Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.’ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. (Lamentations 3: 21-25, NIV)

Did you make a New Year’s resolution? The new year gives an opportunity to make some new beginnings. For some, it means a new job, or a search for one. For others, it means a new place of residence. For still others, it means a new schedule, or assignment. For all, it means a new invitation from God to walk in step with His Spirit as followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

For me, all of these things -- and more -- are new. Lest I run madly off in all directions at once, one of my challenges is to set some priorities.

Printed on the front of our bulletin each week is a statement publishing the purpose of Parkwood Presbyterian Church: "The purpose of Parkwood is to enable individuals and families to discover, grow in, and share the love of God found in Jesus Christ."

In coming to serve as pastor of the congregation, it is appropriate that I address this purpose. In undertaking to do so, I have developed some priorities, all of which happen to begin with the letter "P".

1. Prayer - The strength of the church is in her prayers. One of the callings of a minister is to listen to the voice of God, speaking in the scriptures, and to seek to discern how His voice addresses our contemporary situation. Part of this discernment takes place through conversation with God in prayer. Another key ingredient in the mix of pastoral activities is intercession -- to lift up the congregation in prayer before the throne of grace. Any congregation seeking to attempt to serve God faithfully must not outrun its prayers, and in beginning together on the road of service it is most important that we pray together. It is not by chance that we have chosen to focus our first series of sermons on the Lord’s Prayer.

2. People - The life of any congregation is in its people. One of my priorities is to learn names and faces, and how both go together. In the weeks and months to come, and in co-operation with the elders, I hope to visit the individuals and homes who are part of the Parkwood family. The photo directory prepared some seven years ago is an aid in identification, but we could all make good use of a new edition.

3. Preaching - The shepherd is called to feed the flock, and to lead them to good grazing ground. The preparation of good meals takes time and effort; likewise the preparation of good sermons must occupy the time and energy of a pastor who is seeking -- in obedience to Christ the Chief Shepherd -- to be a faithful under-shepherd. I am grateful for the help of those who have assisted in unpacking and organising my library. I value the labours of all who undertake tasks which enable me to devote valuable time to reading and reflecting on the scriptures.

4. Planning - The coach of a team needs a plan, so that the whole will function effectively together, reaching for excellence and seeking to achieve future goals. In seeking to develop a comprehensive vision for the future work and witness of the congregation, careful planning is required. One of the first steps in this process is to identify and understand existing programmes, with an eye to constructive evaluation in due progress. I am pleased that our Youth and Outreach Director, Ian Forest-Jones, is working on this project.

Please feel free to share with me your requests for prayer, and by all means take advantage of the opportunities offered for worship, study, fellowship, and service together.

I would leave you with one practical request. If you have access to e-mail on a regular basis, please send me a short message to jthurd@sympatico.ca so that I will have your e-mail address. We hope in time to develop a comprehensive e-mail list so that we can utilise electronic communication effectively within the congregation.

Grateful for God’s faithfulness, and anticipating His promised mercies, which are indeed "new every morning".

Your servant in Christ,


James T. Hurd
Pastor