Weekly Letter from Ron & Mary Kernohan

April 24, 2026

GREETINGS TO ALL!

This week, the world will celebrate “Earth Day.” Each year. we are reminded about what a privilege it is to share this planet. We are guided to consider ways to take care of the Earth, and reminded that it is, indeed, our home. It’s a serious, yet splendid day. There is one truth, however, fthat the world outside of the God’s Forever Family overlooks or chafes at: this planet does not belong to us, we are its caretakers! We sing about the greatness of this planet in a well-known hymn, “This is My Father’s World,” We learn about the “wonders” God has created. Ah! but this is not just huge botanical garden or zoo in space; it is also populated by …us. We were not “spoken” into existence; we were purposefully crafted into creation, “knit together in our mother’s womb” and are placed here to carry out God’s purposes for our lives. What a powerful thought! It’s great to have a home, and our home is Earth, but we do not exist because of the Earth, the Earth exists…for us! As we enjoy that great hymn, let us remember “that though the wrong seems oft so strong/God is the ruler yet!” There are many “wonders” and “evils” on this planet, but the greatest of all the wonders all is that God came to be among us…lived, died…and rose again. That is the message of Eastertide: we learn about a Creator, who calls into existence the very trees and hills that become the cross and Golgotha, the place where He gave His life for us. Oh, yes, I will honour Earth Day, but more than that, I will honour that day because I also cherish what God has done for us…here…on Earth.

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WEEKLY and UPCOMING ACTIVITIES

DISCOVERY CLASS will be on Sunday at 9:30 am in the church gym. We look forward to be guided to pay attention to key truths in Scripture that will transform our lives, as Pastor Ron encourages us to discover more gems of goodness in God’s word.

FITNESS WITH FRIENDS will resume on April 13. As we have so frequently experienced a number of surprising weather changes, please take note of these reminders: Fitness with Friends will not be held if: 1) If there is a weather advisory in effect, or 2) If the temperature falls to, or goes below, -20C, (and some long-time Calgarians call tell you some weather stories to curl your hair!) For either of these two conditions, please stay home and enjoy your at-home workouts.

PICKLE BALL is held on Thursdays starting at 9:00 am and all ages are welcome. Consider attending FITNESS WITH FRIENDS on Mondays to get ready for PICKLE BALL on Thursdays.

ENCORE: Next ENCORE will be Mark Rooney pastor of Hawkwood Baptist on May 13 at noon. For $15.00 you will get a delicious hot lunch and hear our speaker,

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PRAYER REQUESTS‍ ‍

Some guidance for prayer. In addition to specific needs…

• Pray for those who are recently bereaved or are experiencing losses of precious relationships.

• Pray for those in long-term care and struggling with emotional support.

• Pray for those who are going through difficulties, such as those who have family members requiring special needs, as well as those who have ongoing challenges of body or mind.

• Pray for those who are travelling or now distant from us. Pray for their protection in both body and spirit and for safety while travelling.

• Pray for those who have much to do as the result of recent losses, with estate settlements and lifestyle adjustments. Pray that those involved will sense God’s wisdom and guidance and act wisely.

• Pray for those who are in leadership positions within our church and for those serving our communities and city. Pray for both wisdom and courage to follow through what the Lord lays on their hearts.

Continue in prayer for:

• Herb Schuster, who had a partial hip replacement and is recovering at home.

• Bob and Sheila Lever. who are recovering at home and managing home care.

• Lee Workun passed away Thursday evening. Celebration of life details to follow.
  

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Meditation: 

An Extraordinary Hymn of Faith from an Ordinary Life of Consistency

This past Sunday, our gymnasium was filled with a wonderful blending of voices as dear friends shared the hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” If you were to sit down with any one of those singers, they could likely tell you a dozen stories of how they have experienced God’s presence  throughout their active lives.

The impact of this hymn has blessed countless souls, but the story behind its creation is a unique source of encouragement.

Unlike many great hymns born from depths of sudden tragedy or the heights of powerful encounters with God, Thomas Chisholm, the lyricist, lived what his biographers called a “pretty ordinary life.” His words didn't climb out of the depths of a great sorrow or even burst forth from the heights of having a powerful encounter with God. It came with a gentle sigh, out of his day-to-day consistency, down on the workaday streets, as a result of his regular discipline of Bible reading.

Chisholm was struck by a surprising passage in the Book of Lamentations—a book not typically known for its cheer. There, in chapter 3 and verses 22-23, he found what became the source of the inspiration for his hymn:

“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.”

Imagine the prophet Jeremiah writing those words knowing about the impending destruction of his nation—and then seeing it! Even as the world he knew was being carried off, piece by piece, treasure by treasure, Jeremiah recognized a fundamental truth in the midst of his very real chaos, a chaos caused by his own people’s relentless rebellion: despite our circumstances, and not matter how we may feel, God...is…faithful!

We may see ourselves in places in our lives where all is calm and well, and life feels good.  Suddenly we fall into a period of sadness so great, so dark, we wonder if it shall ever end. This hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” was written to encourage us in one powerful truth of our walk with the Lord. No matter what happens, like all of nature testifies, God does not change, God is faithful, and God sustains with his “mercy and love”. Indeed!  Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord! ...unto all of us!

Paul Miller, assistant to

 Ron Kernohan, pastor of seniors.