Spring 2010
Spring 2010
H ANEY P RESBYTERIAN C HURCH
A Gospel of Comfort or of Hope?
One of the driving forces in our lives is to be
comfortable, free from anxiety, worries, and
discomfort, and in a position where we are relaxed,
satisfied, at ease, and feeling safe. Comfort is a strong
force in our lives, probably even more so than
happiness. Our lives are balancing acts to make us
comfortable. Whenever something upsets the
equilibrium, we take quick measures to restore it and
return to a safe middle position.
Comfort is not in and of itself a bad thing. The problem
comes in when comfort becomes the overriding value
in our lives; when being comfortable becomes more
important than being faithful to God’s call and when
our choices reflect that; when we become so content
with the way things are and so well adjusted to the
surrounding culture that we don’t notice God anymore.
Bill Hybels, Senior Pastor of Willow Creek Community
Church, writes in his book Holy Discontent, “Friends,
the trouble with contentedness is that, when lived out
in isolation, it can be lethal! If you’re not careful, you
will become lulled into a state of satisfaction, safety,
and serenity, and you’ll altogether neglect needs in the
world that should elicit deep discontent when you see
them going unmet.”
A clear pattern develops in the scriptures. Excessive
focusing on their own comforts inevitably leads to
idolatry, to the neglect of God and neighbour. The Lord
often had to take His people out of their comfort-zones
in order to do something new in their lives. Those
moments of unease, discontent, restlessness, fear,
despair, and questioning are the birthplace of
repentance, revival, a sense of call, and Christian
service.
The lives of the early Christians were not easy at all,
but it went well with the church. Christianity changed
(and not for the better) when more comfort set in after
it became the official religion of the empire. There is
not a time in church history where decline and idolatry
did not follow times of security, comfort and ease. It is
not a good thing for the church to be secure in itself, its
numbers, and its position in society, or to be too
comfortable in the familiarity and predictability of its
practices and teachings.
Page 1
The church does not live by being comfortable,
but by having hope in Christ.
Hope is different. It is not circumstantial; it does
not imply comfort, familiarity, predictability,
safety, or freedom from hardships. It lives in
whatever circumstances we find ourselves in
because it is “built on nothing less that Jesus’
blood and righteousness … on his unchanging
grace … his oath, his covenant, his blood.” Our
hope is indeed that we do not belong to
ourselves, but that we belong, body and soul, in
life and in death, to our faithful Saviour Jesus
Christ (Heidelberg Catechism).
The resurrection stories of Jesus are profuse with
hope. They all start out in situations of extreme
discomfort, despair, confusion, and fear. In each
of these stories people in darkness are surprised
by the risen Christ. They are not in control, they
do not understand what is happening, the events
are not familiar to them; nothing in these stories
is predictable. But that does not matter. Their
encounters with the living Christ gives hope.
Faith is given. New life is born in them. Ministry
begins.
It seems to me that the church has much to learn
from these stories. We’ll find life in being open
and faithful to Christ and the Spirit, not in playing
safe. We’ll find strength not in being comfortable
but in putting our hope in the Risen Christ.
Gerard
 Page 2 Spring 2010
“Great Expectations”
When Jesus stood up in the Synagogue in Nazareth, his home town, he read from the scroll of the
prophet Isaiah:
―The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to bring
good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to
the captives and recovery of sight to the
blind, to let the oppressed go free, to
proclaim the year of the Lord‘s favor.‖
(or: ‗the acceptable year of the Lord‘)
He then goes on to say: ―Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.‖ (Luke 4: 16-21)
Whatever else we may take from this declaration it is pretty clear Jesus is saying that he is the long
awaited and expected Messiah and that his ministry as Messiah would be to heal the sick, dispel
demonic forces, give eyes to the blind, make the lame walk, and in this way bring good news to the
poor.
And therein lay the problem because this was a different picture of the Messiah than that held by the
people of Judah. They longed for a Messiah who would overcome their enemies, one who would
establish them in their self-perceived rightful place as the ―true‖ and only people of God, where they
would rule as a holy nation. What Jesus was claiming did not fit with their expectations. In his
conversation with Nicodemus Jesus declared it was because God ―so loved the world‖ that he sent his
Son ―so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life‖ He went on to say
the Son did not come into the world to condemn the world but rather ―in order that the world might be
saved through him.‖ Jesus did not come for a select few, his mission was much larger than that: it
encompassed the whole world.
John the Baptist, one of the first to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, didn‘t get it. While in prison he
sent messengers to Jesus with the question: ―Are you the one who is to come (ie., the Messiah) or are
we to wait for another?‖ Jesus answered ( I rather think somewhat sadly) ― Go and tell John what you
hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the
dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is everyone who takes no
offense at me‖
Jesus was, in effect saying, ―look, the signs of the kingdom of God are all around you, can‘t you see
it?‖ But this was not the kind of kingdom rule that John was expecting. Jesus simply did not meet his
expectations. And then Jesus says something truly astounding: ―I tell you, among those born of women
no one has risen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven (God) is greater
than he (ie., John). John was not ―in‖ the kingdom of God movement that Jesus heralded. John had
missed it even though all the signs were there because he was looking for something else. (Matthew11:
2-11)
Jesus, in speaking of the final judgment, (Matthew 25:31-46) identified those who would inherit the
kingdom, as ones who fed Jesus when he was hungry, gave him something to drink when thirsty,
clothed him when he was without clothing, took care of him when he was sick and visited him in prison.
What has always struck me about this passage is that the people who had done these things had no idea
they were serving Jesus and by their actions would inherit (ie., enter) the kingdom. It had nothing to
do with what they claimed to be, or what creed they espoused, it had to do with what they were and
how they lived out the rule (kingdom) of God in their lives. For it was, as he said, ―just as you did it to
the least of these who are members of my (God‘s) family, you did it to me.‖
Unfortunately John the Baptist didn‘t get it. I sometimes wonder: do we?
Dorne Cornish
 Spring 2010 Page 3

HATS!
Last Christmas my youngest daughter handed me a
big box. ―Open it Mom, I thought of you when I saw
it.‖
I pulled off the lid and nestled in a pile of tissue
paper was a neat black felt hat. It was designed in
the nineteen twenties style and everyone agreed it
was me.
―I know you like hats,‖ she said, ―you can wear it to
Church.‖ But the whole thing got me thinking, I‘m
sure there are many ladies in the Church who can
remember, as I can, having to wear a hat and gloves
to Sunday service. Even when I went to Sunday
In Memory of Alex Shaw
School, we girls arrived in berets or bonnets
depending on the time of the year. When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he
Back in the nineteen fifties and early sixties no-one said of him, “Here is a true Israelite in whom
worth their salt arrived at Church hatless and many of there is nothing false”. John 1:47
the men also wore hats which they removed when He was compelling.
entering the building. Not because of stature or his wonderful voice
I understand the ancient idea of covering the That joined with others in harmonious
woman‘s head in a place of worship is so the men are worship of our Lord;
not distracted from their prayers by the woman‘s A joyful celebration of life.
beauty. I also read it is a mark of respect for the Nor because of his learning or fine speech,
place i.e. the Church, Mosque, Temple etc. But in the Though both were impressive and often
western world all that has fallen by the wayside and
entertained us.
most of us women in the mainstream Churches don‘t
wear coverings on our heads except by choice.
No, he was compelling
Because of his eyes.
As I grew up and became a teenager and young Clear, eyes that would twinkle, laugh
woman, I collected many hats. Some were fur and
Sparkle or darken in serious intensity;
suede, some cloth and straw. I had a wonderful white
straw bowler (a small round hat with a narrow slightly
Eyes that were never shielded;
curled brim) with a huge silk rose on the front which Eyes that held no deceit.
my Father referred to as my miners hat, because it Before his mouth would break into a smile
reminded him of a tin hat with a lamp on the front. And greet you with joy
When I was first married to Geoff we went to the As if he had just been thinking about you;
Isle-of-Arran and he bought me a suede deerstalker. As if you were the very person he had wanted
Now I wear a wide brimmed straw when I go fly to see,
fishing and lately I use my Dad‘s wool flat cap, His eyes had already invited you
because it makes me feel a little closer to him as he Into a circle of love.
creeps to the end of his life.
And even those of us who only met him
I can‘t see hats making a comeback in a big way for
Sundays at church, at choir practice or
Sunday worship and I don‘t think a fascinator is quite
what I had in mind either, Sadly there will only be
Tuesdays at coffee
two or three of us ladies taking the plunge Saw the beautiful soul mirrored in his open
occasionally. gaze and knew
How about one Sunday a month as HAT SUNDAY as a
mark of respect for the Place. – You never know, it
Here is a true Christian in whom there is
might catch on. nothing false.
Liz Hancock Karin Breuer
 Page 4
A Surprise from God
Once again, Gayle, our daughter, had been
asked to lead the music program for the large
Vacation Bible School that was held annually by
the congregation that she attended in Surrey.
She always liked to add colour and fun to the
week by wearing a costume that reflected the
theme of the chosen program. That summer it
was to be based on an African safari in Kenya. As
usual, she prayed that the Lord would help her
find something suitable and then set off to the
thrift stores for her search.
At one place she found a very colourful piece of
fabric that she considered for a while, but it
wasn‘t exactly what she had in mind. Besides,
there was some strange writing on it, and who
knows what it might be saying! So she decided
to search the internet for ideas. Under the
heading ―Kenya‖ she found out that the national
dress for women was called a ―kanga‖ and the
picture that came up was remarkably like that
fabric at the thrift store, so she decided to buy
it. It became part of her costume which she
wore all week as she went from one department
to another to teach the children their songs.
One day, while she was visiting the kindergarten
department, one of the volunteers (who was
dark-skinned), approached Gayle and asked her if
she would mind if she tried to read the writing
on Gayle‘s costume. It turned out that the lady
was from Kenya and the writing was in Swahili.
It said, ―Peace be with you‖ and the fabric was
an authentic ―kanga‖!
As Gayle reflected on this whole course of
events, she realized that we often pray for God
to help us, but because we have our own
reconceived ideas of how He will answer our
prayers, we don‘t recognize it when He actually
does it.
Alice Chambers
Spring 2010
The Piano
John 6:44 – “No one can come to me unless
drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise
that person up on the last day.”(NRSV)
David Vuckson was raised in Collingwood,
Ontario, Canada, where he attended First
Presbyterian Church. Eventually, he drifted away
from home and from his faith. He moved to the
west coast where he pursued his profession --
tuning pianos -- not giving much thought to his
Creator. One day while working in the music
shop, one of his colleagues mentioned that they
had acquired a Bell piano taken in on
consignment.
"I learned to play on a Bell back home in Ontario,
so I decided to check out the old piano," recalls
David. "I thought, 'Hey, it has the same scroll
work as mom's old piano. And it has nicks and
scrapes in the same places ours did.'"
This was too much of a coincidence for David, so
he removed a key in the lower register, and found
his own signature and the date: Dec. 3, 1965. His
childhood piano had followed him from Ontario
to Vancouver Island, and showed up where David
worked to send him a message.
He elaborated: "The moment I saw it was my old
boyhood piano, it was as if all my boyhood came
flooding back to me, and with it, memories of my
boyhood faith."
The Holy Spirit used this improbable
"coincidence" to tap David on the shoulder. And
most importantly, David heard the voice. "Pam
and I joined an Alpha group and reaffirmed our
adult faith."
David bought the piano and donated it to St.
Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Victoria, British
Columbia, Canada, where it sits in St. Andrew's
social suite as a reminder both of the lengths to
which God will go, and that He will use the
language we know best to remind us where home
is.
Harold McNabb
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
(adapted, with permission, from the Presbyterian Record)
 Spring 2010
IS IT SPRINGTIME ALREADY?
Seems like it. See the flowers and the
green grass? Hear the song birds in the
morning outside your window? But even
before the migrating birds appear,
the Mexican workers come flying –
onJanuary 12 forty-one to just one
farm, a dozen more in February and
likely 150 more by harvest time.
Their wives understand the absolute necessity of
what for many has become an annual sacrifice;
their little children don‘t. Tearful separations at
village bus stations are the rule. But the workers
adjust as they must, rapidly becoming a cohesive
and generally cheerful, productive band.
As in other years, their needs here are many and
varied;: translation and advice as they negotiate
at the store, the bank and the income tax
accountant, transport to access services and, as
always, the essentials for work and daily living
they haven‘t been able to bring or couldn‘t
afford back home.
This year‘s ―shopping list‖:
1. Again, large suitcases and carry-on cases.
2. Work clothes, especially jeans, work shirts
and warm jackets.
3. Always more bicycles. Thanks to the mens‘
group and Barry Lyster‘s bike shop we now
have 11 available and roadworthy.
4. BICYCLE HELMETS! Word quickly spread that
one worker was fined $120 for riding
helmetless. Thus, adult-size helmets are and
will be in great demand.
If you are able to help fill any on these needs
please drop your items off at the church – or
phone me @ 467-8287 and I will be happy to pick
them up.
Those who came to John for baptism asked
―What should we do then?‖ His first reply: ―The
man who has two tunics should share with him
who has none.‖ (Luke 3: 10, 11).
Message received and implemented! The
response from our congregation (and others) over
the past three years has been outstanding. The
needs are ongoing.
Thank you one and all!
Roger Page
Page 5
Let us Run the Race
Everyone who competes in the games goes into
strict training. They do it to get a crown that will
not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last
forever. ICor.9:25
It‘s been just a few weeks ago that we were
caught up in the Olympic fever. We cheered, we
cried, we joyfully rode the roller-coaster of
emotions as our athletes won or lost. We waved
our flags and for a short time, we were part of
something great; something greater than our
everyday walk. We were part of something that
stirred within us feelings of significance, of pride,
of unity with strangers across our land and across
boundaries. I was gripped by that bond of
fellowship and pride as I stood with my children
and grandchildren in front of the giant screen at
Robson square to watch the gold medal
celebration and to sing our national anthem with
20-30,000 strangers in down-town Vancouver.
And I was there, Sunday morning when my oldest
grandchild committed her life to Christ and gave
her testimony to 300 some strangers before she
was baptized. The same feeling of fellowship,
pride and unity gripped me as we joined together
to worship God. We were part of something bigger
than ourselves; something great, something
eternal. This was the gold medal celebration of a
child of God who chose to run the race—a race
where the victor‘s crown is assured the moment
we commit ourselves to our Lord. We don‘t know
how difficult that race will be; how often we will
stumble or fall; how steep the grade or how rocky
the path beneath our feet. We don‘t know how
well we will run that race, how many times we
will falter and who will come along side us; but
we are assured that He who has called us will run
the race with us. He has guaranteed our victory
with his blood.
Karin Breuer
 Spring 2010
Committee
News
“GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD……”
The ringing imperative of the Great Commission
sounded an urgent call to action to the disciples,
undeniable and unmistakable, and as resounding now
as it was 2000 years ago. The mission statement of
HPC reminds us we are here to ―…..glorify God in the
Church community and beyond.‖
That ―AND BEYOND‖ stipulation remains the primary
focus of our Missions Committee even in the face of
pressing local challenges and commitments. HPC‘s
‗beyond‘ includes, besides WomanCare and the
Salvation Army, reaching out farther afield to remote
Chilcotin ranches, to hungry primary school children
in Swaziland and our longstanding support, through
the Christian Youth Association of Nicaragua, to
students.
In December we were able to send $5,000 to
Nicaragua, a little more than last year, of which
$1,320 is budgeted, the rest from fundraisers and a
few individual donations. Recently we received a disc
chockfull of photographs and letters of appreciation
from 20 students who have been enabled to continue
their various courses of study. Truly we, too, have
been blessed to see that our efforts have proved
fruitful. A $5,000 ‗mustard seed‘ has indeed been
seen to flourish. The director of that student support
program e-mails us from Nicaragua her own
acknowledgement ―for the immense support you‘ve
been offering of so many young people of Nicaragua.
May the Lord fill your families and your homes with
blessings…‖.
In April we hope to offer everyone the chance to
share something of the lives of those students through
their letters and photos. A time will be announced.
Missions Committee
Page 6
Dear Friends:
We are writing to bring you up to date
with the financial position of your Church.
As you know, we had a number of
unexpected maintenance expenses during
2009 that had a negative impact on our
budget, and contributed to a deficit at
the end of 2009 in the amount of
$3,363.00 (or 1.5% over our planned
budget). At our Annual General Meeting
on February 1, we passed a budget for the
year 2010 in the amount of $220,023.
This represents a reduction of 2.3% from
our 2009 budget of $225, 141. While we
are reducing our expenses in order to be
faithful stewards of our combined
congregational resources, we want to
point out that we need our members and
adherents to at least maintain their
current level of givings from 2009. In this
way, we can rebuild our contingency
funds, which we had to draw on this year
to balance our books. By maintaining our
2010 budget and our current level of
givings through 2010, we will be in a
position to replenish our contingency fund
to the level it was at the beginning of
2009. Having a healthy contingency fund
is important for long term ministry and
planning, and as well allows us to deal
with any unforeseen maintenance
emergencies.
We also recognize that many members of
our congregation are prayerfully
considering additional givings to our
church, in the form of cash pledges in
order to make our second staff position a
reality. We believe that our efforts to
keep our costs under control through
our reduced 2010 budget will give our
members additional confidence that
they can make their pledge
contributions without the concern of
additional solicitations for increased
givings to meet budget expenses
through the year.
Gordon Shields Dick Lyster
Clerk of Session Board of Managers
 Spring 2010 Page 7

H.P.C. Harmony Team Invites Women of All Ages to

A Stitch in Time
The more I worked in our H.P.C. Family Bazaar, the more I was convicted that our church must
reach out to our communities and invite them to come to know the living God, Jesus Christ. Life
has placed huge burdens on the shoulders of people, a constant business with work, recreation and
juggling finances and family. It seems that wherever we turn, some good cause wants a piece of us.
As a result God gets pushed farther and farther out of sight until the idea of going to church
becomes foreign—just another organization that wants a piece of us; not knowing that for that one
hour in the week, the pieces are put back together again.
So word went out and we met prayerfully for the first time on January 28 to determine what a
women‘s outreach breakfast might look like; what God had in mind for us and we left with a
whirlwind of ideas in our heads. But where was God leading us in this? We committed to pray for
this group that we might know what God chose for our parameters.
Our second meeting began with setting directions. Carol-Ann had been led to Psalm 139 and read to
us verses 13-16, a celebration of life, a celebration of harmony with God. It seemed to us, that God
created us harmoniously—―intricately woven in the depths of the earth‖—and that our group should
therefore reflect that and work in harmony with our church family to reach out to the community.
It was almost a given then that our first Women‘s Breakfast should be a celebration of visual and
auditory harmony. We were excited when Shirley Zeron agreed to be our first guest speaker who
will speak to us on what the gift of music has meant to her in good times and in bad times. Ellen
Lewis‘ beautiful quilt for Shirley‘s retirement prompted us to ask Ellen if she would display her
work and briefly speak on her passion of quilting. We were delighted when she also agreed.
Dorothy Willems and Carol Tebbutt, both gifted in music, agreed to arrange this part of the
program.
Eight sub-committees were formed headed by 2 people for each committee who will in turn invite
others to join in the work so that many hands will make light work.
Saturday, April 17 will be our big day. Doors open at 9:00. The program will start at 9:30 a.m. We
hope that all the women in our church family—young and old—will come and bring a friend
and will pray for the success of this outreach ministry.
Karin Breuer

Holy Week Services are intended to help you slow down and focus on the meaning of the
Christ‘s death in preparation for Good Friday and Easter. Please remember to keep the
evenings between Palm Sunday to Good Friday free for worship. We‘ll be reading texts
from John 12 this year.
Sun. Mar 28 7:30pm John 12:12-29 Jesus comes to the Feast
Mon. Mar 29 7:30pm John 12:1-11 Jesus anointed
Tue. Mar 30 7:30pm John 12:20-36 The hour has come
Wed. Mar 31 7:30pm John 12:37-50 Belief and Unbelief
Thur. Apr 1 6:00pm Maundy Thursday
Candlelight Service
Fri. Apr 2 10:00am Good Friday
Sun. Apr 4 10:00am Easter/Communion
 Page 8 Spring 2010

You are
Haney invited!
Youth
Group
Church Family
GAMES!! Fun Night CRAFTS!!
Sat. March 27th
POTLUCK
DINNER 5:30pm
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RE-MATCH!!
6 – 7:30pm every 1st and 3rd Friday

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