Stories of Hope

From Cindy De Jong:  www.calvin.edu/news/archive/advent-a-waiting-time   The word Advent points to coming—something arriving. And what we’re centered on during Advent is the coming of Christ. It’s a season of four weeks leading up to Christmas preparing for Christ’s coming…It really points to three comings. It’s not just Christ coming at Christmas when the Word became flesh … but it’s also preparing for Christ coming again. It’s this heightened awareness of the in-between time that we’re in—the already, but not yet. Christ has come already, but the kingdom has not been completely fulfilled yet until his return. Then there’s a third coming, which is Christ coming into our hearts.

  On Saturday November 19th, members of the Administrative Board, Deacons and staff met for an extended breakfast meeting to discuss a new way to look at our ministries and how they work towards our purpose of bringing people into a living relationship with Jesus Christ.   The Admin Board has embraced the theme of being an “Externally Focused and Internally Strong” church over the last few years (from the book The Externally Focused Quest, available in our church library) and this has now become a regular part of our ministry review discussions. Our next challenge is to take a look at our ministries to see how this theme is actually helping us achieve our purpose at Hope Fellowship.

  Last week I had the privilege and pleasure of conducting a double symbolic wedding in the Dominican Republic. We’ve known this was coming for three years ever since I officiated at the wedding of Devonne and Jenn. Back then, they had approximately ten wedding guests and expressed the hope of renewing their vows in the Caribbean in the presence of family and friends from the Islands. Jenn’s sister, whose extended family also lives in the Caribbean, decided to renew her vows, too. It turned out to be a hugely emotional experience, especially for Devonne’s mother who had not seen her son for five years and had never met her new daughter-in-law and two grandsons.   There was one glitch. On the morning of our departure we examined our e-ticket and discovered that I had depended on a month old e-mail that said we were flying out at 3:15 p.m. whereas a more recent itinerary said that our flight was leaving at 10 a.m. This was heart-stopping news at 7:15 a.m. on a Friday...

   Twenty-five years ago Rick Hansen made history when he completed his Man In Motion World Tour after propelling his wheelchair for 792 days and 40,000 kilometres through 34 countries and 4 continents. 126 flat tires did not stop him from covering the circumference of the earth. Neither did his spinal cord injury (SCI). Since then, his foundation has raised more than $250 million, money used to accelerate progress towards a cure for SCI and a more accessible and inclusive world.    On Wednesday, November 2, the 25th Anniversary Rick Hansen Relay , came through Bowmanville. Thirteen persons, each doing a 250 metre section of the tour from the Zoo to the Recreation Complex, were given the experience of wearing the heavy sterling silver medal that commemorates the world tour. It weighs 400 grams and bears the logo “Many In Motion”.

   Wow! We did it! Over 150 people were fed a delicious, well-balanced meal for only $2. (Thanks to a few extra tips, we stayed within our means.)

  Every November since 1921 Canadians have worn poppies. This red flower symbolizes the lost lives and blood of our soldiers. In the past and present they have fought for innocent victims in countries around the world and also protected our freedom here in Canada.