February 2010

• Western Trip - our Executive Director reports


• Is It Time Again?


• Letters From Readers


• Renewal Day and Annual General Meeting


• Men’s Conferences


• Prayer Meetings

I recently visited in the western provinces of the country. It was good to get re-acquainted with many and meet new friends as well.

The journey started off in Kelowna BC, and a Renewal Day held at St. David's Presbyterian Church. I was the keynote speaker and shared about the vision and work of the Renewal Fellowship. I led a workshop on "Healing Ministry" and afterwards, some stayed for prayer and received a blessing. Other workshops included one led by Virginia Alexander, Lay Missionary in the Cariboo, on "Exercising Your Spiritual Gifts" where participants explored what their spiritual gifts were and how and why to use them. Heather Savage of Lakeside Presbyterian Church, Summerland, led one on "Reaching the Lost Generation" where they discussed the dynamics of today's culture and the needs and desires within the younger generation (See Heather's article in the latest issue of eChannels.) They strategized about how to reach out in love to this hurting generation and how to bring Christ's kingdom and love into their lives.

The following weekend, we held a Renewal Day at St. Andrew's-Newton Presbyterian Church in Surrey. Rev. Dr. Richard Topping, newly appointed first-ever "St. Andrew's Hall Professor of Studies in Reformed Tradition" at Vancouver School of Theology, was the keynote speaker on the theme "The Spirited Life: John Calvin and the Holy Spirit."

The following workshops were also presented: "What Calvin Has to Offer to Christians Today" -- Frances Savill; "Resurrection of Calvin Through the Writings of Karl Barth" -- Emery Cawsey, and "What Should we be Preaching About Calvin's Doctrine?" -- Martin Baxter. The worship and fellowship were great and the hospitality by the host church was greatly appreciated.

Sunday morning, I had opportunity to worship in Abbotsford, where Dr. Hans Kouwenberg is minister. I briefly presented the work of the Renewal Fellowship and enjoyed the clowns who brought the children's story.

The next part of my travels took me to the Kootenays. There I connected with some old friends, reconnected in Slocan and Trail in the West Kootenays, and spent an evening in Cranbrook in the East Kootenays, where we shared in the work of the Fellowship and saw the new church building that was in the midst of being built.

The final stop was in Calgary, where I met a few staunch supporters and friends over brunch, and again, we shared what the Lord was doing. It is always an encouragement to see, in the midst of so many challenges, that God has not given up on us yet, and as He told Elijah, He has a remnant in the land. -- cbb

The Natural Church Development survey has revealed that the lowest characteristic of Canadian Presbyterian congregations is spiritual passion. It is clear that we need serious and focused renewal in this area of our lives.

It is interesting that, as we read of our history, we see amazing passion for the Gospel. One spiritual discipline that kept our forebears passionate was the practice of covenant making. It may be time to renew the practice. Historian Hugh Watt quotes part of the covenant that shows the passion. It says:

Therefore denying ourselves and our things, and laying aside all self-interests and ends, we shall, above all things, seek the honour of God, the good of His Cause, and the Wealth (well-being) of His people; and that forsaking the counsels of flesh and blood, and not leaning upon Carnal Confidences, we shall depend upon the Lord, walk by the rule of His word, and hearken to the voice of His servants.

You are invited to join with others of us who wish to renew our commitment to God through covenanting with Him and one another. The Covenant is shown below and is also to be found on the Renewal Fellowship website, where it is accompanied by a list of Action Plans that can also be sent to you upon request. You can use the Action Plans to make specific commitments that will make specific our intention to live out the Covenant.

Believing in the Holy Trinity, we trust in Jesus Christ the only Saviour and Lord, king and head of the church, to empower us by the Holy Spirit to renew God's church for authentic witness and obedience.

We confess that we have often quenched our passion for your glory, your church and your world.

We confess our love for Christ has often been weakened by compromise.

We confess that we often have failed in our love for others in God's church.

Seeking to be renewed:

1. We covenant to be attentive to the Holy Spirit's voice speaking through the Scriptures and our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the whole church and through others in the world.

2. We covenant to encourage renewal through responsible participation in the congregations and courts of the church, not shrinking from speaking the truth in love, acknowledging that God has given us gifts for building up and renewing the church.

3. We covenant to encourage and support one another towards renewal, recognizing the cost in time, energy, and resources.

4. We covenant to be responsive to the Holy Spirit fanning the flame of God's passion within us, in adoring worship, genuine community, sharing the gospel, and caring service.

Since it is our intention to share helpful resources among those who have signed the Covenant, a list of Action Plans can be found on the RF website or sent to you when you join. To join, phone or fax or send a letter or an e-mail to Calvin Brown <cbbrown@bell.net>, saying, "I wish to stand with you in covenanting to renew the church. Please add my name to the Covenant." [See end of this newsletter for detailed contact information] -- cbb

"Thank you for your recent letter informing me of the bursary fund set up to encourage Knox students to enrol in an evangelism course through Wycliffe College's Institute of Evangelism.... Thank you for helping to provide financial aid to our students. We do appreciate it." -- Dorcas Gordon, Principal, Knox College.

This note accompanied a donation from a retired pastor living in Barrie:

"Sir: I'm 92 years old. Retired at 70. Even though still preaching (monthly) in a local nursing home. This is all I can afford. God bless!"

"It was good to read Calvin Brown's recent letter and to read the report of the summer camps. Praise God for the good response in the hearts of young campers." -- from Toronto.

"How good our God is! We trust at the General Assembly there will be a strong witness for the faith once delivered!" -- from Calgary.

"I was overjoyed to read of the miracle at Dorothy Lake this summer. What a rewarding summer! The W.M.S. group at our church has sent money the last two years to send girls to camp. I am so glad they are enjoying it and learning to trust Jesus as their Saviour. I am enclosing a cheque.... Please continue with the wonderful work you are doing." -- from Kingston.

Date: April 17, 2010, 9:00 a.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Location: Knox Presbyterian Church, 115 St. Andrew's St., Embro, Ontario
Theme: Finding Joy in Today's World: Living the Faith in a Postmodern World
Speaker: Dr. Aubrey Botha, Pastor, Central Presbyterian Church, Cambridge ON
Online registration (credit card only): renewalfellowship.presbyterian.ca/mens-swo.html

Date: May 8, 2010, 8:15 a.m. (Full Breakfast) - 12:30 p.m.
Location: St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 295 Queen St S., Streetsville (Mississauga) ON
Theme: Grace Givers: Mentors and Menders
Speaker: Rev. Garfield Havermann, Pastor, Chedoke Presbyterian Church, Hamilton ON
Online registration (credit card only) renewalfellowship.presbyterian.ca/mens-gta.html

For Pastors and Laity

Vancouver - The last Saturday of each month. Contact Bob McBay at 604-936-3889 for location.
Ottawa/Eastern Ontario - Usually on the second Saturday at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, 971 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa. Contact James Hurd at Parkwood Presbyterian Church by telephone at 613-225-6648 or e-mail <jthurd@sympatico.ca>.
Montreal -- The third Thursday of each month, 7:30 p.m., at Presbyterian Church of the Town of Mount Royal, 1491 Laird Blvd., Town of Mount Royal. Contact person is Rev. John Vaudry at Cote des Neiges Presbyterian Church at 514-738-6115.

For Pastors

East Toronto - The third Tuesday of the month. Contact Rev. Duncan Cameron at 416-438-4370 or e-mail him at <pastor@standrewsscarborough.ca>.
Cambridge -- Contact Rev. Calvin Brown at <cbbrown@bell.net> or telephone him at 519-651-2232.

For more information on any events contact the Renewal Office:
3819 Bloor Street West, Etobicoke ON, M9B 1K7
Telephone: 416-233-6581 Fax: 416-233-1743
Executive Director: 5 Linda Drive, Cambridge ON N3C 3W5
Telephone and Fax: 519-651-2232.
Note: The Executive Director's e-mail address is now <cbbrown@bell.net>