Stories of Hope

  It’s the last week of summer. Well, not according to the calendar, but the rhythm of our lives will change dramatically in just over a week.  Judging by how often the phone has been ringing in the church office the last couple of weeks and by how many people I’ve actually seen during the week, you are making the most of the last weeks of summer.   Even though it seems calm and peaceful, the ripples are starting to make themselves felt in the quiet that is August in a church building. Some of the new ministry season schedules are showing up in the office, and our zone coordinators and ministry leaders have been praying, working, planning for the new season for a good part of the summer.

  Four years ago, everyone at Hope Fellowship was given a One Year Bible for Christmas. That got many people reading their Bibles as part of their daily devotions. Since then, many more One Year Bibles have been given out to anyone who requested one.   Seizing an opportunity to connect personal devotions at home and Sunday sermons at church, I began basing my messages on the One Year Bible. In the first year, we focused on New Testament passages. In our second year we focused on Old Testament passages. Last year we concentrated on all the readings from the book of Proverbs, calling 2010 “The Year of Wisdom”. And this year we’re back to the New Testament, referring to 2011 as “A Year At Jesus’ Feet.” Today, in every worship service, you can expect to hear me preach on a scripture passage that you read at home the previous week.   There is one more connection we want to make for an even stronger spiritual life. And that is the link between our personal devotions, the weekly message and

   I’m always eager to see who will join the New Members classes each year. A bit anxious, too, as I wonder if anyone will come out. In that way, I guess I’m like the host of a party, hoping that the guests will show up.

  Prayer, according to Hope Fellowship’s mission statement , is central to the life of the church. That being the case, the Thursday morning prayer group has continued without a break throughout the summer as it has from its inception.   Each week I wonder who will attend. It is summer after all, and people are coming and going all the time. But every Thursday up to six people have shown up. And last week there were eight of us! God is so good!!

  Every year for the last five years a group from our High School Ministries has travelled to Toronto to serve at the Seeds of Hope Day Camp , sponsored by Youth Unlimited Toronto in the Jane & Finch area. This year we had eleven students and Jake returned for his 5th time, as an adult leader this time. The students from previous years remember us and greet us with big hugs and smiles and we are excited to see how they have grown since we last saw them.

  “Did you see the new sign?” I asked someone after it was installed. “What sign?” the person replied, despite having just driven past it into the parking lot.   “What are people saying about the new sign?” asked Rick James after his company added the LED message board. We had to tell him that over the weekend no-one had made any comments to the staff.   So let me ask you. “Did you see our new sign when you pulled into the parking lot today? Do you like it?”