The Anglican Parish Of Haliburton

Jesus’ final words—on the cross and following his resurrection—in many ways sum up his whole message to humanity.

Come join in a Lenten look at those words. We’ll spend an hour a week in the seven weeks before Easter following a program based on Adam Hamilton’s book Final Words from the Cross.

For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment.” Luke 1:37, Amplified Bible

While the Christmas season ends for another year, the mystery enfolding—and enfolded by—the season never ends. It didn’t even begin that first Christmas. It simply revealed itself to us: to all and any who could see or hear, listen—who had ‘eyes to see’ and ‘ears to hear’—in the eons to come. A mysterious Word, existing since the beginning of time, wrapped in a baby and born into a world so already full of its own words, wonder, beauty and noise—that hearing, seeing, the capital-W Word and Wonder beyond and behind it can be nigh on impossible.

In Mary’s encounter with the angel and then with the Holy Spirit, the divine seed was planted. She treasured and wondered at the words spoken to her, and her body nurtured the ‘Word’ to term.

Imagine carrying and giving birth to a mystery. In a way every mother does, but can you imagine carrying and giving birth to a world-changing mystery that both pre-existed you, life itself, and contained the answers of time and eternity? Completely impossible to comprehend, and that’s the point. Mary embraced what she did not understand, nurtured and treasured it. The holy seed came to term and the world would never be the same.

Have you ever had an inexplicable, dramatic encounter with holiness, with God? By its very nature you can’t explain it to anyone else, but like Mary, you can treasure and nurture it. Trust that the divine seed will come to term.

People who hold onto and nurture what God has said to them, or allowed them to experience—even though they don't understand—carry the fruit of the revelation from God that says: "Nothing will be impossible with God." That’s the commonly translated version of the angel’s words to young Mary when she wondered aloud how on earth she could give birth. A more accurate translation from the Greek would be more like “no freshly spoken word of God will ever come to you that does not contain the ability to perform itself.”

If the world, your world, seems crazy right now, this is the book for you.

Hannah Whitall Smith (1832-1911) wrote from her own brokenness, pain, sorrow and loss into incredible peace, joy and ‘foundness’ in God alone.

Her husband had been one of the 19th century’s most celebrated evangelists. Tragedy thundered in via first the loss of a young daughter, later a son, and then public scandal which devastated her marriage.

A wise, discerning woman, Hannah aptly analyzed and examined the day’s religious movements which so mirror many today. Whether attempts to legislate purity or holiness, an over-emphasis on razzle-dazzle emotionalism, the promotion of success in the material world as opposed to spiritual victory over the world-bound soul—she found no truck with any of them.

Safe Within Your Love, a compilation of Hannah Whitall Smith’s writings into a 40-day devotional by David Hazard, is sadly out-of-print. So while I try to convince the publishers to get it out there again, forthwith are some nuggets:

Earthly cares are a heavenly discipline.
But they are even better than a discipline. They are God’s chariots, sent to take the soul to its high places of triumph….The dangerous ‘vehicle’ is the visible thing; the chariot of God is the invisible.”

Some Christians think that the fruits which the Bible calls for are some form of outward religious work—such as holding more and more meetings, visiting the poor, conducting charitable works, and so forth. The Bible scarcely mentions these . . . but declares that the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23). A Christlike character must necessarily be the fruit of Christ’s indwelling.”

Editor and compiler David Hazard offers a reflection at the end of each short chapter. Here’s one gem:

My Physician Father, I see it now…

For every one of my soul-sicknesses, you give me a ‘medicine’ for my healing.
For my pride and independence, you give one who likes to dominate. For my impatience, you send one who grates. For my criticalness, you give me one who is sorry indeed.
Today, I will receive your treatments . . . even if they sting.”

by Sandra Bramham 
 
On Sunday Sept. 25th, St. Margaret's in Wilberforce once again celebrated the service of Harvest Thanksgiving. Produce and flowers from our gardens were colourfully and beautifully displayed and arranged by the people of our little congregation. Hymns of thanksgiving and praise for the summer’s bounty were sung with much enthusiasm under the leadership of organist Elsie Lewis. Canon Anne Moore's address—her theme based on the words and history of the hymn Now Thank We All Our God—reminded us to give thanks at all times, and in all places and circumstances.

Seven of St. George’s finest young high school graduates were presented with bursaries to help with their further education on Sunday, August 14. We’re all so proud of them, and pray for wisdom, protection and further provision for them in their various futures.

Left to right:   Ian Bottum—The Aveline Petch Memorial Bursary:  Jenna Dibblee—The Aveline Petch Memorial Bursary; Nicole Jennings—The Aveline Petch Memorial Bursary;  Catherine Judge—The Gladys Gliddon Memorial Bursary;  Sara Day—The Sylvia Claridge Bursary:  Brandon Telfer—The Clifford Montague Memorial Bursary (absent: Chris Judge—The Gladys Gliddon Memorial Bursary)

Head Lake Park simmered and shimmered on a recent Sunday as hundreds of people from Highlands’ area churches sizzled under the hot August sun singing songs of son-shine, listening to messages of hope and grace, and afterwards, witnessing a joy-filled baptismal service in the river.

Harry Morgan, pastor of the area United Churches, opened with prayer. He also joined in with the talented music group, led by Karen Frybort. The team of singers and musicians from several local churches confessed to having only practised together once beforehand, but had 5 weeks of prayer backing them up.