Wall Street United Church
5 Wall Street K6V 4R8 Brockville, ON, Canada

Lent Social Media Campaign Submitted by Christina Whyte Paying it Forward Helping others is a significant part of many recovery programs and there are many ways the program gets passed on. When I live the program and share it with others, I am carrying the message, especially when I start to sponsor new members. In practicing the Twelfth Step I have found it is not just about passing on what was so freely given to me. It is the opportunity to show my appreciation of the pro...gram and its impact on my life, to become aware that I need to practice what I preach, and to develop solid bonds with new people who really need me. Most of all I become humble, understanding that the world does not revolve around me. I have been blessed to receive my recovery from the God of my understanding, so I now make myself available as His tool to share recovery with those who seek it. Practicing the principle of unconditional love in the Twelfth Step is essential. Nobody needs love without conditions more than the suffering person. I do not ask anything of people when I carry the message. In paying it forward I do not ask for money. nor do I ask for gratitude. We do not ask that members remain abstinent from their affliction. I simply extend myself. Carrying the message takes the focus off my life, my problems, and my self interests. Carrying the message calls for me to care about other people. The Good Samaritan paid it forward because he cared and felt compassion for helping the hurting man. (Acts 20:35) says In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive. You do not have to belong to a 12-step program to carry a message of love. Whether it is serving Christmas dinner at a shelter or boarding a dog for a friend, when the opportunity arises to give of yourself in a healthy way, put your hand up and say yes.

Lent Social Media Campaign Submitted by Josh Bennett I've called you by name... Are you feeling tired and worn out? This time of year is often a time of year when we feel weary. The hours of sunlight are few, the earth is covered in cold hard ice and snow, and the days seem to stretch out endlessly. And of course, we are still living in this strange new world of COVID, keeping us from the warm embrace of others that we so badly need. Yesterday I was listening to CBC radio, and heard an interview with Fabienne Perrin-Blizzard. Perrin-Blizzard has recently been named Assistant Coach for the Ottawa Black Jacks, a professional basketball team in the CEBL, and is currently the only woman to coach a professional team in Ottawa. She’s had a very successful career in basketball: a hall of famer for the Ottawa Gee Gees, winning numerous awards and titles as a player, before going onto to a very successful coaching career with the University of Ottawa, as well as many provincial and national teams. But the road hasn’t always been easy for Perrin-Blizzard. As a black woman she faced many obstacles growing up, including discrimination and racism. When she was a little girl, she was often called racist names. Her mother gave her some wise advice: When they call you names, you just tell them what your name is. As I listened to Perrin-Blizzard recount this story, I reflected on how powerful that advice was. You tell them what your name is. There is strength and power in names. That is what God does for us he calls us by name. In Isaiah 43, God says, do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. We are his. God goes on to say, When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep you over. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. Yes, this is a trying time, and many of us are feeling tired and worn out. But God is with us. He has called us by name, and we are his. When we are tired, we can lean on him. He is strong enough for us. If you are feeling tired and worn out, take some time today to reflect on everything that is weighing on your shoulders. Write them down on a list, then put it to one side. Next, reflect on everything in your life that you are thankful for. Reflect on those. Then close your eyes and say a prayer. Ask Christ to be with you. Thank him for everything that is good in your life. Thank him for calling you by name. Now take your list of burdens and give them to Christ. Ask him to take these burdens off of your shoulders. Listen to what he has to say about these burdens. Know that you are loved, and that you are special in his eyes. He has called you by name. You are His. Amen.

Lent Social Media Campaign Submitted by Karen Davis Thankfulness Tuesday Psalm 9:1 I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart. I will tell of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you. I will sing praises of your name. O most High. ... Yesterday morning when I sat down at my laptop to start my workday I was in a good mood. I got some downtime over the weekend, Sunday was milder and sunny and perfect for walking, I slept well on Sunday night, prayed, meditated and read on Monday morning and did my 30 minutes on the rowing machine. By 11am though I was really irritable. A co-worker was not responding to an email in the way I had intended and there were numerous small but irritating issues that were taking my time away from my intended plan of work for the day. There have been a number of studies that have confirmed that human’s have a ‘negative bias’. There are several theories on this, but it means our brains more likely to remember and dwell on negative rather than positive events. It takes more effort to focus on the good things in our day and our lives than the bad. It is likely why my perspective on Monday morning changed so rapidly when neither of my issues were uncommon or unexpected. Early in my recovery from food issues my sponsor asked me (a nice way of telling me) to text her every day with four things that I was grateful for. Not always easy but it showed me, over time, that my perspective often got in the way of my ability to feel and be thankful. Page 419, 4th Edition, Alcoholics Anonymous. When I focus on what’s good today, I have a good day, and when I focus on what’s bad, I have a bad day. If you are struggling today, take a breath, take some time, and pray. Hand over your worries and concerns to a loving God and remind yourself are not alone. Ask for help to change your thinking so you can see the things that you can be grateful and feel thankful for.

Lent Social media campaign mindful Monday Submitted by Beth Kent Today I started with training, three hours virtual format. It’s these days that I know self-care is super important. So even though it’s messy outside I made sure that I went for my walk and shifted my day to allow me to do it in the middle of the workday.... Living in Canada means we deal with weather but the walk still feels good by the time it is completed as if I’ve accomplished something as well as lessen my stress. Since October I’ve been walking about 50 km per week according to my Fitbit. My walks give me time to listen to worship music and to connect to God and to give him my burdens while burning off some steam. What are you going to do today for self-care how are you going to build time for connection with God?

Lent Social Media Campaigns Submitted by Karen Davis Prayerful Friday Through prayer, fasting and reflection on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, Lent is an opportunity to deepen our faith and strengthen our connection with God. As I was thinking about bible verses for Prayerful Friday I kept coming back to the 12 Step Fellowship’s Step 11. Sought through prayer and mediation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge... of His will for us and the power to carry that out. Most days now, I pray, read and mediate every morning but it took some work and encouragement from my sponsor and Celebrate Life friends to make my morning routine a habit. Why can it be so hard to do the very thing that I both need and want to do? Part of it was lack of self discipline and a tendency to procrastinate, but it I was also fearful of what I might learn, what direction God wanted me to take, how I may need to change. It was hard to surrender and hand over control even though my solution, which included putting God in a box and closing the lid had not worked so well. I am very grateful that I am learning to trust God’s love, to accept that my plan is not necessarily God’s plan, that my vision is narrow and that God’s is infinite. I am learning to hand over my cares, concerns and questions to God and then let go of the outcome, so that I not only can I experience his love and healing but so that I can be useful to others and to share the blessings that I have received. Step 3 Prayer God, I offer myself to Thee- to build with me and to with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the burden of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy power, Thy love, and Thy way of life. May I do Thy will always. See more

Lent Social Media Devotionsl Campaign Submitted by Beth Kent I saw social media post the other day regarding Lent. It was an interesting take on giving something up for the season. it was an inversion of sorts. It suggested giving up the negative, the hatred, the self doubt, the judgement, the complaining, the darkness. What a great concept. They say it takes 30 days to build a habit and Lent provides a wonderful opportunity to do that. ... What character defects are hurting you and others that you would be willing to have God remove from your lives this season of Lent. What small changes are you willing to make to have God transform you into a more fulsome version of your self. To love yourself and others more. For God so loved the world he sent his only begotten son..... Lent is about the harder side of love, the sacrifice, the loss, the challenge to face adversity. My Pay it Forward Thursday is about doing what I can for others and myself one day at a time by putting one foot in front of the other towards positive changes in my life that can only serve to benefit myself and all those who interact with me.