Weekly Letter from Ron & Mary Kernohan

July 03, 2026

GREETINGS TO ALL!

Fireworks are amazing! In Japan, they are called “fire flowers,” and for years I watched competitions between different groups come up with some dazzling combinations of effects. Throughout this week, and on to the next, memories of seeing those symbols of celebration will fill our hearts. We are blessed with all sorts of reasons to celebrate meaningful events in our lives and in the lives of others. May we take the time to truly “rejoice with those who rejoice,” (Romans 12:15) as we stride through this week with hearts ready to celebrate the good things God has given us. 

As you enjoy this week’s newsletter, may you find ways that you can participate in those events, and find ways to celebrate your life in the Lord.  As you make special note of those upcoming events and prayer concerns, may you also experience moments when God celebrates with you in both answered prayers and precious memories of being with this vibrant seniors’ community.

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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 being 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 continue through the summer, with two cancellations on July 6 and July 13.

Remember that Fitness with Friends will not be held if there are weather advisories in effect…and in Calgary, there can be all kinds of interesting weather challenges! So, in the event of such advisories, please stay home and enjoy your at-home workouts. (Some of you … know… what to do!)  : - )

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 can tell you some weather stories to curl your hair!)

For either of these two conditions, please stay home and enjoy your at-home workouts.

PICKLEBALL 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 PICKLEBALL on Thursdays.

STAMPEDE BREAKFAST this Sunday from 9:00 to 11:30 am. All welcome!   

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CELEBRATION OF LIFE

Lee Workun’s Celebration of Life will be on July 6th at 1 pm at Brentview.

We are sorry to inform that Bertha Kokot recently passed away.

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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 a 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 on 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.
  

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Meditation

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 is filled with many powerful examples of the kinds of activities that take place “under heaven.” Some are tragic, painful, and full of sorrow: rending things, losing things, mourning about things. Some, however, leave us full of song and celebration: times of births, times of laughter, times of embracing, and times of dancing.

What Ecclesiastes does not say is whether these are activities that are “good” or “bad,” but rather…they happen, and that is what life is all about. Someone once told me, “Good and bad things happen all the time to everyone. What matters is how we respond to them.” Fascinating! It’s all about how we respond to them.

The righteous, we are told, can be cast down seven times, and rise again. The despondent can be surrounded with parades and cheering but find no joy in those moments. Some events may be full of grieving or heaviness of heart, but our attitudes toward them can transform them into opportunities for growth. It’s wonderful to hold a newborn, laugh with a friend, hug a dear one, and sing Happy Birthday to You! Yet, even these, experienced with a dour attitude, can almost be funereal…bleak…barren. How much better it is to let God’s Holy Spirit teach us about joy and gratitude in all things.

Solomon’s words to us in Ecclesiastes 3 are telling us that “life happens.” May we, in our walk with the Lord, discover ways to grow and not become grouchy, to be cheerful and not be churlish, to weep with those who weep, Paul tells us in Romans 12, and rejoice with those who rejoice. May you live life…well!

Paul Miller for
Ron Kernohan, pastor of seniors.