<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class="">Friends;<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">A very interesting theological discussion this morning.</div><div class="">Thank you all, and special thanks to our facilitator - Ted Schmidt.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">In 2008 the United Church of Canada adopted “A Song of Faith”. The beginning is, I believe, relevant to the discussion of the nature of god that was discussed this morning, so I offer it for your personal reflections.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Stay hopeful;</div><div class="">Allan</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">
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<!--StartFragment--><p class="MsoNormal">God is Holy Mystery,</p><p class="MsoNormal">beyond complete knowledge,</p><p class="MsoNormal">above perfect description.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Yet,</p><p class="MsoNormal">in love,</p><p class="MsoNormal">the one eternal God seeks relationship.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">So God creates the universe</p><p class="MsoNormal"> and with it the
possibility of being and relating.</p><p class="MsoNormal">God tends the universe, </p><p class="MsoNormal"> mending the
broken and reconciling the estranged.</p><p class="MsoNormal">God enlivens the universe,</p><p class="MsoNormal"> guiding all
things toward harmony with their Source.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Grateful for God’s loving action,</p><p class="MsoNormal">We cannot keep from singing. <i class=""><span style="color:green" class=""><o:p class=""></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" align="right" style="text-align:right;mso-pagination:none;
tab-stops:9.0pt;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><o:p class=""> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">With the Church through the ages,</p><p class="MsoNormal">we speak of God as one and triune:</p><p class="MsoNormal">Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.</p><p class="MsoNormal">We also speak of God as</p><p class="MsoNormal"> Creator,
Redeemer, and Sustainer</p><p class="MsoNormal"> God, Christ,
and Spirit</p><p class="MsoNormal"> Mother, Friend,
and Comforter</p><p class="MsoNormal"> Source of Life,
Living Word, and Bond of Love,</p><p class="MsoNormal"> and in other ways that speak faithfully of<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">the One on whom our hearts rely,<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">the fully shared life at the
heart of the universe.<o:p class=""></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">We witness to Holy
Mystery that is Wholly Love.</p>
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