At the end of April, Monica and I enjoyed a very relaxing and rejuvenating retreat for pastors and spouses of pastors at Barnabas Family Ministries on Keat’s Island in Howe Sound.  The scenery was breathtaking, the food delicious, the accommodations luxurious, the speaker (Mark Buchanan) inspiring, and the hospitality welcoming.  If you ever have the opportunity to attend a conference at Barnabas, we highly recommend it!

Have you ever Googled yourself, that is, ran a search for your name on the internet?  I did the other day.  One link really surprised me.  According to the Sep 2006 edition of The Outlook (p. 28), the remarks I made at Synod 2006 have made me the poster boy of at least one thing that is wrong with the Christian Reformed Church.  Of the plethora of comments made -- most from wiser and more experienced individuals with sound biblical and theological arguments -- they quoted me?!  I'm not sure whether I should be embarrassed or proud.
     -- Stanley

Stanley and I hear and see the craziest things these days!  Hannah loves to be "mom" to Jacob and we will often see her pulling Jacob off his feet to stop him from reaching something he shouldn't.  She also keeps a close eye on him as he learns to venture down the stairs.  "Feet first Jacob!" we hear as she grabs him around the waist to make sure that he doesn't go down head first.  Little does she realize that Mommy is waiting right there to help Jacob down.  Jacob however is getting larger.  He is almost 25 pounds and only 5 behind Hannah.  He shows how well he has been paying attention to Hannah's techniques as now when Hannah has a toy he would like, he tackles her and lays on top of her until he can reach it...  This often ends in Stan or me pulling him off of her and opening his firm grip on her temptingly long curly hair and mediating the dispute.  I'm pretty sure I'll be able to add some new descriptions of skills to my resume when I should decide to find a job somewhere down the road.

One thing we saw just today was Jacob sliding down the slide at the playground by himself and loving it!  The look of sheer delight and the squealing of anticipation of more is one of the best parts of being a parent.  We also realize that this year Hannah will be much more independent at the playground as she is a little taller and just last week was finally able to climb up the levels of the McDonald's Playplace by herself.  Go Hannah!

Thinking of things we hear these days, I would have to say that we agree with the statement that "kids say the darndest things!"  The other day as Hannah, Jacob and I were going to town, Hannah was a little of out sorts, so I asked her if she being grumpy.  She said, "I not grumpy, I just have freckles on my cheeks."  This next anecdote might clear that up a little.  Once again, after a nap (which has morphed into quiet time), I asked her if she was still grumpy and she responded, "I still grumpy here and here and here!"  (pointing to three different places on her cheeks).

Hannah is learning more about sharing.  She told Stanley at breakfast today, "I share Hannah's van with Daddy and I share Hannah's house with Daddy."  Stanley and I just wonder when she will begin to share toys with Jacob...

     -- Monica

Living with the Bulkley River in one's backyard is not without its excitement.  Earlier this winter, Monica and I happened to look out the window at just the right moment; if we had been gone for the afternoon, we would have missed it all...

We were watching large chunks of ice floating quite fast down the river when they began to dramatically slow down and then stop altogether.  The river was all plugged up with a big buildup of ice.  Without warning, the ice at the edge of the river heaved upwards and suddenly water came pouring down into the lower part of our backyard.  What took several days to fill up during the flood of June 2007 filled up in a matter of minutes.  Monica and I looked at each other and said, "Uh, how much higher is that water going to come?"  Thankfully, it did not come high enough to submerge the upper part of our backyard.

After a few more minutes, the ice jam broke up and the chunks of ice began flowing freely down the river again.  The lower part of the backyard slowly drained and everything returned to normal.  A while later, the river was frozen over again, but I guess enough water kept flowing beneath the ice that it didn't get pushed to higher ground.

The photos, unfortunately, don't do justice to the drama of that afternoon, but we're posting a few anyway.  Enjoy...
     -- Stanley

Well, it took nearly half a year, but some pictures from Hannah's birthday are now online.  The "Fall 2007" album contains pictures from August-November.  Hopefully sometime before next June, we'll post some recent Christmas pictures!  We got some real cute ones!

Everyone is doing well as the year winds to a close.  In a week or so, we'll be entering our fourth year here in Telkwa.  It's truly amazing how time flies!  We continue to love being in this part of the world.  I continue to find my work at Telkwa CRC meaningful, and both Monica and I seldom have a dull moment around the house with the two kids.  We've got great friends who look after Hannah and Jacob once in a while so we can get away on a date with just the two of us!  A couple months ago, we finally broke down and bought a van -- a new Dodge Grand Caravan.  We probably should have gone straight from the ZX2 to a van, but, well, it took a while for me to get psyched up to being a minivan family...

Hannah is constantly learning new words, and she talks a lot!  (I can't figure out where she gets that from...)  Sometimes she surprises us with what she all says; a couple weeks ago, she said "Merry Christmas" to me, and I don't think either Monica or I had said that to her yet.  She has several favourite phrases such as, "Hannah do it!" and "Hit the road, Jack."  (Again, I can't figure out where gets that last one from...)  She's only recently been introduced to hot chocolate and it has certainly become her beverage of choice.  I think she would drink it at breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime if we allowed it.  Some of her favourite activities include going for walks, playing with friends, attending Sunday school with the big kids, watching Veggie Tales, talking on the phone, taking a bath, playing with water, blowing her nose (with sound effects from her mouth), being read to, writing, painting, and using scissors.  Not too terribly long ago, Hannah graduated from her crib to a "big girl bed," which has improved her bedtime routine and her sleeping patterns, thankfully.  She loves how Monica and I can snuggle beside her for a few minutes now at bedtime.

Jacob has learned to crawl and pull himself up on things (such as the furniture and his parents' legs).  He is also known to climb stairs.  In short, he is really getting around now and is finding his way into everything!  He's finally growing some hair, but it's kinda at a funny stage right now.  Currently he has five teeth -- three on top, two on bottom.  For fun, Jacob plays with Lego and blocks, takes baths, jumps in his Jumperoo, sleeps, and watches Veggie Tales with Hannah.  He continues to receive lots (and lots and lots) of hugs and kisses from Hannah, who also likes showing Jacob how to do things.  Jacob still naps twice a day, and, on good days, his and Hannah's afternoon naps are synchronized, making for a quiet hour or so.

It's really quite amazing how fast Hannah and Jacob are growing.  It is fun watching them develop and learn new things.  There have been lots of changes over the past few months.  Monica and I have indeed been blessed, and we're looking forward to what 2008 holds for our family.

-- Stanley

I just had my first article published in a journal!  Together with one of Telkwa CRC's musicians, I submitted a Lenten order of worship with commentary to Reformed Worship earlier this year for their consideration.  Entitled "From Burdened to Blessed," it appears in the latest issue (Dec 2007), the theme of which is Lent, Holy Week and Easter.  How cool is that!   -- Stanley

by Stanley J. Groothof and Curt Gesch


Background

This liturgy has three movements: confession, assurance, and rededication. It’s as though the reconciliation part of worship that is common in many Reformed churches is magnified to encompass the entire service.

Because I refer to him in the meditation, I used Saint Augustine’s words about finding rest in God as the opening sentences. This theme is immediately picked up again in the gathering hymn, especially in stanza 4. Another
communion hymn that echoes this theme is “In the Quiet Consecration” (PsH 302).

After reading Psalm 32, I posed two questions to the congregation, asking them to discuss them in several small groups for a few minutes and then share their insights with the entire body. I invite congregational discussion from time to time, finding that the message is more memorable when people interact with the material. Perhaps this is one of the blessings of being part of a small church that would be more difficult to do in a meaningful way in a large church.

Following the meditation, we sang David T. Koyzis’s versification of Psalm 32 to the Genevan melody. After the pianist played it through once, two leaders helped us sing it a cappella; we have a number of seniors with a Dutch background in the congregation for whom the melody came quite easily.

The liturgy for the Lord’s Supper comes from the Christian Reformed Church’s 1994 form. The quotations from Psalms 34 and 116 were spoken immediately before the partaking of communion.

Picking up on the custom of giving up things for Lent and spending the time in prayer and/or focusing on Christ’s sacrifice, I encouraged the congregation to think carefully about what they choose to fast from and feast on with the words of “Fast and Feast During Lent,” a poem that was given to me by a member of the congregation. It can be read by a pastor or by another reader.

The parting hymn and blessing echo the forgiveness promised in Psalm 32 and celebrated in the sacrament. The descending notes of the two-fold Amen (PsH 214) seemed an appropriate way to conclude a Lenten service.

Meditation Starters

How familiar are you with Psalm 32? When was the last time you read it? Apparently Saint Augustine had the words of this psalm inscribed on the wall above his bed so he would read this call to confession daily. He wanted to make the psalmist’s words his words.

In today’s church, confession is going out of style. Worship leaders are afraid it will make churchgoers feel unnecessarily bad about themselves and that it may frighten away seekers to whom we want to be sensitive. My colleague Craig Hoekema counters this fear by stating boldly: “If the service of confession is avoided due to a fear of turning away those who are newly approaching the church, then why should these people even come? If we are not exposing to seekers (and ourselves) our deepest need for Christ and for renewal in worship, then why are they there?” (Kerux, 21 Oct. 2004). Becoming more familiar with Psalm 32 is a way to more deeply appreciate our need to confess and the gift of forgiveness through Jesus.

Forgiveness is the high point of this psalm, indeed of the life of the psalmist David. Forgiveness—the result of his confession—removes David’s burden. There is a definite shift beginning at verse 5: “Then I acknowledged my sin to you . . . and you forgave the guilt of my sin.” Robert Davidson speaks of how in David’s experience, “release only came through acknowledging to God the wrong within him” (The Vitality of Worship: A Commentary on the Book of Psalms). Then the heaviness and weariness of the opening verses give way to joy and praise.

At the Lord’s Supper table, we find ourselves at the selah, the gap between verses 4 and 5. Weighed down by our sin, God invites us to confess . . . and then experience—even taste!—his merciful forgiveness. In this meal the Holy Spirit makes real to us how the blood of Christ shed on the cross covers our iniquity and we are reconciled to God. What relief! Let’s rejoice in the Lord with David.
 

Order of Worship

1. Confession

Prelude

Opening Sentences
O Lord, Thou hast made us,
and our spirits are restless until we find rest in Thee.
   —Saint Augustine

Gathering Hymn: “O Jesus, Joy of Loving Hearts” PsH 307

God’s Greeting

Responsive Prayer of Adoration
O Christ, Savior, like the seed fallen to the ground
you suffered death.
United to you, our lives will bear much fruit.
   We praise you, Lord.
O Christ, you went down to the lowest point of the human condition;
you remain close to all who are abandoned.
   We praise you, Lord.
In your love, you took upon yourself our sins;
innocent, you accepted death to free us from death.
   We praise you, Lord.
By your love you conquered evil and hatred,
and you live forever at the Father’s side.
   We praise you, Lord.
You listen to us in your goodness, and you visit us in our misfortune;
fill our hearts to overflowing by revealing to us the light of your face.
   We praise you, Lord. Amen.
   —Worship Sourcebook J.1.4.1

Lenten Hymn: “What Wondrous Love” CH 314, PH 85, PsH 379, TH 261, WR 257

Scripture Reading: Psalm 32

Meditation

2. Assurance

Prayer of Response
God of compassion,
you are slow to anger and full of mercy,
welcoming sinners who return to you with penitent hearts.
Receive in your loving embrace
all who come home to you.
Seat them at your bountiful table of grace,
that, with all your children,
they may feast with delight
on all that satisfies the hungry heart.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.
   —Worship Sourcebook J.2.2.6

Psalm: “How Blest the One Whose Trespass Is Forgiven,”
   —Genevan Psalter 32, versification © 2006 by David T. Koyzis

Celebration of the Lord’s Supper

Psalm of Response: “O Come, My Soul, Sing Praise to God” (Psalm 103) PsH 297, st. 1-2

3. Rededication

God’s will for our lives: “Fast and Feast During Lent”
Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from worry; feast on faith.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-centeredness; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on recognizing unity.
Fast from unsettling anxiety; feast on inner peace.
Fast from half-heartedness; feast on commitment.
   —Author and source unknown

Hymn of Dedication: “Spirit of God, Who Dwells within My Heart” (PsH 419, st. 1-2, with a newly written versification of Ps 51:13 by Stanley J. Groothof):
Help me to teach your righteous love to all;
open my lips and I’ll declare your praise.
Then those who hear will answer to your call;
sinners will turn to you for all their days.

Offering

Parting hymn: “O Christ, Our Lord, Dear Son of God” PsH 372

God’s Blessing: Galatians 1:2-5

Doxology: Twofold “Amen” PsH 214

Authors
Curt Gesch (curtgesch@hotmail.com) is a musician and member of Telkwa (British Columbia) Christian Reformed Church.
Stanley J. Groothof (telkwapastor@hotmail.com) is pastor of Telkwa (British Columbia) Christian Reformed Church.