Life-changing grace abounds for you and me

Like all well-known stories, the one in which Jesus calls Simon, Andrew, James and John as His first disciples is easy to take for granted as we look at the time and place as being so far removed from us.

They were fishermen – an unpretentious but respectable job –  in Galilee and they’d had a rather unfruitful night when Jesus approached. Jesus changed everything as they responded to Him. Suddenly they had an overwhelming abundance of fish. (You can read more in Luke 5.)

God knows what He’s doing, although we might not understand, something that causes us to say “Why me?”

Why you and me? Because He has joy  and goodness to share.

In 2016, St. Andrew’s welcomed a family who fled Syria. We helped them get secure housing, their kids settled in school and on the road to learning English and finding employment.

The family has had a journey that included frustrations, like all of us, and yet five years later, they doing well. Theirs is a story of resilience, hope and hard work.

As we on the sponsorship committee worked with them, we received more than we gave. Helping them was life-changing and inspiring.

We worked with Presbyterian World Service and Development (PWS&D), whose staff helped us navigate the federal sponsorship program and link us with a family looking for a new life. PWS&D celebrates 75 years and its work includes partnerships with the Canada Food Grains Bank.

God doesn’t expect us to work alone. There are others with different gifts and resources who are called to work alongside us.  Knowing we are making a difference in people’s lives and in our community, province, country and world is quite a gift.

Every “yes” to God has an impact.

We respond.

Join us online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRJhU_XNswE&t=34s or starting Feb. 13, in-person worship resumes. We encourage everyone to be double-vaxxed and to continue following health protocols such as masks and social distancing.