We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. Hebrews 6:19 - 20 NIV
Church of Our Lord Newsletter June 2014 Editor: Lynne Damant email: fmdamant@shaw.ca
Producer: Richard Montgomery
email: office@churchofourlord.org
Dear brothers and sisters, Summer is finally here, praise be to God, I do hope you will have a joyful, healthy and wonderful summer. Last Sunday (June 22nd) we had our very first merged 9:30/10:30 am Service. The feedback has been extremely positive and your Pastors are very, very grateful for your active participation as we worship together as “one body.” This Service is going to stretch all of us a little bit but I do hope and pray that you will give it your best efforts and use this opportunity to meet and greet one another in His Holy name. Yours in Christ, Pastor Ron
The Holy Spirit is light and life, A living fountain of knowledge, Spirit of wisdom, Spirit of understanding, Loving, righteous, filled with knowledge and power, Cleansing our offences, Divine, and making us divine; Fire that comes forth from fire, Speaking, working, distributing gifts of grace. By him were all the prophets, the apostles of God and the martyrs crowned. Strange were the tidings, strange was the vision of Pentecost: Fire came down, bestowing gifts of grace on each. Vespers of Pentecost, Orthodox The Oxford Book of Prayer 1985, p. 207
O thou who camest from above, The pure celestial fire to impart, Kindle a flame of sacred love On the mean altar of my heart. There let it for they glory burn With inextinguishable blaze, And trembling to its source return In humble prayer and fervent praise. Jesus, confirm my heart’s desire To work, and speak, and think for thee; Still let me guard the holy fire, And still stir up thy gift in me. Ready for all they perfect will, My acts of faith and love repeat, Till death thy endless mercies seal, And make my sacrifice complete. Charles Wesley 1762
….All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:25-27 1
GOD ROLLED AWAY THE STONE! by Bishop Robert Badham
There times when we devote ourselves to a sick person for hours on end, and never expect a thank you. This is also discipleship. The two Marys knew a task had to be performed and they were dedicated to doing it; Jesus body had to be prepared for burial and they would do it. They thought their journey was unnoticed, but God was watching; He was smiling at their hearts and thrilled with their devotion. And He had a surprise waiting for them.
In Matthew 28 we find the story of the Resurrection. Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. (NKJV 28:1-4)) The beginning of that new day was filled with grief, darkest grief. Peter had betrayed Jesus… The disciples had run away… Pilate had shown cowardice…Christ had suffered in anguish…The only ember of light is the small band of women at the foot of the cross. One is Mary, the mother of James, there is Mary Magdalene, and there is Mary, Jesus’ Mother. They are there to hear the final words of Jesus and to wonder what will happen next. They are there to wash away the blood from His body, to close His eyes, to reverently touch His face with their tears and to prepare Jesus for burial. And now we have this wonderful story that has a fresh beginning. We have two women who have risen early in the morning to come and anoint the body of Jesus with spices and oils as was the custom of the Jews. It was the two Marys who would perform the anointing, Mary the mother of James and Mary Magdalene. Theirs was a mission of giving, a mission of devotion. They were not expecting anything in return, they would be giving. This is the call of discipleship. Sometimes we are called to love expecting nothing in return. There are times when we are called to give money to help people and never see them again. There are times when we forgive those who don’t forgive us.
As they approached the tomb they must have been thinking, “How are we going to do this, because there is a big, big stone at the entrance to the tomb?” When they approached the tomb however, the stone had been rolled away. They had no idea how this had happened but happen it did. Now here is something very strange indeed and we have to ask ourselves, “For whom was the stone rolled away?” Was it for Jesus so that He might come out of the tomb? This Jesus who had healed the sick, the blind, the deaf, and who had raised people from death – was it rolled away for Him? Did Jesus need the stone rolled away for Him to come out from the tomb? No! Jesus had already dematerialized from the tomb; He did not need the stone to be rolled away. The Angel says, “Come and see the place where Jesus lay.” No! the stone was rolled away so that the two Marys could look in – so that Peter and John could look in – so that they could believe that Jesus had risen as He said He would. Mary looks at Mary and their hearts are filled with joy – they are exuberant with joy. Their Master had done what He had promised to do – He had risen from the tomb – He had brought salvation to all people! Then God surprises them – Is He smiling now? Yes! He is smiling to see those two hearts overjoyed with the news of the resurrection! And that is when Jesus appeared to the two Marys and said to them, “Don’t be afraid but go and tell my followers to go to Galilee and there they will see Me.” The two Marys don’t have to be told twice – they run with all joyous haste to tell the disciples that they have seen Jesus and that He was risen from the grave. Is it not the same for us? When doubt and despair come into our lives – by turning to Jesus we find the answers to our problems. He is a God of Mercy and Love who loves each of us – and Yes – HE STILL MOVES STONES. 2
IN CONVERSATION WITH THE REV. SHARON HAYTON about THE LIVING EDGE MINISTRY The Rev Sharon Hayton was Rector of St. Mary’s Anglican Church in Metchosin. Sharon and her congregation were the first church on the Island to leave the Anglican Church of Canada and become The Open Gate Church under the Anglican Network in Canada, pioneering the way for others to follow. Sharon is also Executive Director of CMJ Canada, the Church’s Ministry to Jewish People and leads regular tour groups to Israel.
ED: Sharon, 8 months ago, Rev Neil van Heerden and his family had to move back to South Africa while a visa situation was sorted out with the Canadian government. You stepped in to take on Neil’s duties in The Living Edge ministry. Were you already involved in The Living Edge? Could you describe for us what you took on in assuming Neil’s role? Sharon: I wouldn’t say I took on all of Neil’s duties – that would be a full time job. What I assumed was oversight, particularly of the spiritual ministry side of things. This means that I’m in touch with and ministering to the various teams of volunteers, as well as responsible for the teaching, preaching and pastoral care of the folks who come to us each week. I’m not at all involved with the food end of things. I also liaise with other community services so we are aware of ways we can connect folks who need help beyond our means. I have been involved with Living Edge since its inception. I’m privileged to be one of Neil’s mentors and have been since before he came into the Anglican Network. ED: What would you describe as the most difficult or challenging of your duties? Sharon: For me the most challenging part is meeting the needs of so many folks because they often need one on one time. I can see in the future developing more teams to meet these needs. Often it’s simply taking time with folks during the week. As we build relationships the trust level increases and we become aware of the depth of healing needed by coming alongside and really caring.
ED:
What have been particular joys or delights?
Sharon: Without a doubt my greatest joy is seeing folks change. I particularly see this in the small group we call Life Conversations. The group has grown in faith and in trust in the Lord and in openness with one another. We study the Bible together, we pray for each other and we rejoice in what the Lord is doing. The testimonies are very encouraging. Another joy is the sense of community that is developing. I think folks feel the love and care, that they belong and are accepted as they are. I love the way there is more interest in the music and the preaching and the respect for prayer. ED: How do you structure your reaching? Your topics? The subject matter? Sharon: I structure the teaching around subjects that the group can relate to. In the Life Conversations teaching I started with what I call encounters with Jesus. But first I ask questions so I get to know where they are at and I take it from there. Sometimes as folks share, I’ll change the plan and go with the topic that’s on their minds. ED: In these 8 months, what are the positives you’ve noticed? Have there been any negatives? Sharon: I think the positive is that we’ve had to step up and organise, make decisions and so on, and that it has worked OK. Particularly the food procurement, distribution, the meals, and so on. This ministry runs like a machine, very, very well. Changes have had to be made here and there and have worked well. And without doubt, an enormous positive is the incredible group of volunteers who make Living Edge the effective mission that it is. The negative is discerning the way forward for the future – for that we need our leader. We can hold the fort, so to speak, but we need the leader to take us forward. ED: Sharon, will you continue to be active in this area when Rev. Neil returns? Sharon: Although I would love to continue, I simply don’t have the time to give because of other ministry commitments I have. So I intend to be involved, but not nearly as much because of time. However, I never want to lose touch with amazing mission which truly is the Gospel in action. ED:
What would you like to open our eyes to? 3
Sharon: As God’s own people, I think we need to have eyes to see the harvest fields that are all around us. And to not be afraid to reach out with the love that we have already received. ED:
Any thoughts you’d like to leave with us?
Sharon: Living Edge has been an unfolding mission and ministry under the guidance of the Lord, through leaders who are prayerful and willing to be flexible and adaptable. There is so much more Living Edge may be called to be and to do. I see prayer teams developing for Sundays so we can offer healing prayer. I see more small groups developing so folks can grow in knowledge and in relationship with the Lord and in fellowship with one another. I see needs for coming alongside folks to encourage and show support in practical ways. I see more intentional outreach in the Quadra Village area specifically – to families in this area. May Living Edge Community always stay in step with the Holy Spirit as the Lord’s plans continue to be revealed.
“What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like.” St. Augustine
A NEW GENERATION OF MARTYRS The Lent 2014 issue of THE ANGLICAN PLANET newspaper publicises a new book by John Allen, a highly regarded veteran Vatican-based journalist for the National Catholic Reporter. In this new book, The Global War on Christians, John Allen says the most dangerous identity to hold in the world today is that of a Christian. The violence comes from radical Islam but also from radical Hindus and Buddhists as well as the Mafia in Italy and drug lords in Colombia: There have been more Christian martyrs in the 20th century, he says, than in the 1,900 years that came before. The
estimates of fatalities today range from 9,000 to 100,000 a year. But even at 9,000, says Mr. Allen - that is one Christian murdered every hour. Mr. Allen’s book was published by Image Publisher in October 2013. Here is some of their publicity material from the web: “One of the most respected journalists in the United States and the bestselling author of The Future Church uses his unparalleled knowledge of world affairs and religious insight to investigate the troubling worldwide persecution of Christians. From Iraq and Egypt to Sudan and Nigeria, from Indonesia to the Indian subcontinent, Christians in the early 21st century are the world's most persecuted religious group. According to the secular International Society for Human Rights, 80 percent of violations of religious freedom in the world today are directed against Christians. In effect, our era is witnessing the rise of a new generation of martyrs. Underlying the global war on Christians is the demographic reality that more than two-thirds of the world's 2.3 billion Christians now live outside the West, often as a beleaguered minority up against a hostile majority-whether it's Islamic fundamentalism in the Middle East and parts of Africa and Asia, Hindu radicalism in India, or state-imposed atheism in China and North Korea. In Europe and North America, Christians face political and legal challenges to religious freedom. Allen exposes the deadly threats and offers investigative insight into what is and can be done to stop these atrocities. “This book is about the most dramatic religion story of the early 21st century, yet one that most people in the West have little idea is even happening: The global war on Christians,” writes John Allen. “We’re not talking about a metaphorical ‘war on religion’ in Europe and the United States, fought on symbolic terrain such as whether it’s okay to erect a nativity set on the courthouse steps, but a rising tide of legal oppression, social harassment and direct physical violence, with Christians as its leading victims. However counter-intuitive it may seem in light of popular stereotypes of Christianity as a powerful and sometimes oppressive social force, Christians today indisputably form the most persecuted religious body on the planet, and too often its new martyrs suffer in silence.” This book looks to shatter that silence. 4
IT ISN’T EASY BEING MIKE? by Mike Damant
Back in April someone put in my mail envelope at the Church a clipping from the local Victoria News which opined that, “It isn’t easy being Mike.” Briefly, the writer commiserated with Mike Harcourt, Mike Gillis and Mike Farnworth who had all recently “bit the dust!” in BC. I beg to differ however! I have been Mike, or more correctly Michael as long as I can remember – actually, longer than I can actually remember! The family story has it that my Mother was charmed by a waiter at a hotel in the exotic city of Lourenco Marques where we were on vacation – his name was Michael – and she decided that I, who had not yet been baptised, was to be Michael! I like being Michael. I like the variations possible – “Mike”,” Mick”, “Mikey”, ”Big M” – even “Fat M” isn’t too bad. They are all friendly, cosy even, as if being called Mike or whatever variation is concocted shows a fellowship and easy relationship. Michael has given me many good friendships and relationships over the years. I have to say though that my Sister and one of my cousins are the only people really allowed to call me Mick. Mikey was usually employed by those “special girls of the moment,” of long ago, if you get the drift! Other variations have come and gone and generally been coined by school or work mates. All have served me well. So – I like being Mike, but what does the world think about us “Michaels”? The name is recorded in at least 24 languages from Arabic to Russian, in both masculine and feminine forms, so there we are, all over the world boys and girls together. Obviously the world includes us in a big way. But are we respected? Let’s check, let’s look at first of all, does the name mean anything? Wow! It comes from the Hebrew and means, “Who is like God?” Double Wow – but wait a moment, what’s with the question mark. Are we being doubted? No, absolutely not! What it means is, “This person is so in-
credibly awesome he/she must be close to God! Nice to be recognised, don’t you think! The truth is, in Talmudic tradition, it is interpreted as a rhetorical question, “Who is like God?” (which expects an answer in the negative) to imply that no-one is like God. Michaels appear in the Holy Books of Judaism, Islam, Christianity, and others. We Christians find Michael in the book of Revelation with his angels fighting against the dragon and his angels and we read of Michael’s victory (Rev.12:7-9). Michael is mentioned in Chapter 10 of the Book of Daniel as a glorious messenger sent to encourage Daniel in his time of fasting (Dn.10:13, 21). Chapter 12, verse 1 also reveals that God’s people will not be left alone in the fiery trials in the times ahead. Their angelic representative, Michael, will rise up to deliver them. “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your (Daniel’s) people.” From this is understood that Michael is the advocate of the Children of Israel. In late medieval Christianity, Michael, together with Saint George, became the patron saint of chivalry. Jean Molinet, a 15th century French poet, chronicler and composer, described the feat of arms of the Archangel Michael as, “the first deed of knighthood and chivalrous prowess that was ever achieved.” Michael was the natural patron of the first chivalric order of France, the Order of Saint Michael of 1469. In the British honours system, a chivalric order founded in 1818 is also named for these two saints, The Order of Saint Michael and Saint George. In many Christian circles, Michael is considered as the patron saint of the warrior. Police officers and soldiers, particularly paratroopers and fighter pilots, regard him as their patron. There are over 20 major shrines to Michael scattered throughout the world including well known tourist spots such as Mont St. Michel in Normandy, France and St. Michael’s Mount in Cornwall, England. This “Saint” business could induce some swollenheadedness in us Michaels! I know we are great, but Saints? I don’t think we belong in that wonderful company, but it is good having a name with such an august pedigree! We Michaels are a pretty awesome bunch, I think. So, to him who penned the column, I say, “You are wrong, Sir!” – being Mike is easy. It is fun, it is friendly, it’s highly prestigious and calafragilistic! I wouldn’t change it for anything – and I bet Mike Harcourt, Mike Gillis, and Mike Farnworth would agree with me. Mikes of the world stand firm – we have the best name in the world! 5
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The 2014 Capernwray Ladies Conference Adventure by Sandy Gilmour
move fast enough. The 2013 retreat filled up and we missed it. So this year, Heather tried again and we signed up earlier. There was so much demand for the women’s retreat that Capernwray opened another weekend. Our group from C.O.O.L. attended the second weekend. I am sure you can imagine our group. Heather had organized us into carpools and we all set out heading north on the Island Highway. There our adventure began. Some groups had slight difficulties finding the town of Chemainus, or finding the ferry terminal…. or even getting onto the ferry. One group actually had to stop and rescue a wayward alpaca. That said, we all arrived safely and got settled into our cabins before dinner.
Friday, May 23rd saw fifteen ladies from our congregation carpooling up to Chemainus to hop the ferry to Thetis Island. We were headed for Capernwray Harbour Bible Centre for a retreat weekend. Webster describes the term ‘adventure’ as, “a new, remarkable and exciting experience”. Our experience at the Capernwray Ladies Conference met that definition.
Entrance to the dining hall at Capernwray – It really is this beautiful!
Capernwray Harbour Bible Centre taken from the ferry
The theme for this weekend was “Dying to Live” and our speaker was a brilliantly astute and funny British woman by the name of Sue Gilmore. Sue serves with the Capernwray Hall School in England which is a sister school to Capernwray Harbour on Thetis Island. Her text was the Gospel of John, chapters 11 to 13. She centred on the stories of the ‘Raising of Lazarus’, ‘Mary’s gift of perfume’, and ‘Jesus’s washing of the disciples’ feet’. Those stories are so familiar to many of us, but she worked them in unique and modern ways. Sue taught in a level that was ‘down to earth’ where we all live in the real world of daily routines. She was a great speaker and told many personal and even vulnerable stories that demonstrated her own learning and her journey in following Jesus.
Capernwray Harbour hosts a yearly Women’s and Men’s Conference or retreat. These popular events fill up quickly with participants from across BC and Alberta. Heather Murray was the instigator in our community and tried to get us organized last year. But we didn’t
A highlight was that this weekend was not rushed. It was active and scheduled, but there was space and time for personal study and prayer. In fact, that was encouraged and even put into the timetable. But there was also time to wander around the gardens and to 6
walk the forest trail. We had time to go for a kayak on Saturday afternoon, or ride in the ski boat around the harbour. We had time to chat over tea and fruit, and meet and share experiences with other retreat participants. There was time to climb the “The Screamer”, but only Heather Murray from our group was brave enough for that one. The site of Capernwray Harbour is incredibly beautiful. It faces south and slightly west in a sheltered part of Thetis Island. It’s green and lush and quiet and peaceful. I am sure you are wondering about the sleeping arrangements and meals. I must admit that I was leery about sleeping on a top bunk in a cabin with 6 other women. After all, none of us were teens anymore. How were we going to manage with the numerous trips to the loo in the middle of the night? I was prepared to chalk it up as part of the adventure.
theme was on being a servant of Christ and about dying to self. To be honest – we did not die to ourselves at all. We were served! We sat at tables with real cloth table cloths and flowers - and were served. We didn’t do dishes. We didn’t gather up the dishes after our meal. We didn’t even scrape the dishes! – Did I mention? – We were served. The food was really good too, served hot and plentiful. And the dessert evening on Saturday was amazing. I have never seen so many chocolate covered strawberries! You had your choice – white, milk or dark chocolate. And nobody was counting! Of course there were also many other desserts, but who could get by those strawberries? The Capernwray Harbour Bible Centre has a number of permanent full time staff and a group of students who are working between their school terms. They were living examples of “joyful servants”. Anything you wanted, needed or required was just fine with them. They went way beyond that extra mile. They also have a real chef at Capernwray and any special diets were accommodated without any hassle. In conclusion, I heartily recommend the Capenwray Ladies Conference to any and all women. There were women there from early 20’s to their 90’s. We’ll be signing up for 2015 in February, so keep it in mind, ladies! It was an excellent time for rest and relaxation and learning. Plus we got to know our fellow C.O.O.L. members. All said - a most excellent adventure.
Heather Murray – balanced bravely and precariously atop the 40 foot ‘Screamer’ However, I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, some of us did get less sleep that first night. After all, the bunks were smaller than queen size beds and my top bunk was only slightly bigger than a coffin. But the bathroom floor was heated! And the showers really worked! Capernwray is not like a camp – it’s a bible school and students are there all winter studying. So the accommodations were much better than a normal camp. Besides, we are a forgiving lot and more ear plugs were passed around for the second night. So most of us had a good 2nd night sleep. If you want a chuckle, ask Agnes Duke to describe the ramp she had to navigate to her cabin. She had to go up and down this monster using her walker. Think ski lodge, and you have a good idea. The meals were amazing. Part of our speaker Sue’s
C.O.O.L. Women at the 2014 Capernwray Ladies Conference Front L to R: Laura Akers, Agnes Duke, Elizabeth Ljubojevic, Connie Darling, Susan Baldwin, Rolande Daly, Back L to R: Heather Murray, Diane Liang, Sandy Gilmour, Diana Stephens, Sue van der Merwe, Laine Warden, Barbara Stoeckel, Beth Taylor-Montgomery Regrettably missing from the photo is Kathleen Wood (All photographs by Laura Akers) _____________________________________________ 7
THE WAY OF THE PILGRIM is a little book that is highly valued in Russian Orthodox mysticism. It comes from the middle of the nineteenth century. Written in the first person, the book presents itself as the spiritual autobiography of a Russian peasant. It shows that “mental prayer” can be practised not only in a monastic cell but by a layperson even under the peculiar conditions of a wandering life. The prayer taught here is sometimes called the “Jesus Prayer,” or the “Prayer of the Heart.” By the Grace of God I am a Christian, by my deeds a great sinner, and by calling a homeless rover of the lowest status in life. My possessions comprise but some rusk in a knapsack on my back, and the Holy Bible on my bosom. That is all. On the twenty-four Sunday after Pentecost, I went to church to hear Mass. The first Epistle of St Paul to the Thessalonians was read. In it we are exhorted, among other things, to pray incessantly, and these words engraved themselves upon my mind. I began to ponder whether it is possible to pray without ceasing, since people must occupy themselves with other things needed for their support. “What am I to do?” I mused. “Where will I be able to find someone who can explain it to me? I shall go to the churches known for their famous preachers; perhaps there I shall hear something that will enlighten me.” And I went. [He heard a lot of sermons on prayer in general, but did not learn how it was to be done. So he gave up going to church and decided to look for someone who could explain to him the meaning of unceasing prayer. After much searching he found an elderly man who gave him an answer.] As we entered his [monastic] cell he said: “The constant inner prayer of Jesus is an unbroken, perpetual calling upon the Divine Name of Jesus with the lips, the mind and the heart, while picturing His lasting presence in one’s imagination and imploring His grace wherever one is, in whatever one does, even while one sleeps. This prayer consists of the following words: ‘Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me!’ Those who use this prayer constantly are so greatly comforted that they are moved to say it at all times, for they can no longer live without it. And the prayer will keep ringing in their hearts of its own accord. Now, do you understand what incessant prayer is?”
“Yes, I do, Father. In the Name of God explain to me how to achieve the mastery of it,” I said, feeling overwhelmed with joy. …”Take a seat in solitude and silence. Bend your head, close your eyes, and breathing softly, in your imagination, look into your own heart. Let your mind, or rather your thoughts, flow from your head down to your heart and say, while breathing: ‘Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.’ Whisper these words gently, or say them in your mind. Discard all other thoughts. Be serene, persevering and repeat them over and over again. [He was urged to say “the prayer of the heart” 3,000 times a day; then 6,000 times a day; and later 12,000 times a day. Which, he said, “wearied me to a certain extent; my tongue was somewhat numbed and my jaws still. My palate, to, hurt a little!” But soon, “my lips and my tongue recited the words without any effort on my part. I spent the whole day experiencing great happiness.”] I began to feel that the Prayer had, so to speak, passed to my heart. In other words I felt that my heart in its natural beating began, as it were, to utter the words of the Prayer. No longer did I say the Prayer with my lips, but listened attentively to the words formed in my heart, remembering what my now departed elder told me about this state of bliss.” –from A Treasury of Russian Spirituality, edited by G.P. Fedotov – pp. 44, 45 in SPACE FOR GOD, THE STUDY AND PRACTICE OF PRAYER AND SPIRITUALITY by DON POSTEMA __________________________________________________
O God Almighty, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, grant us, we pray thee, to be grounded and settled in thy truth by the coming down of the Holy Spirit into our hearts. That which we know not, do thou reveal; that which is wanting in us, do thou fill up; that which we know, do thou confirm; and keep us blameless in thy service, through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. St Clement of Rome, c.100 The Oxford Book of Prayer, p. 116
Alleluia, alleluia, Send forth thy Spirit! Sanctify us, O Lord! 8
THE POWER OF PRAYER by Suzanne Hagel As you know, our daughter, Emma had back surgery recently to correct a severe case of scoliosis. We had been living for some time with the prospect of her upcoming surgery but didn't know when it would be. With many doctor's visits and x-rays, we saw her spine continue to curve and rotate at an alarming rate. And so we prayed. A couple of years ago, Emma watched a movie called, “Soul Surfer”, based on a true story about a 13 year old Christian girl who lived and surfed in Hawaii. One day while out surfing, Bethany encountered a tiger shark and without warning, it attacked her and completely bit off her left arm. She nearly died as she had lost a lot of blood but with her praying family at her side, she survived. Although it altered her life considerably, and she had to re-learn how to do everything with just one arm, she succeeded and even returned to surfing, winning many trophies at competitions. A scene in the movie that moved Emma was when Bethany asked her dad why God allowed this to happen to her and he recited Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” And so, because of this movie, this became Emma's favourite verse. Some time later, when we were aware that Emma's curvature was becoming aggressive, we placed her name on the prayer list at church. Janet Finnie approached me and asked why we were praying for Emma and when I explained, she then started praying specifically for her needs. A few days later, Emma received a beautiful card in the mail from Janet and in it, she had written out Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” We were excited to read Emma's verse but were surprised because no one knew this was her favourite verse. And so I asked Janet why she chose this verse
and she said, “I don't know but when I prayed, God pressed it upon my heart to write it.” A couple of days later we brought Emma to the Healing Rooms at church for prayer. Dan and Emma joined the prayer team in the hall and I stayed in the Fellowship Room with Ashley. Next to me on the table was a stack of bibles and so I took one and randomly opened it and began reading. I didn't even realize which book I was in until I started reading..... “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” I gasped! How remarkable that I would be reading this particular verse. When the Healing Room team finished praying for Emma, she hurried to me and excitedly told me that the verse God spoke to them with was Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This was amazing! A total ‘shiver down your spine’ kind of excitement. A feeling like God was personally talking to us as a family and specifically telling us to meditate on this verse. We were definitely surrounded by Jeremiah's verse and again a couple nights later, I picked up a book from my side table and next to it was a leather book mark that Lynne Ellis had given to each Sunday school teacher and inscribed in the leather was none other than Jeremiah 29:11. This was God saying, “Hello! Listen to my words!” In the span of one week, we had been given this verse a handful of times. We were comforted by it, we read it and we shared it with others but we didn't really receive any more unexpected Jeremiah 29:11's until almost a year later. Then Emma had her surgery. I thanked God for healing her. And God did bless her. She had a minimal amount of pain that completely surpassed all understanding. She had an 8 hour surgery that corrected her 97 degree curve and had an additional 7 ribs that were cut. It was expected that she would be in a lot of pain and the surgeon had even warned the nurses that Emma would be in more pain than the usual patient. But she wasn't. The surgeon was amazed and said that she was his best recuperating patient. The pain management team was in a tizzy and couldn't explain it. They even asked me if 9
Emma was just being stoic and hiding her pain.
THE LAST THING I DO
God was indeed good to her.
H
Finally, after a long day, as she was lying there in a dreamless sleep, I opened up my daily devotional and read: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Ah! Dearest Jeremiah. God gave us his verse one more time. I looked at Emma sleeping. And then I cried. We would like to thank you all for your prayers for Emma. God has healed her and she continues to get stronger every day. Suzanne, Dan, Emma and Ashley Hagel
The Lord is thy keeper; the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.—Psalm 121. 5. Great peace have they which love Thy law; and nothing shall offend them.—Psalm 119. 165. I REST beneath the Almighty’s shade, My griefs expire, my troubles cease; Thou, Lord, on whom my soul is stayed, Wilt keep me still in perfect peace.
C. WESLEY
ONE great sign of the practical recognition of the ‘divine moment’, and of our finding God’s habitation in it, is constant calmness and peace of mind. Events and things come with the moment; But God comes with them too. So that if He comes in the sunshine, we find rest and joy; and if He comes in the storm, we know He is King of the storms, and our hearts are not troubled. God Himself, though possessing a heart filled with the tenderest feelings, is, nevertheless, an everlasting tranquillity; and when we enter into His holy tabernacle, our souls necessarily enter into the tabernacle of rest. T.C. UPHAM. Daily Strength for Daily Needs.
ave you ever ended a sentence with the words: “If it is the last thing I do!?” I have, usually when I’m struggling to accomplish something that I’m not convinced I can do. So I say something like, “I will lose ten pounds…” or “I will clean out the garage…” or “I will finish this tax return…” “if it’s the last thing I do!” I know these things are important – but are they really important enough to be the last thing I do? Literally? The other day, while waiting impatiently for my turn at the gasoline pump, I heard a news report of another disaster in the not-so-friendly skies!” What, I wondered, would I be thinking or doing when my time to leave this earth arrived? Would I be waiting impatiently for another person to hurry and get out of my way? Suddenly those words, “the last thing I do,” took on new meaning. Jesus said that we would not know the hour of His return. We also don’t know the hour that we will leave this earth. While I should be living in expectation of His return, I realise that there are many moments in my day when I do not. Moments when I am nursing a grudge against someone, instead of forgiving and choosing to love, thus forfeiting God’s peace. Times when I turn away from someone instead of offering help, times when I fail to trust God with the deepest desires of my heart and waste a lot of time trying to make things happen my own way. Every time I choose to act as the world says, instead of how Christ has taught me, I risk the confidence He has promised me: confidence to not shrink away from Him in shame when I finally see Him. It also tells Him I am not taking my life for granted. One of the most important reasons for rejoicing daily is because my name – my own name – is recorded in heaven. And so I’m determined to praise God each morning – if it’s the last thing I do! by Patricia Timonen Acts 29 Magazine, Sept/Oct 1989
The Spirit of the Lord fills the whole world, Alleluia, alleluia. In him all things have their being. Every sound that is uttered, he knows. Alleluia, alleluia. Feast of Pentecost, Western Rite The Oxford Book of Prayer, p.207
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SARA AND DOROTHY — ARTISTS IN WOOD When we moved away from our St. Matthias Church home and became Christ The King Church in rented hall premises, we had nothing in the way of furnishings and necessities. We were blessed however with gifted artists who contributed to what was needed. Our original processional cross was assembled from beach driftwood by Aimee van der Merwe and her mother Sue. On Easter Sunday, April 2011, a new processional cross made by Dorothy Jones and Sara Plumpton was dedicated. And this processional cross now has a home in the blended congregation of Church of Our Lord. I thought it might be of interest to the original “Church of Our Lord-ites” to know something of the making of this beautiful gift. † Sara has always liked working with wood and had the lathe so it was a natural fit that she would create the staff for the cross and also do most of the prep work, cutting, gluing and sanding, to put the cross together. Dorothy would do the carving; and the drawing, planning and measuring. † Dorothy had always liked the Celtic knot – to her they represent eternity as they never end if you try to follow them. Sara also liked the Celtic crosses and they settled fairly quickly on the basic design using the Iona Cross as their model. The three little squares on the cross represent the Trinity, and the big one in the middle is the One True God, and each has a cross in the middle of them. † They decided on Purple Heart wood and Bass wood very early on in the design process. The Purple Heart because the congregation had chosen “Christ the King” for their new name and Sara and Dorothy wanted to emphasize Jesus’ kingship with the royal purple. The Bass wood was chosen primarily for its properties in being one of the easiest woods to carve. It is also pure in colour and contains very little variation in the grain
and colouring of the wood. So they ended up with the dramatic purple and white. † The staff and the circle around the cross are in Purple Heart, a very hard wood from South America. They did not stain it - that is its true colour. It is a royal colour and it is also the colour of blood, the blood of Jesus, by which we are saved. The cross is of Bass wood, a soft, tight grained wood that is great for carving. It is clean and pure and lovely with a clear finish on it. † Sara says she will never turn such a big piece of Purple Heart again, it’s such a hard and dense wood. It was tough work! It’s also a poisonous wood to work with, one should wear a mask! She made the staff as smooth as silk, 600 grit and linseed oil so that it feels smooth and soft † Although the design took about two years to gel, the actual carving only took about 2 weeks, over a Christmas holiday. The whole process took about 3 years from the initial idea to actual reality. † The cross itself is of three pieces of Bass wood laminated together, and four pieces of Purple Heart to make the symbolic crown of thorns which encircles the cross. Using the band saw at school, Sara made the four pieces of the crown of thorns. They glued these on at home using great big bar clamps. After these delicate operations, Dorothy lacquered the cross and Sara glued it to her staff, and they heaved a huge sigh of relief! † In turning the three pieces of the staff, Sara was fortunate in having only one reject which had to be re-done. Each piece took several hours to turn, and then several more to sand. The pieces she had now created had to be notched, drilled, glued and put together, and sanded some more. She wanted the staff to have a balanced feel and knew that it would need a heavy ball at the base to balance the cross at the top. Lastly the staff had to be oiled in linseed oil - that's all it will need to protect it and keep up the lustrous colour and shine in the future. † Parishioner Doug Halstead devised a clean and simple design for a stand for when the cross was stationary. Dorothy and Sara created a beautiful gift for their church family and to the Glory of God. __________________________ 11
THE TRUE STORY OF THE INTERNET Well, you might have thought that you knew how Internet business started, but here's the TRUE story: In the land of Judea, it came to pass that a trader by the name of Abraham Com did take unto himself a young wife by the name of Dot; and Dot Com was a comely woman, broad of shoulder and long of leg. Indeed, she was often called Amazon Dot Com. And she said unto Abraham, her husband: "Why dost thou travel so far from town to town with thy goods when thou canst trade without ever leaving thy tent?" And Abraham did look at her as though she were several saddle bags short of a camel load, but simply said: "How, dear?" And Dot replied: "I will place drums in all the towns and drums in between to send messages saying what you have for sale, and they will reply telling you who hath the best price; and the sale can be made on the drums and delivery made by Uriah's Pony Stable (UPS)." Abraham thought long and decided he would let Dot have her way with the drums; and the drums rang out and were an immediate success. Abraham sold all the goods he had at the top price, without ever having to move from his tent. To prevent neighbouring countries from overhearing what the drums were saying, Dot devised a system that only she and the drummers knew. It was called Must Send Drum Over Sound (MSDOS), and she also developed a language to transmit ideas and pictures Hebrew To The People (HTTP) But this success did arouse envy. A man named Maccabia did secrete himself inside Abraham's drum and began to siphon off some of Abraham's business. But he was soon discovered, arrested and prosecuted for insider trading. And the young men of Judea did take to Dot Com's trading as doth the greedy horsefly take to camel dung. They were called Nomadic Ecclesiastical Rich Dominican Sybarites, or NERDS. And lo, the land was so feverish with joy at the new riches and the deafening sound of drums that no one noticed that the real riches were going to that enterprising drum dealer, Brother William of Gates,
who bought off every drum maker in the land; and indeed did insist on drums to be made that would work only with Brother Gates' drumheads and drumsticks. And Dot did say: "Oh, Abraham, what we have started is being taken over by others." And Abraham looked out over the Bay of Ezekiel, or eBay as it came to be known. He said: "We need a name that reflects what we are." And Dot replied: "Young Ambitious Hebrew Owner Operators." "YAHOO," said Abraham; and because it was Dot's idea, they named it YAHOO Dot Com. Abraham's cousin, Joshua, being the young Gregarious Energetic Educated Kid (GEEK) that he was, soon started using Dot's drums to locate things around the countryside. It soon became known as God's Own Official Guide to Locating Everything (GOOGLE). And that is how it all began. Truly!!! ____________________________________________
A
n eye witness account from New York City on a cold day in December, some years ago: A little boy, about 10-years-old, was standing before a shoe store on the roadway, barefooted, peering through the window, and shivering with cold. A lady approached the young boy and said, ‘My, but you're in such deep thought staring in that window!’ 'I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes,’ was the boy's reply. The lady took him by the hand, went into the store, and asked the clerk to get half a dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with the towel. By this time, the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she purchased him a pair of shoes. She tied up the remaining pairs of socks and gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, ‘No doubt, you will be more comfortable now.’ As she turned to go, the astonished kid caught her by the hand, and looking up into her face, with tears in his eyes, asked her, ‘Are you God's wife?’
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