Responding in Faith – Sermon Video

  1. God’s will is done through us
  2. God provides what we need to see it through
  3. God is glorified
  4. Our faith and others’ faith is strengthened
  5. God is made known

Luke 1:26-38 New International Version (NIV)

The Birth of Jesus Foretold

26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called[a] the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Footnotes:

  1. Luke 1:35 Or So the child to be born will be called holy,
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.

Repentance: Preparing your Heart for Transformation

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Imagine yourself to be Zechariah, the priest who is going to meet with the Lord in the temple on behalf of the people. He is offering prayers of worship and repentance when he has a startling encounter with an angel of the Lord. Fill in the scene and pay attention to your thoughts and feelings as you hear the angel’s message spoken to you…

Read the Scripture passage

Luke 1:11-24 The Voice (VOICE)

11 Suddenly Zacharias realized he was not alone: a messenger of the Lord was there with him. The messenger stood just to the right of the altar of incense. 12 Zacharias was shocked and afraid, 13 but the messenger reassured him.

Messenger: Zacharias, calm down! Don’t be afraid!

Zacharias is a priest working in the temple, but priests don’t normally hear from God. Those who hear from God are called prophets, not priests. One becomes a priest by being born in a priestly family line. Prophets, on the other hand, arise unpredictably and have no special credentials except the message they carry. So Zacharias has no reason to believe his duties will be interrupted in this way. Often in the biblical story, when people receive a message from God—after getting over the initial shock—they start asking questions. They push back; they doubt.

Messenger: Zacharias, your prayers have been heard. Your wife is going to have a son, and you will name him John. 14 He will bring you great joy and happiness—and many will share your joy at John’s birth.

15 This son of yours will be a great man in God’s sight. He will not drink alcohol in any form;[a] instead of alcoholic spirits, he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from the time he is in his mother’s womb. 16 Here is his mission: he will turn many of the children of Israel around to follow the path to the Lord their God. 17 Do you remember the prophecy about someone to come in the spirit and power of the prophet Elijah; someone who will turn the hearts of the parents back to their children;[b] someone who will turn the hearts of the disobedient to the mind-set of the just and good? Your son is the one who will fulfill this prophecy: he will be the Lord’s forerunner, the one who will prepare the people and make them ready for God.

Zacharias: 18 How can I be sure of what you’re telling me? I am an old man, and my wife is far past the normal age for women to bear children. This is hard to believe!

Messenger (sternly): 19 I am Gabriel, the messenger who inhabits God’s presence. I was sent here to talk with you and bring you this good news. 20 Because you didn’t believe my message, you will not be able to talk—not another word—until you experience the fulfillment of my words.

21 Meanwhile the crowd at the temple wondered why Zacharias hadn’t come out of the sanctuary yet. It wasn’t normal for the priest to be delayed so long. 22 When at last he came out, he was making signs with his hands to give the blessing, but he couldn’t speak. They realized he had seen some sort of vision. 23 When his time on duty at the temple came to an end, he went back home to his wife. 24 Shortly after his return, Elizabeth became pregnant. She avoided public contact for the next five months.

Footnotes:

  1. 1:15 Numbers 6:3; Leviticus 10:9
  2. 1:17 Malachi 4:5–6
 

Luke 1:57-64 The Voice (VOICE)

57 When the time was right, Elizabeth gave birth to a son. 58 News about the Lord’s special kindness to her had spread through her extended family and the community. Everyone shared her joy, for after all these years of infertility, she had a son! 59 As was customary, eight days after the baby’s birth the time came for his circumcision and naming. Everyone assumed he would be named Zacharias, like his father.

Elizabeth (disagreeing): 60 No. We will name him John.

Her Relatives (protesting): 61 That name is found nowhere in your family.

62 They turned to Zacharias and asked him what he wanted the baby’s name to be.

63 He motioned for a tablet, and he wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was shocked by this breach of family custom. 64 They were even more surprised when, at that moment, Zacharias was able to talk again, and he shouted out praises to God.

The Voice (VOICE)The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

 

Reflection:

“Perhaps, as the years go by, our attempts to follow the path of God, however we envision it, may become like Zechariah’s — refined but also reduced to the faithful fulfilment of a set of obligations and the leading of what might pass as a good life. Such faithfulness is never to be despised. It can be the seedbed of God’s kingdom. Unfortunately, it can all too easily turn into a comfort zone. We feel so settled in our holy niche that we stop even expecting God to intervene in our lives. We carry on ‘burning our incense’. We keep on tending that flickering little fire within us that still burns with a love for God. But we don’t expect to wake up one morning and discover that the flames are suddenly leaping out of control. Neither did Zechariah!” (Margaret Silf)

In what areas of your life have you been waiting upon God with longterm prayers for intervention or guidance? How would you respond if these were suddenly and dramatically answered? How would you cope with such a miraculous, divine encounter?

Margaret Silf suggests further that “just as the infant John would need nine month’s gestation before coming to birth, so Zechariah is also given a time of gestation in which his response can grow and ripen into the whole-hearted ‘yes!’ expressed in the moment when he writes on the tablet, ‘his name is John’.”

Is this a time of gestation in your life where you must quietly nurture what is sacred within you, or is it a time to take risks and move? Honestly express to God the extent to which you are willing to trust his intention for you. What next steps does God seem to be asking you to take? Ask for God’s wisdom and discernment.

O Holy child of Bethlehem
Descend on us we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born in us today
(Phillips Brooks)

Come, thou long expectant Jesus
Born to set they people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in thee
(Charles Wesley)

 

The Entire 2017 Reflective Series:

Repentance: Preparing Your Heart for Transformation

God With Us: Do Not Be Anxious

Go Tell It On The Mountain

What Can I Give?

What Can I Give?

Scripture reading: Matthew 2: 1-2, 10-11

The Magi Visit the Messiah
2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”

After this interview the wise men went on their way. Once again the star appeared to them, guiding them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Reflection:

Prayerfully consider what would be a meaningful expression of your love for God and offer it wholeheartedly to Him as a gift. You can express it in writing, drawing, song, movement…
In what ways can you serve others this week? Explore serving strangers as well as those you know.

Practice rehearsing God’s faithfulness to you. Begin by naming the more obvious gifts, then offer thanks for the ways God cares for you in less noticeable ways. Find ways to express your gratitude to others.

Perhaps you may wish to read the poem “I Am Silent…and Expectant” written by Ted Loder and allow it to become a prayer.

How silently, 
how silently 
the wondrous gift is given. 
I would be silent now, 
Lord, 
and expectant… 
        that I may receive 
                the gift I need, 
                        so I may become 
                                the gifts others need. 

 

What can I give Him,
poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd,
I would bring a lamb.
If I were a wise man,
I would do my part.
Yet what can I give Him?
Give my heart.

C.Rossetti

 

The Entire 2017 Reflective Series:

Repentance: Preparing Your Heart for Transformation

God With Us: Do Not Be Anxious

Go Tell It On The Mountain

What Can I Give?

Go Tell It On The Mountain

Scripture reading: Luke 2:15-20

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Reflection:

Look back over the last 24 hours. Notice just one special moment, event, or encounter that has given you joy and helped you to remember that you are loved. Look back over your life’s spiritual journey, remembering those milestones that seem, with hindsight, to have truly made your life worthwhile. Offer God your gratitude — glorifying and praising Him.
Pray for opportunities to share these stories from your life as a testimony of God’s love, and invite others to receive the Jesus Christ as Lord.

Action:

Invite God to bring to mind a person(s) with whom you can share your personal story of Jesus and how He longs for all people to believe in Him as their Saviour.
Now copy out the Candy Cane poem to personally hand or read to someone, sharing the salvation story of your personal, relational Saviour — Jesus Christ.

Look at the Candy Cane
What do you see?
Stripes that are red
Like the blood shed for me
White is for my Saviour
Who’s sinless and pure!
“J” is for Jesus My Lord, that’s for sure!
Turn it around
And a staff you will see
Jesus my shepherd
Was born for Me!

Suggested prayer:

Lord, thank you for Your presence in my life. Lead me and guide me as I long to share the Good News of Jesus with other people. May my heart radiant the love and peace that is a testimony of Your faithfulness, and may my life be a witness for Your love.

 

The Entire 2017 Reflective Series:

Repentance: Preparing Your Heart for Transformation

God With Us: Do Not Be Anxious

Go Tell It On The Mountain

What Can I Give?

God With Us: Do Not Be Anxious

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Scripture reading: Luke 1:26-38

The Birth of Jesus Foretold
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

Gabriel appeared to Mary and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you!” Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the angel told her, “for you have found favour with God!”

Reflection:

Mary was anxious when the angel appeared out of nowhere announcing, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”

Do you struggle to believe you are chosen, loved, and favoured by God? The Greek word for ‘favoured’ in Luke 1:28 means ‘graced’. In fact, the apostle Paul uses the same word in Ephesians 1:6 to describe God pouring out his grace upon us: “to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” How does this helps you receive the good news of God’s grace? What makes it hard to believe? Spend some time giving God thanks for loving you, chasing you, and lavishing you with grace and favour.

Reflect with these words “Don’t be afraid, [name] for you have found favour with God”.

To be anxious is to be human. The question is, what we do with our anxieties? The decision is between hanging onto them or handing them over. After listening to the angel, Mary handed over herself, including her anxieties. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” Faith is entrusting ourselves to the One who is eternally trustworthy, who is worthy of our trust.

Action:

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious.” (Philippians 4:6)

Write down what you need to surrender into the hands of God — trusting He will respond.

Prayer:

Forgive us, Heavenly Father, for living as though You do not know and do not care, as though You are not our loving Father. As You did with Mary, who first received the good news of “Emmanuel, God with us”, and handed over her troubled heart to you, so also give us such faith that the constant theme of our lives may be, “Lord, let it be according to Your word”. This we trustingly ask in the name of Jesus Christ, her Lord and ours. Amen. Let it be.

(Adapted from God With Us)

 

The Entire 2017 Reflective Series:

Repentance: Preparing Your Heart for Transformation

God With Us: Do Not Be Anxious

Go Tell It On The Mountain

What Can I Give?

Daily Prayer Request – Monday, December 11, 2017

Pray for our office staff. They are front and centre when people come into the church with special needs, or when any of us are upset about something church related. Pray for a gentle spirit when people complain to them about issues they cannot control. Pray for a spirit of unity between them and our Pastors, Ministry Council, and other ministries of our church.

Advent 2017 – WEEK TWO

Today we light the second candle, the purple ‘Candle of Faith’. A young woman, Mary, was pledged to be married, but not yet married. She was visited by the angel Gabriel, who told very disturbing things. The angel told her things that would change her life forever. What amazing faith she showed. Mary put her trust in the Lord God surrendering herself to be the servant of His will.

Luke 1:26-38 says:  In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Lord, long ago Mary surrendered herself to you and was used by you to bring the Saviour into the world. Give us that same faith, that same deep confidence in you. For you are at work in us and through us, especially in the hard things. Lord, we love you and we trust you. Give us the faith to say, ‘I am the Lord’s servant.’ Amen.

Bulletin – December 10, 2017

HMC EVENTS

Everyone is invited to a Sleigh Ride & Carol Sing on Wednesday, December 13 at 6:30. There will be hot chocolate, crafts, and treats. Invite your friends and neighbours!

Instead of a separate event, the Ladies Social will take place in conjunction with the sleigh ride and caroling on December 13. The group will help with hot chocolate, crafts, and treats. It’s a great opportunity to get better acquainted with our HMC family.

The Young at Heart are getting into the Christmas spirit on Thursday, December 14 at 11:00 a.m. with a special performance by pianist and singer, Tim Harden, followed by a delicious Christmas dinner. See Nelles in the foyer today to purchase a ticket for $16.

Next Sunday is the U18 Christmas Service. All children and youth who are involved are asked to please attend a rehearsal on Saturday, December 16 at 10 a.m.

Plan to stay after the service next week for a Building Connections Dessert Potluck. Bring along your favourite Christmas treat to share and stick around to get to know one another better.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please pray for Pastor Dave and Shannon Hildebrandt and their three boys, Josh, Andrew, & Caleb as they settle into their new home in Hanover. Pray that their transition would be smooth and that the boys settle well into their new school. Pray for Dave as he prepares to take over the leadership of HMC, and for Shannon, that God would make clear what his plans are for her.

Please pray for Rick Pake who is in the hospital in Kitchener. Thank God that his surgery went well and pray for continued healing as he recovers.

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

OPPORTUNITIES

We want to bless Pastor Dave and his family as they settle into their new life in Hanover. There is a collection box in the foyer where you can drop off local gift cards and certificates to bless the family. Considers things like restaurants, grocery stores, gas cards, etc. The box will remain available until December 17.

Do you have a heart for youth and hockey? Bruce Martin runs an after-church floor hockey ministry and needs a helper. If this is something you might be interested in volunteering for, please speak with Bruce or Pastor Amos.

The Hanover Salvation Army needs volunteers to stand with their Christmas Kettles. They’re looking for people to take a two hour shift between 8 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. until December 23. If you have a couple of hours and would like to help, please call: Main Office – 519-364-3450; or Katrina – 519-506-9451.

WORDS OF THANKS

Thank you to everyone who came out last Wednesday to help pack the baskets and stockings to be handed out at Saugeen First Nations and the Hanover & Owen Sound hospital this Christmas. What a blessing it is to serve together, and what a joy to know these gifts will bring the love and light of Jesus into the lives of those who receive them.

HMC Christmas Letter 2017

December 2017

Let’s Put Saint Nicholas Back Into Christmas!

We have heard a lot about taking “Santa out of Christmas” and getting back to the “true meaning of Christmas.” I say, ‘Let’s put ‘Christ back into Christ-mas’ AND, ‘Let’s put ‘Santa’ back into ‘Santa Claus’! The fellow we know as a “jolly old elf” is historically a Christian leader known for his courage and generosity. (Saint) Nicholas was a 4th Century Bishop (regional leader) in Myra (what is now in SW Turkey). You can actually go to visit the church dedicated to his memory and it seems that the oldest part of the structure goes back to his time.

What was life like for Nick and the saints of his day? Tough! Dangerous! The church was a growing force in the Roman world – yes, the Roman Emperor still called the shots. And Diocletian authorized a crackdown on Christians (early 300s). Everybody had to do their “emperor worship” or else! This was before the breakthrough with Emperor Constantine that made the Christian faith legal. Followers of Jesus were being thrown into jail and were subject to beatings, persecution, and even execution. Nicholas was among the jailbirds. Yes, Virginia, there really is a Saint Nicholas and he’s was a jailbird!

Nicholas was known for his courage, for facing the local governor in defence of other Jesus followers. He was also known for his generosity and he cared for hundreds of widows in their need. Because of his generosity and his flare in ministry, many stories were told, retold, and embellished, turning him into something of a “superhero” or “supersaint.” Not all the stories were true but the real life Nicholas was a man who followed Jesus and who is worthy of honour and of our emulation.

Here was a man who stood against the power structures that oppressed the followers of Christ. Here was a man who made a positive impact on his society. He cared for the poor and destitute, the widow and the orphan. Nicholas made the love of Christ known to his time and people. He had a missionary vision, a martyr’s courage, and a shepherd’s heart.
‘glowed.’

He couldn’t circle the globe in a single night but he was compelling in delivering the message of Christ’s peace and light – Nicholas He didn’t know who was naughty or nice but he proclaimed forgiveness of sins and new life in God for the stigmatized naughty and the self-styled nice. He was willing to stand up for Jesus and pay the price. That’s the kind of Saint Nicholas we need in Christmas. That’s the spirit of Christmas that continues to light a candle in the dark and starts a fire in the hearts of those lost in the cold.

I am glad that in a time when it is easy to be swept along and to compromise there are those who, like the real Nicholas, are willing to make make a difference. We need a few ‘Nicks in our time!’

May God give you a great Christmas blessing! Merry Christmas to All and to All, Be God’s Light!

—Pastor Phil