News Letters (Page 5)
Hiemingas Celebrating St. Nicholas 2025
Dear friends!! We have had so much to be thankful for this year – not only joys, but also the challenges. We are finishing off the year experiencing the joy and light of the birth of Jesus. This began as we celebrated the Dutch tradition of “St Nicholas” (Dec. 5-7) We opened our time together in prayer of thanksgiving for food and time together. Every year St Nicholas Celebrations become even more special. In past we have made a gift…
Guest Minister – Rev. Dr. Ernest Van Eck
Guest Minister – Rev. Dr. Ernest Van Eck On Sunday, November 9, (Remembrance Day Sunday) we were blessed with the presence of Rev. Dr. Ernest Van Eck, Principal of Knox College, in our pulpit. Many people commented on his sermon, and a few of you, including me, confessed to having some difficulty understanding his charming South African accent. His most excellent sermon is worthy of a second look. It is printed below with his permission, and an introduction by himself.…
December 24, 2025 – Minister’s Message
When the Bells Ring: A Renewed Hope for the City As this year draws toward its close, I find my heart lingering on a moment of grace God provided for me earlier this month—one that arrived at just the right time. I had the privilege of being invited by the Canadian Bible Society to the 25th Anniversary Bells on Bay Street breakfast worship event at the Fairmont Royal York. The gathering began at 7 a.m. on a snowy Toronto morning,…
December 24, 2025 – Weekly News
Download the PDF Reflecting on the Christ Candle means recognizing Jesus as the “Light of the World,” dispelling darkness, bringing hope, love, and peace, and symbolizing His pure life and presence among us, prompting believers to carry His light through selfless acts and share His message, transforming the world one flame at a time. It’s a call to open our hearts to God’s immense love, follow Him, and be His hands and feet in a world needing His transformative power, especially…
My Latest Project – a Crokinole Board.
One of the projects I worked on this summer was a Crokinole Board. You might be familiar with Crokinole as it is a game thought to be invented in Canada in the 1800’s. The World Championship Crokinole Games are held every year in Tavistock Ontario. If you are not familiar with the game but would like to know more, please consult my friends at ChatGPT or Wikipedia. The playing surface is a circle 26 inches in diameter. On it are…
How I Got Here from There
The previous issue of Graceviews contained an article in which I described aspects of my twelve years of Christian education in the Catholic school system. I wasn’t sure how much interest there would be in such a personal story, and I was surprised that a number of you commented on it and told me you enjoyed it. One person, who I would have thought unlikely to send me an email but did, said that he could relate to it, having…
How He Found God
This was found in a scrapbook given to me by Nancy Green, compiled by her mother and grandmother. Nancy thought I might find something useful and interesting in it to share with everyone. Here is an example of how music can sometimes do what mere words can’t. More than a hundred years ago, a young man in England, who belonged to a pious family but was himself far from God, was to find God by strange means. He had…
Stained Glass Window Shattered
Did anyone happen to see the article that appeared in the Toronto Star on October 4, 2025, under the above headline, announcing the appointment of the first female Archbishop of Canterbury? Sarah Mullally, Bishop of London, was chosen as the Church of England’s spiritual leader; her appointment will be made official in a formal ceremony at Canterbury Cathedral in January. What a milestone for a five-hundred-year-old church dominated by a male hierarchy that, in England, ordained its first female priests…
Guest Minister Won Hwang – Sept 14
Won Hwang has served as a pastor for 23 years, ministering to toddlers, children, youth, and adults with words and sacraments, pastoral care, and discipleship programming. He is passionate about teaching the Bible with biblical, creative, and fun programs. This passion led him to pursue biblical studies through Master of Divinity, Master of Theology, and the doctoral programs. He published Raffle Nextgen’s Bible Learning series on Nehemiah and the 10 commandments. Ordained in 2006 by the Presbyterian Church in Korea,…
November 1, 2025 – Minister’s Message
By coincidence, I ran into the worship service of our renting congregation, the United Church of God (UCG), right here in our sanctuary. It was Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and I noticed the many cars parked outside. Out of curiosity, I stepped in and was able to witness their service firsthand. Now, here’s a fun fact: I actually happened to be born on Yom Kippur according to the Jewish calendar! Perhaps that means I should have an extra…
Good King Wenceslas – Who Was He?
Good King Wenceslas looked out on the Feast of Stephen,When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even.Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel,When a poor man came in sight gath’ring winter fuel. “Hither, page, and stand by me if thou know’st it, tellingYonder peasant, who is he? Where and what his dwelling?”“Sire, he lives a good league hence, underneath the mountain,Right against the forest fence by Saint Agnes’ fountain.” “Bring me bread and…