the life of your church….! FROM THE MINISTER’S DESK “O taste and see that the Lord is good,” writes the Psalmist. We have this tendency to compartmentalize life and think of the spiritual life as a periphery thing—it is to be personal and private what we go to do on Sunday. Thinking thus, we limit Jesus to … [Read more…]
the life of your church….! FROM THE MINISTER’S DESK Do you ever wonder who decides what the top news story of the day will be? And why is this so important that it ought to occupy our attention? What do you think would be God’s top news story for us today; what event should occupy our attention … [Read more…]
the life of your church….! FROM THE MINISTER’S DESK Our guest preacher this Sunday will be Rev. Dr. Victor Shepherd. Dr. Shepherd is Professor Fellow on the core faculty of Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto. Ordained in 1970 Victor has served pastorates in New Brunswick and Ontario. He and his wife Maureen reside in Streetsville, … [Read more…]
the life of your church….! FROM THE MINISTER’S DESK In the aftermath of events that cause harm—intentional or unintentional—things cannot be put back together as they were prior to such events. Psalm 85 is a prayer asking God for restoration. Here is the promise of God’s salvation: “Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will … [Read more…]
the life of your church….! FROM THE MINISTER’S DESK A Prayer for Canada Almighty God, you have given us this good land as our heritage. May we prove ourselves a people mindful of your generosity and glad to do your will. Bless our land with honest industry, truthful education, and an honourable way of life. … [Read more…]
the life of your church….! FROM THE MINISTER’S DESK In the gospels we read incidents of how Jesus healed people and even raised some from the dead. On Sunday we will be looking at two such stories. But not everyone is healed—how are we to understand this? According to the gospel Jesus is the manifest face of God … [Read more…]
the life of your church….! FROM THE MINISTER’S DESK Most of us carry concerns for the suffering of loved ones; worries for the burdens of friends. In Mark’s gospel he tells the story of how some people came to Jesus with a paralyzed man carried by four friends. It wasn’t easy to get their friend in front … [Read more…]
the life of your church….! FROM THE MINISTER’S DESK The gospel writer Mark tells us that Jesus commonly used parables in his public proclamation and explained everything in private to his disciples. John Calvin said Jesus’ use of parables was his way of accommodating to the capacity of hearers. Had Jesus spoken in a direct way he … [Read more…]
the life of your church….! ROADMAP TO REOPENING In-person Worship Sunday, June 13th The Ontario Government has announced that we are moving to Step 1 of the RoadMap to Reopen on Friday, June 11 AND churches are now allowed up to 15% capacity in Step 1. Therefore this Sunday we will be open for … [Read more…]
the life of your church….! FROM THE MINISTER’S DESK News of the discovery of unmarked graves of children on the sites of Canada’s Indian Residential Schools dominated news outlets this week. There are no easy answers in knowing how to respond to this, another tear-stained blood-soaked page in this painful history. In Psalm 130 we read, ‘with … [Read more…]