As 2022 comes to a close, we would like to thank many of you for your continued support of Touchstone.

I remember the first time I went on the Space Mountain roller coaster at Disney World. I was in my youth ministry late 20’s era and on a trip with a few hundred high school kids from Ontario. A ministry colleague and I squeezed into the same car and once flying through the darkness we each confessed many sins and made many promises to God if we survived the ride. Some days it feels like we are on a cosmic theme park ride which is whipping erratically, and we hold on for dear life.

A cottage I once considered renting – gone. The nearby fish plant – nearly gone. The scenic road around a beautiful harbour – gone. That’s just one of many pictures we’ve seen from Cape Breton after the wind and waves cut a destructive path. And that’s just one of many weights we carry – threat of nuclear conflict internationally, food insecurity for thousands in our province, housing inaccessibility for even more – and the beat goes on.

As I entered last summer, offering you my 2021 edition of “Prayers for Deck & Dock” I think I was hoping for more freedom to be with family and friends, opportunities to travel or dine out – not considering that summer would bring sorrow with sunshine. By early August two friends died suddenly within 10 days of each other.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…. Through him all things were made; …. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. …. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognise him. …. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God …. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, …. full of grace and truth. (John1: excerpts NIVUK)