I love the old Children’s camp song and need to sing it and sing it often. “I have a joy, joy, joy, down in my heart. Down in heart! Down in my heart! I know the devil doesn’t like it but it’s down in heart-down in my heart to stay.” More recently, I have felt that I needed more than ever a reminder of that joy—maybe you feel the same way.

January was a difficult month. Some people try to have a dry January, after Christmas, meaning no alcohol in January. January felt dry for me, because it seemed dry of joy, I was appalled by the unnecessary violence in the world and the political posturing that seemed to dominate social media and the news channel.

I felt poor in spirit, I longed for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I mourned what seemed to be happening in our world, as hate and Geo-political tensions seem to have the loudest voices. I feel disenfranchised from some of my extended family members whose values and political persuasions, more closely align with far right or ultra-conservative perspectives. I long for that joy that we sang about in vacation Bible Camp, “I have a joy, joy, joy, down in my heart. Down in heart! Down in my heart! I know the devil doesn’t like it but it’s down in heart-down in my heart to stay.”

I want to feel that joy now. Author Brene Brown, suggests that joy is not a surface emotion. It is a sign of a mature faith, it arises from spiritual maturity, a culmination of being. You can lament the state of the world and feel joy, joy is ultimately knowing that God is with you, God has come alongside you, when you are hurting or suffering for the sake of God’s righteousness.

Jesus is teaching us through the beatitudes, that we are blessed in the hard experiences, God will reward our efforts, our yearnings. Jesus is teaching us and is seated with us, he chooses to be at our level, he shares in the suffering with us, and through new life in Christ promises, the bright and blessed future of God’s kingdom. Let’s explore the Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 1-12) in worship together, on Sunday February 1 st at 10:00 am, Lowville United Church. We will be listening to a lovely sung version of the Beatitudes and will re-affirm our faith by saying the New Creed “We Are Not Alone.”

WORSHIP COMMITTEE meeting  Sun  Feb 8   after Church Service.

STUDY LEAVE Rev. Roni will be on study leave from February 9th to February 16th, preparing for Lenten worship, study and Easter. Rev. Carolin MacMillan of Appleby United Church, has kindly agreed to provide emergency pastoral care supply during this study period. 

UCW Meeting Wed Feb 11 (11:30am) Zimmerman Rm.  Bring your lunch.  Afterwards at 1pm  Presentation by Patrick Gallagher -   repairing the 16’ round stained glass Rose Window at St Paul’s U.C. Milton.  Everyone is invited to attend. 

Rev Roni`s Office Hours at our Church are  Mon, Tues & Wed    (10am - 3pm) Contact Info: [email protected]      OR Cell 416 271- 5313 Text, email or phone for appointment.

AFTER WORSHIP REFRESHMENTS  Choose a Sunday to bring “after Worship” refreshments.  Sign-up Sheet  is   on the Zimmerman Rm Bulletin Board (south/east wall)

LOWVILLE CARES -  Place your Local Food Bank Donations in Zimmerman Room Baskets located under the Guelph Line window near the Sanctuary door.