Stories of Hope

  In last week’s sermon I challenged everyone who considers Hope Fellowship their church home to take a good hard look at their giving towards the church budget and to prayerfully consider giving through the “pre-authorized debit” program that we’ve dubbed HopePAD.  Currently, only fifty-six households do their giving this way.

  Over the years, parents in many Christian Reformed churches have been asked by their children, “Why can’t I take Lord’s Supper?” At Hope Fellowship parents have been able to say, “You can, after you share your love for Jesus with the pastor or the elders.” Now, throughout the Christian Reformed Church, parents will be able to say, “You can, because you also belong to God.”

  Have I ever told you I have the best job in the world? If you ever see a smug look on my face, it’s because I’m feeling sorry for everyone else, since it’s my job and I’m not giving it up! If you ever see me with a smile on my face, it’s because I love what I do.

  When the expansion of our church was being planned back in 2005, one idea that received unanimous support was a well designed nursery area. In addition to Sunday services, one of the possible uses discussed was a weekday nursery school to provide a place for community parents to confidently leave their children in a nurturing environment.

  Every year our youth leaders try to find a retreat that they can attend with our students. Our aim is to help our youth in their Christian walk and to spend time with them in a setting outside of regular youth programs.    This year we chose to go to the Anchor Retreat. This retreat was geared for grades 7 to 12, the first time all our youth were able to go together. On Friday, Oct., 14 six leaders and 34 students headed to Cambridge.

   At the end of our morning services, the invitation is often given to seek prayer from the prayer partners who make themselves available for this. Each Sunday, a few people accept the invitation.   Are people actually helped or even healed when others pray for them? One person, who wants to remain anonymous, gave us permission to share his experience.

   Over the last few years, you may have seen the words "Ten/Ten" in our weekly schedule. This refers to the leadership preparation group that Marja and I have led for the past five years in our home.    By now, 42 people have gone through this course. Many of those who attended have found their way into various volunteer positions at Hope Fellowship. This certainly ranks up there for me as a reason to be grateful to God on this Thanksgiving weekend.

  Rev. John De Vries, a retired CRC minister from London who has served as a chaplain in both penal and psychiatric institutions, promoted restorative justice at Tuesday’s Classis Quinte meeting in Bowmanville. As part of his presentation he told the delegates a personal story involving himself and a seventeen year old driver who struck and injured him two years ago.   The police said he could charge the young man with careless driving. The injuries had really impacted his life. But did he really want to take the driver to court or even sue him?