Weekly News

Weekly News

Sept. 18, 2024

The Power God Gives Us to Comfort Others

Pablo Diaz

When you encounter someone whose heart is broken, here’s what your faith calls you to do.When you are hurting and broken-hearted, so many memories can stir up the pain—places, images, even clothing and household items. As a pastor, I see this with some couples going through divorce. The person still at home wants everything out that

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Sept. 11, 2024

I am not a fan of violent, heavy rainstorms. There is something about water damage both inside the home and outside that scares me. Since I moved into this house in Markland Circle, I have dreaded heavy rain because the eavestroughs would fill up and overflow to the point that my poor gardens under the eaves got more than they bargained for. The soil would be washed away. I have been known to open large umbrellas and place them over my poor plants to

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Sept. 4, 2024
The Fall season is symbolic of change. From the leaves evolving to beautiful warm hues to chunky knit sweaters making their way into our daily attire, Fall brings change—but with a sense of comfort and ease. To admire the changes orchestrated by Mother Nature is to be humbled by nature’s power and its influence over our environment, routines, and even our moods.
Studies show that some…

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Aug. 28, 2024

Well, here we are in the last days of August, and Fall is right around the corner. The CNE is on, and that is a surefire sign that summer is waning and will soon be gone. Thankfully, as I write this, the sun is shining, my lawn is being mowed and I have this glorious day to myself to get tasks completed and to enjoy some outdoor time. We have a busy month…

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GREAT GRANDMA’S IRISH STEW

St. Patrick’s Day Celebrated in Style Many thanks to Dave Taylor, for presenting Great Grandma’s Irish Stew. He cooked before a packed house to a very appreciative audience.  His always entertaining repartee made us want to sample this delicious feast and no sooner than his presentation was done we were treated to delicious Irish Soda Bread and a bowl of this stew. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Everything was just perfect. I know that the bowls at my table…

March 19, 2025 – Weekly News

Download the PDF here Mar. 19, 2025 If God is so all-loving and all-powerful, then why does he let bad things happen to good people? It’s a very good question, and you’re absolutely right to ask it. Being a Christian does not mean shying away from the difficult questions. We’re allowed to mention the elephant in the room. It’s a question that every generation has asked and that no-one has a complete answer for. Her it is being asked in…

March 12, 2025 – Weekly News

Download the PDF In the Holy Land Seeking the Solace of the Cross By Stephanie Saldaña   For many years, I have believed that as Christians we must read the Gospels, as we must read our own lives, in the light of the resurrection. We are called to return to every moment in the life of Jesus, no matter how small: his walks along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, the bread he broke amongst friends, his prayers whispered beneath the…

March 6, 2025 – Minister’s Message

Are you ready for a journey? In the Christian tradition, the season of Lent is a journey over forty days (not including Sundays) towards the pivotal events of Jesus’ final days of his earthly ministry we call Holy Week. It is a time of thoughtful reflection and practice for those who seek to love and follow Jesus in the world today. The exciting thing is this Lenten journey is not one we make alone. Rather, we do so in the…

March 5, 2025 – Weekly News

Download the PDF Mar. 5, 2025 In putting together this week’s Weekly News I cannot help but weigh in on the insanity occurring south of our border. So, please forgive me from being a bit “editorial” but I feel so strongly about what is happening in our world. I have read the articles on Facebook. I have watched the news; I have prayed that saner heads will prevail but am still experiencing that sinking feeling that the world as I…

March / April 2025

What a winter it has been!  With the multiple snowstorms we’ve been gifted with lately, it’s hard not to marvel at the beauty and power of God’s creation. 

Tortellini with Mushroom and Garlic Sauce

1 pkg. fresh or frozen tortellini 1 tbsp butter or margarine 1 small green pepper, cut into short strips 1 small red pepper, cut into short strips 1 can Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom and Garlic soup (This is getting hard to find. If you can’t find it, use regular Cream of Mushroom and add a tsp of minced garlic to the peppers in the frying pan.) 1/2 cup milk Grated parmesan cheese That is the basic recipe. Easy and delicious.…

If it Doesn’t Give you Joy, Out it Goes!

I look around my house these days, and it’s easy to get discouraged at so much clutter! It’s not a big house, as houses go. It’s a fairly basic three-bedroom bungalow of about 1800 square feet, built in 1955, and it’s pretty dated. In 1994 we moved in, and in 1998 gutted and replaced the original kitchen. In 2002 we did the same to the main floor bathroom. The updated version of both is now outdated. The kitchen is large,…

Going To Church

Adapted from an article by Theodore Roosevelt, Ladies Home Journal, 1917.  Theodore Roosevelt (1858 – 1919) was the 26th president of the United States, serving from 1901 to 1909.  1. In this … world, a churchless community, a community where men have abandoned and scoffed at their religious needs, is a community on the rapid downgrade.  2. Church work and church attendance mean the cultivation of the habit of feeling some responsibility for others… 3. There are enough holidays for most of…

Hymn Stories: The Old Rugged Cross

Adapted from 101 Hymn Stories – Kenneth W. Osbeck Author and Composer – George Bennard, 1873-1958 On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, The emblem of suff’ring and shame; And I love that old cross where the dearest and best For a world of lost sinners was slain. This gospel hymn, a sentimental favourite of Christians and non-believers alike, was written by George Bennard in 1913. It is generally thought to be the most popular of all…

Money Talks

So far in my life, which has included service not only to our church but to other organizations in which I have served as an executive member, such as the now defunct Home and School Association, my long-ago bowling league, and Let There be Music Choir, I have always managed to steer very clear of anything to do with looking after other people’s money. Taking care of money and making financial decisions just wasn’t happening, no matter in what other…

St. Patrick – Patron Saint of Ireland

St. Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland and was probably responsible in part for the Christianization of the Picts and Anglo-Saxons. The available body of evidence about him is contradictory. It appears that Patrick was born in Roman Britain in the early part of the fifth century, but as a teenager was captured by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Ireland. While in captivity, he prayed daily, his faith grew, and after six years he heard…