HMCdigital Tuesday 10am Devotional – March 31, 2020

While we’re unable to gather corporately, we will be hosting various live streaming events throughout the week to keep us connected to one another. See the complete schedule here.

Gideon: Ordinary man, Big God

Devotion 1 – God can use you

Judges 6:1-16
March 31, 2020

Happy Tuesday!

Over the next few Tuesdays, I want to take us through a study of a character in the Bible that I have always been drawn to. Maybe it is because he was such an ordinary guy with normal struggles, yet through God, he did some extraordinary things. I want to look together at the life of Gideon from Judges 6-8. I encourage everyone to read that passage these next few weeks.

Have you ever felt unqualified, unskilled, or inadequate? You have been asked to do something or be something, yet you wonder deep down if you have what it takes? Maybe, you doubt your own abilities? I am sure all of us have been there at some point. I struggle with it. Truth be told, there are days where being a pastor and being in front of you to lead or teach brings back those feelings like a flood.

Yet, as we look at Judges 6:1-16 today, we will see that even though we may feel insignificant, unskilled, and unqualified, we have a big God who can and will use us to do what we consider to be extraordinary things for Him.

Starting in Judges 6, we are introduced again to the people of Israel. Life has changed for them significantly. A couple hundred years prior, they were the ones crossing over the Jordan River into this land that God had promised them. Yet even though they had (see Joshua 4) set up a collection of stones as a constant reminder to the generations that followed about who their God was, and even though they had God’s Law that was to be publicly read regularly as a reminder, they forgot their God. And as Judges 6:1 says, they were doing evil in God’s sight.

God, to get their attention and bring about change, hands them over to the Midianites for what was seven years to be oppressed. What we know about Midian was that they formed an alliance with other Eastern nations come against Israel. They had camels which gave them a huge military advantage as they could move a lot faster and further than could an army on foot. We also know that there were many of them, much like a swarm of locusts (as they are compared to in vs 5) who multiply fast and are like a thick cloud when they descend upon a land. And just like locusts who come in like an army and destroy everything in their way, this Midianite Alliance would do the same. The Midianites and their buddies would come in whenever their was a fresh crop grown and take it for themselves (picture the frustration of leaving the grocery store to have someone waiting at your car each time to take your groceries and run). Anything else that was in the land, they laid waste to. Israel was in poverty and need. They had nothing, and they were in fear. Enough so that Israel went into hiding in caves, the mountains, and anywhere else they figured they could be save to live from the Midianite Alliance.
It is in that context that the people begin to cry out to God to save them and spare them (vs 7). God hears their cries, is moved by them, and raises up a guy named Gideon to bring them deliverance. Let’s read of the first time Gideon was called on.

Read Judges 6:11-16

1) Gideon is living in fear: When we see Gideon the first time, he is threshing wheat in a winepress. This was an indicator of the fear in the land of the Midianite Alliance, and the fear that Gideon would have struggled with. Normally when wheat is threshed, it is on a threshing floor which is out in the open, on a high flat plain, with a team of oxen working on the floor, as well as many people due to the community celebration that threshing had become. A winepress however was hidden. It was carved into a rock face. It was not easily seen. And rather than being in the open, a winepress usually was in some garden or orchard setting surrounded by trees and large vegetation which kept it hidden from those passing by. It was a single person operation rather than the big deal that a threshing floor was. Wheat would have been threshed in the winepress to keep it hidden. And in that setting, a complete stranger decides to sit under a tree right next to where Gideon is hiding out, threshing his grain.

2) Gideon is an ordinary person: Notice the first words used by the angel of the Lord to address Gideon: “The Lord is with you, valiant warrior.” These were not words that would naturally be used of Gideon. Hiding in his winepress, he was anything but a valiant warrior, and as we are going to see, he was nothing but normal.

Gideon expresses his disappointment in God. This God that the angel spoke of was the One that their tradition said brought Gideon’s people out of slavery in Egypt quite miraculously maybe 300 years prior. Yet now, where was this God? Was He weak in comparison to the other gods out there? Did He abandon His people to ruin?

What happens next (in Vs 14) is quite interesting. God actually speaks, as if to answer the challenge by Gideon. Prior, it was the angel of the Lord speaking, but now the voice of God takes over. Whether the angel of the Lord was actually a physical embodiment of God, or God directly spoke through the angel, we do not know for sure. We do know that God spoke.

God says to Gideon: Go and be the deliverer of your people. Set them free from the tyranny of Midian once and for all. I am personally sending you to lead your people.

Gideon’s response (Vs 15) is one of self doubt, insecurity, inadequacy, and feeling unqualified. Gideon looked at his social and family status. Yes, within his village, his father seemed to carry some reputation and rapport, but at the end of the day, Gideon was the least of the least. His family had no real influence that anyone should listen to him. It doesn’t sound as if they had a lot of resources that they should be high on the pecking order. And beyond that, Gideon was the youngest in his family. Why would even his own family listen to him? What qualities did he have to lead the people?

3) God sending should be enough: What does God say in verse 16? “But I will be with you.” Then, He restates His command to Gideon to lead the people against the Midianite Alliance. What God was saying here was “I am sending you. I know how weak and unqualified you are. I know that you feel you don’t have the skills or the significance to do this. You feel inadequate. But none of this matters because it is me, not you. My strength, not yours. That should be enough.”

I will save what happens for later weeks, but what I will say is that as Gideon trusted God and led God’s people, extraordinary and supernatural things happened that only God could do. God was enough. Gideon didn’t have to be anything but ordinary.

So how does God want to use you today? What ways is he tapping on your shoulder today and saying “hey, I want to use you to do something amazing for me?” Maybe it is something as simple as showing the love of Jesus to a hurting, scared, and maybe even sick neighbour, but as you think about it, you feel fear. You don’t know what to say, you don’t know what to do. What could you possibly offer that could show the love of Jesus? What if your efforts are rejected? What if putting yourself out there and reaching out to your neighbour is incredibly intimidating because you are very much an introvert yourself? What if what God is asking you to do is uncomfortable?

How about us as a church? How is God calling us as a community and family to be the love of Jesus to our greater community? To be Generations Following Jesus who Gather, Grow, Give, and Go? In what ways is He calling us to meet? In what ways is He asking us to reach out? Do we feel inadequate to do what He asks?

Is God sending you enough?

Sunday Live Stream—Restore

“Restore” Romans 5:12-19 March 29, 2020

I am glad that God looks with love and pride on His creation, us, who were dented up, rusted out, and a worthless image of what we were created to be, and that He decided that we were worth restoring to who He made us to be.

Romans 5:12-19

Verse 12 introduces us to Adam.

A. We lost our innocence (Vs 12, 16, 18)
B. We gave up spiritual life (Vs 12, 15, 17)

Verses 14 and 15 introduce us to Jesus

A. Mercy and forgiveness (Vs 15)
B. Be set right / justified (Vs 16, 19)
C. Spiritual life (Vs 17, 18)

Jesus wants to restore you to who God made you to be.

Find the curriculum Pastor Dave spoke about on our REIMAGINE page

SERMON TRANSCRIPTION

I can remember my first car; I bought it in September 2000. It only cost me $200. They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, because my first car was a big, ugly looking boat of a car; a 1983 Buick LeSabre. It was one of those old cars that those of us who grew up in the 80’s remember that our grandparents used to drive. Big cars that felt like they were floating as they drove. I lived out in BC at the time, but this car had spent the first several years of life in Ontario. Imagine what a car would look like after driving on our salt covered winter roads for several years without underbody protection. It was rusty. The rust was even getting rust! There were many places where the rust had eaten through spots in the panels. The gas tank was even rusted in a spot (so I only ever filled it half full).

If the rust wasn’t bad enough on its own, the car was also quite dented. At least two of the doors, and maybe a fender panel or two were dented in. But I was so proud of it. This was my first car. When everyone else poked fun at my dented rust bucket that shouldn’t have been on the road, I saw the potential that this car had to become a thing of beauty again. Over the next year that I drove it, I poured time, effort, and money into fixing it up. I replaced rusted out parts. I pulled out and filled dents. I sanded out rust, and in some cases rebuilt panels that were eaten away by the rust. I repainted the car. I replaced the rusted-out gas tank. I Resealed the leaking windshield. I was convinced I would restore it to what it was intended to be.

Within the year, the engine began the slow road to death. Aside from a brand-new engine, there was nothing else I could do. I had to park that car once and for all. But the journey of trying to restore something that was beaten up, rusted out, and worthless in the eyes of most was something I took pride in.

Today, we are looking at Romans 5:12-19. I am glad that God looks with love and pride on His creation, us, who were dented up, rusted out, and a worthless image of what we were created to be, and that He decided that we were worth restoring to who He made us to be.

Let’s read Romans 5:12-19

Verse 12 introduces us to Adam

We are introduced first to a character named Adam, the first human God created, the first human to walk the face of the Earth. This connection to Adam needs to be understood in the context of Genesis 2-3. Maybe this is something you can read this week when you have time.

Adam and his wife Eve enjoyed perfection. They walked on Earth as God’s caretakers of His perfect creation. They lived in a utopian bliss where there was no sickness, hardship of any kind, death. The garden was for their enjoyment. They had a relationship with God where He would walk in the garden, and they could enjoy His personal presence in a deeply personal way that was unhindered from any disobedience whatsoever. All was at peace. All was well. All was perfect.

Yet, something happened. Genesis 3 reads how Eve, and then Adam took a bite from the forbidden fruit that God told them not to touch, the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. When Adam ate, he blatantly disobeyed God, and suddenly his eyes were opened to the knowledge of good and evil. Sin, defined as missing the mark, was introduced to all of creation. Romans 5:12 says that through that one act of sin by Adam, sin and the resulting death was introduced to all of creation. Romans 3:23 tells us that everyone has sinned, and as a result, missed the mark of God’s perfect and undamaged glory and honour.

We have become like my 1983 Buick that, rather then be the brand new, unscratched, undamaged, not worn vehicle that it was right out of the assembly line, was full of dents, eaten away at by rust, and a worthless representation of what it was created to be. So how do we see this played out in our lives?

A. We lost our innocence (Vs 12, 16, 18)

Prior to Adam rebelling, all of creation had no knowledge of what rebellion, or sin was. We were undamaged by sin. Yet as verses 12, 16, and 18 say, Adam’s sin spreads to everyone. No longer could Adam enjoy the perfect, undamaged creation of God, because Adam was now damaged. He could never look at life the same, or his relationship with God the same as now, rebellion and disobedience had become a part of his active vocabulary. Because of Adam, our eyes are now open to the very same sin and rebellion. We live with the same damage as Adam. As a result of that sin, verses 16 and 18 say that we are no longer innocent but are subject to judgement and sentencing as one who is guilty.

B. We gave up spiritual life (Vs 12, 15, 17)

The three listed verses all say the same thing: death came to everyone. Yes, there is the truth that now, everyone and everything would face an eventual physical death, but there is so much more to it than that. While we are yet still alive, we all face something called “living death.” We may be alive physically, but spiritually, in our relationship towards God, there is a separation or death that happened. Just as Adam was then sent out of the garden with his wife because of the sin, not to live in the personal presence of God with a pure, un-scratched, undamaged relationship for eternity, we too have seen that life eaten away from us like rust eats away at metal. It is gone. While we are alive physically, we have exchanged that eternity with God in His presence for a life of isolation and spiritual death.

But don’t sit in this place of despair long. Don’t look at the hopeless, dented, rusted out, damaged, and worthless image of the life that was destroyed by sin. Why? Because, with love and pride, God looks at you and sees a creation worth restoring. He wants to fill the dents, remove the rust, fix the broken parts, smooth out the rough spots, and restore us to like new. He wants to give us back the life we were intended to have so we can be the people He intends us to be. This is why….

Verses 14 and 15 introduce us to Jesus

The story doesn’t end with a trip to the scrap yard. It ends with restoring what was damaged and destroyed. It ends with Jesus making all things new again. As we come closer to Easter, we celebrate the fact that Jesus came to Earth to die a criminal’s death on a cross, the execution tool of the Roman Empire. But as we know with the Easter Story, Jesus didn’t stay dead, but three days later came back to life again. Through this death and new life, Jesus accomplished for us the following:

A. Mercy and Forgiveness (Vs 15)

Verse 15 tells us that there is a big difference between Adam’s sin, and God’s gracious gift that came through what Jesus did. While Adam’s sin brought death to all, God’s gift through Jesus brings forgiveness and mercy. This means that even though we are guilty of disobedience, rebellion, and missing the mark of the perfection God designed us for, through the gift of God that comes through what Jesus did, we now are subject to mercy and forgiveness.

This means that we can:

B. Be set right / justified (Vs 16, 19)

What does it say here? Though we are guilty of many sins, even though we carry the damage of disobedience and rebellion in our lives, even though the dents and the rust holes are there for all to see, the gift of God that comes through Jesus sets us right before God. That gift takes care of those dents, rust holes, and damage marks in our lives. We are like new. This means that instead of facing spiritual death because of our sin, we now face:

C. Spiritual life (Vs 17, 18)

Adam’s sin brings death, but the gift of God that comes through Jesus brings the opposite, spiritual life. John 1:12 says that this spiritual life is available to all who receive Him and believe in His name. All who do this become children of God with all the rights and privileges therein, regardless of the past failures and mistakes. Regardless of how damaged, dented, or destroyed you were by sin. Regardless of how worthless you think you are, or others say you are.

As I wrap up, this is the encouragement I leave you today. No matter what you are facing today, no matter how life has beaten you down, no matter the depth of your own sin and rebellion, Jesus wants to restore you to who God made you to be. He wants to pull out all the dents from you crashing into the walls of rebellion. He wants to clean and cut out all the places where the rust of sin has eaten away at your life. He wants to fix the places where leaking into you is self sufficiency, independence, disbelief, and a lack of trust. All those places where you have been damaged, Jesus wants to restore into the image of who you were created to be: a child of God, created by Him to enjoy a perfect relationship forever in His presence.

Do you want to be restored?

Romans 5:12-19 New Living Translation (NLT)

Adam and Christ Contrasted

12 When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13 Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. 14 Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. 15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19 Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

REIMAGINE WEEK ONE

download & print a PDF version of this curriculum

REREAD the big story

EXODUS 14:29-31 (Previous bedtime story: crossing the Red Sea! Characters: Pharaoh, Yahweh, Moses, Aaron, Israelites, the Wilderness

REVIEW the context

The story of the EXODUS captures the imagination! Scholars debate the specifics (the number of Israelites who fled Egypt and the path they took) but the scriptures are clear: God had done the unthinkable! He brought the god-king Pharaoh to his knees. He parted the Red Sea. And He set the Hebrews free and set them to path in the wilderness. Moses was their appointed leader but his leadership was soon questioned as the Israelite rations ran out and they were hungry.

REENTER through the 2nd story

a REIMAGINING of Exodus 16:1-16

Moses stood on a hilltop and looked down at the Hebrews below. It had been weeks since they left Egypt. And they had been on the move ever since. ‘Has it sunk in?’ he turned and asked his brother. ‘What do you mean?’ Aaron replied. Moses grabbed Aaron’s shoulders and kissed his forehead. ‘That you are free!’ Moses pointed. ‘Look! The cloud – it stops!’ Far ahead of the people, the Pillar of Cloud swirled up into the evening sky, and out of sight. A Pillar of Fire struck the ground in its place and filled the region with light. ‘Tell the people to make camp!’ Moses said heading down the hill.

The rams horn blew the call to set camp. But before Moses could find his own tent – he was swarmed by a mob of people. ‘What is the purpose of leading us out here to die?!’ a shouted at him. ‘Excuse me?’ Moses answered. The man threw an empty grain sack at Moses’ feet. ‘Look at this grain sack. Empty! Look at my bushels. Empty!’ Moses looked up. He was surrounded by blank stares and hungry eyes. Men, women, children, young and old stood before him – empty sacks, baskets, and bushels in hand. ‘God should have let us die in Egypt?!’ another shouted. ‘At least we had lamb’s stew – and bread – and food!’

The mob was on the brink of frenzy when Aaron rushed in. ‘I tried to warn you,’ he whispered to Moses. ‘My friends!’ Aaron shouted over the crowd, ‘We are free! Better to die free men – than as slaves, no?! Besides. God will surely provide?’ For a moment the crowd relented and Moses retreated to a quiet place to pray. There, in the dancing light of the Pillar of Fire, God met Moses and spoke: ‘I have heard the complaints of my people. And I will rain down bread in the morning – and meat in the evening – so they may eat. And when I do, you will realize that I am God, your God! Here is what my people must do…’

Moses returned to Aaron with God’s instructions. ‘Take no more than you need. Else the bread will sour. Eat your fill. But not in greed!’ Aaron gathered the leaders of the tribes of Israel. ‘You’ve complained against God. Not us!’ Aaron said to the people. ‘But now, the path is clear. Come near to God and He will show up, and once again save us!’ Suddenly, the Glory of God was before them in the wilderness. A flock of quail flew outside the Hebrew camp. The number of birds was beyond count. Everyone had their fill of meat. And in the morning a layer of wild-bread covered the ground. Everyone ate their fill. God had provided both meat and bread. And he continued to do so – day after day – night after night.

RETHINK in sacred sharing

Spend some time in sacred reflection, conversation, and listening. Use the following questions as a guide.

Q: Looking at the story – how uncertain do you think the Israelites felt about God, their life, and their future? Rate on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 = no certainty at all, 10 = full confidence).

Q: What has your past week been like? Q: In this moment, do you feel any uncertainty about your life, your faith, or your future? Rate on a scale of 1 to 10.

Q: What has caused your uncertainty? Name aloud.

Q: Where do you see God-in-Action despite your uncertainty?

Q: What does Jesus have to say about anxiety and fear?

Q: Where do you feel the Spirit leading you or your family in these times?

RECREATE in sacred play

Spend some time in sacred play recreating the Exodus scene! Use materials from within your home to recreate Egypt, the Red Sea, and the wilderness! Below are a list of props ideas, characters, costumes, and a general flow-of-the-story. Remember – play is spontaneous and child-led! Use the scriptures as a reference but let the children lead!

PROPS: Set up a room in your house that flows seamlessly from scene to scene. Use pillows as pyramids, blankets for the sea, carpets for the wilderness.

CHARACTERS: Pharaoh, Moses, Aaron, Miriam, the Israelites, God, the Red Sea, the Wilderness. COSTUMES: Use everyday clothing to outfit your characters (t-shirts strung on heads, bathrobes, walking sticks, pots and pans, etc!)

FLOW: Pharaoh released the Hebrews. Moses – and the Pillar of Cloud and Fire – led the Hebrews into the wilderness. Pharaoh trapped them at the Red Sea – but God showed up – and parted the sea. The Hebrews went into the wild and God provided manna and quail for food!

REMAKE in a sacred meal

It didn’t take long for the Hebrews to run out of food! Without a miracle they would have starved! But God showed up and rained down MANNA-BREAD (a doughy-flakey kind of bread) and QUAIL (think, tiny chickens!)

CHALLENGE: bake some bread from scratch! Your favourite bread! If you are brave – find a MANA-BREAD recipe online and give it a try! And when the bread is hot and ready – get out the butter, slather it on – and add the bread to your sacred Sunday meal!

RESPOND in sacred prayer

Spend some time in sacred prayer. Choose a quiet and reflective spot within your home. A place where you or your family feel most comfortable. Light a candle. This will be your Pillar of Fire! And if possible, sit in a way that every face can be seen.

God did not forget His people. He provided. As the candle burns, prayerfully speak aloud both your feelings of uncertainty and your feelings of trust.

‘I am uncertain about my future. But I trust that God will lead me.’

download & print a PDF version of this curriculum

Ministry Update: March 27, 2020

I wanted to take some time to fill you in on some important updates surrounding the ministry at Hanover Missionary Church.

When will we be back?

This is a good question that I am sure many of you are asking.

First, thank you for engaging with us online these past couple weeks. It has been encouraging to see so many joining into our Facebook page, watching live on our website, or being involved in Zoom calls. Thanks for being flexible and being a part of the church community in this new way.

Initially, we had set April 5th as being the target for being back in the building. With the recent spread and growth of COVID-19 in Ontario, that is no longer reasonable. We are prepared to be out as long as needed, and our new ministry structure supports that. For the immediate future, we are planning to be out for all of April, with us evaluating our situation before the May 3rd Sunday AM worship gathering.

What does that mean for Good Friday, Easter, and other ministries?

Good Friday and Easter Sunday gatherings will still happen; however it will be online this year. We will still have a time where we will gather for worship, reflection, and celebration online, but watch for details in the coming week.

As for other ministries, we will continue to operate online as we have been, with the option of introducing more opportunities as the need and ability to do so arises. We are constantly evaluating the status of future ministry events as time passes. As things change, we will continue to be in communication with you.

While I know that some of what follows will be review to many of you, please continue to read this letter as there are some important details in here for everyone.

What is the best way to participate in the online gatherings?

We are online for all our gatherings. You can find us on our Facebook page where we will be broadcasting our events live. You can also watch our broadcast events through our website. Our Zoom rooms are done through a video chat program called Zoom. You can find out more information on our website.

As we have gone online, we have discovered some of our technical limitations. One of those limitations is that our physical website (www.hanovermissionary.com) can only handle a certain amount of online traffic at once. When it hits its limit for traffic, the technology parking lot becomes full, and no one else can come in and park for our service. Just as we would want to create physical space in our parking lot for people, we need to create virtual space for people on our website. Otherwise people can not watch and participate. If you, or your spouse, or your children have a Facebook account, please watch our service through our dedicated Facebook page. We want to leave our website open to those who have no other option. If you do not have a Facebook account, but are able to sign up for a free account, please do. If you need help, please contact one of us, and we would be happy to help you in the sign-up process. (You can find a tutorial here on our website.)

What about giving to the weekly offering?

With our weekly physical meetings stopping, the opportunity to participate in the weekly offering looks different.

Even though the physical, in person ministries have temporarily stopped here at HMC, ministry is still active and happening. There are still ongoing expenses and financial needs to be met so that we can continue to be on mission for Jesus in our community.

I am sensitive to the reality that there are many reading this notice who would normally want to give to help support the ministry of HMC, but your income situation has changed, and you are now unable to give. Please do not hear me pressuring you to give. We (as HMC) need to be sensitive to the situation that some of us may not have a steady income at this time of economic uncertainty.

I am also aware that there are some of us who are able to count on a steady income in this time, and may have the ability and resources to give a bit extra during this time to help us continue to pay our bills. As the Lord leads, would you please consider what you may be able to give in this time?

If you can give online by credit card, please consider doing so. On your web browser, go to tithe.ly or download the tithe.ly app for your smart phone. Through that website/app, you can give directly to HMC. If you need any assistance, contact the office.

If you still wish to give by physical cheque, please call the office to set that up. Marie has requested that you call on Monday or Wednesday.

How can we love our community?

There are some amazing new opportunities we have to be a blessing to our community.

1) Benevolence Fund: Community Aid – During this pandemic, a number of people inside and outside our church family are going to be in need. If God has given you the ability and desire to share with others, you can donate to HMC and designate your gift to “Benevolence Fund: Community Aid”. You will receive a donation receipt, and the funds will be distributed according to HMC policies. Please consider these gifts to be above your regular offerings. If donating through Tithe.ly or the church website, this designation is now an option.

2) Grocery drop off – We have been approached by the medical community in Hanover about if some of our people would be willing to provide assistance to those who are in isolation and can not leave their homes by delivering pre-paid groceries from the grocery store to their front steps. We do have people within our congregation willing to do this, and we have willingly taken on this new way to bless our community. However, if you are willing to volunteer to help with this, please contact myself at the office (519-364-1823 Ext 30 or dave@hanovermissionary.com).

3) White Ribbon Campaign – We have been asked to be a part of a community initiative to show our support and love to the healthcare workers who are on the front line of the COVID-19 crisis. As a sign of support, people are being asked to tie white ribbons to a tree, bush, porch railing, etc… at your home. We think this is a great idea as a church, and we already have one up at the church building. Our challenge for this week is “how many white ribbons can the HMC community place outside this week?”

I know that there has been a lot of information for you to read today. Thanks for taking the time to read through all of this. As always, if you have any comments, questions, or feedback, do not hesitate to contact myself, the office, or one of the other pastors.

Know that we are praying for you and are happy to serve you in this time.

Glad to be part of this family!

Pastor Dave

Cooking with Kristina – Rustic Bread

Thursday, March 26, 2020

Adding some fun to your week as Pastor Kristina shares some easy cooking ideas!

Rustic Bread Recipe

3 cups flour
1/2 t yeast
1 and 3/4 t salt
Mix these then add

1 and 1/2 c water
fresh or dried herbs or get creative.

Mix well with wooden spoon (a very wet spoon helps) add a bit more water if needed. Cover well. Leave it alone for 12-24 hours.

Heat oven to 450 F Heat dutch oven (I didn’t do that…but I did put a tiny bit of spray in the bottom because it sticks a bit sometimes. With very wet hands transfer the dough to the dutch oven.

Cook covered for 30 minutes then uncovered for 15 more.

Take out of the pan after a minute or so or it will get soggy.

It has a chewy crust but the inside is perfect so even if it feels hard to cut it is worth it!

Enjoy!

Tune in next Thursday at 6pm for another recipe!

HMCdigital Tuesday 10am Devotional – March 24, 2020

While we’re unable to gather corporately, we will be hosting various live streaming events throughout the week to keep us connected to one another. See the complete schedule here.

Tuesday, March 24 – LIVE at 10 a.m. with Pastor Dave

A Zoom Room will open following each Tuesday devotion. To sign up, please pop over to our ZOOM page. A link will also be posted on Facebook that you can follow to join in.

“Defining Moment” – ESTHER 4:13-14
Devotional – Tuesday March 24, 2020

What is your defining moment?

If you are into Hockey, or are older than I, you likely have heard the name Paul Henderson. Paul is an icon in the hockey world, and a local boy as well! A bio reads that Paul, from Kincardine, was a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He learned how to play hockey in Lucknow. A left winger, Henderson played 13 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Atlanta Flames and five in the World Hockey Association (WHA) for the Toronto Toros and Birmingham Bulls. He played over 1,000 games between the two major leagues, scoring 376 goals and 758 points. Henderson played in two NHL All-Star Games and was a member of the Memorial Cup-winning Hamilton Red Wings team as a junior. Not a bad resume overall.

Yet that is not what Paul is remembered for. His career was defined by the goal he scored on September 28, 1972, to win the Summit Series for Canada. In a series of national pride where Canada was challenging Russia in hockey, Paul not only tied up a game in the series, but went on to score the winning goal in three more games after. It was Paul who scored the winning goal with 34 seconds of play left to win the tournament for Canada. It is the most famous goal in Canadian hockey history and was the defining moment for a generation of Canadians. Decades later, Henderson remains a national hero.

What is your defining moment?

In the Bible, we are reminded of a young woman named Esther. You can read the book in one sitting (just ten chapters) that chronicles her life. Her life story revolves around a defining moment.

Esther was a young Jewish girl who found herself living in the Persian Empire. The king at the time was a man named Ahasuerus, who had a temper, and had just removed and exiled his wife for not responding to his selfish, chauvinistic, or demeaning demands. Wanting to find another wife who would now be queen, he has his attendants go out into the empire and round up the most beautiful young women to be taken into his harem where they would undergo beauty treatments and essentially audition for the role by meeting his every demand. Esther was the one who really caught his eye and gained his favour. He selected her to become his new wife, the queen. It is important to remember that at no time, did she ever reveal she was Jewish.

She had an uncle named Mordecai who had saved the king by reporting a plot of a planned assassination by two of his own servants. It was this same Mordecai who later on, got the anger of the king’s second in command, Haman. You see, Haman demanded that when he came by, people would bow to him. When Mordecai refused, it infuriated Haman, enough so that he devised a scheme that involved him deceiving the king into permitting the complete extermination of the Jewish people from the empire.

The only person who could save the Jewish people was Esther, whom the king and Haman had no idea was Jewish. She had the ability to go to the king and personally fight for her people. The only problem was that no one entered the king’s presence without an invitation, and if Esther entered his presence uninvited to bring this injustice to light, if the king didn’t extend his sceptre as a sign of welcome, she would be executed. It didn’t matter that she was the queen and his wife. She only came to him when he wanted her. The king had not invited her to come to him for the period of time ahead before Haman would act on his evil plan. The life of Esther was on the line, and she was scared to act.

Yet it was in that moment that her uncle spoke to her of stepping out of fear and into a clearly defining moment for her. He said (Esther 4:13-14):

Mordecai told the messenger to reply to Esther, “Don’t think that you will escape the fate of all the Jews because you are in the king’s palace. If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.”

The story from here is that rather than run in fear, Esther steps out into a defining moment in her life, and as the queen. She puts her life on the line to speak to the king, and in the process saves herself, her people, and ends the terrible plot of Haman. This week read the book of Esther for the rest of the story. It is quite amazing!

Esther stepped into a moment that would truly define her. What is your defining moment?

Today is a defining moment for us who follow Jesus isn’t it? Our lives have changed a lot in the last couple weeks. How we meet as the church has changed. How we live our daily lives have changed. Many of us are working from home, if we are working at all. We are all keeping our distance from others, staying within our own homes, and living in isolation. People are struggling with being apart.

People all around us are fearful. As the numbers of those who are infected raise, and the government comes down with more protectionary measures that affect our lives, our families, our ability to live and provide, the anxiety and fear climbs.

People around us are losing their jobs. People around us are unable to go out to get themselves food and provisions. People are worried about loved ones getting ill.

The reality is that there are a lot of challenges in front of us that could cause us to retreat in fear, rather than be who God has called us to be. What if this is our defining moment as the people of God, as followers of Jesus, as the church? While it threatens to drive us further apart and hold us back from being what we think is the church, what if this whole time is what we need to actually define us? What if this is our defining moment as the church to step out and be who God is calling us to be to a hurting world clearly in need?

Yes, we have natural fears and anxieties. Yes, there is a lot of unknowns that are in front of us. Yes, we may even be confused about how we can even be the church in these days. Yes, we may even doubt that we can share the hope of Jesus because we are all so isolated (or so it seems). But what if this is actually our defining moment to share the hope, light, and love of Jesus Christ, all be it in a new and different way?

Remember that while our methods may change, the message is still the same. As I said yesterday, how we do church looks different, where we meet looks different, but the church will still be the church. Regardless of how we say it, we are still all about Jesus Christ.

Also, in this time we are even seeing record high engagement with our church. People are searching for hope and peace in this time of uncertainty and anxiety. And the best news is that we have the Lasting Hope and Calming Peace that people need. I read a quote yesterday by a local Christian pastor, leader, and blogger. He said “in the midst of crisis, there is an opportunity to share the hope that comes through Christ to millions that weren’t interested in the conversation just a few weeks ago.”

What is our defining moment?

Sunday Live Stream – March 22, 2020

with Pastor Amos and Pastor Kristina

K: Good morning HMC!

A: And Happy Sunday! My name is Pastor Amos

K: And I am Pastor Kristina

A: And we are so glad you have tuned in – on this beautiful Sunday morning! We are streaming to you LIVE from the empty sanctuary at HMC. We are six feet apart and practising safe social distancing – and we hope that you are too.

Truth be told. Pastor Kristina always keeps at least 6 feet from me every time I see her anyways!

K: We miss you. The empty building isn’t the same without you! But our primary concern is the health and safety of you – and of people in our community.

A: That’s right. And because of that – we will be LIVE STREAMING on SUNDAY’s for the time being but we will be following the protocols of our governments and local health authorities!

K: Pastor Lyndsay and Pastor Dave are watching from home.

A: And so is my mom! Hi mom! I made it! I am on camera!

K: You are such a nut-case.

A: Excuse me. You have the next line next.

K: Stop! We want to acknowledge that all of this has happened so incredibly fast. And a lot of the news is scary. And we want you to know that though we can’t meet at HMC – we can meet online. We are here for you!

A: Absolutely. You can contact each of us directly, through email, or through our Facebook page. We love reading your comments and want to answer any questions you have. If you have a specific question in our live stream we are asking that you CAPITALIZE the word QUESTION – so we can quickly flag it through the comment section.

Oh, look at that. Someone just asked a question.

Chris Winkels from Chesley asks – QUESTION: Amos, how did you get so handsome?!
Thanks Chris!

*Pick up phone and pretend to type.
Oh – another QUESTION. This one is coming from… you Kristina.
QUESTION: Amos, how long do I have to listen to you talk?

K: If you are still in a position to give – and want to – you can do so through our tithely app, or direct deposit. If you are planning on giving by cheque, please contact the church office for arrangements and options.

A: Today is an exciting day! There are only two things we need to do this morning.

The first is to roll out plans for our two brand new initiatives at HMC. HMC digital and HMC cares.

And the second is to bare our souls with you in hopes to encourage you through this time.

K: This past week – the staff have been working furiously to create a plan of action for the coming weeks. We are really proud and really excited to roll out the details of that plan with you today. Your patience, support, and understanding has meant the world to us. And know, that as the situation evolves, so will our strategy. So please stay informed. Check the HMC Facebook page and website daily for updates!

Our strategy is two fold: meet digitally and reach out personally.

The initiatives and online schedule are already on our website under the HMCdigital drop-down menu. If you can split-screen, we would be happy if you followed along.

We will give you a moment to figure that out.

A: While we are waiting, should I tell a joke? Kids – you like my jokes don’t you?!

K: Oh please no.

A: Oh – another QUESTION!

This one is for you Kristina!
QUESTION: Pastor Kristina – what is it like working with someone who is so funny?!

K: Everybody ready?! If you don’t have the schedule in front of you – don’t fret. You can always read it later!

A: Our first initiative – HMC digital – is a unique online strategy to meet you and your family in your homes, where you are at. The platform will be multifaceted – trying to reach as many people – with as many variant degrees of technical abilities as possible.

K: The digital platform will be spread throughout the week with both prescheduled ‘online-events’ and impromptu gatherings, live streams and videos!

A: Sunday morning will be a mix – like a hybrid of both streaming and content. Our live stream will start at 10AM sharp.

But the Sunday ‘service’ will actually start in your homes 9:45AM. We are going to offer a Spotify playlist through a link – that has worship tunes to blast through your house before the live stream!

Then at 10AM the livestream will go up. You will see one of the Pastors from HMC – and we will give a 15-20 minute mini-sermon to encourage you, inspire you, and get you into your Bibles!

K: And we are really excited – because each sermon will be transcribed – both digitally – and in hard copies. So if you know someone who is not tech-savvy, or connected, but would still like to be a part of our service – we can mail, or hand deliver the sermon to them – or you!

A: After the livestream our service moves into your home. We will have a digital curriculum for you to download or print to use as individuals, couples, or families.

The curriculum is generation friendly. Content for all ages. There will be a scripture reading – a 2nd Story – play ideas – conversation starters – sacred prayer ideas – sacred Sunday meal ideas – and more. You can find more details on the schedule.

And in the days and weeks ahead there will be online tutorials of how to best utilize the curriculum and how to encourage your spiritual growth!

K: Then again at 11AM we will livestream for a closing benediction and prayer. Following the benediction we will have several ZOOM rooms – which are online group chats – for anyone who wants to connect with a pastor, for prayer or conversation.

Again, there are online tutorials of how to connect into a ZOOM room!

A: I am excited!

K: Me too! Then on Monday – we will be dropping our weekly briefing online. A summary of the what the week has ahead: the schedule, upcoming online events, prayer requests, and church updates!

A: Then on Tuesday morning at 10AM Pastor Dave will be going live with a devotional and a ZOOM room group chat immediately following – for conversation and prayer.

Then on Wednesday night I will be live-streaming our BEDTIME story at 7:05PM – picking up on the meal stories we have been covering at the MIDWEEK MEAL!

Following the BEDTIME story Pastor Dave will be opening a ZOOM ROOM group at 8PM for anyone who wants to chat and pray!

K: On Thursday we will be dropping some helpful hints, encouragements, and challenges!

And I will be going live at 6PM for a new segment called COOKING with KRISTINA! We will be making and baking together some delicious desserts, random recipes and maybe other non-food things! So watch for recipes and ideas!

Then at 8PM I will be opening a ZOOM ROOM group chat at 8PM intended for moms and ladies! Husbands – put those kids to bed so we can chat!

A: Alright! I can do that!

Then on Friday I will be hosting our ZOOM ROOM JRYo at 7PM – and ZOOM ROOM SRYo at 8PM! We are going to have online game nights. Video challenges. Conversation and prayer. It is going to be grand!

K: And then we meet back here – in the digital sphere – for church again on Sunday!

A: I am really excited for the days and weeks ahead. Now – we know the situation around the COVID-19 pandemic is changing almost everyday. So we have put this digital plan in place for at least the next 4 weeks. Again – stay tuned for updates and changes.

K: The second main initiative – HMC cares – is really awesome! Over the next while – we are making it priority one to personally reach out to each and every single person and family. We know that this is a huge task! And so we aren’t doing it alone. We have formed a care team, made up of several key leaders to help make the calls and reach out. And we believe, in fact we know, this is the church in action. We want to hear your voices. Talk to you. Listen to your concerns and note your needs and prayer requests. It is going to take some time to get this team mobilized – but expect a call from one of our HMC cares team soon! Beyond the personal contact – we will have community boards, ways to reach out, ideas – maybe a cookie cares team! Stay tuned!

A: Wow. The church in action. I love it.

AMOS HOMILY:

It doesn’t really need to be said how incredibly surreal all of this is.
For you.
For us.
For everybody.

Our world has literally stopped. Almost the entire globe. Caught in unimaginable panic, and uncertainty. We can imagine how you are feeling right now. Because we feel it also. There is a lot of uncertainty. A lot of unrest and fear. AND It is really strange to be here on a Sunday morning and staring at empty pews! I mean – I am getting about as many laughs I would normally. So that isn’t so different. But we fully recognize the extraordinary events affecting our lives and our community.

In moments like these – I find nothing more comforting than the scriptures. The story of God at work in the world.

If you have your Bibles—which I know you do because you are at home, and haven’t been able to forget to bring them to church—

In ACTS 2 we find the disciples waiting. Some 120 people gathered in an upper room – probably in the temple because they were Jews – celebrating the feast of Pentecost.

They were praying and earnestly waiting for the promise Jesus had made to them. That he would send the counsellor, the Spirit, the helper. When I picture this room, I see pillars holding up the roof. A bench surrounding. A stone floor. And oil lamps scattered throughout. I can imagine the murmur in the room of the disciples praying. Men, women, probably youth and children. A quiet sort of energy. They are pensive; unsure but earnest, when all of a sudden the sound of a mighty wind ripped through everyone gathered had what seemed to be tongues of fire over their heads. The counsellor had arrived! The Holy Spirit had filled them. They were – in that moment – literally radiating God to the world. And I can see these people almost instantly changed.

And when the Spirit filled them they were filled with HOPE. The HOPE OF GOD – an eternal living hope. A hope in the understanding of God’s purpose in the world through Jesus Christ.

They were filled with BOLDNESS. their very purpose of their lives changed in an instant. They fearlessly marched down those steps into a hostile crowd, unafraid – because they now knew that JESUS was both the RESURRECTION and the LIFE.

And I can imagine when they marched down those steps of the upper room,
they flooded into the court of the gentiles and began speaking in languages they did not know, prophesying and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ

The Jews were stunned. Shocked! Just stop and picture this bizarre scene.
Imagine if you were a Jew at the temple that day. You’d likely have heard of Jesus of Nazareth, the hope of his Messiahship, his deeds and death, but surely that movement was over?! Now all of these people are flooding into the court speaking foreign languages and speaking of Jesus being alive?!

‘They are speaking our languages!’ some said in amazement. ‘They are drunk on cheap wine!’ others scoffed.

But Peter – full of courage – stood up on the steps and gave the first spirit-led preach!

That’s when Peter stood up and, backed by the other eleven, spoke out with bold urgency: “Fellow Jews, all of you who are visiting Jerusalem, listen carefully and get this story straight. These people aren’t drunk as some of you suspect. They haven’t had time to get drunk—it’s only nine o’clock in the morning. This is what the prophet Joel announced would happen:
“In the Last Days,” God says, “I will pour out my Spirit on every kind of people: Your sons will prophesy, also your daughters;Your young men will see visions, your old men dream dreams.When the time comes, I’ll pour out my Spirit On those who serve me, men and women both, and they’ll prophesy. I’ll set wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth below, Blood and fire and billowing smoke, the sun turning black and the moon blood-red, Before the Day of the Lord arrives, the Day tremendous and marvelous; And whoever calls out for help  to me, God, will be saved.”

KRISTINA
In the story Amos just told, the Holy Spirit came upon the Christians and filled them with power to go out and bring Jesus to the world around them. After Peter’s speech in Acts 2, thousands chose to follow Jesus and the good news spread like wildfire. People were being healed of all sorts of things, people were selling their belongings to care for each other, prison gates were being miraculously opened, and the disciples who had previously been filled with fear were preaching boldly. God was adding to their numbers daily.

In chapter 5 of Acts, we see that the Jewish religious leaders were growing increasingly jealous. No matter what they did they couldn’t seem to stop this. A pharisee named Gamaliel warned how coworkers that if this was not a movement from God it would just die down but they should be cautious in case it was from God. The others did not listen.

In Acts 8, persecution started to ramp up. Stephen, one of the great church leaders had been just been killed…

At that time, the church in Jerusalem began to be subjected to vicious harassment. Everyone except the apostles was scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria. 2 Some pious men buried Stephen and deeply grieved over him. 3 Saul began to wreak havoc against the church. Entering one house after another, he would drag off both men and women and throw them into prison.

Now, I am not going to fool myself into thinking that what we are experiencing truly compares to the persecution of these people were experiencing. But, like them, we are experiencing forced dispersion, fear, and uncertainty. We are waiting on the precipice of something that is beyond our control. That can either cripple us with fear or fill us with purpose.

AMOS
And in this moment, I think I finally beginning to know what it means to be a Spirit-led church.
To be a JOEL 3 church.
to be an ACTS 2 church.

The truth of this story hasn’t changed—my friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ, old and young, male and female—we are all scared. We are all uncertain.

If you are a follower of Jesus and the Spirit lives in you:
You can walk in HOPE
You can live in BOLDNESS

You can live out HOPE eternal – because you know that God’s redeeming work in the world is not finished. That even through this crisis God is at work. He still lives. He still moves. He still redeems all that is lost and broken.

My friends, you can live in BOLDNESS – because you have been given the promise of the resurrection because of Jesus. and nothing can strip that promise!

AND – I BELIEVE – MOST IMPORTANTLY
If you are a follower of Jesus and the Spirit lives in you
you are a PRIEST in GOD’s KINGDOM

You are those spirit-led people in the upper room you are the young and old, men and women of Joel who will dream and speak God’s LIFE into the world! You are the priesthood of believers

I speak for our staff team when we say how much we love you
how being a part from you is grieving
how much we loved being your Pastors.
We love being at HMC .

But now – in this moment in time in the life of our church it isn’t our time – it is yours! It is time for you to fully live out your call – as a priesthood of all believers:

mothers and fathers
you are now the pastors of your own home
you are the primary source of faith formation, education, excitement, prayer and story

children
you are the storytellers, worship leaders, creative arts directors! fill your house with play – and songs – and colour – laughter and hugs!

youth, singles, couples, marrieds
you are the prophetic voice of our generation
you are the visionaries who will reshape the world by the values of Jesus!

the old, wise, and grey
you are the counsellors, the wise, the encourages, the prayer warriors,

KRISTINA
We have been a church together for a long time but now we are being dispersed. This is an opportunity to spread the light. To develop our spiritual gifts, as Amos wrote about this week and has spoken about today. Each family is going to need someone to teach, someone to shepherd, someone to show hospitality, and all of the other gifts. This dispersion could mean the extinguishing of all of these tiny lights, (blow out a candle)

or it could mean the start of new ones. (Light some new candles)

We have a chance now that none of us imagined, to be a light in our communities. To be Jesus to our neighbours and to our church community as well. The way we go forward will impact the future of our church in this community, and in the whole world. We can take this time to care for others both in our little family group, in our larger church family, and in the community at large. This is an unprecedented opportunity to use your gifts. Get creative. Take your faith seriously.

Rise up church!

AMOS
Undoubtedly and unequivocally
we are here for you in whatever capacity we have
to call, encourage, resource, facilitate, to equip

but my friends
in this moment we ALL have a profound opportunity to be and act what we already are
EVEN IN CRISIS
EVEN IN TRAGEDY
EVEN IN UNCERTAINTY
EVEN IN DEATH

EMBRACE YOUR LIFE in HOPE because of the Spirit’s work
EMBRACE YOUR WALK IN BOLDNESS
EMBRACE YOUR CALL to be the PRIESTHOOD of ALL BELIEVERS
and when we do we will take on the image of our Master – Jesus
we will become more and more like him!
and we will begin to look and sound and talk and walk like Jesus
and join him in his work of redeeming it!

Blessings and peace be upon you
We love you
And we look forward to connecting with you again soon!

PASTOR DAVE is live streaming this TUESDAY at 10AM

God bless!

A Priesthood of All Believers: A Response to COVID-19

To: my fellow Pastors,
former classmates,
church leaders,
(and of course my congregation)

I can still remember the weight and the look of my dad’s ‘church bag’. A big-lug-of-leather brief case. And if memory serves, he only took it church. It was filled with loose papers, his Bible, pens without lids, and church candy. Oh that sweet, sweet church candy! Our family would sit two rows from the front (keeners) – spitting distance from the Pastor. Sunday morning and Sunday night – every week – without fail.

And I loved it.

I loved going to church. I loved being a part of a church. Seeing the people. The feeling of being swept into the river of folks mixing after service. I loved the stories. I felt safe in the building.

I loved the community. The flyby-pencil-stealing-missions past Mrs. Ernst every week. I needed to draw! And she could only guard the supply room door for so long, until SWOOP. Another stash of church pens in my pocket.

Looking back, it isn’t a wonder that I wandered into the clergy. I still love the church. It is my second home. The people are my family. Even my children have been absorbed into the same way-of-being I experienced as a child. They run through the doors, kick off their boots, find the secret stock of baby cookies, and settle in. Our family schedule and weekly rhythm has been molded around the church rhythms. You know as well as I, pastoring isn’t a job – it’s a way of life.

COVID-19 has disrupted almost every facet of pastoral life.

We have literally watched the world stop. Our government has closed its borders. World governments have completely locked-down and shut-out. Airlines have been grounded. The markets are in free-fall. The streets are nearly empty. The toilet paper is gone! And millions upon millions upon millions of people are in isolation. Projections for the crisis to end are a moving target. Our government has signalled we should prepare for weeks and months. Scientists forecast June, or July, or August as a possible end to social isolation and the return of ‘normal life’. Some have suggested even a year. Maybe they are wrong! Maybe they are right. Our world has changed in a blink of an eye. Our churches have followed suit.

COVID-19 has disrupted almost every facet of church life.

Nearly every operation of our in-person community building mechanisms have halted simultaneously. Sunday Worship. Midweek meals. Small Groups. Youth. Visitation. Events. Missions trips. Staff meetings. And all those precious impromptu conversations in the foyer. The hugs. Smiles. Weekly updates. Jokes and rants.

Stopped.

Worse. It is conceivable that as Pastors we may not physically see, or speak, or cluster with our parishioners for weeks on end. It is conceivable that our people may not physically gather for groups, events, meals, game-nights, conferences, or Sunday worship for months.

Let that sink in.

Like you, my soul is grieved. There are moments I am speechless at the thought. Breathless. Where is this going? What will happen to the spiritual health of our people? What will happen to our churches as institutions? What will be left of our denominations, our bank accounts, the volunteer corps, summer interns, that cream I left in the fridge? Can we hold out for weeks, or months, or years? I know it sounds apocalyptic, but I can’t help but wonder:

is the Evangelical Church on the brink of extinction?

Oh, hear me local church Pastor – Sunday gatherings will happen in the post-COVID era. There will be sound glitches, mediocre coffee, hugs and songs, endearing awkward conversations, greetings in the foyer. It is all waiting on the other side. It may take weeks, or months, or longer. But how, oh how, can it ever be the same?

We are all scrambling. Upping our online presence (at least until the internet collapses). Our care teams are in place. Calls are being made. Groceries delivered. But live streaming alone cannot sustain us. We risk becoming a literal ‘show’ and just another barrier to an already passive-consumer-Christian experience. Zoom groups will keep us talking. But they limit our capacity to fully care. Besides, these methods are adult-centric and tech-heavy. Our most vulnerable – the kids, youth, and elderly – remain the most vulnerable. We are in a crisis of faith.

But beneath my feelings of dread and grief, there is a surge of excitement welling out of my soul. Jesus spoke: ‘It is the people, stupid.’ It has always been the people. The kids. The youth. The adults and singles and elderly. The families. It is not our brand. Our programming. Not our vision. Our building. Our production quality. Our preaching. It is the people.

It is time to reimagine the church. It is time to reequip the people!

In this moment, in this crisis of faith, we have a profound opportunity. We have a chance to re-energize our parents to be the spiritual caretakers of their children, youth, and families. We have a window to re-charge our adults to be self-motivated, self-teaching, self-driven people of faith. We have a moment to re-invigorate our people to be the church in action! We have the freedom to reimagine our congregations as JOEL 3 – ACTS 2 people of faith. A priesthood of all believers!

Our congregations are desperate for it.

Every family needs a Storyteller.
(someone who can open up their Bible, read it aloud with conviction, weave a picture with their words, and make it alive!)

Every house needs a Worship-Arts Director.
(someone to paint and draw and express, someone to take charge of the family playlist, load it with Jesus-songs, fill the air with hymns and praise and dance music!)

Every parent and grandparent needs to be Child and Youth Worker.
(someone who takes the work of play seriously – who guards the imagination of their children as their highest priority – who dares their youth to ask tough questions – and who is secure enough to listen without judgement!)

Every person needs a Counsellor.
(someone to listen, create sacred spaces for sharing and prayer.)

Our communities are desperate for it.

Every house needs a Pastor.
(someone who cares deeply for those around them, checks in, prays, and shepherds their flock!)

Every street needs an Evangelist.
(someone to speak boldly the love of Jesus without judgement, or fear, or hesitation!)

Every block needs a Prophet.
(someone who will cry out against injustice, hold truth to power, exclaim God’s promises, advocate for the poor, the starving, and the vulnerable, in Jesus’ name!)

Every town needs an Apostle.
(those who will be sent out on mission – in both physical and digital spaces – to redesign public space, and reinvigorate public conversation, for Jesus’ sake!)

Everyone needs not one – but many Teachers.
(people who adore the ancient scriptures, teach the history, adhere to context and form, embed the biblical narrative into daily lives of those around them!)

And everyone needs a Care Pastor and Encourager.
(people who actively see and intuitively read the needs of their neighbours and respond in kind with open hands and joyful hearts!)

Toddlers. Children. Youth. Adults. Parents. Singles. Grandparents. Families. Generations. We all have a part! There is no time for us to sit idle. We cannot wait this thing out.

If ever our towns needed an organic network of Spirit-led people – it is now.

If ever our world needed to hear and see the Good News of Jesus Christ working and flowing through everyday people – it is now.

If ever your church needed you, as a Pastor, as a shepherd, as an equipper of the saints – it is now.

In this moment, we must do what we were trained to do: reimagine the church and equip the people for the ministry! And then watch, as the priesthood of believers reshapes our world for Jesus’ sake.

There is no model on ‘how to do this’. Complications will abound. Our plans will be a mess. The work is insurmountable. But the spirit will lead.

This is our moment:

To rethink our purpose.
To reequip our people.
To reimagine the church.

May the Spirit lead us.

Your friend and brother,
in love,
in Christ,

-amos

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How We’re Moving Forward: A Message from the Staff of HMC

Read our latest update from Pastor Dave.

Video transcription:

Hello. My name is Amos Shelley and I am the pastor of children, youth, and family at Hanover Missionary Church in Hanover, Ontario, Canada.

Covid-19 has changed our lives for the time being. Many of you are scared. Many of you are anxious. There’s uncertainty around jobs, around health, around our loved ones. We know the effects of social isolation and bans on large group gatherings have altered the course of our society for the time being.

I want to remind you that you are not alone and you are loved and you are not forgotten.

As a pastor and as staff who’s primary job is to meet with people in big and small groups, how we do church has to change for the time being and we are really excited to roll out two new initiatives for Hanover Missionary Church. HMCdigital and HMCcares.

HMCdigital will be a unique online strategy to meet you in your home where you are at. Couples, families, children, youth alike. There will be live streaming of content, there will be digital curriculum, sermon videos, sermon series, suggestions, updates, group chats. We will provide and facilitate as many opportunities for you to connect with each other and with us as possible and we’re excited to see what God will do with this medium.

HMCcares is perhaps the most comprehensive one-to-one contact mechanism that HMC has ever employed, and our goal is to personally contact each and every one of you through a person on our care team every single week. We want to hear your stories. We want to hear your voices. We want to pray with you and talk with you. We want to know your needs and how best to meet them.

Pastor Kristina and I will be live streaming this Sunday at 10:00 and sharing the plan and the strategy and the schedule for the weeks ahead. We invite you to join us. You can hop onto our Facebook page or even through our website at 10:00 to follow along and participate.

Most importantly we want to remind you that God’s redemptive work in the world isn’t finished. He is still active. He is still moving. No economic downturn or virus can slow His grace or mercy. The borders of his kingdom can’t be closed and His spirit can’t be put in isolation. His love is eternal and it is good. Even in death, the hope of the resurrection remains because of what Jesus Christ has done.

So be encouraged. You are the literal light of the world. You are the embodiment of hope and peace everywhere you go. You are filled with His spirit and you are filled with His love. And though there will be difficult days ahead, you’re not doing this alone. We are together, a family of families of generations who follow Jesus together.

For those who are not part of this family, know that this family is open. And if you know someone who need encouragement or needs to be connected in, send them this video, invite them to our Facebook page, connect with them, give them a call. Our family is open for anyone and everyone.

In the words of St. Paul to the Romans, he says there’s nothing that can separate us from God’s love. Nothing. Nothing high or low, nothing angel or demonic, nothing dead or alive, nothing thinkable or unthinkable. There’s absolutely nothing that can separate us from the love of God because we have been embraced by Jesus Christ.

Know today that you are embraced by Jesus Christ, that He loves you, and He has not forgotten you even in the darkest times of our life. So feel His embrace, feel His love, connect with us. We’re here for you and we’ll talk to you soon.