Change, transition, and Thanksgiving
A VIEW FROM THE BACK PEW
By Rev. Canon Christopher B. J. Pratt
THE TWISTED wrought iron door handle felt familiar. I pushed on the thumb latch and entered the old church building for the first time in forty five years.
In 1979, I had been called into a meeting with Archbishop Garnsworthy of the Diocese of Toronto and given the opportunity to serve the Parish of Beeton, Tottenham and Palgrave during a time of clergy transition. As a newly ordained deacon, being given the responsibility of liturgical leadership on Sundays, even as I completed my studies at Trinity College in Toronto, was exciting.
The morning drive to the three-point parish North of Toronto meant an early start to my Sundays, but early mornings were to become a reality over the years. The first two services, in Palgrave and Tottenham, were always a bit of a blur. Dashing from one point to another meant that I treated the speed limit signs merely as suggestions! The reward after the last service in Beeton sometimes included an opportunity for tea and butter tarts!
As my ministry in that setting drew to its conclusion, the young organist at St Alban’s, Palgrave, thought that, no matter what time of the year it was, he had to play, what he thought was my favourite hymn for my last service. So, as we sweltered in the heat, ”O Little Town of Bethlehem”, was sung by the congregation. It was a Christmas Carol that had been written by Phillips Brooks when he was the Rector of Holy Trinity, Philadelphia. It was the parish where I grew up, the congregation my Father had served as rector and the church where I had recently been ordained a deacon.
Now, in the summer of 2024, the number of people I saw was far more than I used to see on a Sunday. The narrow pews had been replaced by far more comfortable picnic table benches and the Sanctuary provided space for a variety of beers and the cash register. St Alban’s Church has transitioned into the home of Caledon Hills Brewing Company, Brew Pub!
Enjoying a delicious meal in that setting was an interesting experience. I could not sit with my back towards what had been the Sanctuary. The stained-glass windows now provided an artist with the opportunity to showcase half full glasses of beer. Instead of a quotation from Scripture, the phrase,” Brewed with a Little Attitude” was given a high profile in the window over where the Altar used to be. Filled with memories of forty-five years ago, the traditional tune of “O Little Town of Bethlehem” came to mind.
I hasten to add that this article has NOT been sponsored by the Caledon Hills Brewing Company! (I will present a copy of this article, however, when I next visit, hoping for a discount!).
As we consumed the delicious peach cobbler dessert at the end of our meal, my wife and I reflected on the past forty five years. Ministry opportunities that took our family to different communities, choices made, paths taken…or not, all found their way into our conversation and thoughts. The people,...individuals whose lives have enriched our experience, came to mind. Decades of life experience all seemed to percolate to the surface in that brief dinner stop.
Pausing to reflect on the many blessings in life is a valuable element in any Thanksgiving celebration. While the primary focus of any Canadian Thanksgiving is rooted in offering gratitude for the Harvest, there is much more that may be identified in our lives for which we need to be thankful.
Change and transition have always been a part of our family life. Moving from place to place, new places to call home, new people who have become friends, all of those elements are part of an ongoing story which is still being written. The institutional church into which I was ordained has undergone a transformation. A number of church buildings that I knew well as the rector of a parish or as an archdeacon, have either undergone significant change or have been closed and sold.
Now, as I have shared with you, I have become aware of one that has been turned into a Brew Pub!! The diversity of life experience is a reality for all of us. The joys and challenges that come along each day are lived through and shape our view of the world in which we live.
In the midst of all of the change, all the transition, all of the different elements that shape each day, each week, each month and each year, for people of faith, there is a constant upon which we can depend. Jesus has promised that through our life, He will share the journey with us. He will celebrate moments of joy with us and hold us up when the burdens of life feel overwhelming.
Words of worship reflect our faith. They give us the opportunity to clearly claim what it is we believe. They provide a framework around which our lives may express our gratitude for the consistency of Divine Love upon which we depend. Words taken from the Book of Common Prayer Order of Compline allow us to identify how, at the end of the day, a time of rest also offers a time of renewal.
We pray that,”…we who are wearied by the changes and chances of this fleeting world, may repose upon thy eternal changelessness…” ( BCP pg. 727 )
As you pause to reflect on the many changes, transitions, and yes, the many blessings you have experienced in life, it is my hope that you will enjoy a truly wonderful happy Thanksgiving celebration.
Rev. Canon Christopher B. J. Pratt has retired from full-time parish ministry but continues to offer priestly ministry in the Diocese.