Dear Community of Emmanuel Howard Park United Church,

I hope and pray that each one of you have had a chance for some holiday (holy days!) and restoration during our far too brief Canadian summer. I hold each of you in my prayers as we prepare to return to fall schedules of life and business as usual. Before we launch (or feel catapulted) into what can feel frantic and hectic I wish to offer these reflections to help focus our life and faith journey together for the fall of 2008 and beyond.

I keep on my balcony a small plaque which reads; ‘Life is a journey, not a destination’. May we at EHP remain more flexible and faithful to journeying together with integrity and grace than getting too fixated on our own private goals or visions of the perfect arrival in the Realm of God. The golden key to accomplishing this openness and flexibility is the conversation in which we participate as we vulnerably travel together on this ‘road of faith’.
I have long been committed to doing my best to nurture and participate in a Holy Conversation. This is the key goal of my ministry for and with this congregation and the world around us.

For me a Holy Conversation:
• remains open, listening for the others point of view more than fixating on my own, or the loudest most persistent voice.
• respects deep silence and prayer; that we might listen more deeply within for God’s ‘still small voice’ and abiding, compassionate wisdom.
• encourages and nurtures everyone to courageously share the stirrings of their hearts, minds and souls.
• always has time to listen deeply to Story (the biblical story and each individuals or communities unique and formative stories).

You may have other important concepts you feel are required for Holy Conversation. I look forward to hearing those points as we build together our ongoing conversation.

We know that we will have some potentially challenging conversations this fall:
• around what to do with our deteriorating building. She is 80 years old this fall and in need of some important, essential and costly repairs if we wish to continue to call this our worship home.
• around stewardship issues and raising enough funds to support our pastoral care, education and outreach ministries.
• around how ‘to live with respect in God’s good Creation.’ (edited from the United Church Creed, page 918 Voices United).
just to name a few.

I know we all have busy lives. Know that this is your faith home ‘whether this is the first time you’ve been here or whether you’ve been coming here for a long time’ (Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo former minister of EHP) If you’ve been busy and kept away for a while know we will do our best to welcome you back into the ongoing Holy Conversations as they are revealed in our faith journey together.

Yours in the Service of Christ’s Holy Conversation,

The Rev. Philip Cable.

Creator of All, I am so thankful you make us in your own image
strong and capable
yet also vulnerable to the laws of your love!
You've touched my life so deeply with your care.
And the lack of your touch through my fellow beings has at times
brought such pain.
Yet even the pain is gift,
pointing to the breaks from your plan,
and calling for loving attention, care and openness
to co-create healing paths with you and your vast creation.
Streams of Beauty and Healing
pulse through my life and the network of our relationships
with each other and the fullness of your abundant Creation.
Open our ears, eyes, hearts and souls
to see and celebrate this abundant flow of your loving energy
Remain patient with our tendency to get distracted
from your welcome and your precious offers
of all and everything we need.
Aid us as we strive for true justice and lasting peace.
Inspire us to seek this not just for ourselves
but for all within the abiding embrace
of your vast and awesome Creation.
All thanks and praise and glory
unto you our God
who never leaves us alone!

Wishing the deep and lasting Peace of Christ to you;
your new minister in Christ's service;
The Rev. Philip Cable