David's Christmas Letter

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Merry Christmas to all our Beloved in Christ at St George’s!

During one of our Advent services, I talked about what Jesus said of John the Baptist: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see?”

The question of Jesus to the crowds is a question for us. I asked on that Sunday: “What are we looking for in Advent? What do we expect to find at Christmas?” We all know there is a lot of excitement among the children as Christmas approaches. I can well remember the excitement of one early Christmas morning when I was four or five years of age, and feeling in the dark to see if my stocking had been filled. And wonder of wonders, it was!

But what about those of us that are no longer in our first blush of youth? Among us at St George’s are those who will come to church this Christmas who have done this 70, 80 and 90 times before. Yet each of us comes with expectation in our hearts. Again, we hear the words of Jesus, “What did you go out to see?” What is it we hope, or expect, or want to find at Christmas?

If we were like a puzzle, we would work to finally get the last piece in place, and then sit back with satisfaction that it is all now complete. But though we may find our own inner life puzzling, we are not simply those that can finally get it all together. We are living, growing, changing, and always needing to find afresh who we are in the presence of God.

We come to Jesus at Christmas because we are new people. We are reborn each day that we awake and seek to renew our relationship with God. Not because this time we hope to get it right, but because on this day we want to find a fresh presence of God within us.

Joseph was told to name the Child ‘Immanuel’, meaning ‘God with us.’ Yes, at this Christmas we want to find Immanuel, God with us, one more time. And we look once again for that wonder of wonders: indeed, he has come and is with us within.

What joy fills our soul when we find Christ anew this Christmas!

Yours in the Love of Christ,

Joining me in wishing you a very merry Christmas are our churchwardens Curtis Eastmure, Louise Sisson, and David Bishop; our clergy the Rev. Deacon Glenda Burk, and the Rev. Margaret Milne; our Parish Admin. Angie Garot; our Advisory Board; and all our faithful members who give time energy and resources to make St George’s our spiritual home.

Each of our services are live-streamed on our YouTube channel: on YouTube search for “@haliburtonanglican” and select the “Live” tab when you find us. Or, if you are on our email list, Angie will send you an email a day or so before the service with the link. You can also of course find our services through our web site right here.

Donations

Please remember the church at Christmas as you think of your year-end donations. As you have heard from our Leadership team, this has been a challenging time financially while we await the sale of the St. Margaret’s property. During that time we have also placed a steel roof on St. George’s. All in all, we are short about $30,000 at this point in the year.

Deacon Glenda mentioned in her sermon last week that she has never bought a lottery ticket, and here I was hoping that would answer our financial need! Perhaps if we all think about what we can accomplish with the resources we do have, we can end the year with the budget met.

Any gift received, or clearly postmarked, before midnight December 31 can be receipted for income tax purposes. Your gifts support our ministry in our local community, as well as our participation in the ministry of our Diocese and our national church. Our parish church is blessed to have such generous members.

If you would like to make a donation at any time, there are several ways to do so. Cheques placed on the offering plate, or sent by mail. You can also send an e-transfer to the church office (office@haliburtonanglican.ca), or simply click on the Donate button atop this page.

Many of our members find it convenient to use pre-authorized payments for their donations, spreading their gifts out evenly throughout the year. All donations will receive a receipt for income tax purposes, unless it is an anonymous donation.

The Farmer's Grace

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An out-of-town pastor had been invited to a men’s breakfast in the middle of a rural farming area, and found himself charmed by the company and atmosphere. Before they all dug into the hearty meal, the group's leader asked an older farmer, decked out in bib overalls, to say grace.

“Lord, I hate buttermilk,” the fellow began. The pastor opened an eye to glance at him, wondering where this might be going.

“Lord, I hate lard!” the farmer proclaimed. Now the pastor was growing concerned.

“And Lord, you know I don't much care for raw flour,” he went on, without missing a beat.

The pastor once again opened an eye to peer around the room, and noticed many of the other men shifting in their seats uncomfortably.

“But Lord,” the farmer added, “when you mix them all together and bake them, I do love them warm fresh biscuits.

It works out not makes sense 3.jpg

“So Lord, when things come up that we don't like, when life gets hard, when we don't understand what you're saying to us, help us to just relax and wait until you are done mixing and baking. It will probably be even better than biscuits. Amen.”

How about that for great, down-to-earth wisdom worth considering when it comes to complicated situations?

While we find ourselves in a mix-up of so many things we don't, like the farmer, ‘really care for’, as we pray, trust and believe surely—as surely as God is God—something good will result.

We can’t know when or how, but “we [do] know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28).

The single guy, the centipede, and the church service

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A single guy decided life would be more fun if he had a pet. So he went to the pet store and told the owner that he wanted to buy an unusual pet. After some discussion, he finally bought a talking centipede, which came in a little white box to use for his house.

He took the box back home, found a good spot for it, and decided he would start off by taking his new pet to church with him. So he turned to the centipede in the box.

"Would you like to go to church with me today? We will have a good time." But there was no answer from his new pet. This bothered him a bit, so he waited a few minutes and decided to try again.

"How about going to church with me and receive blessings?"

Again, no answer from his new friend and pet. So he waited a few minutes more, pondering the situation. He decided to invite the centipede one last time. He put his face smack up against the centipede's house.

"Hey, in there!” he yelled. “Would you like to go to church with me and learn about God?!?"

This time, a little voice hollered from the box.

"I HEARD YOU THE FIRST TIME! I'M PUTTING MY SHOES ON!"


“A merry heart (laughter) does good like a medicine.
But a broken spirit dries the bones.” (Prov. 17:22)