June 2015

3521 County Road 124, Box 12, Nottawa ON L0M 1P0

Phone: (705) 444-6823

Website: www.epcn.ca

From the Pastor’s Desk: “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring the good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the broken-hearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favour has come, and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies. To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes; a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.” – Isaiah 61:1-3

Broken-Hearted

“What? Not another Mission event?” “I can barely even watch TV anymore for all the commercials showing starving kids.” “There are so many problems in the world! But what can I do?”

I remember growing up with a familiar saying being tossed at me time and again: “Do one thing, and do it well.” That made a lot of sense at the time, and in fact, still does. If (or more appropriately, when) we try and do too much, nothing gets done well if at all! Charities know this, Political parties know this, Businesses know this. If you split your focus/resources/energies, you risk losing effectiveness all round. Better to limit yourself to one thing and to do a great job than to attempt 5 and accomplish little or nothing.

This is true in the Church and in the life of Faith … in a way. We all know that there are a million charities and causes all vying for your attention and your donations. If you are like myself, you only have so many dollars to give, and if you try to give to them all, you will only be able to give a few dollars … not enough to do anything with. True, each few dollars added together becomes a sizeable sum … but it will always remain limited and insufficient unless it is backed by something more important: a heart to see change!

Over the last few months we have had two different organizations come and speak to us about their ministries: the Gideons and Compassion Canada. In the recent past we have also worked with Sleeping Children Around the World, Youth for Christ (through The Door Youth Centre), and a few others that have come up through associated church groups. And on top of this come the all too regular appeals for Earthquake/Flood/Famine/??? Relief all around the world.

It would appear that I am in danger of doing what I have just said is not helpful: splitting the resources into too many piles. However, it is not my intention for you to support all, or even any, of the above missions! (Yes, you read that correctly!) So then, what is it all about? Why have someone come and talk about needy children if not for me to support the mission? Why listen to people talk about the need for Bibles if not to support them?

So your heart can be broken.

We in the West live rather comfortable lives. Most of us have squirreled away sufficient resources that we can live and retire without too many concerns. We may not live in a palace, but we can live with food and shelter and

companionship. When we gather to worship God, our concerns are often whether we will like the music, or whether the service will go too long, or be interesting or “relevant.”

For a few, perhaps we will be thinking about whether God might remove a particular obstacle or challenge in our lives.

For a very few, we will be wondering if God will become “Real” to us.

But in a vast majority of the world, people do not have enough: food; water; shelter; companions; hope; medicine; safety. For them, every day is a struggle to survive, and there is no thought of retirement … only the hope of relief.

In many countries, when people gather for church they are preoccupied with: have I been followed? Will someone burn down the church with me in it, or will I be shot? Where can I hear more about this since I have no bible and no one I can talk to at home?

I realize that I am walking a very fine line because I do not desire to cause anyone to feel guilty about the life into which they have been born. But likewise, I would not want anyone to become complacent about their lot in life either. What you have received is a gift … it is Grace. We do not deserve to have this any more than the others deserve to live in fear, suffering and poverty.

What I long for is to open your eyes to the world around you … Globally, Nationally, locally … even personally! I long for you all to see the World as God sees it … with eyes of longing and compassion. God’s desire is that none should perish. God’s desire is that we all should be able to live with abundant life … not some as have’s and other as have-not’s.

I long for you to see the World in all of its complexity and brokenness … and for your own hearts to break like God’s … for you to ache with that passion of sharing what you yourself have received! Then, being fully aware of the brokenness around you, God will direct your heart towards one (or more) areas where God desires to use You. Perhaps your heart burns with a desire to see God’s word shared; the Gideons can help you make that happen. Or perhaps your heart yearns for the children living in poverty; Compassion Canada is one avenue for you to help. Perhaps your heart is broken by the youth you see on our streets; The Door is an avenue for reaching these young hearts.

We are not the same. We are not all given the same gifts. We are not all called to serve in the same ways. But we do all have this one gift in common: while we were lost and dead in sin, Christ’s heart broke for us … and someone shared that broken heart and shared their love with us. That is Grace. And God’s desire (and my prayer) is that you will likewise share your love and broken hearts for the World … the World that God loves.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

Humbly trusting in God’s grace and mercy,

Jeremy

God Said

I asked God to take away my pain. God said, No.

It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. God said, No.

Her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience. God said, No.

Patience is a by-product of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is learned.

I asked God to give me happiness.

God said, No. I give you blessings. Happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain.

God said, No. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares

and brings you closer to me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said, No.

You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.

God said, No. I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things.

I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.

God said . . . Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.

~Author Unknown~

Service and Strength

A Place of Strength For me, the best part about the Church is that God has uniquely wired it as His vehicle to heal and offer grace to hurting people. The church is a shelter from the storms.

There have been times when my sin and guilt and shame have so overtaken me, I felt like I couldn’t go another day. It was in those moments the Church became a

place of strength, similar to a tree in a storm. If one tree is standing alone and a storm comes, that tree could be knocked down and uprooted. But if there are thousands of trees standing together in a forest, they all lean with the wind and take the force together, spreading out the winds evenly. That is what the Church is supposed to do — bear one another’s burdens, pray for one another, and confess sins to one another.

When we look at the Church this way, we see its failures differently. A lot of people like to sit on the outside, call it a place full of hypocrites, and throw their sins in the church’s face. But some like to roll up their sleeves and realize they are a part of the problem. When we start following Jesus, we become members of Jesus’ bride. That means when there is a problem in His body — the Church — we lend our part of the body to the healing process.

How stupid would it look if when someone broke a hand, the foot started criticizing the hand? That’s what we look like when we Christians begin to criticize the Church. One part of the body should lend itself to the healing process of another hurting member.

That’s love.

That’s the gospel.

And that is Jesus.

The difference between a critic and a servant is how they approach a problem. A critic stands back and points out the problem; a servant rolls up his or her sleeves and helps solve the problem. The worst part is when the criticism comes from within the same body. A lot of Christians like to lob grenades at one another rather than bear one another’s burdens in love. We often don’t realize the damage we are causing.

When Christ’s body is divided, who bleeds?

Jesus.

When Christians fight among themselves, Jesus is the one whose reputation is damaged and bruised. Imagine the pain, blood, and damage if an arm divided itself. That’s what it’s like when Christians fight each other.

But when the church is being the Church, it is a family atmosphere and a place of safety. A place where we help heal each other’s hurt and grief. A place of strength.

The Church in the City I’ve grown up in the Northwest. Born and raised right outside of Seattle, I went to school near Portland. It’s definitely a place where a good chunk of the society is disillusioned with Church. Some people even move there to get away from a religious atmosphere.

Too many people in the Northwest have been told about Jesus but have never been shown Jesus. It would be ludicrous to say we don’t ever need to tell people about Jesus, but I am saying sometimes we can show the unique power of grace to build bridges and tear down walls.

Right after the financial collapse of 2008, Portland took a major hit, as did other large cities around the nation. People were struggling economically, educationally, and socially. A few predominant churches in the area, including Imago Dei and Solid Rock, saw the need and wanted to fill in the gap.

They got together and approached the openly gay mayor of Portland, Sam Adams. At first he was skeptical. “Would this be about missionary work? Could a liberal city like Portland pull it off?” But the church leaders promised the mission was simply to serve the needs of the city.

This reminds me of what the prophet Jeremiah wrote to Israel:

But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. — Jeremiah 29:7

Isn’t that crazy? God actually called the Israelites to seek the welfare of a city where they had been sent as punishment. He called them to pray for the city on its behalf. Sounds like God cares a lot more than we do.

Back in Portland, churches agreed to serve and not evangelize. Agreeing to serve without preaching, the churches did exactly that. In today’s culture we have to be creative and look for ways to meet basic needs and share Jesus. It’s not one or the other. Social justice isn’t pitted against gospel proclamation. Jesus called us to do both, so let’s start.

The mayor of Portland skeptically agreed to let the churches help serve. They asked what were the greatest needs of the city, and he quickly noted hunger, homelessness, environment, schools, and others.

So what did the churches do? They rolled up their sleeves and got their hands dirty. They sent twenty-six thousand volunteers to work on service projects in each of the main areas of concern. They established SOS (Season of Service) where they serve, regularly showing the compassion, love, and redemption of Jesus corporately. The churches saw it as a beautiful opportunity to live out the already-laid-out job description of the Church — being His hands and feet. I can’t imagine how many non-Christians saw this at first and had no idea what to think.

Ken Weigel of Imago Dei, one of the Portland churches involved, said it best when speaking about their motivation:

“We wanted to bless the city. We wanted the city to miss the church if we were to leave.”

Is that true of you? Your church? Your city? If a meteor hit your church community, would anyone notice or care? And if they did care, would it be out of concern or thankfulness “that church” is gone? We ought to take a hard look at ourselves in our communities and ask if we are truly joining in what Jesus is already doing. When asked about who should get the credit for the Portland churches stepping up, Ken Weigel said, “Jesus showed up long before we got there. Christ is unveiling his kingdom all over Portland. I’m just joining with him.”

And in those moments, the Church becomes beautiful.

Excerpted from Jesus > Religion by Jefferson Bethke, copyright Thomas Nelson.

Compassion Canada

“If I could relive my life, I would devote my entire ministry to reaching children for God!”

~Dwight L. Moody

As one of the world’s leading child development organizations, Compassion partners with the local church in 26 countries to end poverty in the lives of children and their families.

Today, more than 1.6 million children are discovering lives full of promise and purpose as they develop in all the different aspects of their lives—their minds, bodies and relationships while discovering God’s love for them in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

At every Compassion centre, children are ministered to in every aspect of their lives, receiving:

Age-appropriate Christian teaching and discipleship Formal and non-formal educational opportunities Health care, hygiene training and supplementary food Personal attention, guidance and love

Does it really make a difference in children’s lives?

According to independent research, Compassion kids are:

27-40% more likely to finish secondary school About 35% more likely to have white collar

employment as adults 40-70% more likely to become church leaders

… than their unsponsored peers.

For more information or to sponsor a child, visit Compassion Canada’s website at compassion.ca

Milk Bag Mats

Milk bag mats offer people without beds an invaluable, durable and washable alternative to sleeping on bare ground that is often cold and damp. Not only can these milk-bag mats provide comfort as a bedding alternative, but they have also been used by health-care professionals as a make-ready substitute for an operating bed/table where resources are scarce. It takes approximately 400 milk bags to make an adult sized mat.

For quite some time, all across Canada, a community of volunteers, schools, churches and businesses have been collecting milk bags. The milk bags used are the ones that hold the three smaller bags of milk. The bags are cut into strips, tied together, and then woven or crocheted into mats.

Why Canadian milk bags? They don’t disintegrate, are very strong, don’t retain moisture, have a life span of 25 years, are UV ray resistant, are washable and are very colourful.

Milk bags can also be made into purses, totes, handbags and slippers.

The group Emmanuel sends our milk bag mats through is Milk Bags Unlimited, an organization founded by Angela Kesthely of Toronto following the earthquake in Haiti in 2010.

Shipments to Haiti are on hold at the moment (the Government of Haiti has placed an embargo on shipments arriving in the country) but mats are being sent to other countries. Last year Milk Bags Unlimited sent 1,500 mats to Sierra Leone and Tanzania.

In Sierra Leone, the Ebola clinics and patients are in dire need of supplies, so container after container of milk bag mats and other necessities are being shipped there.

75 mats were shipped to Tanzania through the Rotary Club in Alliston. The mats were used as packing to protect desks the Club were sending and, upon their arrival, would provide mattresses for the needy in Tanzania.

Milk Bags Unlimited has a goal of sending 2,015 mats in 2015. 973 mats had already been sent by the end of April, so they are well on their way to meeting their goal. On June 21st, Emmanuel will be dedicating the mats we have completed before sending them to Milk Bags Unlimited for distribution overseas.

For information on Milk Bags Unlimited, check out milksbagsunlimited.ca

The Story Behind the Song - God On The Mountain

In 1974 Tracy Dartt was living in Apple Valley, California. He had entered into partnership with an old friend, building swimming pools in the high desert. Things were going well, sales were terrific and customers were satisfied. In Tracy’s words ‘we were floating on air.’ The building season ended, but Tracy wasn’t worried. They had money in the bank and half a dozen pools under construction. He thought there would be no problem making it through the winter months and waiting for the next building season. But he soon learned that he was wrong!

Wholesale prices for supplies were rising rapidly and their bank account was shrinking at an alarming pace. The book-keeper kept telling them to spend more money, but the money wasn’t there to spend. Tracy’s partner tried increasing prices to compensate, but things just weren’t working. At last, in frustration, he handed Tracy the book and contracts and said “Here ... You figure it out.”

Tracy tried. He shut himself in the office for the weekend and went over and over the figures. At the end of it, he concluded that in order to honour the contracts they had, they needed $22,000.00 more than they had.

The news was too much for his partner. “Let’s bankrupt it,” he said. When Tracy refused his partner told him, “Alright then. If you want to try to save it, be my guest! You can have it all!” He drew up the paperwork and turned everything over to Tracy – the office equipment, the business truck, his car ... and a $22,000.00 deficit.

It was six months till the new building season ... Tracy had pools to complete and no money to do it with. “God, help us!” he prayed. He had no personal savings - everything had been invested in the business and now he saw no way out.

In the midst of this turmoil, Tracy awakened from a troubled sleep one night. It was 2 a.m. and a tune was echoing through his troubled brain. Grabbing a paper and pencil he quickly penned the words that were going through his mind ... ‘Life is easy when you’re up on the mountain, and you’ve got peace of mind like you’ve never known. But, when things change and you’re down in the valley, don’t lose faith, for you’re never alone.’

As he thanked God for being God even in his valley experience, the chorus came ... ‘The God on the mountain is still God in the valley. When things go wrong, he’ll make them right.’

The song was completed in 30 minutes and, with a prayer of thanks

to God, Tracy went back to sleep. The next morning before leaving for work, Tracy prayed “Lord, show us your will”.

Shortly after arriving at the office, the phone rang, “Mr. Dartt, could you please help us?” Tracy grabbed his brief case and went to see the people who had called. Their son was a gifted athlete, but had been in a motorcycle accident and was paralyzed from the waist down. His doctor had recommended a swimming pool for the therapy the young man needed in order to walk again. Tracy began the process of designing and building a pool for them. A few days later, another call came, “Mr. Dartt could you come talk to me about a pool?”

The calls continued to come in, and through that off-season, Tracy ended up selling and building 12 pools – all at a time when no one else was building pools. God had taken him through the valley.

God on the Mountain was recorded by Country Congregation, a group Tracy sang with, in 1975. Since then it has gone on to be recorded hundreds of times. In Tracy’s words: This simple little song, comprised of 72 words and 4 chords, has been an encouragement to thousands of people.

God On The Mountain

Life is easy, when you're up on the mountain And you've got peace of mind, like you've never known. But when things change and you're down in the valley.

Don't lose faith, for you're never alone.

And the God on the mountain is still God in the valley. When things go wrong, He'll make them right.

And the God in the good times is still God in the bad times.

The God of the day is still God of the night.

We talk of faith when we’re up on the mountain. But talk comes easy when life's at its best. But in the valley of trials and temptations That's when faith is really put to the test.

And the God on the mountain is still God in the valley. When things go wrong, He'll make them right.

And the God in the good times is still God in the bad times.

The God of the day is still God of the night.

Pastor’s Holidays Jeremy will be on holiday June 2nd through 9th. The church office will be open for business purposes. For pastoral needs, please call Rev. Carson Hansford at 705-446-0390. Rev. Bruce Loveless will be filling in for Jeremy on Sunday, June 7th.

General Assembly The Presbyterian Church in Canada will be holding their General Assembly from June 4th through June 8th. Pray for those participating and for God’s leading as decisions are made.

Presbytery Meeting at Emmanuel The Presbytery of Barrie will meet at Emmanuel on Tuesday, June 16th.

Tuesday Night Bible Study Our weekly Bible Studies are held in the fellowship hall each Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. We invite you to gather with us to read the Bible, discuss and grow in our faith. For more information, speak to Deb Currie. Note – There will be no Bible Study on June 16th.

Wednesday Morning Prayer Time We invite you to join us at 10:00 a.m. at Wayne & Marj. Clute’s home in Duntroon to pray for our church and community as well as individual needs.

Our Crafters’ Group meets every second Friday from 9:30 to 4. Dates for June are the 5th and 19th. Newcomers are always welcome! If you would like more information about the group, speak to Karen Milne.

Men’s Breakfast Men – don’t forget that Saturday, June 6th is Men’s Breakfast. We meet in the fellowship hall at 8:00 a.m. Join us for a time of great fellowship and delicious food!

Girls Night Out! Doreen Lyon will be the speaker at our Girls Night Out! on Thursday, June 18th. She will be sharing about her recent trip to Egypt, Jordan and Israel. We invite you to join us in the fellowship hall at 7:00 p.m.

Keenagers Year-End Outing The Keenagers will be going on a special outing to Nancy Island at Wasaga Beach on Saturday, June 20th. We will meet at the Nancy Island Welcome Center for a guided tour at 3:00 p.m. Admission to the park is $20 per vehicle, so it is recommended that you carpool. (The cost is $16 if the driver is 65 or older, and $10 with a handicap permit.) Following the tour, we will have a barbecue at Beach Area 2. Please sign the sheet on the bulletin board by June 14th if you are planning to attend so we will know how many to prepare food for.

For those who were looking forward to the Keenagers boat trip that was scheduled for June 24th, we regret that it has been cancelled. The November

theatre trip, however, is still a go! Mark your calendars for Saturday, November 21st and plan now to participate in a trip to see White Christmas at Dunfield Theatre in Cambridge. Details of the trip will be available soon. For more information on the show, check out draytonentertainment.com

Vacation Bible Camp Summer is coming ... and that means it’s time to think about VBC. This year Emmanuel is partnering with Cornerstone Church in Nottawa to provide a free VBC for children from our community. VBC will be held at Cornerstone the week of July 13th to 17th.

Help is needed in the areas of registration, administration, games, Bible story time, snacks, group leaders and audio/visual technicians. If you are able to help, please speak to Jeremy or Karen. Training/planning sessions will be held at Cornerstone on June 11th, June 25th and July 9th from 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Georgian Good Food Boxes Georgian Good Food Boxes can still be purchased through Emmanuel. Orders should be placed and paid for ten days prior to pick-up/delivery. Pickup or delivery will be available on the third Wednesday of the month.

June – Orders must be placed by Sunday, June 7th. Pick-up will be Wednesday, June 17th.

Save Your Old Blue Jeans!!! First it was milk bags (Yes, we still need those!)...now we are asking you to bring us your old blue jeans. Just as you likely never thought milk bags could be recycled to make sleeping mats, you also probably never

thought that old blue jeans and car tires could be turned into shoes for children ... but they can! For information on this project, check out solehope.org ... and start bringing in your old blue jeans! Girls Night Out! will be having a ‘shoe-cutting party’ in August and we need your jeans! (Any size or colour of jeans is useful, but they must be denim.)

YFC-The Door/Campus Life Annual Golf Tournament will be held on Friday, June 19th at Duntroon Highlands Golf Course. $100.00 (non-receiptable) per golfer covers the cost of 18 holes of golf, golf cart and a great beef or chicken dinner. Each golfer is also asked to get at least $50.00 in pledges. For more information see the poster on the bulletin board. If you wish to participate, speak to Cliff Noad.

Movie Ministry Our movie ministry is taking a break for the summer months. The fall line-up of movies will be published in the summer newsletter.

Summer Hosting We are looking for volunteers to host our fellowship hour for July and August. Each summer we try to give our regular hosts a break. If you are not on the regular hosting schedule and are able to take a turn, please sign the list on the bulletin board. The Ladies of Emmanuel will provide

lemonade and cookies ... all you need to do is set everything up and tidy up afterward!

One Community Picnic/FunDay The One Community Ministerial will be hosting a picnic and family fun day at Sunset Point after church on Sunday, July 5th. Everyone is invited!

It’s So Much More than a Roof...

Have you ever thought about what the roof of our church building provides? There’s the obvious – shelter from the rain, protection for the walls and ceiling beneath it and the furnishings inside the building. It also provides a safe place for God’s people to meet to worship, to be ministered to and to minister to each other and our community. Think about the activities that take place under this

roof ... Worship Services, Bible Studies, Prayer Times, Movies, Men’s Breakfast, Girls Night Out!, Keenagers, our Crafters’ Group, Board and Session Meetings, Ladies of Emmanuel meetings and functions ... dinners, bazaars .... the list goes on and on. Sadly, the shingles on our roof have been blowing away and we need to replace them. The Board of Managers have set up a “Roof Fund” to help with this expense. Contributions can be made by marking the amount and “Roof Fund” on your offering envelope.

Funds for Nepal Thanks for your generous donations for relief following the earthquake in Nepal. We donated $1,082, which will be matched by the Canadian Government.

Father’s Day Barbecue and Farewell We will be having a barbecue following the service on Father’s Day, June 21st, and a farewell for Natsumi Sakamoto. Natsumi has been part of our congregation while she attended school at CCI, but will be leaving at the end of June to go home to Japan.

Spring Concert Rob Roy choir and the Gospel Couriers are holding a concert on Sunday June 14 at 7 p.m. at the Rob Roy United Church. Refreshments to follow. Come and enjoy a spring "Evening of Music".

Kindness is language we all understand. Even the blind

can see it and the deaf can hear it. (Mother Teresa)

The Interview with God

I dreamed I had an interview with God.

“So you would like to interview me?” God asked.

“If you have the time” I said.

God smiled. “My time is eternity. What questions do you have in mind for me?”

“What surprises you most about humankind?”

God answered... “That they get bored with childhood,

they rush to grow up, and then long to be children again.

“That they lose their health to make money... and then lose their money to restore their health.

“That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present,

such that they live in neither the present nor the future.

"That they live as if they will never die, and die as though they had never lived.

God’s hand took mine and we were silent for a while.

And then I asked... “As a parent, what are some of life’s lessons

you want your children to learn?”

“To learn they cannot make anyone love them. All they can do is let themselves be loved.

“To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others.

“To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.

“To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in those they love,

and it can take many years to heal them.

“To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most,

but is one who needs the least.

“To learn that there are people who love them dearly,

but simply have not yet learned how to express or show their feelings.

“To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it differently.

“To learn that it is not enough that they forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves.”

"Thank you for your time," I said humbly. "Is there anything else

you would like your children to know?"

God smiled and said, “Just know that I am here... always.”

Birthdays

&

Anniversaries

Jeremy & Laurel Sanderson – Monday, June 1st Harvey & Ina Smith – Wednesday, June 3rd Ron Phillips – Friday, June 5th John Rogers – Sunday, June 7th Nancy Gillies – Monday, June 8th Ruby Klinck – Monday, June 8th Tom McKean – Monday, June 8th Helen McLeod – Tuesday, June 9th Pat Gerynowicz – Saturday, June 20th Don McKean – Sunday, June 21st Cindy Baker – Monday, June 22nd Anne Morwood – Monday, June 29th Ina Smith – Monday, June 29th