Run The Race – Sermon Video

KEY IDEA:

Run for the gold!

Hebrews 12:1-2

1) You need to be on the team!

Citizenship matters.

2) You need to train.
a) Look at the game tapes. 1 Tim 4:7-8
b) Be right with the coach.
3) Follow the successful methods of others.
a) The example of other athletes.
→ Witness: Martus – Martyr; those who after his example have proved the strength and genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death.
b) Trust the coach’s winning record.

SO WHAT??

Are you on the track, going for the gold? Everyone is not a winner just for showing up.

 

Hebrews 12:1-2 New International Version (NIV)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

Check out Dave’s Installation (official welcoming as the new lead pastor of HMC)

Daily Prayer Request – Monday, January 8, 2018

Pray for our Young at Heart leaders and members. Pray that we would be wise enough to tap into their wisdom and that they would be encouraged to share. Pray that whether strong and active or increasingly frail, their lives would be a testimony of the faithfulness of God. Pray for the measureless honour that one of them would take up the challenge of praying by name for you on a regular basis. Pray that we would find ways to express our respect and our love to them.

Bulletin – January 7, 2018

HMC EVENTS

Today we celebrate the installation of Pastor Dave Hildebrandt! Please plan to join us in the gym following the service as we enjoy a meal together.

Karen Schmalz’s G2G group will be resuming on Wednesday, January 10 at 1 p.m. in the upper room, working through the six-week study The Quest by Beth Moore.

U18 Mid-Week & Jr Youth will resume on Wednesday, January 24 at 6:30 p.m.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please continue to pray for Pastor Lyndsay. She will be remaining in the UK until at least the end of January to be with her mother after the passing of her father. Please pray that she would find rest and peace as she grieves with and cares for her family. If you wish to send a card of condolence to Lyndsay you may send it to 30 The Granary Wynyard, Billingham TS22 5QG England.

There is a list of prayer requests specific to the needs of HMC available on our website, or by speaking with Karen Schmalz or Brian Austin. Alternatively, if you’d like to receive daily prayer reminders delivered to your email, you can sign up at eepurl.com/cM9ZVj
_______________________________

2018 Offering Envelopes are in the foyer today. If you’re hanging on to offering envelopes from previous years, please discard them. Many numbers have been changed and it’s important to keep this straight for our Receipt Coordinator. Please only use your currently dated envelopes, or the pew envelopes. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Please take a moment today to check the Lost and Found outside the main office. These items will soon be gathered together and donated to our local Salvation Army.

The Gate of the Year – Sermon Video

read Pastor Phil’s New Years Greeting

Philippians 4:1-9 New International Version (NIV)

Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!

2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Final Exhortations

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Daily Prayer Request – Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Today is Pastor Dave Hildebrandt’s official first day on the job! Pray for him as he settles into a new routine. Pray that the staff would be gracious and welcoming, and that together they can build a strong team to carry HMC into our next exciting chapter. Thank God for bringing Dave to us, and pray that Dave keeps his eyes fixed on Jesus as he leads us forward into 2018!

A Message for a New Year

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The dark days of World War II had engulfed Europe. It was early days, but Hitler’s war machine was bullying and hammering its neighbours in pursuit of a Thousand Year Reign. It was total war. It would prove to be the bloodiest war in history with perhaps 85 million dead, 100 million people directly involved from more than 30 countries.

September 1st, Hitler had invaded Poland. September 3rd, France and Britain, honouring their alliance with Poland, declared war on Germany. The die was cast and there was no other way to deal with the military monster birthed by the Nazi ideology of world domination except to stand and fight. It fell ‘the man not born to be king’ to address the nation and the world Edward had abdicated the throne and so it fell to his younger brother, George, the man who stuttered, the man who was not to be king. What to say to his people, a nation now at war? December 25, 1939, King George delivered his Christmas Day radio broadcast. And he found the right words, words that have been oft repeated, words now famous and penned in a 1906 poem by Minnie Louise Haskins in 1906. These words proved to be an inspiration to light the way as Britain and the world were plunged into the darkest of times. Profound her insight, that it is not a light to guide us that we need so much as we a Guide. She wrote:

Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.

It was Jesus who reminded us that there would be wars and rumours of wars until the end of the age. When the Great War ended on November 11, 1018 it was said that it was the ‘war to end all wars.’ Many vowed, ‘Never again.’ A scant 21 years later another war a greater war, the bloodiest of all wars. And since the second World War there are more wars. The Great War had shattered the hope that somehow mankind had evolved socially beyond the need for war. It broke the back of the shallow unrealistic optimism of liberal theology, ‘God is in his heaven and all is right with the world.’ There is a dark side to human nature and there is real evil. If there is hope, it is in the God, Who has dealt with sin, and Who has purchased forgiveness – the God Who is there!

May the poetic words that King George VI recited 77 years ago bring you hope and encouragement in a world that is as volatile and uncertain now as it was then.

Uncertainties happen on a global scale and they come to us on a personal scale and everything in between. Many are feeling shaken by the changes in the social fabric of our nation. Remember the words of our Master, the Lord Jesus, Who has told His disciples, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Because we know Him, these are not empty words; they anchor our hearts and shape our emotional responses to the unknowns of our lives, as we face sickness and disappointment, setbacks and obstacles. So be encouraged and look up! We are at the Gate of the Year and He takes us by the hand to lead us through with grace. God bless you as we travel together.

THE GATE OF THE YEAR

God Knows
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
And He led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.
So heart be still:
What need our little life
Our human life to know,
If God hath comprehension?
In all the dizzy strife
Of things both high and low,
God hideth His intention.
God knows. His will
Is best. The stretch of years
Which wind ahead, so dim
To our imperfect vision,
Are clear to God. Our fears
Are premature; In Him,
All time hath full provision.
Then rest: until
God moves to lift the veil
From our impatient eyes,
When, as the sweeter features
Of Life’s stern face we hail,
Fair beyond all surmise
God’s thought around His creatures
Our mind shall fill.
— Minnie Louise Haskins in 1906

May you go out into the New Year secure in the grip of the Unchanging Lord of Time and Eternity.

Happy New Year!

Pastor Phil

Bulletin – December 31, 2017

Pastor Dave begins his roll as our lead pastor on Tuesday, January 2. Please bear with us as we get things set up. With Marie on holidays, a few things will have to wait (such as our main answering machine), but know that Dave will be accessible through the same extension used for Pastor Phil (ex 30), and also through his email address: dave@hanovermissionary.com.

HMC EVENTS

On Sunday, January 7, 2018 we will be celebrating the installation of Pastor Dave Hildebrandt. Please plan to join with us for the morning service as John Cressman officially welcomes him. We will enjoy special music by Third Tree, a quartet Dave is part of, and we are bumping our Building Connections Sunday forward so we can enjoy a soup luncheon together in the gym. Please bring along some sandwiches and/or dessert to share. Soup will be provided.

The Ladies Social has been asked to organize a simple soup and sandwich lunch for Pastor Dave’s installation service. They are looking for about 20 ladies who are willing to bring a large pot of soup or chilli, and also some ladies who are willing to help set up and clean up. If you can help in any way, please contact Ingrid DeVisser at 519-363-3425 or at ingrid@bbfarms.ca

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please pray for Pastor Lyndsay. Her father passed away last weekend and she will be remaining in the UK until at least the end of January to be with her mother. Please pray that she would find rest and peace as she grieves with and cares for her family. If you wish to send a card of condolence to Lyndsay you may send it to 30 The Granary Wynyard, Billingham TS22 5QG England.

Please pray for Pastor Dave as he settles into a new routine. Pray that the staff would be gracious and welcoming, and that together they can build a strong team to carry HMC into our next exciting chapter. Thank God for bringing Dave to us, and pray that Dave keeps his eyes fixed on Jesus as he leads us forward into 2018!

There is a list of prayer requests specific to the needs of HMC available on our website, or by speaking with Karen Schmalz or Brian Austin. Alternatively, if you’d like to receive daily prayer reminders delivered to your email, you can sign up at eepurl.com/cM9ZVj

WORDS OF THANKS

We wish to extend a huge thank you to Pastor Phil for serving as our bridge Lead Pastor over the last few months. Phil worked tirelessly to tidy things up, paving the way for what will hopefully be a smooth transition for Pastor Dave and the whole staff team. Be praying for Phil as he leaves his post here and goes on following Jesus in whatever He has planned for his future.

 

2018 Offering Envelopes are in the foyer today. If you’re hanging on to offering envelopes from previous years, please discard them. Many numbers have been changed and it’s important to keep this straight for our Receipt Coordinator. Please only use your currently dated envelopes, or the pew envelopes. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Please take a moment today to check the Lost and Found outside the main office. In the new year these items will be gathered together and donated to our local Salvation Army.