A Message from Reverend Philip Cable.

Greetings of Peace and Healing to you and your loved ones from a student and servant of the one who is known as 'The Prince of Peace'.

I wish to thank all those who offered such a wonderful warm welcome on my first Sunday with you (Sept. 16th); and to let others of you know how much I look forward to the opportunity to meet and worship with you. I sense such a vital and exciting spiritual energy as I return to journey with you in ministry at Emmanuel-Howard Park United Church.

The ten or so years of my life since serving here for a short time during The Rev. Allen Hallett1s illness have been very full and rich with lessons in faithful living and the oft Œlong and winding road1 of the faith journey. While serving First United Church in the Downtown East Side of Vancouver, B.C. I have watched and listened from that distance as your faith community's journey and embracing of a similar ministry of Radical Hospitality has unfolded and developed. It is with great joy and anticipation that I join with you to see what God is offering us at this time.

As I began this day I found myself turning to my friend Ray McGinnis's book 'Writing the Sacred' A Psalm-Inspired Path to appreciating and writing SACRED POETRY. In response to the chapter on 'Psalms of Thanksgiving and Praise' I found myself putting pen to paper and wish to close this letter by offering my Psalm of Praise and thanksgiving for this day.

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