Easter 09 Hpc Newsletter

HPC

NEWSLETTER

Be Strong and Courageous (Please take a moment to read Joshua 1:1-9 before you read further)

A fair amount of anxiety has been noticeable in conversations and meetings lately, and along with that, difference of opinion, and tension. People are anxious about the times; about the impact that the current economic climate will have on church finances; about what is happening to the church; about a lack of unity in the congregation… We feel as if we’ve been thrown overboard and we are swimming for dear life, but we don’t know for sure where the shore is. Things have been going well; we’ve experienced growth; we’ve put all kinds of groups and programs in place; the way we have been doing things served us well for a long time; everyone knew where they fit in and what was expected of them; we’ve been comfortable and enjoyed a great sense of security and belonging. But things are changing. Anyone observing the life of the congregation would notice that there is less unity and much more diversity of opinions about what to do and where to go from here; would notice some uncertainty about the future; would feel the underlying tension between different interest groups. Why are things changing like this? We are undeniably in a transition period where things are delicately balanced. We’ve been thrown into it partly because of outside events, but it is also a sign that the seasons are changing. Just as we experience different seasons in our individual lives (some of which require significant adjustment), there are also seasons in the life of a congregation. The good news is this is a sign that we are alive; that we are alive with Christ. The question is how do we navigate these changing times? This made me think of the story of Joshua. If you’ve ever seen a time of transition, this is it. After forty years of wilderness wandering, the people of Israel have been brought to the edge of the Promised Land. They are camping in the plains of Moab where Moses gives his final sermon. Across the river lies the Promised Land. Ahead of them are some of the biggest challenges they would ever face. Everything about them, their whole way of living is about to change. And then their trusted leader Moses dies. They are thrown in the deep end. What now? God speaks and Joshua is called to lead them through this time, and through the River Jordan to inherit the land that God is about to give them. We can learn much from this story about navigating times of transition. So let me point

Easter 2009 out two refrains in this story that give direction. The first is this: Be strong and courageous. It is said no less than three times. I don’t know about you, but my church vocabulary did not always include these words. I am realizing more and more however that these words really belong in the life of someone who follows Christ. We need strength and courage in obeying God, as the story points out. Obedience takes guts as it involves the willingness to be different, to make tough choices, and the faith to step into the raging waters of the River Jordan in following God’s call. So is there anything that can help us be obedient? Two sentences describe what obedience to God is all about (verse 8): “Do not let this book of the Law depart from your mouth” and “Meditate on it day and night”. In times of transition we need to be strong and courageous in paying attention to the Word of God. Speaking the Word and meditating on it prepare us to walk straight, to act faithfully and to live lives of calling with integrity in the presence of God. These are core activities that pull us back on track when we stray to the left or right. Paying attention to the Word of God defines who we are as the people of God. To be strong and courageous in paying attention to God is our basic calling. Richard Foster therefore writes, “If we hope to move beyond the superficialities of our culture, including our religious culture, we must be willing to go down in the recreating silence, into the inner world of contemplation.” And Henri Nouwen writes about our listening to God: “It keeps us pilgrims and prevents us from becoming entangled in the cares of this age. It guards the fire of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us. It allows us to speak a word that participates in the creative and recreative power of God’s own Word.” There are few securities in times of transition. We live by faith. But let me point out the other refrain in the Joshua text (verses 5 & 9): “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you,” the Lord says. Sayings about the presence of God frame the imperatives “to be strong and courageous”. God is larger than our fears. His presence brackets our circumstances. He keeps us in his hands. God’s presence opens the future. Nothing on earth can make more of a difference. God’s presence gives courage and strength.

Gerard

HPC NEWSLETTER

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Stewardship Stewardship, what is it? During this time of economic downturn I have been giving some thought to the matter of stewardship. Usually, the first thing we think about when we hear that word is “money”. Of course we know it is really comprised of the three “T’s”, Time, Talents and Tithes. But today I want to address only one “T”, that being the Tithe. Knowing the aversion to talking about such a mundane thing as “money” it can be a somewhat delicate subject, something we don’t like to talk about, sort of in the same category as politics and religion (my faith is personal and private!). But whether we like it or not Jesus, as well as the bible, had no compunction about talking about money. He warned against putting too much stock in amassing wealth in earthly treasures for “where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matt.6:21 And then there is that dire warning: “No one can serve two masters; for a slave will eihter hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Matt. 6:24 One of the charges against the Pharisees was that they were “lovers of money” Luke 16:14a And then there is that rather disturbing passage in the first letter to Timothy: “…the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.” 6:10

“ No one can serve two masters...You cannot serve God and money.” Matthew 6:24

Way back when I was a student (actually I’ve never outgrown that student designation), I was engaged one summer to do a survey for the church in Campbell River. One of my questions was whether or not it was important for there to be a church in the community. I well remember one lady saying how important it was for her to be able to look out her window and see the church building only a block and half away. Although she wasn’t a member and didn’t attend, it nevertheless was a comfort to her for if the time ever came when she needed the church she certainly knew where to go. “Well”, I replied, “ I certainly hope, if and when that time comes, the church is still there.” To which she replied, “O, it will be there, the church is always there!”

Of course she had no concept that the “church” might need her if it was to survive and carry out its mission in her community and the world. It was that need, along with the economic downturn of the day, that prompted my thoughts on the matter of stewardship. The simple fact of the matter is the church cannot survive and carry out its mission to be the hands and feet of our Risen Lord in a world desperately in need of reconciliation and healing without money. (There, I’ve said it!) Our budget has modestly increased this year. We have also had some unexpected and unavoidable expenses to start the year off. Add to that the financial pinch some folk are feeling and….well, you get the picture. While some have felt the crunch, have perhaps been laid off or seen their retirement investment returns diminish and have had to scale back on their tithe, others have not been affected at all and are in a position to pick up some of the slack. Of course it may require some sacrifice (then again maybe not), but at least it will be voluntary, as opposed to those who have been caught in the financial crunch and have little or no choice in the matter. That is the reality we find ourselves in. You might call it a time of testing, a challenge to our faith. You see, in the final analysis it is not about money at all, but rather how we respond to the call of God on our lives to be the church, the living breathing body of Jesus the Christ in this place and in this time. Yours in Christ’s service,

Dorne

EASTER 2009

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From Your Treasurer Financial Report January 1, 2009 – February 28, 2009 INCOME Congregational Givings & Envelopes

19,995.85

Term Deposit Cashed

5,390.00

Use of Church

2,532.00

Christian Education Etc

444.63

Miscellaneous

190.55

Donation re Church Loan Bank Interest & GST Rebate

10,000.00 16.76 38,569.79

EXPENSES Salaries

15,257.14

Maintenance of Church

15,667.11

Christian Education

713.83

Outreach

880.00

Loan Repayment (Donation) Miscellaneous (Coffee, WCB, etc)

10,000.00 519.49 43,037.57

Balance (decifit)

(4,467.08)

(Budget $32,023.00)

NOTE Additional donations for designate projects not included in above. Cariboo Church, WomanCare, Salvation Army Dinners, Nicaragua, Swaziland & Memorial Fund - $520.23 As you can see from the above statement, we have had a few financial problems in the first two months of this year. Despite having cashed in a Term Deposit from the contingency fund, our expenses were still $4,467.78 more than our income. Part of this was due to unexpected problems such as clearing snow from the parking lot at $330 each time and various repairs to the building. Also the death of several of our church family has had an effect on our congregational givings. I realize that the economic situation is not good at this time, but we, the congregation, did agree at the Annual Congregational Meeting to uphold the budget for 2009. I thank you for your support.

Jean Grundmann

Everything comes to us as a gift from God. Sunshine and Rain. Fruitfulness and fertility. Strength and health. They are all from God. Our offering is an acknowledgement of that. It’s a way of honouring Him and giving thanks to Him. Eugene Peterson’s Commentary on 2 Corinthians 8

HPC NEWSLETTER

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Senior Version of Jesus Loves Me Many years ago, while watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a Church in Atlanta vetting one of it's senior pastors who had been retired many years.... He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the Church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age. After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, as the applause quieted down, he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gate to the podium.... Without a note or written paper of any kind, he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak… 'When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50 odd years of preaching..... I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heart break and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me… The only thing that would comfort was this verse… “Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong, we are weak but he is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me… The Bible tells me so”. When he finished, the church was quiet. You actually could hear his foot steps as he shuffled back to his chair. I don't believe I will ever forget it. A pastor once stated, “I always noticed that it was the adults who chose the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course) during a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they knew it the best.”.

Here is a new version just for us who have white hair, or no hair at all. For us over 40 (or even those almost there) and all you others… Check out this newest version of 'Jesus Loves Me'. It is quite cute, so read, sing and enjoy:

Senior version of Jesus Loves Me Jesus loves me, this I know, Though my hair is white as snow. Though my sight is growing dim, Still He bids me trust in Him. CHORUS: YES, JESUS LOVES ME YES, JESUS LOVES ME YES, JESUS LOVES ME THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO. Though my steps are oh, so slow, With my hand in His I'll go. On through life, let come what may, He'll be there to lead the way. CHORUS Though I am no longer young, I have much which He's begun. Let me serve Christ with a smile, Go with others the extra mile. CHORUS When the nights are dark and long, In my heart He puts a song. Telling me in words so clear, 'Have no fear, for I am near.' CHORUS When my work on earth is done, And life's victories have been won. He will take me home above, Then I'll understand His love. CHORUS I love Jesus, does He know? Have I ever told Him so? Jesus loves to hear me say, That I love Him every day.

EASTER 2009

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Holy Week and Easter Program Please note the following opportunities for worship at Haney church for Holy Week and Easter. Several special services have been scheduled: Holy Week services Services of prayer and quiet reflection will take place Sunday through Wednesday (April 5 - 8) at 7 pm. Maundy Thursday On April 9 at 7 pm we’ll share a light meal, have a service of readings and share communion.

Good Friday We remember the death of Christ at our Service on April 10 at 10 am. Easter Sunday We celebrate the resurrection of Christ on April 12 at 10 am. There is enough reason in this world to be utterly hopeless. Sin is wreaking havoc in our lives and communities, devastating everything that is good and every relationship that we are part of. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Paul writes. But that is not all he has to say in his letter to the Romans. Drawing the implications of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, he shows that through faith in Christ we have reason to live hopeful; that we can indeed rejoice. During this year’s Holy Week services we’ll take a closer look at chapters 5 and 6 of Romans to reflect on this message of hope:  We have peace with God through Christ;  We are alive through Christ;  We are dead to sin;  We are slaves to righteousness.

WELCOME TO PRAY

At the beginning of February, a small prayer group began to meet every Tuesday morning from 9:00 to about 9:40 to pray for our church, our church family, our communities, our province, country and any area of concern. There is no membership requirement, only a desire to pray—silently or out loud. Many of us, if we are truly honest do not really know what prayer is all about and therefore we shy away from prayer groups. Bingham Hunter in “The God Who Hears” (1989) writes “…although an astoundingly large number of Americans claim to have religion, the clergy report that prayer and prayer groups are „especially successful‟ in only 1% of their churches.” (p10)

Perhaps we worry about the words; perhaps we have prayed over the years and have seen few prayers answered; perhaps we believe that prayer is something that is private between me and God. Too often we grow up believing that prayer is the way that we get God to do what we want. This belief is underscored when writers or preachers tell us to “stand on the promises” of God without continuing to speak about the context of those promises. We are left wondering what is wrong with me. Is my faith too weak? Over time our prayer life becomes a way of life rather than a meaningful communication with our Lord. We pray because that is what we have been taught, but it neither helps us grow nor does it change anything in our lives. At the same time we long for the example in our own life that we read about in the lives of other Christians who seem to have all their prayers answered.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray that God may open a door for our message. (Col. 4:2)

And so with all the baggage surrounding prayer that I bring from my past and my present, I come to pray on Tuesday mornings with whoever comes. I come with the trust that God will be in our midst and that the Holy Spirit will shape our words—both those spoken out loud and those we speak silently. I come trusting that relationship is based on genuine communication and that prayer is communicating from my heart to the heart of God. I come believing that our God is still very much alive and engaged in the events of this world. I come knowing that Jesus called us to pray and to sit at His feet so that He might teach me to pray. You are welcome to come and join us.

Karin Breuer

HPC NEWSLETTER

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HPC MISSIONS UPDATE Ezulwini Valley Primary School (Swaziland) The Kingdom of Swaziland is a small, landlocked country in Southern Africa (one of the smallest on the continent), situated between South Africa in the west and Mozambique in the east. Due in part to a high rate of HIV infection of 42.6%, Swaziland has the world's lowest life expectancy of 32.62 years. The current polulation is only about 1,1 million, 60% under the age of 18. As in the rest of the world, the Global slowdown has severely affected life in Swaziland. Swaziland's economy is dominated by services industry, agriculture and subsistence farming. This has been impacted by the closure of urban manufacturing as well as mines in

South Africa which employed a large number of Swazi’s. Swaziland currently also has the highest unemployment rate in the world of 40%. Our feeding program at the Ezulwini School is a lifeline for 850 children. Two to three meals per week is prepared for the children in the basic kitchen HPC built in 2007. The meals consist of a basic porridge, beans and soup. Depending on availability, fresh vegetables are added from their school garden. Fortunately, the summer has had good rains and helped break the drought of previous years. We transferred another $830 to the

Metro Cash and Carry Supermarket in February for food to be delivered to the school. Please do not hesitate to speak with any of the committee members if you would like any more information. Please accept an open invitation to anyone interested to join the Missions meetings. Any input or help is welcomed. Thank you for your continued support. Without your help, we would not have been able to make a difference in other peoples lives.

Missions Committee

God’s Gifts The other day I was chatting to a friend when he told me he was an Agnostic. Not sure of the full meaning of the word I looked it up in my trusty Oxford Dictionary and discovered that an Agnostic is “One who finds it impossible to believe whether God exists.” That set me back on my heels for a bit and got me thinking. What kind of world was this man living in? He is cheerful, a loving man good to his family and hard working. He loves music and the outdoors, how could he not know God exists? As I pondered this an e-mail came in from another pal in California. I have known Patricia for 20 years and we can carry on a conversation as if we have just left the table together and as we chatted of our lives, she started to talk of „God Gifts‟ small mercies that happen out of the blue. Often these gifts are so obvious we can‟t miss them and sometimes so subtle we never realize they have been given.

When Geoff first started his business way back in the 1990s we started with nothing. He had just been made redundant and we had only been back in Canada 18 months. All our hopes were dashed and we did not know what to do. Finally he decided he would go it alone and a contract came up, but he had to drive into Vancouver to sign it and we had no gas in the car.

when there has been none, these are just a few examples. I thought again about my Agnostic friend and his view on life. How can God not exist when we are given constant reminders of his love through our lives. It can be as strange as the $10 bill or as simple as a hug from a friend.

Some time ago this little verse apWe had recently bought an old second hand peared in our Church leaflets and I chair and as we talked he sat down, slipping have it stuck to my computer screen: his hand down between the seat and the The road we walk may seem long back. Suddenly he stopped speaking and withdrew his hand. Clutched between his God will grant us persistence. fingers was an old $10 bill. Enough at that The vision may seem dim time to get him in and out of Vancouver to God will grant us wisdom sign his contract. The companions may seem few What made him put his hand down the back God will grant us courage of the chair? Intuition, fate. This is what The task may seem impossible Patricia calls a „God Gift‟ We have had many God will grant us faith. Amen. of these wonderful gifts since then. Friends who have thrown us a lifeline when we have Yes Virginia, there is a God! been fighting a stormy sea. Our lives saved LIZ HANCOCK when we crashed the car. Food on the table

EASTER 2009

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Coming Soon to your HPC Library !!!! I love new books. I love the way they sit on the shelf, all stacked neatly. But what I like even better is to see the books checked out by our enthusiastic readers here at HPC. I am starting a new category of books that I’m sure will appeal to many of you. I am calling the category “Journeys” and the new books are on their way. The first author I have chosen for this series is a famous Canadian named Alberto Manguel. He is “acclaimed for several award-winning works, including the triumphant A History of Reading (a Maclean’s Best Book of the Year and winner of France’s Prix Medicis). His writing is easy to read and it is wonderful, jubilant, entertaining and instructive. So let’s take a look at the book called “Reading Pictures, a history of Love and Hate” by Alberto Manguel. This book is definitely a journey; it is filled with explorations into many historic and contemporary works of ART. Hang on now, don’t worry, this is not a dreary text book, because the most fascinating parts of this book are the revealing histories of the Early Christian Church, and best of all ideas flow about what those past devout fellow Christians wanted to say and how they said it without words. Our Christian ancestors taught their fellows how to read the PICTURES. There are chapters that highlight pictures, paintings, architecture and sculpture done by a variety of Artists and one highlight is the story of “Aleijadino –The Image as Subversion”. This true story of a boy born to a Portuguese father and an African Slave woman is about his brilliant art and how he dedicated his whole life to carve statues and figures out of wood, especially those in the Sanctuary of Congohas in Brazil. He produced 76 sculptures for the Sanctuary and these are “among the most powerful and dramatic of his time”. But most interesting of all, Aleijadino produced this great body of work for the Christian Church in spite of his horrendous handicap of Leprosy. To help you along the way this book is filled with reference pictures and illustrations. The Next Book in the Series is also written by Alberto Manguel and it is an unbelievable journey through the “History of Reading”. Wow! This book blew me away with some of the most intriguing facts about how people invented the writing of words and then read what they had written. Of course one of the most interesting aspects of this book entails the writing and reading of the Bible as we know it today. Remember though this book is no dry read, it is exciting and full of the many aspects of daily life in the long ago world and it is also filled with illustrations. This book is all about communication and how it has been preserved through out history. You will find some interesting facts about how western civilization got to have this most precious Word of God handed down to us in tact? God Bless you all, Enjoy!!!!!!! From your librarian Gayle Howard, …………oh don’t hesitate to give me your reviews on these books, I would love to hear what you think……Thank you all so much. I might even print excerpts of your reviews in the next newsletter.

Interesting Article in Times Online Do yourself a favour and read the article written by Matthew Parris and published on 27 December 2008. It is currently available on the internet on the Times Online website, with the title and subtitle: As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God Missionaries, not aid money, are the solution to Africa's biggest problem the crushing passivity of the people's mindset http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/article5400568.ece

HPC Newsletter

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What do we remember on Palm Sunday? What do we remember on Good Friday? What do we remember on Easter Sunday? What did God create on the first 6 days of each of Creation?

And what did God do on the 7th Day?

Oberammergau Passion Play Tour Only once every ten years is the Oberammergau Passion Play performed, and 2010 is the year! Rev. Robin Ross, Editor of the Presbyterian PCCWeb Daily Devotional, is leading a tour of central Europe for 16 days, from June 21 to July 6 next year. We'll visit, for example, Frankfurt, Prague, Vienna, and Lucerne, taking in the Passion Play on July 1. This first class coach tour is truly all-inclusive, for worryfree travelling, including the cost of all side tours and events, breakfast and dinner each day, luggage handling, a professional tour guide, even tips for ALL included services, and more. Early booking discount applies until March 31. For more information, e-mail Robin Ross at [email protected] .