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Showing posts from 2014

Hopeful Story, November 30, 2014

  It started with an idea for a fundraiser for the Sea to Sea Bike Tour that Joan and Alice cycled in 2013. Women came together to “groove” and the money raised helped Joan and Alice. Some of the favourite moves were the yoga stretches at the end of the evening, which gave birth to another idea – why not hold some yoga classes?

Hopeful Story, October 26, 2014

  Several Saturdays ago, my husband Mike and I, as well as a good friend of ours, were walking to our car after attending an event in downtown Oshawa. We looked across the street and saw a young man sitting on the bumper of his car with the trunk open. Signs attached to the back of the car said, “Free water”, “Free sandwiches”, and “Ask me why I’m here.” Mike said to me “Isn't that Jonathan from church?”

Hopeful Story, October 19, 2014

  There’s a new display in our building, promoting the important work of Sheila Dykstra, the missionary to Nigeria that we support as a church. It’s a cross section of an African schoolhouse, and it was made by Ed who researched the Internet for authentic looking ideas and built it with great enthusiasm.

Hopeful Story, October 12, 2014

  This summer, Katherine joined a team from Discovery Church on a missions trip to Borneo, the largest island in Asia. After a long flight and a twelve hour ride on an open bus through the jungle she arrived at Living Water Village, an orphanage for more than five hundred children.

Hopeful Story, September 28, 2014

A PERFECT MOMENT   It’s August 11. Heidi and I are camping at Sturgeon Bay Provincial Park and it’s 8:30 Monday morning. I've just gotten up and I am inspired to write this:   I’m sitting in my chair. The duct tape I've used to wrap the torn seat is a bit damp but that’s to be expected after the night's dew.

Note from the Pastor, Sept 14, 2014

  Last Sunday’s worship service featured the largest collection of Hawaiian shirts that we’ve seen since visiting the Hilo Hattie store in Honolulu. All those bright colours made for a very celebrative event and we want to thank each person who came to church wearing a Hawaiian shirt, sarong or lei.

Note from the Pastor, August 31, 2014

Here's an update from Christina Reid's Blog :   I was supposed to preach in Peru. It was supposed to be a big service, there was supposed to be a lot of new believers, people who didn't know the Lord. It was supposed to be the first time I got on stage overseas and brought the Good news, but it never really happens the way it’s supposed too.

Hopeful Story, August 24, 2014

  The sabbatical/vacation for Pastor Peter and Marja included 18 Sundays, 10 guest preachers (including our own Bernice Baker, Mike Broersma, Gary VanderMeulen and Lisa Guillaume Koene), and 2 video sermons (the second one will happen next week) for Hope Fellowship. Pastor Peter & Marja chose the summer because church life is quieter in the summer, and it would mean the least disruption for Hope Fellowship. So was it quiet while they were gone?

Hopeful Story, August 17, 2014

  From time to time I have the opportunity to bring a person with a need together with someone who has the resources to fill that need. It feels like I am a cog in a machine – just a small part of the process of doing God’s work here.

Hopeful Story, July 20, 2014

  Nervous as a freshman, I got off the bus and found the classroom where the Motorcycle Safety course is taught. Then I met Bob, 60, a Hawaiian man of Japanese descent. He told me that he used to be in the army. I said that I was a pastor on sabbatical.

Hopeful Story, July 13, 2014

  Our studio apartment is only 360 square feet. It has not been upgraded since the Inn On The Park was built in 1977. It has a tiny bathroom with tub and shower, and a narrow kitchenette with a two burner stove, small sink and microwave.

Hopeful Story, July 6, 2014

  We spent an afternoon reading our books on Magic Island, a man-made peninsula and peaceful beach in Honolulu that is favoured by the locals. The masts in the Ala Wai Harbour, the skyline of Waikiki, and the steep slopes of Diamond Head made it difficult to focus on the words.

Note from the Pastor, July 6, 2014

BLESS, BELIEVE, BELONG.   Three words we hear a lot of at Hope Fellowship. When we as a church, or we as individuals, have a balance of these three aspects of life, there is a healthy balance to life. I was thinking about these three words as I thought about the people I work with. I work at Glen Hill Strathaven and Glen Hill Marnwood, two Long Term Care facilities in Bowmanville.

Hopeful Story, June 29, 2014

  The streets of Waikiki always thrum with life as the wealthy, the homeless, the tourists and the locals vie for space on the crowded sidewalks. Especially at night, street performers play, sing, dance or pose motionless, busking for tips.

Sun Note, June 22, 2014

A TRIBUTE TO FATHERS   After writing about mothers, it was suggested that fathers receive equal honour. Even though this is being printed on the Sunday following Father’s Day, it does not diminish the honour due.

A Note from the Pastor, June 22, 2014

11 Countries, 11 Months, 1 Mission   “The ones who are crazy enough to change the world are usually the ones that do.” Some might think it is crazy to sell all your possessions, pack up a bag and head out for an 11 month, 11 country journey to live and volunteer in some of the saddest slums the world has to offer. But if you were asked by God, would you?

Hopeful Story, June 15, 2014

  The day before the 70th anniversary of D-Day, we visited Pearl Harbour, Oahu's top tourist attraction. It was there, on December 7, 1941, that Japan launched a surprise air and submarine attack on the ships and planes that had been gathered at this naval base in the Pacific Ocean.

Hopeful Story, June 1, 2014

  On Memorial Day, we joined a large gathering of war veterans in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific for the annual remembrance ceremony. The cemetery is set in an extinct volcano known as the "Punchbowl."

Hopeful Story May 25, 2014

  We got a big dose of New Hope Church last weekend. It began with a two and a half hour "Spirit of Aloha" concert on Friday night featuring Big Daddy Weave, the Dove Award winning band that has been topping the Christian music charts with number one singles.

Note from the Pastor, May 25, 2014

Sheila Dykstra, a member of Hope Fellowship, is an Education Consultant in West Africa with Christian Reformed World Missions—she teaches teachers. Teaching is not a valued profession in West Africa, and Sheila helps teachers learn to teach children in a loving, Christ-centred manner.

Hopeful Story, May 18, 2014

  Out the door at 5 a.m. to walk the fifty minutes to Diamond Head Crater. Arrived at 5:50 a.m., just beating the busloads of tourists. As the buses disgorged their passengers, we hurried up the path.   The trail from the entrance to the summit is 1.3 kilometres of concrete sidewalk, rugged switchbacks and three steep staircases.

Hopeful Story, May 11, 2014

  Sunday morning, the head greeter at the Fort De Russy Army Chapel welcomed us with a smile and a lei made of sea shells. I straightened up and headed for the sanctuary. "Oh no, you don't," Lynne Shanahan said. "When you receive a lei you also get a hug."

Note from the Pastor, April 27, 2014

  In Hebrews 10, there is a paragraph that contains five sentences beginning with the words “Let us.” Let’s take these “Let us” challenges to heart so that we remain strong in the Lord and strong as a church during the four months of sabbatical that we will be apart

Hopeful Story, April 27, 2014

  I have thoroughly enjoyed researching and preaching the Money Matters, Safe Sex and Famous Last Words series. I hope that God has used these messages to challenge and encourage you.   On this Stand Up Sunday we will hear some powerful messages from people who are professing their faith for the first time and being baptized, or re-affirming their faith as members of Hope Fellowship Church. Encourage them with your prayers as they speak

Hopeful Story, April 20, 2014

  After months of planning and work, the day finally arrived. The speaker travelled safely from Grand Rapids, the musicians from the west end of Toronto, family and friends had helped transform the sanctuary, the tech team had everything set up, food was prepared—and then the ladies arrived.

Note from the Pastor, April 13, 2014

  Canadians observed National Victims of Crime Awareness Week (April 6-12) and Pink Day (Wednesday) this week. The former focused on those who have been victimized by a criminal offence; the latter had an anti-bullying emphasis. As I thought about crimes and bullies, I realized that I have experienced both.

Note from the Pastor, March 30, 2014

  After Pastor Peter preached that wonderful message about Relationship, I knew that this story had to be shared.   What many people don’t know is that prior to coming to Hope, my life was pretty much symbolized by the “brokenness” picture shown on the screen and Bob Dylan’s song. Another strong symbol was the basement of my mother’s house where I lived. It was dimly lit and lonely which was exactly how I felt.

Hopeful Story, April 6, 2014

  A real MAN doesn't eat quiche, cry at movies, have any public displays of affection and definitely doesn't meet in small groups to discuss his feelings! These are the typical stereotypes that men have had to live up to for centuries.

Hopeful Story, March 30, 2014

  When we purchased the JAM City curriculum in 2010, it was the plan that it would be reused at the end of a cycle. Well, that cycle is ending soon and I went looking for the material we used in the beginning. I wanted to copy the curriculum for our small group and large group leaders, but realized that what I needed was not on a disc.

Hopeful Story, March 16, 2014

  Hope Fellowship’s Tricia and twenty other graduating artists from York University’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program are presenting their recent paintings in a current exhibition at the Twist Gallery in Toronto. The exhibit is called “Merge” and demonstrates “their mutual exploration of contemporary motivations in painting today, such as neo-minimalism, environmental issues, neo-expressionism and figurative work.”

Hopeful Story, March 9, 2014

  Many teenagers lead busy lives. They’re involved in organized sports. They have homework. They have part-time jobs. And they’re involved in family and church activities, like everybody else. These realities have made it difficult for some of our teens to come out to the Wednesday night youth group meetings.

Hopeful Story, March 2, 2014

  Our arrival at the Kingfisher Bay Retreat Centre last Friday set the tone for a focused experience for Hope Fellowship’s leaders. Reconnecting with the welcoming staff and sitting by a warm fire was a great way to start setting aside the busyness of daily life and shifting our hearts, souls, minds and bodies towards the future of Hope Fellowship.

Hopeful Story, February 16, 2014

  My husband’s willingness to share in church about porn could have surprised me. Yet when he told me God was nudging him, it didn’t. God can do that - call us to risk transparency. I respect Doug for listening and being vulnerable in sharing so publicly.

Hopeful Story, February 9, 2014

  I think you would enjoy being in the room when our five passionate, excited, sometimes LOUD zone coordinators meet. They meet together once a month to share what is going on in each area of ministry and to draw support and encouragement from each other.

Hopeful Story, January 26, 2014

  “The first day my head was spinning,” Krista said, remembering the day when she began her new duties as a member of the Counting Committee. “Today we did it! We balanced!”   “It’s definitely been a learning curve,” Helen added. “Now it should be fun because we’re more confident, less stressed and taking less time. In fact, we were finished an hour earlier than last week!”   For the last few weeks the two women have met weekly to count the money that the deacons deposit into the church safe every Sunday.

Note from the Pastor, January 19, 2014

  Ever since I started researching and writing the Money Matters messages, I've been seeing and hearing related topics. On the CBC, for example, where they did a feature about the working poor. In the National Post, which published an article explaining “Why saving now is better than saving later.” Then someone made me aware of an article about debt in the January issue of Parenting magazine.

Hopeful Story, January 19, 2014

  On Wednesday night, four participants in the latest New Members Class professed their faith to the Pastoral Elders. It was a powerful evening as Lori, Michael, Kiera and Alexis shared their testimonies. Each had a compelling story about the journey that God has led them on, stories that they will share with the entire congregation on Stand Up Sunday, April 27.

Hopeful Story, January 12, 2014

  In July, Christina Reid, one of Hope Fellowship’s young adults, will pack her bag and head out for an “eleven countries in eleven months” missions trip. It is organized by an Atlanta, Georgia based organization called “Adventures in Missions.” And what an adventure it will be for this new Christian who was baptized at our church less than a year ago!