07/14/2026
Epistle to Knox Listowel - We Care A Lot
"Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.'" Matthew 9:37-38
Both of the above pictures happened at Knox today. I took the first photo just before 12 p.m. and the second one at about 4:25 p.m. Overall, we had close to 55 kids in our VBS, and we fed 55 people. We actually ran out of food for our takeout-only BBQ. We will be back inside next week. It is good to be a part of such a diverse day of service to Christ.
I was having a chat with two young ministers this week, so really it was a conversation between three young ministers, and the conversation got around to what it is the church is really for. In the conversation, it seemed like one person wanted the church to really only be about studying the faith and the Bible, while the other one seemed to want the church to focus pretty deeply on things like social issues and caring about others. It really was the classic greatest-commandment problem, as if the two are not connected intimately.
I remember telling them a story, which was that, at one of my churches, someone once told me, "I just want to learn about the Bible; I don't actually want to do anything." This happens quite often in church, not just to me. When people feel like they have heard it all and their faith is established, they will do a great job of telling you what they want. The issue is, I don't think I can be responsible as a follower of Jesus and fulfill that request.
If we learn about what Jesus is really asking of us, it should spur us into action. Today our church taught 55 or so kids about David and Goliath, and it fed 55 people. That mix is us bearing fruit in Christ's kingdom. The truth is, to follow Jesus is to do both. To try to only accomplish one is lesser. To deny one over the other is sort of denying what Jesus taught us to do.
In many ways, the conversation is one of those defining reality questions, like the ones we have been dealing with in Daniel. This Sunday we will read what is most likely the least-read part of Daniel, and one that is a first-person account from King Nebuchadnezzar. Who gets to dream? Well, the king does one more time, and Daniel has some things to say about it. I hope you will join us in worship, 10:30 a.m. in the hall.
Announcements
Please join us on Sunday, August 30, to hear our guest Minister, The Rev. Dr. Ernest van Eck. Rev. Dr. van Eck is the Principal of Knox College, part of the Toronto Theological School affiliated with the University of Toronto. Before he was appointed Principal, he served as an ordained minister in the Nederduitsch Reformed Church of Africa from 1984 to 2023.
From 2006 to 2022, Dr. van Eck was associated with the Department of New Testament and Related Literature at the Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, where he held several roles, including Professor in New Testament and Related Literature, Department Head, and Deputy Dean for Research and Postgraduate Studies.
Follow this link for information on PWS&Ds response to the Venezuelan earthquake, https://presbyterian.ca/pwsd/venezuela-earthquake-response/
Rev. James will be on vacation in the month of August, and will be chaplain up at Camp Kintail next week. In each case, he is still around for pastoral emergencies, so please reach out if you need to. Also, if your child is up at camp anytime this summer, and you want Rev. James to visit them, let him know.
The Session at Knox is interested in reviving a complimentary Mobility Van service on Sunday mornings. If you or someone you know would be interested, please let Laura Tryssenaar (519 292 8672) know by July 15 or contact the church office
There will be no TOPS meeting July 16th, and we will be in the park enjoying our summer picnic on July 23rd. (Weather permitting). The TOPS Listowel #5305
In Christ
Rev. James Clark
Minister of Word and Sacrament at Knox Listowel.
