Our Sunday morning services are posted here each week. Listen online or download them to your computer.

10_25_09 Bernie Baker_When God Opens a Heart

10_18_09 Henry W

10_11_09_Ken_Ritsema_Thankfulness

10_04_09 John Molenaar_BelieveItOrNot

10_04_09 SERVE Sharing

WeekndSERVE_SaturdayEvening

WeekendSERVE_FridayEvening

09_27_09  Peter Slofstra_Honesty and Hope

09_13_09_Dale_Winder_Jesus Went and Jesus Sent

09_06_09_Dale Winder_Show Needs Tell

08_23_09_Kyle_Kloostra_Hillelite,Shammaites, a Nazarite and Basic Table Manners

08_16_2009_Ivan_Dejong_Be_still_and_know_I_am_God

08_09_09_Kyle_Kloostra_Hevel_Havalim_Hakol_Hevel

08_02_09_KyleKloostra_Something Happened

07_26_09_Kyle_Kloostra_The_Reckless_Extravagance_of_Jesus_Christ

07_18_2009_serve_sunday

07_05_09_Kyle_Kloostra_If Heaven is The Emerald City….

06_28_09_Kyle_Kloostra_When all Heaven breaks loose

06_21_09_Kyle_Kloostra_Paul’s_Prayer_for_Port_Perry

06_14__09_Bernie_Bakker_Four_Great_Habits

06_07_09 John Molenaar-The Fugitive

05_31_09 – John Suk_Old Time Religion and Backflips

05_24_09 David Mayberry – True Fasting

05_17_09 NormSennema – Heart and Soul

03_29_09_Karl_House_-_Goodnews_Badnews

04_05_09 DaleWinder_- The-saviour-of-the-world-has-come

04 12_09_Harry-Salomons_Don’t Be Alarm

04 19_09_Keith_Buist_According_to_the_Scriptures

04_26_09-George Lubbers a-thief-and-a-centurion

05_03_09-Dan-Zylstra-BeStillandKnow

If you were like my coming from a reformed background you likely never learned much about the person and role of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps you were like the believers at Ephesus mentioned in Acts 19 and wonder about third person of the Trinity. At Alpha we make up for that deficiency especially during the retreat weekend. May you be blessed and encouraged as you view the power point summary of only some of the scriptures regarding God, the Holy Spirit.

holy-spirit-scriptures

Word of Faith teachers believe that every believer will experience  wealth and health if they exercise their God given authority. Is this what it means to live the victorious christian life? Is poverty and poor health an indication we have not claimed financial success and healing? How do you deal with struggles, disappointments, sickness, pain etc.? I believe as the old hymn says we do have Victory in Jesus but how do we work that out in our  everyday lives?  What does it mean to live the victorious christian life?

Victory in Jesus

• Response A

Hi Karen

We used to do coffee houses on Sunday which was a good way to get to meet people

But again it can’t be the same people offering and receiving. People who feel isolated or lonely in the church need to reach out without apprehension.

It is also worth noting so we are brought back to awareness that we do tend to socialize in cliques. Reminding us to reach out and “touch” someone new each week can be a personal challenge for each one of us.

• Response B

Hello all,

First off, every church has this problem… And this is VERY wrong!!
But I don’t by any means believe there is nothing that can be done to change the situation (and I’m not talking about a temporary fix/bandaid, I mean serious change that will last [so long as people commit to working on this change]).

Here is the solution:

Every SINGLE person needs to start changing themselves… Brett Ullman spoke to the youth, leaders and parents on Friday and Saturday this past weekend and he said how we tend to chase the actions instead of starting at the root of the problem (which if we do start at the root of the problem it will change something which will in turn change our actions [I don't have the words he used, but I have them at home, or maybe someone else remembers what it was and can pass it on, but if not, when I get home tonight I will forward it to everybody again]).

He also said that to bring about change we need to pretty much start with ouselves and change what our Biblical worldview and I believe that if we deal with these issues within ourselves then we will naturally just be driven to fellowship with anybody that comes into the church. (I am now going to try to remember what the 5 things were… so bear with me)

1. Solitude – We need to (daily) take time out and BE QUIET, and just focus on God (not on what we have to do for the week, so bring paper and a pen and write it all down, that way you won’t be distracted by those tiny details).

2. Prayer, fasting and reading – This is great what he says about these 3 things. Some people say “How do you pray? Where do you begin?” Answer: “You pray!” And learn to pray without ceasing. Stop saying Amen    “How do you read your Bible?” Answer: “You read” … Fasting? Try not listening to your iPod, or watching t.v. or _____ whatever it is in your life that you could spend your time reading your Bible…. (I know that sentence is horribly gramatically incorrect, but sometimes, that’s just the way I talk! Hahahaha)

3. Sacrifice/Financial giving – Brett gave this awesome example: Take a piece of paper and write out everything you speant your money on in the last year. Oh by the way, you can’t include anything you spent on you, your friends or your family. I’ll admit that I (this is me talking now) have about 7 points down on my piece of paper… There sure is a lot more space on that paper that HAS to be filled up!

Matt 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

4.  :(   I can’t remember at this point and time…. but I will get back to you all later. Unless someone else remembers and can fill in the blank for me

5. See #4.

Anyways. What does everybody think? And I’m not trying to say that nobody is doing this, but imagine what would happen if EVERYBODY lived like this?!

Ooo here’s another couple of quotes Brett said (this one is from an author… which once again, I have the name of at home)

“If you do not worship Christ 7 days a week, you do not worship Him one day” 

And I’m sorry for those that have heard this one a number of times for me, but it just makes SO much sense!!

Brett:  “Hey, my names Brett, I’m a football player.”

Karly: “Oh really? Where do you play?”

Brett: “Oh I don’t actually play”

***stunned silence as we all realize what this means to us***

Now that I’ve given away a lot of what Brett speaks about I hope you’ll still listen to him if we get him to come talk to our church one Sunday morning

Ok, I think that’s all I have to sugest… Oh wait, in case anyone is wondering, I’m not sitting here thinking that this is all going to happen overnight (It very well could, but something like this needs to take time…) So you can all be my accountability partners when it comes to this because I am committing to doing this in my life to help change the current situation.

And please call me on anything I said if you think I missed something crucial or don’t understand something else… or just whatever…. This is what I said, I would like to hear you say “I’m hearing what your saying, but this is what it sounds like your meaning” So that I can say “No that’s not what I mean!” Or to say “Good point, thanks so much for bringing that to my attention/I never thought of it that way before…”   (And in case anybody is wondering, I am fighting prideful thoughts ALL the time and I am trying my best to be humble, I really truly just want to live the life that God is calling us as Christians to live)

Thanks for listening everybody!  

• Response C:

Like Response B I also feel very compelled to respond to Karen’s concern and request When reading this I can almost not believe we are talking about the same Hope Church. Maybe you can redefine for me the feeling of loneliness. I am not sure if  loneliness is not being visited, depressed, or ignored.  I cannot understand how someone could feel lonely in our church. It almost seems impossible. From the time I have been a member here (almost 23 years) I cannot think of a closer and more compassionate group of people. When I was out of commission because of my back I was brought to tears by the love and support we received as a family and personally. When Ros left for university again we were overwhelmed by our loving congregation for our daughter. We have many opportunities to bridge this ‘unconnected ‘ feeling. Almost weekly  we hear of opportunities to help or be involved with Alpha , Sunday School, Youth Groups, Prayer, Ladies society and the list can go on and on. A pot luck supper or other social gatherings are not going to fix this. If you get involved I can almost guarantee that you will get a sense of ownership, renew friendships and explore stepping outside of the box. I think the Pastoral Elders have done an exceptional job ministering to those who may need an extra measure of love and support in times of need. They have been there for prayer or a time to share after our services. PM had a great prayer request before Christmas and that was to make our ‘friendship circles’ u shaped instead. Talking and sharing meals or coffee and even just a chat in the washroom with someone you don’t usually talk too can have very positive effects. If I have completely missed the boat on this one let me know. I will try to make it my priority to pray for more smiling faces and more a even more connected church

Response D:

I love this conversation! 
 
I’ve been with HOPE almost from the beginning  – when we worshipped in the Presbyterian church. I’ve had different levels of involvement over the years but I have often heard that there were/are people who feel “outside” of the circle.  It is a difficult problem to address for there are many complex reasons for it.  As response C suggests they may quietly be hurting, but it may not even be that simple.  Let’s continue to pray that we may bless and welcome everyone that we meet and may we each be willing to stretch our own circle to include others.

• Response E 

  Hi Karen:  Thanks for addressing this issue in our Church (and others).  J and I have felt very privileged to have been included and enfolded in a group of “seniors” at Hope, but also feel accepted by the “younger” folks as well.  Perhaps because of our involvement with Alpha.  However, Jake and I have discussed in the past, the lack of welcoming/including some of the younger people who’ve attended our Church and slipped away because they didn’t feel accepted.

   

  I know that we all get “comfortable” within our own circles and are hesitant to move beyond them to get to know others.  I think the demise of cell groups, “guess who’s coming for coffee”, and now Alpha, has added to this problem. 

   

  Let’s all make an effort to make EVERYONE welcome at Hope and I would be more than willing to be part of a group to initiate some of these social events …I’m rather limited as far as mobility is concerned, but I am willing to do whatever I can to change this situation.

   

  We all need each other and everyone has something to offer as we grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour.

   

  As I look around the fellowship hall on Sundays, I see folks who are never invited for coffee or a meal to someone’s home to my knowledge.  We need to change that

   

  • Response F

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Great emails, everyone. My two cents worth:
   
  Like Response C, I’ve felt connected and enfolded for most of my 26 years at Hope.
   
  I should also note that during that time I’ve participated in: Coffee Break, Ladies Society, Gems, Praise Team, Council, Nursery, Alpha, Missions/Outreach, Sunday School, VBS, Couples Club, Cell Group, Furniture/Decorating Committee, Soups On, Serve, Pre-marriage classes (hey, this wasn’t all at the same time). Oh yeah, and I typed the bulletin for about 5 years.
   
  Am I boasting? No, but I really think getting involved gets you feeling… involved, and connected. Its a by-product.
   
  I can appreciate that there are people who attend Hope Church and feel lonely, but I really don’t see how a person could feel disconnected if they became involved with others. And there are so many opportunities to become involved.
   
  When I hear comments like Karen’s, I wish I just knew who these lonely people were, so I could invite them over and make sure they have chances to feel included. Could we have a list?? Sometimes its a guessing game, as maybe some of the lonely people are ones who seem to have it all together… does anyone know what I mean?
   
  Well Karen, your email is bringing us all together! I guess the Lord works in mysterious ways

• Response G

 

 

I feel so very tired and stressed…and I’ve also been reading our church discussions on aloneness……..I guess I have a whole different perspective on this topic.
Response H
It breaks my heart to hear that there are still some souls in our “family” that sense disconnected and lonely.  Just sitting here in my pajamas I am so saddened by this my eyes well up with tears feeling for these people ,what could have been my plight except for the grace of God.  I have never felt disassociated or alone since I have been a member of Hope Church.  We have such a great church family, and so much that we all can be part of, that it is sad to believe that there are still some that do not feel like partners.  I am so hugely thankful, especially with all the garbage I have been dealing with these last months. I do know that for myself, God gave me times of quietness socially, over my lifetime, to draw closer to him. I am not trying to insinuate anything here, but I know that my times of quietness have been times of great blessing. 
     Life is about relationships, with God and with others.  I know I have boasted how blessed Hope Church is.  Perhaps it is in my boasting that God is trying to teach me something about the gaps in our family that yet have to be filled.  Perhaps it is also Satans way of creating weakness and doubt .  I do believe that through our prayers and gifts we can help those who are in need, and I know that we all do that already.
     So……I am truly thankful for Hope Church and I am going to pray that God tells my one way or another what I can do for someone else to perhaps ease their feelings of lonliness. 
Response I
I have been reading what every one has written and must confess I am a little concerned with the discussions that have been taking place.  Each one of us has, I’m sure, an antidote or “cure” for the feeling of loneliness but when your in that particular “place” antidotes seem unattainable.  Lets just collectively pray and keep our ears and eyes open for opportunities for God to show us how to listen, help and heal.  Thank you for letting me take part.  
Response L
I must confess I can’t understand why anyone would be even a little concerned with the ”antidotes” or suggestions that have been brought forward by people from Hope congregation.
 
Personally, I’ve found the suggestions helpful and encouraging, so keep ‘em coming.
 
In fact, keeping our “ears and eyes open” sounds suspiciously like a suggestion or antidote, and a great one at that.
 
There aren’t any one-size-fits-all solutions for the problems of loneliness, since the reasons vary as do the temperments of the afflicted. I’ve been “in that place” myself, but did not feel “antidotes seemed unattainable.”
 
I don’t believe this forum should be a substitute for prayer, but through it I feel the fellowship of believers.
 
And long live freedom of speech. 
 
Person L


 

 

 

 

Remember the days when you planned your Sunday social calendar so you could attend the “evening service” ? Personally I miss the more informal and more intimate services we used to have the option to attend in the evening. I would like to again make the Sunday evening an opportunity to connect with other believers in a time of worship, learning and renewal. To revive the old format would be a mistake but there are other ideas floating around that need to be explored. Somehow I feel like we are losing a valuable resource…Sunday evening…that could be used to foster community, growth and vision in our congregation.

I miss the liturgy we often had as part of the evening service like reciting the Apostles Creed or the Our World Belongs to God passsages etc. Somehow we need to incorporate the good things and try to avoid duplicating the morning service. Suggestions might be an intro followed by discussion groups, or a healing emphasis service, or a potluck followed by worship and prayer or small groups,   a social,  a community speaker followed by discussion, a service in which we sing only hymns, a bible study, prayer meeting, etc.  I think we ought to experiment and and be open to various formats as long as they include worship, a time to learn and grow together, as well as an opportunity to deepen our walk with the Lord.

What do you think??

Hard to be Humble

Pastor Henry’s sermon today really hit a chord in me. There was a time when my standard concern would be what’s in it for John? Someone many years ago called me to account for my self-centred attitude but it has been a process. That ego keeps following me around. It has taken several crisis situations in my life to learn that it’s not about me but is all about God and His amazing grace. He accepts me despite  my prideful attitude and selfish ambitions. I have been a slow learner in that it’s usually when I’m in dire straights that I fall on my knees and cry out for mercy and grace. Lord thank you for your love that knows no boundaries. A contrite heart you will not turn away. One of many texts pastor Henry used sums it all up:

^{Isa 66:2} Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the LORD.

“This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.

Pastor Henry reminded me that to be useful to the Lord I need to surrender my will to His and to take the attitude of Christ so powerfully outlined in Philippians 2:3-11.

The undeserved favour or “Grace” that the Lord pours out his followers was not cheap. It cost Him his life on a cross and He did it for me. Amazing! Too bad it takes a crisis like the health challenge I am facing at the moment for me to see the truth that ‘the joy of the Lord is my strength” Thank you Lord for opening my eyes again. Thank you pastor Henry for your timely message today.

This Sunday pastor Solamons had a sermon on John 12:1-8 concerning the need to abide in the vine. It was a powerful reminder to me that ministry and programs are not about my effforts and good intentions but rather about my relationship with Jesus. “What relationship?’ pastor S challenged us. Do I indeed seek to cultivate a relationship with Him? We are presently reading The Secret Place by Bob Sorge. This devotional book is a powerful guide to developing that personal time with the Creator of the universe. Too often, as Peggy said I see God as a “getting out jail free card”. I need to be more intentional about spending time in the Word and in prayer. Unless I seek to fill myself with the Truth and soak in the Spirit I can do nothing. But with God nothing is impossible and with Him for us who can be against us?

How did you experience this Sunday’s service? Are you struggling with the refining process or the pruning mentioned in this passage? Do you really want to be like Jesus or as I sometimes think is this just so much pious talk?

I have some interest but limited expertise in managing our church blog. I agreed to pastor Norm’s request that I would keep the blog up to date by posting the latest bulletin and also a few Hope pictures. However I feel the blog can be so much more than merely a convenient way to keep our church community up to date on what’s happening.. I would like to facilitate discussions on any “spiritual” topic that might be of interest to you and that you feel might also be of some interest to others in our community. The blog could become a type of forum on issues that have been burning in your mind or heart.The forum should not just be a sounding board but rather I see it as an opportunity to grow together in knowledge and faith as we dialogue together. Of course I can begin by introducing those issues that are important to me but I would like to open it up to all of you. Feel free to email any article or opinion that you would like me to consider for inclusion in this forum or instead of emailing you could mention something in your response to this posting. Let’s talk together..

This summer I read most of Lee Strobbel’s book “The case for a Creator”. Its fascinating reading as he systematically presents the evidence for a creator from the study of Cosmology, Physics, Astonomy, Biology, biochemistry and what he calls Conciousness. Its impossible to summarize the arguments and evidence he presents in the over 300 pages of the book but in my opinion he presents overwhelming evidence that on the one hand Darwinism is ” too far fetched to be credible” and on the otherhand that ” the universe is governed by both physical laws and spiritual laws. The physical laws point toward the Creator and the spiritual laws tell us we can know this Creator personally.” Mr. Strobel does not spend a great deal of time examining the literal biblical account of creation but he leaves no doubt that God indeed is beyond time and space and designed this universe in all its  diversity. But to me the most amazing fact is that our God who knows the stars by name also intimately knows each of us by name even before we were born. I don’t understand it but I believe it. Do you?