GRACE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

When you need directions, it helps to have a good GPS. Or access to Google Maps. Or an up-to-date paper map. Or a friend who knows how to get there.  

As Grace Church begins a new leg of the journey, we have a Friend who knows the road. He knows potholes, construction slow-downs, and important scenery. Jesus is not big on shortcuts. But he guarantees to get us where we need to be.

Our challenge is to let him lead.

As we come to the end of another school year, and the end of another Church season with the celebration of Pentecost, and the end (soon) of my ministry at Grace, I have a few reflections. It is good God gives us rest, a slower pace in the Summer, some Summer activities to look forward to enjoying. It is good God gives us Sabbath and seasons. He...

One of the things we see on the news daily is the inundation of homes near water sources, the Ottawa River, creeks, low lying areas, you name it. Perhaps you are like me and ask yourself why the city or region would allow buildings to be built in these areas that are prone to flooding. And if the officials allow it, why would homeowners continue in these buildings and properties causing themselves the stress and pressures of being unable, in many cases, to actually remedy the situation and have a safe property to live on. Everyone makes their decisions in light of their understanding of the situation in which they live. They choose the best path they can figure out. Is it for me to judge those who are in waterfront residences? It is not my decision...

Peace That Comes After Holy Week and Easter

There was almost too much in that last week of Jesus’ life. The Gospel writers give more attention to that last week than to any other part of Jesus’ earthly ministry. We know that this last week is the culmination of the three-year presentation of God’s plan for humanity,...

 As we look forward to 2023 from the start of it, we might feel anxious or wondering about what might happen this year. God’s people have felt this way for generations, in the midst of tumultuous change and huge negative historical events. Military empires rise and fall when we look back in history, but living through their expansion meant wondering if I and my family might live or die soon.

Advent and Christmas and Epiphany give us a chance to re-define our understanding of generosity. It is in this season that we remember God the Son becomes one of us in Jesus of Nazareth. He lays aside all His “benefits” as God and comes as a secret agent to sacrifice Himself that we might have a life giving relationship with God forever. God moves into the neighbourhood as a baby boy. And we can’t sing enough about it. So let us not be distracted from this central truth but learn anew from our Lord’s spirit of generosity.

The Bible is full of real people who had many challenges before them, spiritual, emotional, physical and other. There are quite a few passages we could look at where families disagree internally. In fact, this happens not only in families, but also between church leaders. In the book of Acts, Barnabas encouraged the newly formed Christian Church...

As we look around town at the end of September and the beginning of October, we note the number of people who darken their properties with spiders, witches, graves, ghosts and evil icons of many kinds. Halloween has become one of the biggest decorating events of the year, almost approaching Christmas levels of decoration. Scary monsters now...

I remember thinking about the Summer as a child, and enjoying the different activities and sometimes going on a trip. It was a happy time, as I recall, being away from school. Going back to school seemed traumatic, some years more than others. Perhaps it was because I didn’t have many friends, or perhaps I just didn’t like school, but I did fairly well, and in the end, spent too many years in post secondary education.

We use that word “gracious,” in the title of our Newsletter as a little bit of a play on words with the name of our congregation, “Grace Church.” Graciousness is that ability to be kind and patient under stress and difficult circumstances. What we learned at General Assembly was that you get treated graciously when you...