Last Day of Summer – September 21, 2016

Yesterday was our first presbytery plenary meeting after the Summer hiatus. What an energetic, encouraging and enthusiastic group we are. This was my second plenary meeting as the Chair and I was nervous at first, however we ended up having a smooth meeting and concluded things thirty minutes earlier than anticipated. On my drive home, on County Road 8, I passed by Lake Eloida, and I wished my Nikon SLR camera was with me. There was a small island near the bay that barely had enough surface space to support six or seven mallards, but they were all resting on … Read more

Money is for Recycling – September 19, 2016

Yesterday, my sermon was titled, “Money is to be used – Not worshiped…” and in there I mentioned, “Money is to be used, to be recycled, and to be shared. Now do not go home and put your money in the recycle bin”. Well this morning, there was an American penny on my desk (I do not know from where), which stuck to my arm and fell right in my recycling bin below my desk… I smiled and found it pretty funny and intriguing… It was one of those things that makes you go, “huh?!” So, I wanted to share … Read more

Butter Croissant – September 16, 2016

Recently there have been many conversations going on about God’s existence.

So, I took a few moments to reflect and this is my reflection.

If individuals claim they are atheists, but they still want to run all inclusive communities by saying “We do not believe in God”, they just made themselves exclusive, because they excluded God, the source of all Life and Essence.

Maybe, just maybe, our theology changes and that is a very good thing. Once I heard someone say, “If your theology of the past does not think your theology of this moment is heretic, you have not grown in faith”. My theology, faith – whatever word you want to use, has changed – but my experience with the unseen Presence, Essence, Creator, Father, Mother, Spirit, Universe has become more real.

Yes, I no longer follow the thought process that God is some male character sitting on a throne above the clouds and is watching every move I make – similar to Santa Claus. But I do know deep in my heart and mind that there is a Presence that is beyond my comprehension which is Present and journeys with me. It is that breath which is closer than my own breath and leads me to Love – love of the self and the other and helps me grow beyond my imagination.

This Presence is also the One that connects us, if we are open to the idea of having loving, caring, respectful relationships.

Yes, just maybe, this Presence is not so evident to the physical eye, but it is PRESENT. Many a times, in my lowest moments this Presence been more than evident to me – This Presence has been my Strength and my Refuge.

I want to leave you with this thought…

Have you ever enjoyed a nice butter croissant, at a French Café, or at home?butter-croissant

Do you see the butter when you eat it?

No, You experience it on your fingers, in your mouth with your taste buds…In other words, you only taste it and if you are eating it with your fingers – the butter leaves evidence on your fingers that it has been there…

You first need to hold on to the butter croissant so that you can have the signs of its Presence, even when we cannot see.

May God’s Presence, Essence and Love be as tasty, sweet as a butter croissant that you enjoy it with Gratitude with EVERY breath you take. Amen.

Not Because I Wanted to be the First – August 2, 2016

Those who know me well, they know that I often react to things a little late. Especially when it involves matters of the heart, my heart, my life. The other day, in a simple conversation, someone said that Hillary Clinton wants to be president of United States because she wants to make her name go down in history and become the very first woman president. Something inside of me did not agree with this at all – it disturbed me. But I had no comment, as I needed to reflect and go deeper to find out why was this bothersome. … Read more

Thought of the Day – July 29, 2016

My thoughts about – Hillary Clinton using the WOMAN CARD: Just like, being the First Armenian Woman Ordained Minister within the United Church of Canada, does not say that I am playing any cards – It is stating the fact. Who we are and what gender we are does not change anything; how we treat each other is the key. I entered Canada as a Refugee back in 1986 and because of Canada’s Radical Hospitality I have been blessed in many ways. Our gender does not make us or break us – We are ALL capable of making this world … Read more

The Glass Ceiling is Cracking – July 26, 2016

What an exciting moment to be alive in. History has been made in the United States of America’s political arena tonight. Secretary Hillary Clinton is the Democratic Party’s Nomination to go forward and fight for the leadership of the country. As the first Armenian Woman to be ordained in the United Church of Canada, back in 2011 – this means so much – The glass ceiling is cracking. What a joy it is to witness this in history –  Quite the emotional evening. Even More moving for me was, to see Senator Bernie Sanders call the party to approve Secretary … Read more

Stay REAL – July 24, 2016

Today, we celebrated “Christmas in July” at our pastoral charge. I think the recipient of an amazing gift was me. After concluding the first worship celebration; a congregant came and said, “Rev. Takouhi, thank you for being SO REAL”. I accepted his words, thanked him and got ready to go on to the second point to lead the second worship celebration of the day. As I was driving, I remembered the very first time I heard Karoline Lewis, at the Festival of Homiletics (Nashville 2013). Her sermon/lecture was about the Gospel of John, her favourite. To this day, I still … Read more

Your Context – Your Understanding – July 12, 2016

Today in conversation we were discussing thunderstorms and all the havoc it causes when it arrives and shakes our foundation, turning everything upside down – even to our core. One person shared with me that when she was young her father used to tell her that thunder is God bowling in heaven. When she sees lightning that means God has hit a strike. Very simply, I chimed in and shared that when we were young, before the Civil War in Lebanon, at every lightning strike, my sisters, brother and I said, “Smile, God is taking a picture of you.” Of … Read more

Some Thoughts – After the Tragedies of this week – July 8, 2016

When are we going to wake up and realize life is a gift to us and in return we must offer life to others. No exception of who they are. We say “Belief” is what we need Will leave everything to God. Take the word apart and move around one letter and it becomes, “Be Life”. This life is not a competition or a race to fame and fortune: How many followers, how many tweets. It is not a power trip to see who can oppress, repress and dominate – they too do not live forever on this earth, you … Read more

Thought of the Day – June 10, 2016

On this 91st Anniversary of the United Church of Canada, I cannot help but think of all the effort, perseverance and courage it took for our forefathers and foremothers to bring this vision of uniting together. Our Church is still wrestling to carry on the Mission of God within the changes of life – that is part of life. Just like a river always running, sometimes calm and sometimes like white water chaos; where we can never touch the same water twice. We panic as churches close, others merge, transform their space and share with other denominations, Faiths. We are … Read more

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