Stories of Hope

  As we watched the terrible tragedy of Tim Bosma's death unfold, Heidi DeJong, Pastor of Westside Fellowship CRC in Kingston had an idea. “A lot of us wish we could be with our brothers and sisters in Ancaster this Sunday,” she wrote. “We are inviting you all to...set aside a moment of solidarity in your services this Sunday. They will be singing ‘In Christ Alone’ at Ancaster CRC. And so will we.

  With exactly one month to go before our three intrepid Sea to Sea cyclists fly to Los Angeles to begin their cross-continental ride, Stan, Alice and Joan have met their fund raising goals. Months of grooving, yoga-ing, New Year’s Eve dancing, chocolate almonds selling, letter writing, standing outside stores begging, and all manner of promoting netted them the required $10,000 dollars each ($30,000 total) that all Sea to Sea cyclists are required to raise to help end the cycle of poverty.

  Here I sit at our old harvest pine table enjoying left over chicken on toasted rye bread while listening to an old recording of Steve Bell. Am I telling you this because of my exceptional multi-tasking skills? No I’m not, because, if truth be told, I’m not very good at multi-tasking. However I am writing today to share with you that Steve Bell will be performing in the auditorium at Hope Fellowship Church in Courtice, Ontario on October 5th, 2013

  This poem is a reflection of things I've been learning lately about the nature of God and his creation. I know that there are lessons to be learned in the 'valleys' of my life. I know that I’ll come through them with a greater understanding of pain, I’ll be more compassionate and empathetic toward those who suffer constantly. And I’ll have more patience for people who can’t move quickly because of the state of their health. I’ll also be better equipped to relate to shut ins and people who choose to be socially isolated.

The Value at the Checkout Line   I was really moved by the story of Johnny, the checkout boy who would put his “ Thought of the Day ” in each of his customer’s grocery bags.   It made me remember a recent event of my own. It was Friday afternoon and I had just finished work, had a terrible headache and just wanted to get home. The last thing I wanted to do was grocery shop but I absolutely needed a few crucial items for dinner.

  This was the long anticipated week when the Courageous Proposals events were held. On Tuesday night, at least forty people showed up to give their input on the three goals – Believe, Belong, Bless – that the leadership has adopted for our church. Another forty plus, including our high-school students, gathered on Wednesday night, with still more to come on Saturday morning. “Dreaming events”, the planning committee called them. Man, did we dream.

  “Silence is golden”   The truth of this statement was proved when we gathered at Sharon's cottage for a silent retreat, April 6. For some of us, it was an eagerly anticipated event; for others, the thought of an entire day spent in silence was daunting.