To watch Harry’s message, click on the title. You will be taken to our YouTube channel.
Changin’ Times
Sunday, December 28 / Published on January 22, 2015
This is Part 1 of some reflections on our society of shifting values and beliefs and what that means for the ongoing mission of Christ’s church. As in the time of Jesus’ birth, God is up to something new. Some adaptation is required and is taking place. – Harry
Gloria in Excelsis Deo
Wednesday, December 24 – Christmas Eve Service / Published on January 19, 2015
God is very much misunderstood by the human race. We often think of him as distant or at least disinterested. Some see him as angry or manipulative. Jesus came to set the record straight – so ‘Gloria in excelcis Deo!’. (If you don’t know your Latin you’ll need to watch this video.) – Harry
Sunday, December 21 – Today the choir performed the cantata “There Is A Saviour” under the direction of Melissa Stephens.
Oil of Gladness
Sunday, December 14 / Published on January 6, 2015
All of us are, with varying degrees of success, engaged in ‘the pursuit of happiness’. Some of the things that get in the way: poverty, broken relationships, sickness, grief, etc. That’s where Jesus’ ‘rescue’ work comes in. An old prophecy which Jesus claims as being fulfilled in him reads, “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.., to bestow..the oil of gladness instead of mourning.” (Isaiah 61:1-3) – Harry
Rest in Peace
Sunday, December 7 / Published on January 6, 2015
The second Sunday in Advent: the theme word is ‘peace’. The scripture readings for the day are all about John the Baptist and his message of repentance. How to put these things together? Here’s what I came up with: When we truly repent (change our thinking and attitude – or at least allow them to be changed) we have peace within and peace with God. That is the source of all peace. – Harry
We’re Expecting!
Sunday, November 30 / Published on December 16, 2014
People get pretty excited about a baby on the way – and so they should. Normally people get prepared in advance. In a similar way, Jesus has taught us to expect his return and to be prepared. His anticipated return and God’s promise to restore creation give us great hope. – Harry
Sunday, November 23 –– We enjoyed a presentation on a congregant’s mission trip to Guatemala to provide clean drinking water sources.
Sunday, November 16 –– We welcomed a guest lay minister to conduct our service today.
Tank-full People
Sunday, November 9 / Published on December 9, 2014
At first it may seem rather unfair or selfish that the wise bridesmaids would not share their oil with the foolish ones. As explained in the parable (Matthew 25:1-13), however, the wise realize that they may not have enough for themselves. In the spiritual realm we can’t forever ride on someone else’s ticket. We need to discover and experience for ourselves the love of God and the grace of Jesus. That’s a good thing.
Local Celebrities
Sunday, November 2 / Published on November 5, 2014
Celebrities abound these days. We’ve got hockey players, politicians, musicians, actors, princesses, popes and media personalities. They seem larger than life yet deep in our hearts we know they’re just like the rest of us. Jesus cautions us about putting people on pedestals – especially our spiritual leaders and teachers. We have one teacher, the Christ.
When All Else Fails
Sunday, October 26 / Published on November 26, 2014
According to the book and movie by the name “A Hitchhiker’s Guide to The Galaxy”, written by Douglas Adams, “The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything” is the number 42. (??) According to Jesus it’s “Love God and love your neighbour”. This is of course well-known, rather simple yet profound and by no means easy to follow through on. Let’s consider it a while.
Promised Hope
Sunday, October 19 / Published on October 30, 2014
We all need hope – something to look forward to that will help get us through the day. Commercials, politicians and medicine all appeal to our longing for hope. They all deliver to some small degree, but leave us less than satisfied. The good news of Jesus is good news of hope. Through him we are assured that creation will be restored, death destroyed and sorrow and crying and pain gone forever. In the meantime he will provide us with love, purpose and joy. That’s a lot of hope!
Thankful People
Sunday, October 12 / Published on October 30, 2014
There seems to be a reasonably large consensus that it’s healthy to be thankful. A smaller chunk of the population would agree that we need to thank God. Here are some musings about why we do.
Sunday, October 5 –– We welcomed a guest lay minister to conduct our service today.
It’s Not Fair!
Sunday, September 28 / Published on October 15, 2014
There are a lot of things in the world that aren’t fair or just. It’s of course important to point out and change and remedy those injustices where we can. There are things about the good news of Jesus which may well seem unfair. One, for instance, is the fact that God will accept and forgive anybody regardless of what they’ve done (or not done!). He offers the deathbed penitent the same grace he offers the lifelong church-goers – the ones who have borne “the burden and heat of the day.” How unfair – but Jesus has a whole parable about it – Matthew 20:1-16.
Sunday, September 21 — Our services were conducted by a guest lay minister today as Harry took some time to visit with family following the marriage of his daughter Sarah.
Bound to Forgive
Sunday, September 14 / Published on October 6, 2014
Most of us have been wronged in one way or another and usually we can shake it off, ignore or forgive fairly easily. Not always. Jesus talks a lot about this issue, even including it in his prayer: “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” His parable from Matthew 18:21-35 expands on this difficult discipline, which is so critical to building and restoring friendships and community.
Bound Together
Sunday, August 7 / Published on September 27, 2014
I’ve tried to tread lightly on a heavy subject – church discipline. My sense is that Jesus’ teachings on the matter have been misunderstood and mis-applied to a horrendous degree over the centuries. Jesus’ intention was to bring restoration and healing to the fellowship of his followers. Too often his words have been used to establish or entrench positions and authority. I hope this is helpful.
Bound and Loosed
Sunday, August 31 / Published on September 10, 2014
In this little talk there are possible answers to these questions: 1. How can you know who Jesus is? 2. What is the ‘rock’ foundation of the church? 3. Who has the keys to the kingdom? 4. What does it mean to ‘bind’ and ‘loose’? See what you think.
Sunday, August 24 – We had a guest lay minister today.
Mercy on Us All
Sunday, August 17 / Published on August 29, 2014
Fortunately for us, our Maker is a God “whose property is always to have mercy”, in the words of a prayer in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer. Jesus again and again demonstrates this in the gospels. A case in point is the story of the Canaanite woman who asks Jesus to have mercy on her demon-possessed daughter.
Back to Work
Sunday, August 10 / Published on August 26, 2014
This is kind of a comparative study of Peter from the New Testament and Elijah from the old and how God used their circumstances to form their character.
Sunday, August 3 – We joined the Haliburton Ministerial churches and the community for our annual summer contemporary music service “Sizzlin’ Summer Service Seven in the Park”.
Sowing a Fine Seed
Sunday, July 27 / Published on August 7, 2014
I cheated a bit here and re-worked a PowerPoint from a while ago. In my defence I made a lot of changes and don’t actually say many of the same things. This is based on the parable of the sower and is about spreading the good news and what happens when you do. As an added bonus there is a description of a multi-church endeavour which we are undertaking in Haliburton County to help people ‘Find The Hope’!
Sunday, July 20 – We had a guest lay minister today.
Wait Time
Sunday, July 13 / Published on July 30, 2014
People sometimes try to stump Christians with a question something like this: “How can you believe in a good God when there’s so much suffering in the world?” Fair enough, except the two realities are not necessarily or logically exclusive. I see lots of evidence for a good God as well as the dead certainty of lots of suffering. Clearly this God allows suffering for some purpose which we can partially understand. In fact there’s a whole lot in Scripture about this…..
Unburdened
Sunday, July 6 / Published on July 18, 2014
“Lay your burdens down..Lay your burdens down,” writes Robin Mark in the song Revival. He basically got that from Jesus, who invites ‘all who labour and are heavily burdened’ to come to him. The psalmist says “Cast your burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain you” (Ps. 55) I think this pretty much targets everyone’s needs, although everybody may not realize it.
Haliburton United Church 