"My" Churches

I was ordained to the ministry of the Word and the Sacraments on October 11th, 1987 as the minister of the Canadian Reformed Church in Ottawa (this church would later assume the name "Jubilee" on its 50th Anniversary). I served here for five years. The congregation was, at that time, renting Merivale United Church, an historical building whose history goes back to 1876. (Click here for the history of the building). Among other interesting facts: Sir John A. MacDonald, Canada's first prime minister, laid the cornerstone of MUC. 

Surrounded by graves

A lovely building . . .

. . . with notoriously uncomfortable pews

I was ordained by the late Rev. Johannes Mulder, "father," mentor, and friend. Here we are standing in front of Merivale Church.

In 1992 I was called by the Canadian Reformed Church in Taber, Alberta. When I came, this recently instituted church was worshiping in Parkside Manor, a seniors recreation centre. 

After a year or two we moved our services to a building owned by the "Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks" where I preached under the serene gaze of three elk heads. (I wonder how protected these three elks felt. . . .)

For several years I preached in the ugliest building in the federation of churches. But we had some beautiful Sundays there. Once I baptized four children in the same service. We were wall to wall people!

Then we built a lovely church building. I preached and taught here with great pleasure. Taber still worships here.

In 1997 I was called by Ancaster Canadian Reformed Church, which I served for eleven years.

A beautiful building.

In 2008 my first congregation, Jubilee-Ottawa, called me back. I served there until 2016, when poor health led me to request the status of Minister-Emeritus. Though we moved to Hamilton I happily remain a minister of Jubilee Church.

I preached my farewell sermon on a steaming hot summer Sunday in a building with no air conditioning.

Final exhortation.

Jubilee Church, forever in my heart.

Jubilee Octet

A groups of singers in my last congregation, Jubilee Canadian Reformed in Ottawa, have recently formed an octet called, the Jubilee Octet. They are singing some of the Genevan arrangements of the Psalms a la Claude Goudimel's harmonization of the Genevans. In some cases the melody is in the soprano while in others it is in the tenor. Goudimel produced both for all 150 Psalms. Go to play list.

Retired

As of August 31, 2016, I am retired due to health reasons. The disease Multiple Sclerosis has been my daily companion since at least December of 1983. Despite it, the Lord called me to the Ministry of the Word and Sacraments in September 1987, and I was allowed to serve in that capacity for 29 years. I am very thankful to my God for his goodness and kindness. I started my ministry in Jubilee Ottawa, continued it in Taber, Alta., then in Ancaster, Ont., and concluded it at Jubilee Ottawa. I am thankful that the bond begun with Jubilee in 1987, and interrupted for 16 years, will continue until the Lord returns, and beyond that.

More properly, my status now is "minister emeritus." That means that I may continue to serve the Lord and his people at pulpit, font, and table, but without the pleasant but heavy burden of a full time teaching and pastoral ministry.

I will miss my congregation, but I know that my Lord Jesus will give me everything I need. I also know that he will give Jubilee Ottawa a new minister at his time. He is only good all the time.

Below are a few pictures taken by parishioners as I was preaching my farewell sermon.

Preaching on 2 John 4-6

I look scarier than I am.

Farewell, Jubilee! Thank you for everything. I will always love you. May God bless you forever!

Covenant blessings

My parents were married on September 18th, 1947. When my mother was expecting her first child she made a baptismal gown from fabric of her wedding dress. My eldest sister, Joanna, was dressed in it when she was baptized in 1948, as were the following five children, I being the last in 1958. At some point our family lost track of the gown. It was hanging in the closet of someone belonging to our tribe, but it was forgotten. My mother sewed six baptismal gowns for each of her children when they were expecting their first baby, and many of the grandchildren were dressed in these gowns for their baptisms.

Recently, the original gown showed up! Yesterday it was used again for the first time since my baptism 58 years ago. Isaiah Smith, my great-nephew, grandson of Joanna, my eldest sister, and the newest baby of our tribe, was baptized wearing the gown. As his parents belong to my congregation, I had the honour of administering the baptism.

Of course, the most important thing was that the sign and seal of God's covenant promises were confirmed to Isaiah, but that he was wearing the gown that I had worn, that his grandmother had worn, and that his great-grandmother, my mother, had fashioned from her wedding dress, added a special element to it all.

Baptism of Isaiah Smith, July 31, 2016 at Jubilee Church, Ottawa

Heart heavy yet joyful

With a heaviness of heart, and yet joyful in the Lord, I should mention that the consistory of Jubilee Canadian Reformed Church, Ottawa, has granted me the status of minister emeritus, as of Sept. 1, 2016. This decision of consistory, made upon my request and the advice of my physician due to my declining health, was approbated by last Thursday's Classis Ontario Central and the deputies of Regional Synod East.

At classis my good friend, the Rev. Peter Feenstra, encouraged me with the following words of the Prophet Isaiah, ch. 43:

1 But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
    he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you.
3 For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

That precious gospel is Dora's and my comfort and joy.

You are invited!

You are invited to a big celebration back at every Canadian's second home town.