“Blessed are you, Christ, Light of the world; you descend into our darkness, to lift us into the realms of light.”                                                                                                     The Rhythm of Life: Celtic Daily Prayer 51

In this Advent Christmas Issue, we celebrate God’s love for the world in the coming of the Christ.  Christ is the Light who shines in our darkness and abides with us until the time foretold when God will be all in all, and we will know peace and restoration in all creation.

This Issue features a Christmas Reflection from our Minister, Judith, a report on the recent “Shoulder to Shoulder: We Are All Treaty      People” rally hosted by NS Indigenous leaders by Anne Fay, reflections from members of St. Matt’s on Christmas carols and music that have been meaningful to them, an story of awe and wonder at creation’s beauty from Margaret Sagar felt on recent trips abroad, an article promoting green energy by Margaret Machum, a letter by Elizabeth May arguing for the  oil tanker ban on BC’s northern coast, a ‘booknote’ by Anne Marie Dalton on Sumana Roy’s book “How I Became a Tree”, and finally, a carol quiz.  We wish you blessings in this season of hope and joy. God is with us. Thanks be to God.

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Christmas Reflections by Rev. Judith

Christmas is coming, but first there is Advent. Churches with a British heritage often do not decorate for Christmas until the end of the Advent season. Here we follow the North American norm and decorate the sanctuary well before. On the other hand, the stores have put up their often tacky festive decorations right after Remembrance Day, and sometimes before. My family had Scottish and English roots, so Christmas didn’t start until Christmas Eve. Then the tree, a wild tree bought from an old guy on a vacant lot, went up. There were no cultivated trees. We knew someone who bought such a tree, and when it went up in the heat of the house, they roused the red squirrel that had been napping near the top of the tree.  

In any case, Christmas Eve in our home was spent decorating the tree. The neighbours were invited in. This was because we lived in a Jewish neighbourhood in Montreal, and their children got into the fun of decorating the tree and eating Christmas cookies. Those neighbourhood ties lasted forever, and when little Mark grew up, we went to his Bar Mizpah. This past month his wife died. As requested, they were mentioned here in Saint Matthew’s prayers. My sister, who has gone back to Montreal to live, went and sat shiva with him, commemorating his wife’s death.   

Christmas is about family. For us it is also a religious festival, but I shall spend Christmas with a secular family including a couple of Buddhists: with a tree, stockings, dinner, crackers and funny hats. Christmas is the festival around the equinox, and it always has been. No wonder those old Puritans banned the celebration. 

And my Christmas; I shall go for a walk in a few weeks’ time along the Barrington Greenway with some tough gloves and cut branches of that abundant invasive species, multiflora white rose, with its red berries, and decorate my small apartment. Then I shall be ready for Christmas. 

May the season be blessed, Judith.

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“Lord God, you have revealed your love by the coming of Jesus, the Christ, into our world. Help us to welcome him with joy, and to make room for him in our lives and homes, that we may abide in him, and he in us.”                                                                                    Rhythm of Life: Celtic Daily Prayer 47

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Shoulder to Shoulder Rally at the Commons, Nov. 15, 2025 

 by Anne Fay

Hundreds gathered for a rally, “Shoulder to Shoulder: We Are All Treaty People” at the Halifax Commons on Nov. 15 to call for better environmental protections for Nova Scotia land. The rally started with opening prayer and the Mik’maq Honour Song. The prayer included invocation for both social and environmental issues and gratitude for the earth and all it gives us.

Albert Marshall spoke first, suggested buying glasses and hearing aids for the Premier, so that he can not only see but hear, the people in this province are no longer going to tolerate gifts from the Creator being extracted from the earth indiscriminately. Nina Newington (organizer, scientist, and activist with Save Our Old Forests) spoke about how many groups are uniting to send a clear message to our provincial government. Mik’maw Land Protectors Michelle Paul and Alexina Doucette shared their perspective on the current provincial government policies on land use and development. Many expressed hope that groups with similar interests standing together will send a strong message to law-makers that the people of Nova Scotia want the forested land to be protected. 

A Mikmaq Elder spoke about three prophecies that are coming true at this time, one of them being the Prophesy of the Eagle and the Condor. She found inspiration in seeing so many different groups coming together at the rally for a common cause, supporting, and working alongside the Indigenous people.

Attending the rally were various groups with signs and placards (Ecology Action Centre, Coastal Protection Act Now, CAPE Nova Scotia, Save Our Old Forests, and others), general public, and a very large salmon that swam through the crowd with the help of four handlers. Six members of St. Matthew’s attended the rally. The Earth Spirit Action group was represented by a banner featuring several woodland animals. A few children stopped to look at the animals on the St. Matthew’s banner.

Midway through the rally we were joined by Andrea and Kevin of the St. Andrews ecology group and stood with banners side by side for the rest of the rally. The Raging Grannies sang some rousing songs. Members include Margaret Sagar, wearing her turquoise blue hat weighed down with buttons and flowers; Linda Scherzinger, Joanne Roy, and others from St. Andrew's, some from Kairos Halifax, and others.

The son of Donald Marshall Jr., 17 yr old Donald spoke about his father's struggles and his own vision for the future. Citadel Hill in the distance reminded him of the injustices that occurred there to Indigenous people by the first settlers, as he envisioned Cornwallis up there, wanting to stop this young person from speaking so much truth. "If my father could be imprisoned for something he didn't do, why can't [these politicians and lawmakers] be held accountable for the wrong they have actually done?"

All the speakers were excellent and articulated the issues well. The full range of ages were represented in the crowd - children with parents, teenagers, all the way up to 80 year olds.

Towards the end someone led the crowd in a song of hope about walking with our neighbours and ancestors.

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Favourite Advent & Christmas Carols.

We asked members of our Congregation to share thoughts about their favorite Advent and Christmas carols. In addition to traditional carols, other musical favorites captured the Christmas message as well. Here are some of those reflections.

My favourite Christmas carol is “Go, Tell It on the Mountain”. There are joyful carols and tranquil carols. To my ears, this is an awakening carol. With the upbeat rhythm and lyrics, I feel happy to “hail our Saviour’s birth.” Telling It on the mountain evokes the spreading of the good news of God sending our salvation that Christmas morn. This is a message of faith to hold on to in times of personal or global troubles.                                                                               

Janet Hulford

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I suggest "Let There Be Peace on Earth". This carol calls for personal and global peace. I remember reading that it moved Pope Francis during the interreligious encounter at the ‪@911Memorial in New York City on Sept. 25, 2015, the year of the release of his encyclical addressing environmental concerns, "Laudato Si'. It is powerful, beautiful, and ever timely.   

Thelma Farmer.

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Years ago, when I sang carols with the Dal Chorale, we, like most choirs, I guess, used Sir David Willcocks’ book of carol arrangements. He had a gift for choral music, and many popular carols today are his arrangements. One of my traditional favourites is “In the bleak midwinter” which Canadians can surely identify with.

In more recent years I have found that Sir John Rutter has for me captured the essence of Christmas in his original compositions such as Lullaby, Angel carol, Candlelight, and Nativity carols. These blend classical and modern, with rich orchestration that is instantly recognizable to those who love carols or know Rutter’s work. And probably it is the strong melodies that make his carols memorable, ever fresh, and worthy additions to the Christmas repertoire.                               

Greg Bent

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“t Came Upon a Midnight Clear” and “All Poor Ones and Humble” are two carols that sing out the promise of Christ’s return with the peace, justice, and love that we and our world long for. “It Came…”(44) describes our world of sin and strife and how we are deaf to the angels’ song of saving love and peace God has brought to us and the earth. It tells us when the time foretold comes, God’s peace will fill the earth, and we will give back the song the angels sang. “All Poor Ones…”(68) echoes that joyous hope. “The Christ Child will lead us, and with us abide till his day. Then hatred he’ll banish, sorrow will vanish, and death and despair flee away… his peace and his pity shall bless his fair city…” What wonderful carols these are, with advent promise for our souls, our hurting world, and creation’s restoration!                                                                                                                                         

John Nesbitt 

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“MY CUP RUNNETH OVER” WITH AWE, JOY, AND GRATITUDE! Margaret Sagar Dec. 2025

I have been fortunate to make two trips overseas this year: England in an exceptionally dry and sunny spring to visit extended family and two longtime friends. From there, to France where my sister lives on the shores of Lake Geneva. I rejoiced in the gentle beauty of the English countryside before marveling at the towering alps of France and Switzerland. Ancient buildings filled me with awe at the history which they told.

In the fall, I flew to Australia to visit my brother and sister-in-law. From Brisbane we drove over 3,000 kms, first slightly north, and then south and west back to their home in the suburbs of Melbourne. I experienced spectacular sunsets, amazing wide rivers, vast bays, dunes, white sand beaches, headlands, rainforest, mountains, coastal plains, and farmland. “Wow” became a frequent word on my lips! I reveled in the wildlife, especially colourful birds which we saw closeup in a mountain resort and kangaroos encountered even in campgrounds! We spotted humpback whales travelling south from their winter breeding grounds to Antarctica for the summer. I observed the interconnection of life forms, especially in relation to trees, and learned one astounding story of the relationship between human beings and wildlife. At Eden, once a year for thousands of years orcas drove blue whales into the bay so that the Aboriginals could kill them for their survival and treat the orcas to tidbits of whale in return. What awesome communication, sadly disrupted now by settler whalers and shrinking numbers of whales. Even back in Melbourne, a city of five million people, there are many trees, parks, and flower-filled gardens.

I came home to a blaze of fall colours with my cup overflowing with awe, joy, and gratitude at all I had experienced of God’s incredible gift of creation, and the love of family and friends. Now I have a fresh appreciation for the wonders of creation surrounding me in Terence Bay: amazing views right here, and diverse wildlife in my yard!

I am filled with gratitude for my privilege to travel, and towards the Creator who has made “this wondrous world”– Earth and a star- filled universe beyond. There is a tinge of sadness though: I lament the damage which we human beings are causing with relentless extraction of “resources” and our carbon emissions. Wars and increasing militarization contribute to uncounted carbon emissions and irreparable destruction of nature. Extreme weather events are everywhere. In October, new data was made public: atmospheric CO2 rose to 423.9 parts per million in 2024, in contrast to 377.1 ppm in 2004, an unprecedented rate of increase; methane concentration shot up 166% above pre-industrial levels (before 1750) and nitrous oxide increased by 25% over pre-industrial levels. These dangerous increases along with the destruction of natural carbon sinks forbode more extreme weather, huge ecological changes, and unlivable heat in parts of the world.

Now Advent has arrived. How am I to respond? Awe, joy and love are gifts I readily receive with deep gratitude, but the gift of Hope that we note on the first Sunday of Advent is more elusive; when the state of the world brings despair rather than hope, I must consciously choose Hope. To make some compensation for the carbon emissions of my travels, I will contribute to organizations that put hope into action. It is also up to me to act for the sake of the three great granddaughters whose births are expected next year (twins plus one!); for them and for every child I desire a safe, joyful and awesome world in which they may thrive in love. Therefore, I will continue my advocacy for justice, peace and the care of God’s creation trusting that my small acts “punch holes in the darkness” *and bring Hope.

*An expression from a story of Robert Louis Stevenson when a boy as he watched the gas lamps being lit at dusk.

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PIPELINES VS GREEN ENERGY                                                                                                by Margaret Machum

Since the introduction of the Liberal Party’s Budget, we seem to be going backwards very quickly in our efforts to control climate change. With the push for an increase in mining and oil production and the memorandum of understanding with the Alberta government for a pipeline, things are moving quickly to embrace the fossil fuel industry once again at a time when the move to green energy is an increasingly pressing issue.

Since 2005, Canada has reduced emissions of greenhouse gases by 9%. However, other G7 countries have progressed with an average reduction of more than 30%, with the UK leading with a 45% drop. Emissions continue to rise in the faster-growing economies such as China and India. However, almost all of these countries have net-zero targets in place and have adopted carbon pricing, to set the stage for further progress towards net-zero.

What Canada is now doing is disheartening. Our government and private industry are not taking the threat of the climate crisis seriously. The danger is real. Ana Missirliu from the New Climate Institute states, “the consequences of delay go beyond lost time: instead of building momentum, it fuels doubt and erodes trust in the process”.

A major flaw in our economic system is that polluters rarely have to pay for the damage they cause. For the coal, oil, and gas industries, the public must bear the immense costs of pollution and related health-care costs, land degradation, water contamination, and climate-altering emissions.

Canada must continue with its industrial carbon pricing which targets large emitters. This does not fully address those costs, but it creates an incentive to shift to cleaner energy sources. Strengthening the industrial carbon pricing system in the federal government’s recent budget is an important step. It does reduce greenhouse gas emissions while keeping the costs low for businesses.

Yet, the budget also contained disappointments for those who understand the severity of the climate and biodiversity crises, including support for the fracked gas industry and a lack of continued commitment for nature protection. This is unacceptable and stupid. We cannot let fossil fuel interests and governments that side with them weaken or eliminate our effective climate policies.

We must do everything we can to bring emissions down and to transition to cleaner energy. Renewable energy is much more efficient, cleaner, cost-effective, and secure. It does not pollute air, land, and water, and it breaks the chains that have bound us to corrupt fossil fuel producers. The sector is growing rapidly, creating good jobs and inspiring innovation. Electrotech and renewable energy, not fossil fuels, will power the future.

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Advocacy and Action.

!.  Letter from Elizabeth May on Oil Tankers in Hecate Strait.

 Note. The issue of banning oil tankers on the northern coast of BC begs our attention and action because we want to protect ‘God’s green earth’ from harm and carelessness. And we want to support Indigenous communities and their economies. Several environmental organizations are protesting exemptions to the BC northern coast tanker ban. We can act with them by signing their Petitions and writing letters to the Government of Canada.

“On Wednesday, news broke that the federal government is considering exemptions to the north coast tanker ban in order to advance a new oil pipeline to the waters off Haida Gwaii.

I want to be absolutely clear about what I told reporters:

There is no chance on God’s green Earth that an oil tanker will ever move through the inner waters between Haida Gwaii and the north coast of British Columbia. None.

 If you know those waters, you know why. The Hecate Strait is the most dangerous body of water on the Canadian coastline. Its tides and currents can reach 10 to 20 metres. They drop so low they can expose the ocean floor. That is why there has been a tanker moratorium here since 1972.

Governments cannot wish away science. Governments cannot pretend that an oil tanker would not break apart under those conditions. Governments cannot think that the Haida Nation, other Coastal First Nations or British Columbians will ever accept that risk.

I have worked on this issue for more than forty years. In the 1980s, I served as a senior adviser at Environment Canada during the struggle to protect South Moresby, now Gwaii Haanas. That work was done in partnership with Haida Nation leaders who had already been fighting for years to defend their lands and waters. My role was to support that effort from inside government, and I have stood with them ever since.

This week, as the news spread, so did the misinformation. Claims that US oil tankers already travel through the Hecate Strait are false. Claims that the ban has already been lifted are false. Claims that this is a done deal are also false.

What is true is that we must respond quickly and clearly before this misinformation shapes public understanding.

That is what Greens do. We tell the truth. We ground our decisions in science and in respect for Indigenous rights. And when governments float ideas that could threaten our coast, we push back. -                                                                                                                                                                        Elizabeth May

Organizations supporting no exemptions from oil tanker ban on northern BC coast are:

Sierra Club of Canada. Sierra Club strongly urges citizens to contact their MPs, Federal Energy Minister Tim Hodgeson, and PM Mark Carney to protest the MOU with Alberta and instead, to prioritize energy renewables.

Go to www.sierraclub.ca  and scroll down to article of Nov. 30, 2025

https://www.sierraclub.ca/pipeline-mou-federal-overnment/                                                                                                                         

https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/search?parliament=all&caucusId=all&province=NS&gender=all

David Suzuki Foundation. The Suzuki Foundation strongly supports Indigenous Land Rights and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. https://davidsuzuki.org/action/canadian-land-governance-must-respect-indigenous-rights/                                                                               A sample letter to the PM and your Premier is attached.

Greenpeace Canada. Greenpeace is strongly opposed to the Canada – Alberta MOU. “It is not in the national interest to pursue a project that pits province against province, runs roughshod over Indigenous rights, and puts local economies and north Pacific coastal and marine ecosystems at risk.”  For more, go to…

https://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/press-release/73058/greenpeace-canada-reaction-to-the-canada-alberta-mou-announcement/

2. Ecology Action Center on Development in Blue Mountain Birch Cove Lakes area. The provincial government has designated a Special Planning Area (SPA) adjacent to the Blue Mountain–Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness Area. “This land has long been identified in municipal plans as part of the preferred boundary for the Blue Mountain–Birch Cove Lakes Regional Park; and, ideally, it would be incorporated into a national urban park—a park planning process already well underway.” The Ecology Action Center and Friends of Blue Mountain Birch Cove Lakes urge citizens to contact elected officials at all levels of gov’t. registering opposition to development in the SPA because it would -fragment vital wildlife corridors and damage sensitive ecosystems.
   -damage the sensitive, integrated waterways in the Blue Mountain-Birch Cove Lakes wilderness area, which clean our water and prevent flooding.
   -undermine accessibility to the wilderness area.
   A sample letter to elected officials can be found at: (Scroll down)

https://bluemountainfriends.ca/our-largest-national-urban-park-needs-the-full-bmbcl-bohundary/

More information can be found at:

https://bluemountainfriends.ca/2025/09/19/blue-mountain-news-fall-2025/

 

“Lord, You created the world by your love. You redeemed the world by your love. You maintain the world with your love. Help us to give our love to You, Holy Trinity. Strengthen us on our journey, guide us in all our doings, that we may share in your love and care for your world.”      The Rhythm of Life: Celtic Daily Prayer 37-8

 

Advent & Christmas Carol Quiz.         

Can you match these lines with the Carols?  Some are easy, some not so. Carol names with their Voices United numbers follow below., 

1.“Light and life to all He brings, risen with healing in his wings…”                                                             

2. “He hath opened heaven’s doors and we are blest for evermore…”                                                                 

3.” yet in his presence all may stand with loving heart and willing hand for still to us is born tonight…”                                                                         

4.” When peace shall over all the earth, its ancient splendours fling...”

 

5.“What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb…”                                                                       

6. “Christ the Lord comes to feed hungry souls in their need…:                                                                             

7. “...but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive Him, still the dear Christ enters in.”

8. “Come kneel before the radiant boy who brings you beauty, peace and joy...”

 

9.“Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing…

10. “Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask You to stay, close by me forever, and love me, I pray…”

11. “He rules the earth with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove…”                                                                 

12. “Shepherds quake at the sight…”

 

55. In the Bleak Midwinter.                                            71. ‘Twas in the Moon of Wintertime

49. No Crowded Eastern Street.                                    48. Hark the Herald Angels Sing

35. Good Christian Friends, Rejoice.                             69. Away In a Manger

64. O Little town of Bethlehem.                                     42. Down to Earth, As a Dove.      

44. It Came Upon the Midnight Clear.                           59. Joy to the World          

60. O Come, All Ye Faithful.                                           67. Silent Night.                                                                                                                                        

 

  (Answers on last page.)

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CBC Massey Lectures 2025 with Alex Neve, former Sec. Gen of Amnesty International, Canada on “Universal: Renewing Human Rights in a Fractured World”.                        Review by Margaret Sagar.

For those who care deeply about “doing justice,” I highly recommend listening to the 2025 Massey Lectures aired on CBC Radio Ideas in November. The lecturer was Alex Neve, a longtime human rights lawyer and advocate. For 20 years, he was the Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada. In that capacity, he traveled the world, bearing witness to its misfortunes. His lectures, entitled “Universal: Renewing Human Rights in a Fractured World” were extremely powerful as he spoke with passion on topics related to the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. He told many personal stories of the people whom he had encountered over his career, highlighting not only their illegal and horrifying circumstances but also their hope and trust in the promise of universal rights. Regarding Canada’s record, internationally and domestically, he was hard hitting in relating the facts. He spoke about the western nations abandonment of Palestinians who have no rights at all as human beings in the eyes of those who unequivocally support the Zionist government of Israel. You can find the Massey Lectures on CBC Listen on demand podcasts, or 2025 CBC Massey Lectures: Alex Neve on renewing human rights in a fractured world | CBC Radio. It is worth listening to the introductory interview with Nahlah Ayed. Despite the challenges today in the recognition of universal human rights, Alex is committed to the promise and the hope the declaration presents. Inspiring.

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Answers to Carol Quiz.

1./48; 2./35; 3./49; 4./44; 5./55; 6./42; 7./64; 8./71; 9./60; 10./69; 11./59; 12./67

 

Sumana Roy. How I Became a Tree. Aleph Books, 2017. Yale University Press, 2021. Booknote by Anne Marie Dalton

Advent approaches: the season of waiting, of paying attention, of preparing to celebrate the turning of history to the eternal values of peace, love, and gentle living among all the creatures on this planet. Ironically, it is also the season of greatest consumerism, of waste, of a frenetic race with time to acquire more stuff, and of efforts to distract ourselves from the constant flow of devastating news.

Sumana Roy’s memoir, How I Became a Tree is her account of a life lived within such a set of conflicts. It is the story of her efforts to deal with all the modern world has done to lift us out of the natural rhythms of the earth and in her estimation to set us squarely against those rhythms, represented for her by the lives of trees. Fascinated with trees from her childhood, Roy dove deeper into myths, stories, and poems across multiple cultures to understand better how we have lived with trees and often against them throughout human history.

As she observes of the Indian poet and gardener par excellence, Rabindranath Tagore, he refused to consider humans as superior to trees. Trees were participants, friends, and neighbours in the community of life; not just background as has for the most part been the predominant modern view.

“So,” she writes, “when I look back at the reasons for my disaffection with being human, and my desire to become a tree, I can see that at root lay the feeling that I was being bulldozed by time.” The gentle, patient, silently life-giving tree was her invitation and challenge to consider living in “Tree time.”

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                “We look for the resurrection…  and the life of the world to come.”  Nicene Creed