March 26th, 2024
Good Morning Hopedale!
Happy Easter to each of you.
May you all enjoy reflective fellowship time with your family, friends and neighbours. The weather is warming up and the sun will be shining a lot more in the coming week. I hope each of you get an opportunity to take some walks, breathe in the wonderful spring air and simply remember all we are grateful for.
Our Children’s Church School Lessons and Craftsfor this week has been posted to our Web Site page for the children and our YouTube Channel -https://youtu.be/73z9tXD83Hs
We share Reverend Gale’s wonderful message for each of you;
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3: 16 NLT)
As I read and reread the scriptures associated with Holy Week, I’m reminded of what love looks like, and just how different it is from how our human minds envision and experience love. God’s love for us gave us His Son, and Jesus showed us that love includes everyone. Jesus went out of His way to let people, many of whom society shunned and said they weren’t worthy of love, know that He loved them and so did His Father. As we move through this week, we’ll also witness again just what this love cost Jesus.
We are not having either a Maundy Thursday or Good Friday service at Hopedale this year, but two of our sister congregations in Oakville have invited you to join them for these services.
Rev. Carolyn McAvoy looks forward to welcoming anyone who would like to attend the services at
Trafalgar Presbyterian Church. The service times are:
Maundy Thursday Service with Communion at 7:00 pm
Good Friday at 10:00 am
AND
Rev. Jacqui Foxall will offer a warm welcome at Knox Presbyterian Church in downtown Oakville.
Their service times are:
Maundy Thursday Service at 7:00 pm
Good Friday Service at 10:00 am. They’re serving hot cross buns and coffee from 8:45 am to 9:a5 am.
Rev. Sandy Fryfogel will be with you at Hopedale on Easter Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. I know this will be a joyful service of worship and praise.
As we move into the Easter season on Sunday, I’m reminded of the redemption stories that happen throughout scriptures and the new hope that comes with them. The Amalgamation Team continues to meet with the team from Knox Oakville and the discussions are going well. It is my prayer that this will turn into a new ministry opportunity. I’m reminded of this verse from Isaiah:
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
(Isaiah 43: 19)
Let’s keep praying that God is doing a new thing between Knox Oakville and Hopedale and that our Triune God will be glorified by what is done.
Wishing you a meaningful and blessed Holy Week.
Reverend Gale