New Vision Notes Wednesday November 22 2017

I had an interesting chat with legendary music producer and Hamilton native Daniel Lanois Saturday afternoon. I told Dan of our aspiration to have our sanctuary double as a live music venue. We see that aspiration as a part of our response to the plain fact that people don’t make use of the space in a religious way as they once did. We want the space to be an accessible social space for the renewing downtown. A music hall seems like a good beginning shot at this. But at the same time, it is sacred space.

Daniel Lanois responded by saying the space is a “Spirit House” and that congregations in these spaces come and go like monsoons. There can be people in them like great torrents. And then, nothing, for a time. For example the crowd he was going to play to that night was a congregation. But the congregations that once filled this space for services are not gone forever. He looked at me and said, “God is patient.”

This Sunday is the last Sunday of the year for Christians following the church seasons calendar. It’s reign of Christ Sunday. The band will be sitting in. Our Palestine Peace Box will have arrived, and Palestinian olive oil and other products will be on sale thanks to Trish, Dan and Diane. These are great Christmas gifts, not to mention staples in some of our kitchens.

New Vision is hosting the JR Digs Acoustic Christmas Concert this year as a charity contribution to Hamilton. It takes place on Saturday, December 23. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, November 23. I am told that they sell out very quickly, so if you want to go go to JR Dig’s website where you’ll find a button that takes you to the ticket purchasing site.

Blessings this Sunday; I am away on a study leave. But see you in two weeks — at the beginning of the new year – the First Sunday of Advent, December 3rd.

Rev. Ian