Weaving threads together to tell stories, Vange Theissen opened from Margaret Wheatley’s book Leadership and the New Times, which delivers the message that out of chaos comes creativity and order, an immutable process one must learn to trust. Wheatley travels the world teaching new ways to organize, and as she does so, she listens to stories. She notes it is difficult to trust that wisdom can come from chaos. Confronted with so much uncertainty, how can we be hopeful about the future? We are anxious, defensive, angry and fearful. Vange took us through the lectionary texts in support of this thesis. Ps 133 talks about living together in unity under God’s blessing. Vange gave us a vivid image of being drenched in oil as a sign of God’s favour. The closest many of us come is a hot shower when we are cold. This is a taste of God’s blessing for us. John 20:19-31 points out how afraid and doubtful people were after the death of Jesus, not just Thomas. 1Jn1:1-4 reminds us that you can have assurance in this time of uncertainty. This assurance allows believers to live as one in heart and soul, as in intentional community. Vange drew on examples from her African odyssey to emphasize how well other cultures deal with uncertainty despite conditions most of us would describe as hopeless or worse. Vange noted how important it was for families to celebrate together accomplishments, milestones, trials and blessings. We are left with questions: through the early church’s unity of purpose, they were given great power to share the gospel. Though we are no different, do we act the same? How are signs of grace present in our congregation? When we stop to look and think, sure we will see God in so many places, situations and faces, if we can only look.. [AP]

Passage: Acts 4:32-35
Communion: No
Ecumenical or Event: 2nd Sunday of Easter
Potluck Lunch: No
Congregational Meeting: No

Speaker: Vange Thiessen
Worship Leader: Janice Kreider
Song Leader: Andre Pekovich
Pianist: Ruth Enns
Usher: Erika Hannan
Zoom Coordinator:
Children's Feature Leader:

Bring Flowers: HENRY & HILDA HILDEBRAND
Coffee Helper:
Sound Helper:

Child Care Volunteer: