the charismatic, to the Mennonite, to the Orthodox Church. I see so many similarities between his spiritual journey and mine, although my journey entailed a different trajectory: Mennonite - Anglican.

The difference between his journey and mine is primarily that I've gone to seminary, but our dissatisfaction with our church experience is very similar, and stems from the same theological and philosophical questions. I have not become Orthodox, and that is another difference, but I think the only thing that prevents me from doing so is my considerations on Anglican ordination, and family. More on that, perhaps another time...

Anyways, the celebration was at his place. He'd invited a few friends, each of whom brought either a bottle of wine or a snack. We spent the evening getting to know each other, sharing our views on various issues. Here are some thought-provoking quotes from Mark, on salvation.

Salvation not so much an event/decision as a Process: "We have been saved, we are being saved, and we should hope that one day we will be saved."

Salvation as Divinization: "...we understand salvation as nothing other than becoming Jesus. Theosis. Complete, perfect, utter union with God." (My addition: this is in part based on 2 Peter 1:4).

Evangelism as seeing my brother as my salvation: "Your neighbour will only begin to see Christ in you, if you can first sincerely see Christ in Him. When He is your salvation (i.e. the one you must love right now. . .), then you are being saved. You are passing, "from glory to glory," as St Peter put it. You no longer live, but "Christ in you" lives, as St Paul put it. You will then have fulfilled Christ's new commandment to us: to love one another as He has loved us (i.e. He has become what we are-- Sin itself-- so that we might live! You must likewise become the sin and brokenness of your brother if you would live. Wear it as your own and repent of it as if it is yours, for your brother is your life. This is your salvation!)."

The wine, the food, and the company was great. One of the girls, Esther I believe her name was, made an amazing humous dip, that was super yummy with some crackers that someone else brought.

* According to Mark, North America is the only place where the post-Easter break from fasting lasts a week. Everywhere else the break is 40 or 50 days. The reason it only lasts one week here is for cultural reasons. We live in a culture of narcissism, and in order to keep us mindful of this, and in order not to fall into the temptation of self-indulgence, people are asked to return to the regular fasting rhythm sooner than elsewhere.

Alicia To Seattle

I drove Alicia to the airport in Seattle today.

Yesterday at graduation was the first time I'd seen her since almost a year ago when she moved back to the US. We've stayed in touch now and again, but seeing her and spending the day with her today was good.

I picked her up for breakfast around 10am. We went to a little place on Cordova and Cambie: very good roast beef sandwiches! Then around noon we drove down to Seattle, stopping at Pike's Market downtown for a quick bite to eat. Incidentally, I believe the last time I was at Pike's Place was exactly 3 years ago, with Alicia.

Upon arriving at the airport we found out that her flight was delayed by an hour, so we sat down in one of the airport lounges and talked some more.

For the first time in a very long time our conversation was natural, without all the post-relational-stress-disorder (did I just make up that term?) that kept us both from being ourselves for so long. I take this as God's grace: healing two people enough so as to be able to continue a friendship, after much pain and anguish.

Here's a pic of us last night at graduation:

Mastering The Divine

Today was my graduation from Regent College. I graduated with a Master in Divinity (MDiv).

What a horrible name for a degree: Master of Divinity. If there's anything I've learned over the past four years it's that I'm not a Master of the Divine. I've learned that contrary to my desires and wishes, I'm unable to Master the Divine. I'm unable to master his ways, I'm unable to master his thoughts. God cannot be mastered. Otherwise he wouldn't be God!

Four highlights from this evening:
1- Family => I'm grateful for my family who attended the graduation. It's a shame that they only were really introduced to Regent on my day of graduation.
2- Friends => I've said it before, and I say it again, I'm blessed to have amazing friends.
3- Student Speaker => In my view, Matt's speech was the highlight of the evening: "May the world know us by our limping." Amen and amen.
4- Charge to the Graduates => Ian P gave a very good charge, based on Psalm 23: "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow you..."

Here are a few pics of the special evening:

Graduating:

Cub and Family (from left to right: Tanis, Karin, Ted, Cub, dad, mom):

Cub, dad, mom:

Tanis and Cub:

Ted, Karin, Cub:

Cub and Mark:

Paul, Cub, and Eric:

Cub and Soccerinos (Clau, Cub, Tatiana, Ruben, Sanjit, Vero, Jen, Rachelle). Ceci is not in this pic, but she's in the "All" pic below:

Alicia, In Young, and Cub:

Connie and Cub:

Cub and Terri:

Cub and Dave:

Rob and Cub:

Cub and Clau:

Cub and Jen:

All together, family and friends (Ted, Karin, Ruben, Tanis, dad, mom, Sanjit, Cub, Tatiana, Ceci, Paul, Vero, Clau, Mark, Eric, Rachelle, Terri):

Wine and Cheese "Brindis":

Rudy also attended the convocation, but was unable to join for the celebrations afterwards, therefore, no pics of him in the above collage. Thanks to all who made this day (and the last 4 years!) special. I thank God for each of you.

I'm Happy To Say ...

... that my sermon this morning went well. Thank you Lord! Well, that's at least according to my point of view. I suppose it would be better to let the hearers judge.

But I preached with a blessed sense of peace, the kind of peace that comes beyond understanding (Phil 4). More importantly, I believe I remained faithful to the text. So even if my delivery was horrible (which I don't think it was), I did not mislead people.

I think what keeps me from saying an unequivocal "yes" to preaching the Word week-in week-out is just this: faithfulness. Having heard what's being said "in the name of God" in churches, I don't want to add greater confusion to what many already perceive to be a confusing message coming out of the church.

The church is so fragmented nowadays, that our message is not coming through clearly. Everyone preaches according to their own "tradition". Rather than having one Pope as the Roman Catholics do, we in the Protestant tradition have made everyone into a pope. Pick and choose your "options", based on the "tradition" that seems most in line with your personality. Whoever had the idea of linking the life of the church with personality is off, way off. The point of church is to get us beyond personality, right into the presence of God.

Having said that, the idea of a Pope is not exactly Christian, either. I like the way the early church termed the bishop of Rome as "the first among equals". Regrettably, sin found it's way in, or rather, sin found its way out of the human heart, and thus the schism between East and West. It seems to me that the Orthodox Church has got it right, in naming a number of geographical bishops to oversee the direction of the church, and to boot, they work out of consensus, in line with the book of Acts where the early church moved forward on something only when it "seemed right to the Holy Spirit and to us" (Acts 15).

The Anglican Church has a similar setup, except, we lack the testicular fortitude to call a spade a spade, to call sin sin. We have drunk too much of the fountain of Enlightenment, and consequently, we believe that we (the human race) are getting smarter and smarter, and it's only a matter of time until sin is eradicated. And so for us Anglicans we bless everything in sight, because after all, "it's all good." Of course, this is exactly opposite to the message of the gospel. The incarnation was part of the plan of the Father's precisely because it's not all good.

Where was I going with this rant? Oh right, I remember: all this, to say that the more I read and learn about the Orthodox Church, the more I'm compelled to say that it's the "one true church." At least structurally, they are organized in a way that doesn't make anyone into the Pope (thus, they can truly say "and the Holy Spirit led us"), and they are able to deal with sin in the church in a way that other ecclesial structures are either unable or unwilling to deal with.

Anyways, this whole post was supposed to be about me and my sermon. Maybe my excursion into matters of ecclesiology shows that I'm not as much of a narcissist as I thought I was. Ha!

Thank you Lord for your presence in the church. Thank you for leading and guiding us. May you, Lord Jesus, feed our souls, our bodies, our whole beings.

Done

I finished writing the sermon. What a thrilling experience.

Now I have a few days to meditate on it and practise it.

Sermon Outline

Here's my sermon outline for this Sunday. The text is Philippians 4:1-9

Sermon Title: Standing Firm
Thesis: Paul's main idea throughout the book is to exhort and encourage the Philippians to stand firm in the gospel. In this section of the text Saint Paul lays out some final thoughts, exhortations, before closing the letter.

Stand firm in:
* Unity => unity in the Lord; "agree" in the Lord
* Joy => joy in the Lord; joy comes through constant prayer in thanksgiving
* Holiness => in thought and action

Catching Up With Friends

Rudy, Joanne, and I went out to Aldergrove, to visit with AJ, Carol, and Nicholas today.

They'd just recently returned from a trip to the Middle East, Dubai and Oman, and so we got to hear all their amazing stories of "life in the Middle East." What an amazing adventure they had. Hearing all their stories made me want to go to the Middle East and experience the world there. There's so much that intrigues me about it (although not so much the places they visited): the food, the politics, the faith, and of course, the wonderful people. I hope that one day I have the privilege to visit that part of the world. I think I'd start in Egypt and work my way north: Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. At the end I'd take in Israel.

But more important than the stories we heard, was fellowship. Aside from Joanne, whom I don't know very well, the others are people very dear to my heart, so it was a pleasure to spend the afternoon and evening together. The theme of our dinner was "Greek", so it was nice eating some greek food, updating one another on the goings on in our lives. Carol's dessert was - as usual - splendidly yummy.

I wish we weren't all in such different life-phases. I'd like to spend more time with these great friends.

Miracles DO Happen

The weather forecasters of Vancouver predicted hail for tonight, and amazingly, they were right!

(The miracle here is not only the hail - that's obvious - like the miracle of sunshine, but I'm referring to the fact that they got the weather prognosis right. I think it's a first this year!)

Taxes

Got my taxes done today. I paid $171 to get them done. I get a return of $90.

What's wrong with that picture?

Updated Link

I finally updated the Cub's Pictures link. I've been meaning to do this for ages. It's just a simple photo gallery, but that'll help keep it manageable. Plus, as part of my ISP package, it's free.

I'll try to put pics on there regularly, although my limit's just a measely 100Mbs.

False Creek, Charleston Park

Spring's definitely back. Today Clau and I walked from under the Cambie St. bridge to Granville Island. Once there I chowed down a hot dog while she drank a hot cocoa, and afterwards we made our way back. Vancouver's such a gorgeous city in the spring. Here are some of the beautiful sights we took in.

Next Preaching Date

I've been invited to preach at my church again, on April 27th, and I gladly accepted.

I'm going to preach on a passage from Philippians, likely chapter 4.

Clau's Birthday: Happy 35th!

Today was my best friend Clau's birthday. Our attempted relationship may have failed miserably, but by God's grace, our friendship remains in tact and in some respects stronger than ever, and today I had the opportunity to celebrate Clau with her/our closest friends: the soccerinos.

We met at 5:30pm at my place, and drove to Richmond, to play laser tag. From left to right: Laura, Cecilia, Sanjit, Tatiana, Benja, Juanjo, Jen, Ruben, Clau, Mercia, Juan, Matt, and Cub:















Benja, Clau, and Juan:















At around 8pm we made our way to Steveston, to eat dinner. The restaurant was in a very good location, with a good menu, but overpriced. Nevertheless, we had a fantastic time. At the dinner table, from left to right: Sanjit, Cub, Jen, Juan, Terri (missing), Berto, Clau, Cecilia, Vero, Benja, Mercia and Matt:















Good food, atmosphere:






























Sanjit and Cub:















Ceci, Vero, Benja:















My querida gitanita Clau:

Soccer, Birthday Cakes, and Friendships

I'm so blessed to have such great friends.

Today I played soccer from 1-4, then went home for a hot bath (my back hurt like hell), and then in the evening I went to Vero's for her birthday party.

Highlights:
* soccer .. I can't get enough of the beautiful game
* Vero's empanadas .. the South American equivalent to (but way better than) Indian somosas
* Clau pushing Vero's face into the cake .. what was she thinking, .. better yet, was she thinking at all?
* Great conversations with Benja, Natalia, Vero, Marty, and a German visitor Tanya

I think it's interesting that 25+ years after moving away from South America, the people I feel closest to here are South Americans. The exception to this are James, Rudy, AJ & Carol, Rachelle, and Scott, but they each have their own lives with their own priorities which makes getting together with them (and thus fellowship) a challenge.

Other friendships that I need to nurture more, or perhaps strenghten ties with, are Paul, Eric, and my newfound "Orthodox" friend Mark.

One friendship I've completely ruined and need to re-establish is with Nathan. At one point we were connected at the hip, but I've totally neglected his friendship and need to confess and re-establish.

Meeting With The Pastor

I met with my pastor today to discuss the possibility of full-time ministry work. Whereas last time we met (about 6 months ago), we discussed exclusively the prospects of doing hospitality/acts of mercy work in the east end of Vancouver, this time we didn't even consider it as an option.

This time, we considered the following three options:
1- ordination in the Anglican Church of Canada, working in northern BC.
2- ministry work in South America under the umbrella of the Southern Cone.
3- ministry work in Egypt (!) under the umbrella of the Anglican Church in Egypt.

I feel like I'm on a roller coaster.

An Interesting Development

About 6 weeks ago I emailed one of my professors at Regent and asked him to keep me in the loop on potential openings for orthodox priests/pastors in the Anglican Church. He emailed me back with the names/email addresses of two bishops, both of them in BC, who may have openings in their respective dioceses.

I contacted one of them last week, the bishop of the Diocese of Caledonia, and we had an interesting phone conversation last week. As a result, I'm considering on whether to pursue ordination.

Funny, 5 years ago I'd have laughed at the proposition of ordination. Three years ago I'd have rejected the proposition as "not for me". One year ago I'd have considered it an option, albeit a distant option. Now I'm considering it seriously.

Grouse Mountain

Today I went snowshoeing at Grouse Mountain, with Ted and family, as well as my parents' missionary friends visiting from Mexico. It was an awesome day up on the mountain, it snowed all day long, and by the end of the day close to 30cm's of fresh new snow had accummulated. Here are are some of the pics:

Leaving Seminary Workshop

Today I attended a workshop on leaving seminary. I actually found it helpful, but am not excited about what I learned: transitioning from (leaving) seminary can sometimes take up to 2 years.

My faith and my patience are being tested. From a worldly perspective, I'm of no use to society right now: I'm not working, I'm not studying, I'm not being "productive." I'm not doing anything, really, except waiting upon God. I yearn to see the face of God. Only in doing so will I be able to take the next steps in obedience.

Consequences

On Good Friday and Holy Saturday I went to an anglo-catholic church here in Vancouver. After the Easter Saturday Vigil, the Rector invited everyone into his home for sherry (only in an Anglican Church would you be served sherry at the Rector's place .. hehe).

And while James and I were enjoying the sweet drink, the Rector came up to us and talked to us about the liturgy, and specifically, the physical aspects of the liturgy: crossing ourselves, genuflexing, venerating the cross, etc...

He said something very interesting that made me think: "Every physical action we make has a spiritual consequence." It's a very simple statement, but I think it has profound implications, and of course, it's true. Everything we do has a spiritual consequence.

Therefore, physical acts we perform during the liturgy have the spiritual consequence of acknowledging (amongst other things) our brokenness, our need for God, and declaring loyalty/allegiance to the Triune God revealed in the Bible.

Essentially, his statement provides the foundation for the sacraments: an acknowledgment of the spiritual and physical world working in tandem, rather than one submitting to the other.

The question then becomes, is the spiritual consequence "automatic", or does it depend on whether we perform the physical act in faith? I believe that faith is required.

Angelus Autem Domini

The Angel of the Lord came down from heaven,
and rolled away the stone,
and sat upon it;
and said to the women,
"Do not be afraid;
you seek him who was crucified:
he is risen,
come and see the place where the Lord's body was.

"Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!"

-----

Motet composed by Felice Anerio

O Gladsome Light, O Grace

O gladsome light,
O grace of God the Father's face,
the eternal splendour wearing;
celestial, holy, blest, our Saviour Jesus Christ,
joyful in your appearing.

As day fades into night,
we see the evening light,
our hymn of praise outpouring,
Father of might unknown,
Christ, his incarnate Son,
and Holy Spirit, adoring.

To you of right belongs all praise of holy songs,
O Son of God, lifegiver;
you, therefore, O Most High,
the world will glorify,
and shall exalt for ever.

The Reproaches (Improperia)

My people, my people what have I done to you,
how have I offended you?
Answer me!

I led you out of Egypt from slavery to freedom,
but you have led your Saviour,
and nailed Him to a cross.

Hagios OTheos, Hagios ichyros,
Hagios athanatos eleison himas.
Holy is God, Holy and Strong,
Holy Immortal One , have mercy on us.

For forty years in safety,
I led you through the desert,
I fed you with my manna,
I gave you your own land,
but you have led your Saviour,
and nailed Him to a Cross.

Hagios O Theos, Hagios ichyros,
Hagios athanatos eleison himas.
Holy is God, Holy and Strong,
Holy Immortal One , have mercy on us.

O what more would you ask from me?
I planted you, my vineyard,
but sour grapes you gave me,
and vinegar to drink,
and you have pierced your Saviour and pierced Him with a spear.

Hagios OTheos, Hagios ichyros,
Hagios athanatos eleison himas.
Holy is God, Holy and Strong,
Holy Immortal One , have mercy on us.

For you scourged your captors,
their first born sons were taken,
but you have taken scourges and brought them down on Me.

My people, my people what have I done to you,
how have I offended you?
Answer me!

From slavery to freedom I led you,
drowned your captors.
But I am taken captive and handed to your priests.

My people, my people what have I done to you,
how have I offended you?
Answer me!

Your path lay through the waters,
I opened them before you,
my side you have laid open and bared it with a spear.

My people, my people what have I done to you,
how have I offended you?
Answer me!

I led you, held securely,
My fire and cloud before you,
but you have led your Saviour,
hands bound to Pilate's court.

My people, my people what have I done to you,
how have I offended you?
Answer me!

I bore you up with manna,
you bore me down and scourged me.
I gave you saving water,
but you gave me soured wine.

My people, my people what have I done to you,
how have I offended you?
Answer me!

The kings who reigned in Canaan,
I struck way before you.
But you have struck my crowned head,
and struck it with a reed.

My people, my people what have I done to you,
how have I offended you?
Answer me!

I gave you a royal scepter but you gave me a thorn crown.
I raised you up in power,
but you raised me on the Cross.

Hagios OTheos, Hagios ichyros,
Hagios athanatos eleison himas.
Holy is God, Holy and Strong,
Holy Immortal One , have mercy on us.

Ubi Caritas

Where charity and love are, God is there.
Christ's love has gathered us into one.
Let us rejoice and be pleased in Him.
Let us fear, and let us love the living God.
And may we love each other with a sincere heart.

Where charity and love are, God is there.
As we are gathered into one body,
Beware, lest we be divided in mind.
Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease,
And may Christ our God be in our midst.

Where charity and love are, God is there.
And may we with the saints also,
See Thy face in glory, O Christ our God:
The joy that is immense and good,
Unto the ages through infinite ages.

Amen.

-----

Ubi Cartitas is taken from the antiphons sung during the ceremony of the Washing of the Feet at the Mass of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday. As is the entire Mass of the Last Supper, this hymn is intimately connected with the Eucharist, and is thus often used during the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Recent tradition has the first line as "Ubi caritas et amor" (where charity and love are), but certain very early manuscripts show "Ubi caritas est vera" (where charity is true). The current Roman Missal favors this later version, while the 1962 Roman Missal and classical music favors the former.

In Young, Ted & Family

Shortly before noon today I picked up In Young. He's in town from Hobema (Alberta) for the next 5 days. He'll be staying with me.

In the afternoon I drove to Abbotsford to help Ted paint his house. I really enjoy painting, as it allows me to pray and contemplate while doing work. This is probably what Saint Paul meant when he said "pray without ceasing" (I Thes 5:17), and I find that the more I do it, the more joy I get. Afterwards, Ted made a very delicions asado (grilled steak) for dinner. Very yummy, especially in light of a hard afternoon's work.

Shopping

Today I went shopping at an outlet mall in the Seattle area with Clau, and much to my joyful surprise, I finally found some nice dress clothes that fit properly - no alterations necessary - at a reasonable cost.

I got myself 3 dress shirts, white, blue, and striped light blue at UCB.

I also got myself 2 dress pants, gray striped, and brown, at BR.