I don’t remember a time when I didn’t attend the local church. I’m sure my parents brought me in their arms when I was only a few weeks old. My earliest memories of our great big family at church is sitting together near the front - me usually next to my dad or mom - their hand on my knee - to give a wee squeeze should I get a wee bit unruly.

My Mom often told the story of their earliest years of marriage. Dad and Mom were both raised in wonderful Christian families who attended church regularly and were in the practice of attending. But - apparently after my eldest sister was born, the young couple was somewhat sporadic in their church attendance - so much so , that they received a visit from their pastor. He gently encouraged and advised them that it would never get easier to attend and should they continue to attend irregularly, there would be more and more reasons and excuses to do other things on Sunday mornings. And so it was. Stan and Alice Castle and their babies……all 9 of them….from 1940 through 1958….attended First Baptist Church - Cornwall, Ontario. We took up a whole row. It brings a smile to my face even now.

My parents taught us to love the local church. They taught us to love the pastor and his family. They taught us to get involved. They taught us to love the people who attended with us. They taught us to support missionaries. They taught us to tithe. Speaking of tithing….there was a roll top desk in the hallway of our home with little slots in the top of it. Dad would divide up his pay cheque and into each slot was put the right amount of cash to pay for the various bills that would have to be paid that week. Included in that roll top desk was the slot for the church tithe. On Saturday nights - my dad would roll down the top of the desk - get the church envelope out and reach into the tithe slot and slip the tithe money into the envelope. That image is ever sharp in my mind.

“EACH ONE MUST GIVE AS HE HAS DECIDED IN HIS HEART, NOT RELUCTANTLY OR UNDER COMPULSION, FOR GOD LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER.”

“BRING THE FULL TITHE INTO THE STOREHOUSE, THAT THERE MAY BE FOOD IN MY HOUSE. AND THEREBY PUT ME TO THE TEST, SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS, IF I WILL NOT OPEN THE WINDOWS OF HEAVEN FOR YOU AND POUR DOWN FOR YOU A BLESSING UNTIL THERE IS NO MORE NEED.”

I was blessed as a little child to observe my parents faithfulness to the local church and it is a practice we have committed to all our life as well.

Church is where I learned to sing, starting in Sunday School and church and then in the choirs - first in the junior choir and then the senior choir. I was given the opportunity to sing solos and in small groups. I was given the opportunity to use my piano playing, even as a child, playing the piano in Sunday School and during the services. I still remember being a part of the Christmas and Easter cantatas. I still remember so many of the words. But it was more than just singing songs. I learned great theology in those old hymns. I learned that “Jesus loved me, this I know - for the Bible tells me so.” I learned that “the old rugged cross, was despised by the world - but it was our dear Lamb of God Who left His glory above, to pardon and sanctify me.” I learned that “there is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God.” I learned that “I have a friend in Jesus - who bears all my sins and griefs.”

When we were making the long drive home from my brother, Tim’s, funeral, in 1994, there were 8 of us in my brother Phil’s van. As we drove those hundreds of kilometres, we sang, through our tears but with hope, the hymns we had learned as children. One of us would start a hymn and the others would all join in. We knew most of the words by heart but if one of us forgot, the others would fill in. We sang for hours. How grateful we were that our parents took us to church so we could learn these dear hymns of our faith - they continue to bring comfort and joy - to this day.

When I was 17, I attended a youth conference and as I listened to the various speakers - I was moved to commit my life to serving the God I loved - ANYWHERE, ANYTHING, ANYTIME. Even as a young child I felt the calling of God in my life - I had committed my life to Him when I was 8, I was baptized at 15 and then at 17 - I felt ready to make a lifetime commitment. (It was the following year that I would meet Randy.) I had imagined that this commitment would lead me across the world to help the poor and hungry - perhaps I would be a nurse and help bring healing to the sick - and I might even speak at conferences - to women and encourage them in their own journey of faith. I never imagined that this calling would have me meet a guy - who would go to seminary (as I did) and together - we would pastor in small churches across Ontario for the next 35 years. I never did become a nurse but I did help to bring healing to some who were suffering. I never did speak to the masses but I did meet one on one with women over the years to help bring hope to hopeless situations. I never did go overseas to feed the poor and hungry but I sure baked and cooked and delivered countless meals to some who needed the comfort of home cooking.

Yes, Randy and I served the local church for 35 years - starting in Orillia - then Listowel, then Cambridge and finally, Alliston. I could say that it was all bliss and happiness but that wouldn’t be right. I could say it was all difficult and dark but that wouldn’t be right either. What I can say is that we were faithful to our people - to love them - to preach the whole truth of God - to encourage and help draw them closer to God. At one point, around the 30 year mark of our ministry, I wanted to pull out - to do something different - to not pastor anymore. I wanted to see what it was like to work “out there”! BUT - at that time - Randy - (bless his heart) said to me that in 1974 when he was a student at BLTS in Calgary, he had made his own commitment to the Lord. Randy promised the Lord that - God - being his strength - would serve Him as a pastor in the local church until his dying breath. He did just that. When Randy collapsed on Saturday, June 28, 2014, his sermon was sitting on his desk - ready to go for the next day. He fulfilled that commitment and God called him home.

So, why do I go to church? Good question.

There are many reasons but I picked my top 5!

#1. To hear the preaching of the Word of God. (For the word of God is living and active. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man and woman of God may be complete, equipped for every good work).

Each Sunday - Harv and I - listen at 9 am to our church in Florida online and then head out the door for our 10:30 church service here in Kincardine.

If we’re not listening to our Florida church - we wouldn’t have heard Pastor Aaron speaking truth about “God’s Plan for the Family.” He read from Genesis 1 and then explained those scriptures to us. He confirmed that God is the architect of the family - that He designed men and women in His image - equal and yet, different - and yet again - interdependent on each other. He reminded us that it was God who knit us in our mother’s womb to be the man or woman we were meant to be.

If we weren’t in our church in Kincardine, we wouldn’t have heard Pastor Steve preach about the prophet Daniel - a brave man who was second in command in the Babylonian empire - an empire that did not worship the Hebrew God. In spite of this culture, Daniel remained faithful to his Hebrew God - his God who he had loved and served since he was a child. Daniel was known in the courts of the world but more importantly was known in the courts of heaven. Daniel was set up to fail by other government officials and yet he remained faithful. A law was passed that everyone was to petition only to the King of Babylonia. Daniel - when he heard of this law - continued with his regular, daily practice - he prayed three times a day to His God. The King had to follow through with the punishment that had been decreed - Daniel would be thrown into the den of lions. When he was thrown into the den with very hungry lions - an angel appeared to Daniel and told him not to fear - that he had company. And then, God shut the mouths of those lions and Daniel was not harmed.

If Harv and I are not there and not listening - we don’t hear these truths. Preaching affects our hearts and draws us closer to God - it inspires us to love others and gives us guidance to live in a culture similar to that of Babylonia - a culture that is counter to God’s Word.

#2. To worship together (Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into His presence with singing! Know that the Lord, He is God! Enter His gates with thanksgiving. For the Lord is good - His steadfast love endures forever and His faithfulness to all generations.

My only response is to sing and pray and offer gratitude and honour to Him and for Him.

#3. To encourage my pastor (I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you, because of your partnership in the gospel…)

What a joy it was for us as we pastored for all those years to see our people gather with us on Sunday morning and for special events at various times throughout the year. Preacher and people - people and preacher - it’s a relationship.

#4. To teach my kids and grandkids to love the local church.

Big lessons are caught not taught. What’s good for the goose is also good for the gander and all their chicks. My family will learn more about faith from watching me live out my own journey……than simply by me telling them. Am I perfect? Not even close. Will I stumble? Absolutely. Do I get frustrated and impatient. Sadly - yes! But - I will always confess my shortcomings - pick myself up and keep going.

#5. Because God says so. (And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.)

That’s really enough for me.