Words that Matter: We Wait, We Hope, We Stay

Psalm 147: 1 “Praise the Lord! How good it is to sing praises to our God; for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting.”

‘Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words matter.’ I know that’s not the way that childhood saying goes, but I think it’s more truthful. Words do matter. In this day and age of social media, where opinions and reactions are made public instantly, what we say and how we say it, matters. In our series “God is Holding Your Life”, we’ve been hearing words from the book of Psalms spoken about God and to God. The Psalms contain words that describe God’s power and majesty, words about God’s intimate knowledge and care for each of us, and words that help and encourage us in life’s challenges.

For centuries, Christians have declared who God is and what that means for their lives with words and music. We sing hymns and songs of praise that tell the stories of our faith and what we believe. The lyrics of “Amazing Grace”, “How Great Thou Art”, “The Old Rugged Cross”, and “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” are just a few of the hymns of praise with words that matter. Even though we can’t safely sing together these days, we can still raise our voices in praise to God with words that have meaning and power. Thanks be to God.

Knox Presbyterian Church will continue to offer ONLINE worship services only. Please join us here for a time of prayer, music, and worship.

Whole Heart Hallelujah

Psalm 111: 1 “Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart.”

Do you ever notice it’s a lot easier to find what’s bad in a situation rather than what’s good? Does a list of complaints come to mind a lot quicker than compliments? Is it simpler to just give in to the negative instead of celebrating the positive? These days, it seems the answer to all those questions could be ‘Yes’. Here we are a year after the first cases of Covid 19 were diagnosed in Canada and we are still living in a dangerous pandemic. While I believe we have the resilience to get through these difficult times, for now, we may need to try a little harder to find the good, to give compliments, and to celebrate the positive as we wait.

In the Bible, Psalm 111 gives a vivid description of a good God who Christians turn to in hard times. Hundreds of years ago, the first people who heard the characteristics of God in this Psalm, experienced their own troubles and challenges. Yet, to hear of God’s faithfulness, justice, mercy, and love, would have given them hope to carry on, just as I pray it does for us today. Instead of giving in to the negative, we can sing, like those before us, ‘Whole Heart Hallelujahs” to God.

Knox Presbyterian Church will offer ONLINE worship services only in the coming weeks. As we continue our series “God is Holding Your Life: A Journey of Assurance for a New Year”, services can be found here.

In God Alone

Psalm 62:8 “Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.”

Refuge is not a word we use all that often, but refuge is something we all seek. Refuge means a state of being sheltered and safe from danger and trouble. Think of refugees who seek a safe place to live and work and raise their families. In these days of isolation, disrupted routines, and concern for the vulnerable, even if we don’t know situations as dire as refugees do, we all long for stability, security, and safety.

The Bible directs people to place their trust in God alone by describing God as just what we need in times of crisis. Psalm 62 says God is our rock, our fortress, and our refuge. The church of Jesus Christ also continues to be a refuge. Our responsibility to keep each other safe means we can be creative in our faithful worship of God, fellowship, and care for each other and the world. We may have to adapt by using online technology, phone calls, and good old-fashioned letter writing, but that doesn’t mean we can’t trust in God our refuge and strength.

As the lockdown restrictions continue to help us to stay safe, Knox Presbyterian Church will offer ONLINE worship services only in the coming weeks. The third week of our series called “God is Holding Your Life: A Journey of Assurance for a New Year” can be found here on our website.

“Where can I go?”

Psalm 139: 14 ‘I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.’

Have you ever played hide and seek with a young child and their idea of hiding is obviously crawling under a table and closing their eyes? If they can’t see you, they think you can’t see them. But, of course, you are there, knowing exactly where they are. The Bible talks about God as all-knowing, one who created and loves each one of us, and who we can’t hide from. There is no where we can go that God is not already present.

There is something reassuring about knowing we are never truly alone, especially in these challenging days. To be known and loved gives us the strength to not only carry on, but to thrive and help others to do the same. Thanks be to God.

As we stay safe during the current lockdown, Knox Presbyterian Church will offer ONLINE worship services only in the coming weeks. We will continue our new series this week called “God is Holding Your Life: A Journey of Assurance for a New Year”.

“Awe and Wonder”

 “In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth…” Genesis 1:1

When was the last time you were in awe of something? Awe is that feeling we have when something leaves us amazed, stunned, or speechless. Maybe, it was at the beauty of nature. There was an evening sunset a month or so ago that many people across the region posted images of on Instagram and Facebook afterwards. We can’t help but be astonished, even when we’ve seen it before, by the beauty of the colours across the sky.

For Christians, the wonder of creation is attributed to God, the Creator. There is an overwhelming sense that God is present in all that gives us that sense of awe and wonder, and we can’t help but be thankful. In these colder, darker days of winter, I invite you to see glimmers of light and to be amazed by the beauty that is still all around us.

As we continue to stay safe and pray for an end to the pandemic, Knox Presbyterian Church will offer ONLINE worship services only in the coming weeks. We will begin a new series this week called “God is Holding Your Life: A Journey of Assurance for a New Year”.

“Searching for a Saviour”

Matthew 2: 10  When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy.

The story of the three wisemen following a star in search of a new king, usually gets included in the celebration of Christmas. The Bible describes their journey as happening some time after the birth of Jesus. One can’t help but wonder who these three travelers were and why they left their homeland in search of a king…in search of a saviour.

What kind of saviour did they expect to find? I think that’s a relevant question for us too. What kind of saviour do we expect Jesus to be? Someone to take control and fix all that’s wrong with the world or someone to lead us with authority into a better future or someone strong and powerful; these might be the things we think of when we think of a saviour. But, when Jesus came as a Saviour, he was an example of strength in weakness, compassion for the vulnerable, and justice for all. Being ‘saved’ means living out those same values and believing that Jesus is the kind the Saviour we need today.

Believe This: The Time has Come

 “At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” Luke 2: 38

Our series “I Believe Even When: Fill the Night with Music and Light” comes to a close this week. We have enjoyed an anthem and carols by our virtual choir, we’ve been inspired by documentaries that showcased the power of music, and we’ve acquired a new appreciation of the hymns of our faith.

This week, we look to the future after the birth of Jesus and what he meant for the world. In the after-glow of Christmas, let us be ready to share the good news that Christ is born!

We Believe, Even Now

Luke 2: 10-11 “But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Each week leading up to Christmas our church lit a candle representing one of these: Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace. On Christmas Eve, the Advent wreath is completed when we light the centre candle, the Christ candle.

Even though Christmas looks different this year, we will still celebrate a night filled with music and light, just safely from our homes. We will hear the “good news of great joy”. We will sing along with a beloved carol, Silent Night. We will imagine the excitement and wonder of the shepherds at the manger. We will believe, even now, in the midst of an out of the ordinary Christmas, that Christ is born. Thanks be to God.

Knox Presbyterian Church will offer a worship service ONLINE ONLY, until it is safe for us to gather again. Services will continue to be found here at our website: www.knoxalliston.ca

Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!

I Believe in the Light: Illuminating Peace

Isaiah 9:2 “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shined.”

As the days become shorter and the sun shines less and less, we especially love lights at Christmas time. We put them outside on our houses. We put them inside on our trees. We light scented candles of cinnamon, evergreen, and gingerbread. The light of the season helps us through the darkness of night. In the Bible, Jesus was declared the light of the world, the one who came to save us and lead us through the challenges of life. In this holiday season, I pray that you will come to know the light of Christ filled with hope, love, joy, and peace.

“I Believe in God: Ode to Joy”

Luke 1:46-47 “And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

The season of Christmas is known as a season of joy. The gift-giving, special foods, singing carols, and holiday parties are all traditions that make us happy this time of year. But, happiness is different from joy. Happiness is usually dependent on circumstances and can be fleeting when difficulties occur like they have this year. Joy is more about a state of contentment which overcome hard times, especially in these challenging days.

There is much joy in the Christmas story in the Bible. A young mother, Mary, rejoicing at the birth of her special son, angel choirs filling the sky, and shepherds praising God in a stable. Joy at the Saviour’s birth, then and now, comes from the promise that the world changed for the better with his arrival. As we face a very diffident holiday season, I pray that we will experience joy in everyday acts of love, in the wonder of unexpected gifts, and moments of calm in the middle of busyness.

December 13th, 2020 WORSHIP