A past moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Marg Carpenter, who spent most of her life promoting mission, said this: “I’ll say it one more time: the church is alive and well in the world. I’m tired of hearing anything else. I love mission, I love the church, I love the Lord Jesus Christ, and I love you Presbyterians, well most of you." … Read more
Category: Articles
Get back to where we once belonged
What if we spent less time reading reports, more time getting to know one another? Ministry can often feel like a lonely task. Pastors with large undefined workloads feel lonely and stressed. Congregations discouraged by small attendance feel isolated and adrift. Does anyone understand the challenges we face out here? Strong relationships help with these … Continue reading Get back to where we once belonged
Bread in the wilderness
Dear Fellow Followers of Jesus, I recently came across a prayer/poem of Walter Brueggemann. It begins: “On our own, we conclude: there is not enough to go around, we are going to run short of money, of love, of grades, of publications…” (1) We are living in a time of “shrinkflation.” We see packaging change to accommodate … Continue reading Bread in the wilderness
Go to the desert road
Message to General Assembly during morning worship, June 7, 2023. A divine command steered Philip. As a preacher he was to go to the desert road which was not a road, in fact. But Philip followed the command with a childlike innocence and profound trust in God’s mystery. So, there he was, in the wilderness … Continue reading Go to the desert road
Let’s get on with it!
Hello friends and fellow Jesus followers. In Matthew’s gospel the Eleven have returned to Galilee as Jesus had told them previously. On meeting up with Jesus there is a dual response – worship and doubt. In spite of the uncertainty of some, Jesus gives them, and us, His “Great Commission.” He prefaces the command itself with the statement of His authority … Read more
Young Adults, the Gospel, and Creativity
Parkwood’s Interactive Worship Experiment. Worship is not a performance but a participative experience. Parkwood Presbyterian Church (Ottawa, ON) has been exploring this concept through a series of monthly interactive church services led by young adults (those aged 18-35). The need for an interactive church service sprang out of Parkwood’s youth ministry. The congregation is blessed … Continue reading Young Adults, the Gospel, and Creativity
Let’s get back to business – Equipping by Example
The best is yet to come! Anyone who knows the Lord can rest on the assurance that life is mere preparation for eternity. What wonder awaits. At the same time, clouds hang over our heads. The woes of this life are a guarantee. But we must refuse to let that get us down. Our annual … Continue reading Let’s get back to business – Equipping by Example
Living Water Forest Church
By Ian and Hannah Marnoch. Let me begin with a word about what Forest Church is not. It is not a transplantation of Sunday morning’s sanctuary worship to the outside. That’s what we do in the summer when we worship on the church lawn! Forest church is an experiment in participatory worship of the Triune God in … Continue reading Living Water Forest Church
A Time of Transition
By Deb Stimphil, RF Board Chairperson. In Psalm 40, David says “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire. He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He … Continue reading A Time of Transition
The Minister as Intercessor
An excerpt from A. Donald MacLeod’s latest book. An explanation for this book. My wonderful 21-year-old grandson, Callum, asked me two questions as we were discussing his future: “What is it like to be a minister, Gramps? How has the ministry changed since you were ordained back in 1963?” It is to respond to these … Continue reading The Minister as Intercessor
Living the Name
Renewal Fellowship’s Living the Name prize has been awarded annually since 2010 to Knox College students who show interest and promise in evangelism and mission. Congrats to this year’s recipient, Sonia Brulé. We invited her to share her testimony as she begins her call to ministry. Sonia BruléMy name is Sonia Brulé and I am … Continue reading Living the Name
We turn to God in prayer
As I am writing this piece, General Assembly has just finished. I spent the time before, during and after the sederunts praying for the moderator, the commissioners, the clerks, the help desk people and the technology. Having been a commissioner last year, I knew what a challenge everyone would face and how important it was … Continue reading We turn to God in prayer
Remaining TRUE to God’s will – after the first church fight
The name of the gathering — “Remaining TRUE to God’s will” — says it all. God’s will speaks TRUTH and we are striving to remain TRUE to it. Our guest speaker, the Rev. Dr. Stephen Farris, the moderator of the 140th General Assembly addressed us on “After the first church fight”, inspired by the story of complaint, accusation, division, settlement and peace described in Acts 6:1-7. It all worked out in ways they could not have imagined! What might this mean for us today? The video of the entire day has now been posted.… Read more
Inspiration via Orthodox Prayer
When I was asked to contribute a reflection on an ancient prayer, all I had to do was look up from my desk, and there was the answer – an Orthodox Prayer based upon the Prayer of St. Ioannikios, as well as the traditional and ancient Troparia to the Holy Trinity. I had printed out … Continue reading Inspiration via Orthodox Prayer
Awareness of God’s Presence
This devotion is one that I shared at a Renewal Fellowship board meeting in March of 2022 and also shared during a midweek service during Lent. During both we looked at Judges 6:11-7:21, reading just the first part of it and referencing other parts of the section of scripture. This is referencing Gideon, who would … Continue reading Awareness of God’s Presence
Stillness Amidst Agitation
And the beat goes on. I arrived in Simcoe just as the 2008 recession was digging its tenacles into every fibre of society. We more or less recovered, at least economically; but it seems there have been constant and serious seismic shivers shaking life ever since. The past many months have only intensified the severity … Continue reading Stillness Amidst Agitation
Remaining as a faithful presence in the PCC
On January 29, 2022, a total of 60 people gathered via Zoom for “Called Together — a Time of Encouragement” for evangelical/orthodox/traditional believers within The Presbyterian Church in Canada who remain called to the places where we currently worship and serve — but may feel isolated and discouraged. But we are not alone. Speaker Rev. … Continue reading Remaining as a faithful presence in the PCC
Study Buddies in God’s Word
Dedicated group uses The Story to study Scripture via Zoom Your New Year’s resolution is to read through your Bible from Genesis through Revelation. You start strong, recognizing familiar names, such as Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, and stories about apples and snakes, a flood topped off with a … Continue reading Study Buddies in God’s Word
A Prayer Testimony
This is a testimony of a couple who for many years, were homeless and travelling around Canada, destitute and struggling with addictions and hopelessness, surviving by living in parks, alleyways under tarps, tents, and receiving handouts in community centres and shelters. They lived “welfare cheque to welfare cheque” and often taking advantage of the compassion … Continue reading A Prayer Testimony
Chafed by Safe
Mis-speaking seems to be almost as endemic in Western society as the COVID virus. Retractions, corrections, additional information and apologies [both abject and ambivalent] are common occurrences in the public sphere. One form of mis-speaking that rarely gets emended is incorrect use of the English language. One misuse in particular has drawn my attention, reflection … Continue reading Chafed by Safe