Profile: Westminster Barrie

Our congregation began in 1962 in the gymnasium of a local public school. In 1964 we marched across a field to turn the soil at our new location in a nearby area of the city while singing “Onward Christian Soldiers.” Now an active group of about 400 people of all ages gather for weekly Sunday morning services … Read more

Practicing Collective Neighbourliness

By Jason Kenney You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” … Read more

Eyes Wide Open

I love following electoral politics: the leadership races, debates, speeches, campaigns, the who’s who, the cabinet and its rising stars, the leaders in waiting, and the has-beens who are hanging on. I’ve worked for candidates in municipal, provincial, and federal campaigns. I am a member of a national party. In my university days, I was … Read more

Many reasons to be thankful

By Deb Stimphil, RF Board Chairperson At this time of year, I always want to thank the people that have meant something special in the past year. I want to thank, on behalf of the Board of Renewal Fellowship, all our wonderful supporters. You are very special to the Renewal Fellowship. This year at Renewal … Read more

United We Stand

Presbyterians who adhere to traditional standards are working together on two new fronts. “Praying, listening, trusting” was formed in June 2020 for the purpose of praying for six months in order to discern God’s direction for those in orthodoxy. “PCC-Covenant” came together in the fall in recognition of a need to work with one another … Read more

Navigating through the storm when the church is adrift

What can the faithful do when the church is spiritually adrift? When the authority of Scripture is being challenged over sexuality and ordination — what better opportunity to remind ourselves to be anchored in Christ and look for a safe harbour. For inspiration, we turned to our new friends at Cruxifusion, a network of ministers who are centred on Christ … Read more

Renewal for the next generation

Millennials and the church today. Why aren’t millennials going to church? Where are all of the young adults? How is the church going to survive in the coming years with a missing generation? Many have tackled these questions, including pastors, sociologists, and research study groups. Some argue that millennials view the church as hypocritical and … Read more

Renewal Isn’t Easy

What a blessing it is to be positioned in life and in this denomination of ours to focus on renewal. I am not the only Canadian Presbyterian who is emphasizing renewal these days, but as the full-time leader of the Renewal Fellowship within the Presbyterian Church, I get to fill my days praying for, imagining, working towards and trusting God for renewal. What do I mean by renewal? There is … Read More

Great Expectations

Turning others loose to lead. My wife Ruth and I recently spent three weeks in Ecuador as guests of my sister who had been there several times before and was there ahead of us for this visit. We spent most of our time in Cuenca, a colonial city and UNESCO Heritage Site. It is also … Read more

A Time of Discernment

Human sexuality issues are front and centre for the Presbyterian Church in Canada. There will be study and dialogue at every level of the church and eventually decisions made concerning the numerous overtures forwarded to our General Assembly this past June. There will be votes by commissioners in the coming years together with votes in … Read more