From the pastor - index
These are the messages that appear monthly (except in the summer months) in Parkwood's newsletter, the Pulse. The letters
up to and including June 2001 are written by the Rev. Floyd McPhee, who retired from Parkwood that month. Parkwood's
interim moderator, James Statham of Grace church, Orleans provided letters for October and November '01 at which point
Rev. James T. Hurd took over.
WEBSERVANT'S NOTE: when redesigning a website, recoding over 20 years of pastor's messages (10 per year) takes a while. I decided to
group the messages by "church year", September through June (separate pastor's messages aren't published in July & August).
I will add sets to this page as they are completed, and retain a few individual ones that are referenced on our history page.
- Gord Walford, July 6, 2017
to bottom of page
Spring 1996
 RENEWING OUR VOWS (April, 1996)
FREEDOM FROM FEAR (May, 1996)
"ARE NOT YOU ALSO ONE OF THIS MAN'S DISCIPLES?" (June, 1996)
1996-1997
THE FIRST MARK OF THE CHURCH: JOY (September, 1996)
THE SECOND MARK OF THE CHURCH: HOLINESS (October, 1996)
GO AND TELL (November, 1996)
LOVE ONE ANOTHER (December, 1996)
THAT THEY MAY BE ONE (January, 1997)
SLAVE OF JESUS CHRIST (February, 1997)
ATTITUDE CHECK (March, 1997) webservant's note: original letter had no title
A POSITIVE ATTITUDE (April, 1997)
CHRISTIAN PARENTING (May, 1997)
LIVING FOR THE LORD DAY BY DAY (June, 1997)
1997-1998
SIX SHORT RULES FOR YOUNG CHRISTIANS (September, 1997)
A TRIBUTE OF MOTHER TERESA OF CALCUTTA AND DIANA, PRINCESS OF WALES
(sermon delivered September 7, 1997)
THANKFULNESS TRANSFORMS (October, 1997)
CAN YOU BE A GOOD CHRISTIAN AND NOT GO TO CHURCH? (November, 1997)
WHO IS JESUS? (December, 1997)
OUR ALL SUFFICIENT SAVIOUR (January, 1998)
WHAT PRESBYTERIANISM STANDS FOR (February, 1998)
SOME THINGS WHICH CANNOT BE SHAKEN (March, 1998)
THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION (April, 1998)
LIVING IN FAMILIES (May, 1998)
PARKWOOD'S MISSION (June, 1998)
LESSONS FROM THE RECENT BILLY GRAHAM MISSION (Summer, 1998)
1998-1999
YOUR PLACE IN CHURCH (September, 1998)
IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS (October, 1998)
CAN YOU BELIEVE IN CHRIST AND GO TO HELL? (November, 1998)
IS CHRISTMAS MORE THAN A TRADITION? (December, 1998)
A WORD OF HOPE FOR 1999 (January, 1999)
LET US DO WHAT WE CAN FOR JESUS IN 1999 (February, 1999)
SPIRITUAL RENEWAL (March, 1999)
DEATH WITHOUT FEAR (April, 1999)
SALTY CHRISTIANS (May, 1999)
THE KIND OF MEMBERS THE CHURCH NEEDS (June, 1999)
1999-2000
MARKS OF A TRUE DISCIPLE (September, 1999)
THANKSGIVING: CLUE TO LIFE'S MEANING (October, 1999)
SPREADING OUR TROUBLES BEFORE THE LORD (November, 1999)
THE LOVE THAT BROUGHT HIM (December 1999 - January 2000)
NEED ORIENTED EVANGELISM (February 2000)
CHRISTIAN CONVERSION (March 2000)
LYDIA: AN OUTSTANDING LEADER IN THE EARLY CHURCH (April 2000)
THE WIDOW’S SACRIFICE (May 2000)
THE ONE THING NEEDED (June 2000)
2000-2001
THE OUTREACH AND MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH (September 2000)
PRAYING LIKE JESUS PRAYED (October 2000)
HOW DO WE KNOW WE BELONG TO GOD? (November 2000)
A CHRISTMAS LETTER BY A THEOLOGICAL STUDENT WRITTEN 40 YEARS AGO (December 1960)
CHRIST CAME TO BRING US BACK TO GOD (December 2000 - January 2001)
LATER! (February 2001)
THE PROMISE OF PEACE IN THE MIDST OF STORM (March 2001)
WHAT IS SO "GOOD" ABOUT GOOD FRIDAY? (April 2001)
THE ETERNAL GOD IS YOUR REFUGE (May 2001)
"...HE WHO BEGAN A GOOD WORK IN YOU..." (June 2001)
2001-2002
"Get in tune" (James Statham, October 2001)
Biographical sketch of our upcoming pastor (James T. Hurd, October 2001)
Read this later (James Statham, November 2001)
Address Change? (James T. Hurd, December 2001 - January 2002)
Entering the new year -- together, and with God (February 2002)
A Dose of Encouragement (March 2002)
Thoughts on spring (April 2002) webservant's note: original letter had no title
On calling and answering (May 2002)
Remembering God in the summer (June 2002)
2002-2003
The Marks of the Church (September 2002)
"Where can I find the time?" (October 2002)
Life and hope in November (November 2002)
What can we build with these blocks? (December 2002 - January 2003)
The God of the Information Age (February 2003)
God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." (March 2003)
Serving the Prince of Peace in an age of War (April 2003)
Jesus ... for a whole world (May 2003)
Travel (June 2003)
2003-2004
Avoiding Blackouts (September 2003)
The best "Thank You" (October 2003)
Remembering (November 2003)
Lights in a season of light in a world of darkness (December 2003 - January 2004)
Access (February 2004)
Passion: Christ's, Ours, and Others (March 2004)
Spring (April 2004)
Losing (May 2004)
Voting (June 2004)
2004-2005
On watering plants and souls (September 2004)
Renewal (October 2004)
Singing amid life's trials (November 2004)
One Thing (December 2004 - January 2005)
Each one (February 2005)
One thing: Legacy (March 2005)
Easter Confidence (April 2005)
The authority to govern (May 2005)
Summer (June 2005)
2005-2006
Back to School (September 2005)
A future for life in a culture of death (October 2005)
What matters? (Making choices) (November 2005)
Christmas Preparations (December 2005 - January 2006)
Light in the darkness; Hope for the sorrowful (February 2006)
A Timely Dream (March 2006)
Lent: A play on words and a word on life (April 2006)
Remember? (May 2006)
Growing (June 2006)
2006-2007
How loved are you? (September 2006)
The priority of prayer (October 2006)
On coping with change (November 2006)
Christmas rush or Christmas peace? (December 2006 - January 2007)
Outside our comfort zone (February 2007)
A Friend (March 2007)
Life (April 2007)
Prescription for Life (May 2007)
Choice Sayings (June 2007)
2007-2008
Batteries need charging (September 2007)
Giving thanks (October 2007)
Remembering Remembrance Day (November 2007)
G(raceism) (December 2007 - January 2008)
That all of them may be one (February 2008)
Right under my nose! (March 2008)
O spring, where are you? (April 2008)
Legacy of a Life ... Memories of Mariano (May 2008)
General Assembly (June 2008)
2008-2009
On the mountain of the Lord... (or at least on the mountain with the Lord) (September 2008)
Elections, Leadership, and Discernment (October 2008)
Remembering the persecuted church (November 2008)
Travelling in the storms of life (December 2008 - January 2009)
Surprise! (February 2009)
The Most Excellent Way (March 2009)
Is winning everything? (April 2009)
What lasts forever? (May 2009)
For Jesus (June 2009)
2009-2010
Return (September 2009)
Time -- and a Prayer (October 2009)
Peace (November 2009)
Value (December 2009 - January 2010)
Building (February 2010)
Olympic Glory (March 2010)
The death of death and the birth of life (April 2010)
Foxes and rabbits ... and love in action (May 2010)
Foundation for renewal (June 2010)
2010-2011
What are we doing? (September 2010)
(October 2010 was a special "Building to Serve" edition - no pastor's message)
Making the best choice (November 2010)
A simple celebration (December 2010 - January 2011)
Light (February 2011)
Prayers to encircle the earth (March 2011)
Suddenly (April 2011)
Life (May 2011)
Brokenness (June 2011)
2011-2012
Water (September 2011)
Always Reforming (October 2011)
The new norm? (November 2011)
No anonymous gift-recipients (December 2011 - January 2012)
Fountain of life (February 2012)
A consuming fire (March 2012)
God... our refuge (April 2012)
My Rock (May 2012)
A righteous judge (June 2012)
2012-2013
The great King (September 2012)
Strength (October 2012)
A sun and shield (November 2012)
God is spirit (December 2012 - January 2013)
God is light (February 2013)
God is love (March 2013)
The resurrection: The basis of our hope (April 2013)
Spring cleaning (May 2013)
Death and life (June 2013)
2013-2014
One who unifies (September 2013)
Giving thanks (October 2013)
Love (November 2013)
The blessing of children to the childless (December 2013 - January 2014)
Testimony? (February 2014)
New Life (March 2014)
Patient patients growing patience (April 2014)
A new spring wardrobe? (May 2014)
Potholes, problems, and peace (June 2014)
2014-2015
Hope (September 2014)
Jubilee (October 2014)
Samaritans Serve Strangers (November 2014)
Gifts for the world (December 2014 - January 2015)
Soli Deo gloria: On the difference between praise and encouragement (February 2015)
A warm welcome on a cold day (March 2015)
Elders (April 2015)
Elders as mentors (May 2015)
Elders: Qualified and Called (June 2015)
2015-2016
Settled or travelling? (September 2015)
God Votes (October 2015)
Refugees (November 2015)
Christmas is coming... (December 2015 - January 2016)
Detours: Distractions or Divinely-directed Digressions? (February 2016)
Laughter (March 2016)
New (April 2016)
No fear of bad news (May 2016)
First Things First (June 2016)
2016-2017
Christ-likeness and thankfulness go together (October 2016)
Space and Spirit (November 2016)
Christ Preparations (December 2016 - January 2017)
Welcome! (February 2017)
Truth (March 2017)
God-Honouring Speech (April 2017)
The Kingdom of God is... (May 2017)
The Barrier Act (June 2017)
2017-2018
God Knows (September 2017)
Who or What? (October 2017)
Puzzles? (November 2017)
A sign? (December 2017 - January 2018)
Who is your boss? (February 2018)
Society = Neighbours (March 2018)
Life (April 2018)
The First Day of Spring (May 2018)
Being... and waiting... (June 2018)
2018-2019
The Pieces of Peace (September 2018)
Old trees and new ones (October 2018)
God loves (November 2018)
Mercy (December 2018 - January 2019)
Meditation (February 2019)
Why History Is Important (March 2019)
Well Watered (April 2019)
Hurt people hurt people (May 2019)
Giving an account (June 2019)
2019-2020
Fruits of being thankful (September 2019)
On signs -- and elections and detours, and more! (October 2019)
What to do after the election? (November 2019)
Homeless (December 2019 - January 2020)
Refuge in Canada and in Christ (February 2020)
Maturity (March 2020)
Troubles, affliction, and distress... Trust, protection, and comfort (April 2020)
Never Alone (May 2020)
Plans and changes — changes and plans (June 2020)
2020-2021
Fear and faith in times of uncertainty (September 2020)
20 reasons to be thankful in 2020 (October 2020)
What to do after the election? (November 2020)
Neighbours (December 2020 - January 2021)
Forgetting and remembering in a time of thinking (February 2021)
Equal (March 2021)
Spring (April 2021)
Pulse (May 2021)
What kind of garden are you growing? (June 2021)
2021-2022
The Joy of Freedom and Forgiveness (September 2021)
A place to live? The challenge of housing (October 2021)
Relations (November 2021)
Water (December 2021 - January 2022)
Prevented (February 2022)
Proving Identity (March 2022)
Spring -- clouded by war but lighted by hope (April 2022)
Busy Builders (May 2021)
Expectations (June 2022)
2022-2023
Life is... (September 2022)
In memoriam and in gratitude - Queen Elizabeth II (October 2022)
Knowing our neighbours (November 2022)
A Christmas List? (December 2022 - January 2023)
Foundation leads to... (February 2023)
Grace to give (March 2023)
The Day (April 2023)
A day in the life of a pastor (May 2023)
Beavers at work (June 2023)
2023-2024
Beauty (September 2023)
Thanksgiving (October 2023)
Peace (November 2023)
Balance (December 2023 - January 2024)
What Can I Say? (February 2024)
An Anniversary (March 2024)
Life and Death (April 2024)
Quenching thirst (May 2024)
Overwhelmed? (June 2024)
2024-2025
Remembering... (September 2024)
Saying thanks in a digital age (October 2024)
Watch ... and pray (November 2024)
Christmas: Welcoming Christ, and welcoming all who are Christ’s (December 2024 - January 2025)
A late but timely New Year’s meditation (February 2025)
Compass versus GPS (March 2025)
Shoots (April 2025)
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