The Harbour

Psalms 18:1-4 (NIV)

I love you, Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
    and I have been saved from my enemies.

The cords of death entangled me;
    the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

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Just a brief clarification from the last post about upcoming events and how to use this podcast feed.

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Merry Christmas, everyone! Dave Blow shared this final Advent reflection at our Christmas Eve service. This will be our last post for 2025. We will be back with new teachings on January 4th. As always, we will be meeting in the Newmarket SilverCity at 10:00AM. All are welcome!

While there will not be any Home Church meeting this week, consider these questions for personal reflection:

1. What stood out to you from this Christmas Eve reflection?

2. Read John 1:1-18 (preferably in multiple translations). What stands out to you from this passage?

3. How can we emulate Jesus, in both small ways and big ways, in order to be lights in the world?

4. Pray for your friends and family, our church community, and our world.

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Luke 2:8-14 (NIV)

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favour rests.”

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Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent, but includes our third Advent message. This morning, Will Dyer shared on the Advent theme of Joy. Please note that our fourth and final Advent message will be delivered on Christmas Eve at 4:30PM in the Bethel CRC building on Davis Drive (the church on the north side at Lorne Avenue). We look forward to seeing you there for carols, readings, and a message about the final Advent theme of Love.

Please find the slide deck for this week's teaching here.

Home Church Questions:

1. What stood out to you from Sunday’s teaching?

2. What does it mean for joy to not be a feeling?

3. Read James 1:2-4 (in multiple translations, if possible). What stands out to you from this passage?

4. Have you ever had joy in dark circumstances? What was that like?

5. Read Jude 24-25 (in multiple translations, if possible). What stands out to you from this passage?

6. Read Psalms 100 (in multiple translations, if possible). What stands out to you from this passage?

7. Pray with and for one another, our church community, and our world. Ask the Lord to help you have joy in all circumstances.

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Today is the third Sunday of Advent, but includes our second Advent message. This morning, Dave Blow shared on the Advent theme of Peace. Please note that we will have one more Advent Sunday message next week, followed closely by our final Advent service of the season on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve service will begin at 4:30PM in the Bethel Christian Reformed Church building on the north side of Davis Drive at Lorne Avenue (not in the SilverCity, which is our usual meeting place). All are welcome!

Please find the slide deck for this week's teaching here.

Home Church Questions:

1. What stood out to you from this week's teaching?

2. Take a few moments to listen to the Buffalo Springfield song “For What It’s Worth”. For the music, click here. For the lyrics, click here. For Stephen Stills speaking about his inspiration for the song, click here. Can you name some of the tensions outlined in the song? Are they still relevant today?

3. Read Isaiah 11: 6-9 (preferably in multiple translations). This seems incomprehensible, almost too big to imagine. What stands out to you from this passage?

4. When is your life have you felt at peace? What did it look like?

5. Where in your life do you crave peace? Be specific.

6. Where in our world do you long to see peace?

7. As we enter the Christmas break What is standing out to you as you deepen your
experience this Advent season? How does it have the capacity to transform me?

8. Pray with and for one another, our church community, and our world.

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Website: theharbournewmarket.ca
Email: [email protected]

Isaiah 9:2-7 (NIV)

The people walking in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
    a light has dawned.

You have enlarged the nation
    and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
    when dividing the plunder.

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
    you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
    the bar across their shoulders,
    the rod of their oppressor.

Every warrior’s boot used in battle
    and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
    will be fuel for the fire.

For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

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Isaiah 40:1-8 (NIV)

Comfort, comfort my people,
    says your God.

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
    that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
    double for all her sins.

A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
    the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
    a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be raised up,
    every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
    the rugged places a plain.

And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

A voice says, “Cry out.”
    And I said, “What shall I cry?”

“All people are like grass,
    and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.

The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
    Surely the people are grass.

The grass withers and the flowers fall,
    but the word of our God endures forever.”

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Today is the second Sunday of Advent, but because of last week's All Members Meeting, it contains our first Advent message. Dave Blow shared on the Advent theme of Hope. There will be three more Advent messages on the next two Sundays and Christmas Eve. Please join us in person for these meetings if you are able. Next Sunday we will be having Communion together (which is ordinarily on the first Sunday of each month). All are welcome!

Please find the slide deck for this week's teaching here.

Home Church Questions:

1. What stood out to you from this week's teaching?

2. Read Luke 1:26-38 (preferably in multiple translations). What stands out to you from this passage?

3. Reread verse 38: “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. What might those seven powerful words be saying to us?

4. We have just finished the first week of Advent where we have focussed on hope. As transparently as you feel comfortable, please reflect, and share on the following questions:

a) How are you feeling–mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually–as we wind through the Advent season this year?

b) Is there anything specific that you would like to experience this season? Is there anything that you are really longing for? 

c) Read Romans 13:11-14 in The Message translation. Where in your life do things feel hopeful? How would you describe that feeling? What could this passage be saying to us? 

d) Where in your life would you benefit from having more hope?

e) What could be making you feel hopeless this Advent season?

f) As we begin to turn the page on another year what do you hope for in our world? 

5. Pray with and for one another and our wider community.

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Isaiah 2:2-5 (NIV)

In the last days,

the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
    as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
    and all nations will stream to it.

Many peoples will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
    to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
    so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
    the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

He will judge between the nations
    and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
    and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
    nor will they train for war anymore.

Come, descendants of Jacob,
    let us walk in the light of the Lord.

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