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Christian HERALD
Volume 31, No. 8 • December 2024
Founded in 1994, Christian Herald serves the Christian community across the Southern Ontario region, and is published ten times a year.
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Government Invests $34 million to help Salvation Army repair, rejuvenate and preserve affordable housing
The Salvation Army and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) have agreed to a three-year project that will offer dedicated repair and renewal dollars to residential facilities across the country. The partnership includes $51 million in funding from The Salvation Army and a $34-million contribution from CMHC, the largest contribution in Canadian history, totalling a $85-million investment. The announcement took place at The Salvation Army headquarters in Toronto.
“The Salvation Army has a target of 3,400 units, with projects taking place across the country – British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Northwest Territories,” says Lieut.-Colonel John Murray, territorial secretary for communications. “This includes the rejuvenation of 600 units to increase accessibility, and a portfolio-wide target of reducing green-house gas emissions by 25 percent.”
The Salvation Army operates nearly one in five of all shelter beds across Canada. This contribution recognizes that emergency, transitional, and supportive housing solutions are a critical part of the housing spectrum.
“This exciting and historic announcement today is more than providing a bed,”
says Lieut.-Colonel Murray. “It’s about hope and transformation. When an individual walk through our doors, they are welcomed into our continuum of care with wraparound services and individualized case management support.
“As we enter this season of giving we are reminded of the generosity and kindness of
Canadians, which begins with our leaders and government. We are truly grateful for all levels of government, community partners and generous donors who come together to support each other in finding find realistic and practical solutions to complex challenges more and more Canadians are facing.” www.salvationarmy.ca
Dozens of cities across the country proclaim December as ‘Christian Heritage Month’
Christians across Canada have been approaching all levels of government to have the month of December proclaimed ‘Christian Heritage Month’ in recognition of the contribution of Christianity to the fabric of the country, and the particular emphasis on Christian history and values that are celebrated throughout the month of December. The campaign first began in 2019, when a group of Christians in Brampton successfully petitioned their municipality to declare the month of December as Christian Heritage Month.
GTA Motions Successful
At a council session on November 14, the City of Toronto became the latest municipality to make the declaration.
After a spirited debate, which saw Councillor Lily Cheng rise in the council chambers and give a passionate testimony of how Christianity changed her life, the motion introduced by Councillor Nick Mantas, passed 11 to 4. The Toronto effort was spearheaded by Jay and Molly Banerjei, organizers of the city’s annual Christian Music Festival.
In Mississauga, a similar motion moved on October 30 moved by councillors Brad Butt and John Kovac was passed unanimously by the city council.
Remember to email us your 2025 ministry news and event press releases.
Photo: Photo: Lieut.-Colonel John Murray stands with Rachel Chernos Lin, City Councillor for Don Valley West and Her Worship Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto.
Church Tax Exemptions Benefit Everyone, Study Finds
Religious congregations provide a net $16.5 billion worth of social and economic benefits to Canadians
New research confirms that all Canadians are better off when governments exempt religious congregations from paying taxes. In its report, Why Religious Tax Exemptions Benefit All Canadians, think tank Cardus finds that, measured in dollars and cents, what religious congregations give to their communities is worth almost 10.5 times as much as the tax exemptions and credits they receive.
“Church tax exemptions pale in comparison to the value of the social and economic contributions congregations make to their communities and neighbourhoods,” says Dr. Lisa Richmond, Vice-President of Research at Cardus. “Churches and other religious congregations give more than they receive.”
The Halo Effect
The findings are based on religious congregations’ Halo Effect – the dollar value of their social and economic contributions to society. Calculating the Halo Effect involves
adding up the dollar values of the following activities of Canadian religious congregations:
• Providing space, often at below-market rates or for free, for cultural and artistic events, recreation and sports, education, social services, and other activities.
• Providing programs and services, such as addiction recovery, counselling, mental-health services, childcare, refugee sponsorship and settlement services, education, and food banks.
• Contributing to the economy through direct spending.
• Generating economic activity through the “magnet effect” of attracting attendees to bar/bat mitzvahs, funerals, weddings, and other ceremonies, who then spend money at local businesses.
• Providing open space, which has environmental and recreational value.
For the purposes of Why Religious Tax Exemptions Benefit All Canadians, Cardus calculated the Halo Effect and the value of tax exemptions and credits for 64 Christian congregations in Canada. Their average Halo Effect was worth 10.47 times as much as the average value of their tax exemptions and credits. In other words, these congregations, provide, on average, almost 10.5 times the social and economic benefit that taxation would provide.
Staggering National Figures
A previous Cardus study estimated that Canada’s religious congregations collectively have a Halo Effect of about $18.2 billion annually. With the Halo Effect being 10.47 times greater than tax exemptions and credits, Canadian congregations’ tax exemptions would come to about $1.7 billion. This means religious congregations make a net positive $16.5 billion socio-economic contribution to Canada.
Taxing Congregations Hurts Everyone If religious congregations had to pay taxes or couldn’t issue charitable tax receipts, their Halo Effect would likely shrink. Every tax dollar a congregation paid would leave less money available for the social and economic benefits they provide. And if congregations’ Halo Effect shrank by more than 10%, the economic loss to our communities and neighbourhoods would outweigh the increase in government revenue.
“Most of what churches and other religious congregations do can’t be measured in dollars and cents,” says Dr. Richmond. “How can you place a dollar figure on ethical teaching or on helping people find ultimate meaning? But many of their activities do have a dollar value, which is worth more than any revenue governments could raise by taxing religious congregations.”
Why Religious Tax Exemptions Benefit All Canadians is freely available for download on the Cardus website. www.cardus.ca
Why exactly do we have to die?
Christmas marks the beginning of Christ’s victory over death.
The Lord warned Adam that if he ate from a particular tree, he would be subject to death (Genesis 2:17). And because he disobeyed God, he introduced death into the world as a punishment for his sin (Genesis 3:19).
People who do not accept the Bible’s explanation for why death was introduced into God’s perfect creation, cannot provide an ultimate or even intellectually satisfactory reason. Instead, they postulate proximate, and simplistic, reasons such as:
• It is a law of the universe that every living thing must age and die.
• Living things fall apart and can’t make adequate repairs.
• Cells fail to make accurate copies. The failure can be attributed to the presence of radiation or oxidizing free radicals.
• Infectious diseases, cancer, physical system decay, and accidents cause living entities to die.
• Organisms have evolved a minimum design that allows them to survive only long enough to reproduce; beyond that survival is dumb luck.
• Natural selection acts on individuals at the reproductive stage of life; there is no genetic advantage to an individual that can last longer.
• It is difficult to evolve an organism that can last forever, so it hasn’t happened yet— at least not on the earth.
• Species that do not die and get replaced cannot evolve. Species that evolve will outlast species that don’t.
• “Death is very likely the single best invention of life. It is life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new.” (Steve Jobs)
When pressed, materialistic naturalists admit that the evolutionary origin of aging and death is an unexplained phenomenon of biology. No philosophical inquiry, religious myth, or scientific theory can explain the origin of death or provide an adequate reason
for death’s existence without incorporating the Bible’s explanation.
God informs us in the Bible that death is unnatural; it is an enemy that must be conquered (1 Corinthians 15:26). Death is a separation of two things which should not be separated, and which destroys an essential unity. Adam died spiritually (Ephesians 2:1) when he ate the forbidden fruit and the relationship of trust between himself and God was shattered. Also, he became mortal and subject to the power of death, and the process of physical decay—as God had said, “dying you shall die” (Genesis 2:17). He eventually died physically (Genesis 5:5).
Sinful men dread death, even if they pretend otherwise. They know in the recesses of their minds that at physical death they will not pass into endless sleep or cease to exist.
“When pressed, materialistic naturalists admit that the evolutionary origin of aging and death is an unexplained phenomenon of biology.”
They know that they will have to face God and be held accountable for their actions (Hebrews 9:27). So, they try to postpone death however they can—taking vitamins, exercising regularly, transplanting body organs, or undergoing rejuvenation therapy.
In contrast, someone trusting in the substitutionary atonement of Jesus does not need to fear death. He can live with the assurance that physical death is not the end of his existence or even of physical life. He knows that God plans to restore the created order (2 Peter 3:13), that he will participate in the resurrection and be given an immortal body (1 Corinthians 15:35–49), and that he will never be subject to death again (Revelation 21:4). It is ironic that so many fear death and do much to postpone it when there is a simple solution to the problem of death—believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall have eternal life (John 3:16).
Access Creation Ministries International’s website, at www.creation.com, to learn more from our articles and videos, or to request a speaker for your church.
Redeemer University launches new Bachelor of Health Sciences degree program
Redeemer University has launched a Bachelor of Health Sciences (B.HSc.) program, with an interdisciplinary approach that incorporates coursework from disciplines such as biology, chemistry, public health, psychology and sociology.
The new degree credential builds on the currently offered Bachelor of Science - Professional Stream. Graduates of the B.HSc. program can pursue a wide range of career paths in healthcare, research, academia, public health, policy-making and more, leading to increased employment opportunities and contributing to the workforce needs of the healthcare industry.
“The healthcare landscape is constantly evolving, with new challenges and opportunities emerging regularly,” says Dr. Peter Neumann, vice-president, academic. “The newly launched Bachelor of Health Sciences program will help Redeemer adapt to these changes and provide relevant education and training to students entering the healthcare field.”
The B.HSc. is the fourth new degree to be announced at Redeemer since the university gained expanded degree-granting authority in 2020. It joins a diverse group of new degrees that include a Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Kinesiology and Bachelor of Communications and Media Studies. The B.HSc. will replace the current Honours Bachelor of Science - Professional Stream and will be offered alongside the Honours Bachelor of Science - Pre-medicine, which will continue to offer rigorous preparation for entry to
graduate studies and professional schools, such as dentistry, nursing, medical schools and more.
“Offering the new Bachelor of Health Sciences will provide a competitive option for Christian students looking to enter careers in health fields,” says Dr. Edward Berkelaar, associate dean of natural sciences and mathematics. “Integrating faith into the Bachelor of Health Sciences will prepare students to reflect the love of Jesus Christ in these in-demand careers.”
www.redeemer.ca
Movies
This month two films of particular interest to Christians will hit theatres. Angel Studios’ Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. is scheduled to open in select theatres on Friday, December 6. The film explores German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who must choose between upholding his moral convictions or risking it all to save millions of Jews from genocide. Cineplex theatres in the GTA will also show for King + Country’s A Drummer Boy Christmas LIVE, starting December 15 for a limited run. The concert was filmed during the largest ‘A Drummer Boy Christmas’ tour to date in front of a high energy, sold out arena crowd of 12,000+ in Houston, Texas.
Music
The Toronto Mass Choir announcing it will not be presenting its Power Up Gospel Music Conference next year, pausing to rest and reflect. GMA Canada has teased some ‘big news’ coming soon, alongside an announcement that the 2025 Covenant Awards will be held April 25-26 in Winnipeg.
‘The Israel Dilemma’ film ties Scripture, archeological evidence to modern-day strife
by Diana Chandler
Defending itself against Iran, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu noted the nation of God’s chosen people is at war on seven fronts, not only against Iran, but also Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, terrorists in the West Bank and Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria.
Are there biblical prophecies – along with corroborating archeological evidence – foretelling the nation’s predicament?
That is the answer investigative Christian filmmaker Tim Mahoney sets out to answer in “Patterns of Evidence: The Israel Dilemma – Ancient Prophecies.”
For Mahoney, the Israel dilemma is three-pronged.
“The dilemma is Israel, whether they realize it or not, they’re in a covenant with God. It’s a dilemma for the Jewish people to understand what does it mean to be in covenant with God,” Mahoney told Baptist Press.
“No. 2, are they in a dilemma politically when it comes to war, because they’re surrounded by these nations that want them to be completely annihilated?
“No. 3 the world, I believe, is going to be facing an Israel dilemma,” he said. “Are the Scriptures true? Zechariah (12:3) says for example, the nations will surround Jerusalem and injure themselves trying to move it. How do we respond to these people? What do we do?”
Personal Interviews
In the documentary, Mahoney interviews theologians and scholars including Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Professor of Old Testament Interpretation Peter Gentry, national leaders including Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israel President Shimon Peres, archaeologists and others.
Opening with Israel’s current wars and conflicts, the film explores Israel’s claim to the land and delves into the history, looking at Scripture, tracing archeological evidence of God’s written Word, and tying Scripture to historical patterns already seen.
Exploring the covenant with Israel
The film explores five parts of God’s covenant with Israel, Mahoney said, expressly the promise of a Kingdom, the promises of blessings with obedience and cursings with disobedience, the prophecy that Israel would break the covenant thereby causing their kingdom to be destroyed, the promise that Israel would be scattered and the promise of inherent persecution.
“But then God is merciful and I think this is the message to all of us. He’s not going to break His covenant,” Mahoney said, referencing Scripture of God gathering the Israelites from the land of their enemies and restoring them to their homeland.
“So we end up seeing that this pattern is then prophesied,” he said, “and we find the evidence for it, powerful evidence, and we see that God is a God (who) keeps His word. He tells us what He’s going to do. … God is telling us that He’s outside of time and space.”
The Israel Dilemma examines Israel’s history from Genesis 1 through 536 B.C. when Israel returned from Babylonian exile to rebuild the temple, Mahoney said, with a second
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film planned to examine the 2000 years of Israel’s being scattered and persecuted.
“When we started to investigate this film,” Mahoney said, “we could see that this pattern has happened twice. These films are basically showing that God keeps His Word, and these prophesies are being fulfilled in a remarkable way.”
While a third film is not yet planned, Mahoney believes such a film will likely be needed to examine Israel’s response to the Messiah.
Endorsement
Noted international Bible teacher and Billy Graham’s daughter Anne Graham Lotz, describes the film as “a riveting blend of history, archeology, drama, and investigative narration that is spellbinding.”
“Truly, Tim Mahoney has created a superb film that is a must-see for Jews, Christians, Bible critics, and prophecy skeptics,” she said in endorsing the work. “I give it my applause and full endorsement.”
The Israel Dilemma was in nearly 500 U.S. theaters last month, but is now available on DVD/Blu-Ray and Digital Download.
Mahoney also promotes the film as a neutral way to share the Bible with those less prone to accept an invitation to church.
“It’s important for the biblical stories to be in the public, I believe,” he said. “Having the theater showings is also a way for you, the audience, to invite people. Many people might not go to a church, but they will go to a movie.”
Additional information is available at the Patterns of Evidence Foundation including a companion Bible study.
www.patternsofevidence.com/israel
Diana Chandler is the senior writer for Baptist Press.
The Messiah of Handel
Toronto Symphony Orchestra to present beloved oratorio this month
Beethoven once said: “Handel was the greatest composer that ever lived. I would uncover my head and kneel before his tomb.” King George III called Handel “the Shakespeare of Music.” George Bernard Shaw commented that “Handel is not a mere composer in England: he is an institution. What is more, he is a sacred institution.”
In North America and England, at the very least, Handel’s Messiah has become the most popular performed, recorded and listened to choral work. Many people stereotype Handel’s Messiah as Christmas music. For Handel, the Messiah was an Easter event that told not merely of birth, but also of death and resurrection.
Early talent
George Friedrich Handel was born in Halle, Germany within a month of Johanne Sebastian Bach (1685). Handel’s father was a barber-surgeon who hated music and wanted his son to become a successful lawyer. His aunt Anna gave Handel a spinet harpsichord that they hid in Handel’s attic, wrapping each string with thin strips of cloth, so that Handel could play undetected.
When Handel was eight or nine, the Duke of Weissenfels heard him play the postlude to a church service. The Duke summoned the boy’s father and told him he ought to encourage such talent. His only teacher was Friedrich Wilhelm Zachow, a most learned and imaginative musician and teacher, who instilled in his young pupil a lifelong intellectual curiosity. At age 11, Handel entered a musical contest at the Berlin court of the Elector with the famous composer Buononcini, and won.
A move to England from Germany
When Handel moved to England in 1712, it was a beehive of musical activity with Italian opera ruling the day. Within the next thirty-year period in England, Handel wrote about 40 operas and 26 oratorios. He did not play to easy audiences. If opera attendees felt bored in Handel’s day, they would often start loud conversations, and walk around freely. It was also a custom for them to play cards and eat snacks during the opera.
Jane Smith & Betty Carlson wrote,
by Rev. Dr. Ed & Janice Hird
Handel “…was an inviting target for critics and for satire. He was a foreigner, and an individual no one could help noticing. He had large hands, large feet, a large appetite, and he wore a huge white wig with curls rippling over his shoulders. Handel spoke English rather loudly in a colourful blending of Italian, German, and French. He was temperamental, he loved freedom, and he hated restrictions placed on his art…”
Charles Burney, who later sang and played under him, told how Handel once raged at him when he made a mistake, “a circumstance very terrific to a young musician.” But when Handel found that his mistake was caused by a copying error, he apologized generously (“I pec your parton – I am a very odd tog”, he said in Germanic English).
Struggles
Handel also struggled with his weight, a
problem about which critics mercilessly teased him. As Romain Rolland has tried to explain it: “He was surrounded by a crowd of bulldogs with terrible fangs, by unmusical men of letters who were likewise able to bite, by jealous colleagues, arrogant virtuosos, cannibalistic theatrical companies, fashionable cliques, feminine plots, and nationalistic leagues…Twice he was bankrupt, and once he was stricken by apoplexy amid the ruin of his company. But he always found his feet again; he never gave in.”
The situation was so bleak in 1741 that just before he wrote the Messiah, he had seriously considered going back to Germany. But instead of giving up, he turned more strongly to God. Handel composed the Messiah in 24 days without once leaving his house. During this time, his servant brought him food, and when he returned, the meal was often left uneaten. While writing the “Hallelujah Chorus”, his servant discovered him with tears in his eyes. He exclaimed, “I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and
the great God Himself!!”
Destined to become one of the greatest As Newman Flower observes, “Considering the immensity of the work, and the short time involved in putting it to paper, it will remain, perhaps forever, the greatest feat in the whole history of musical composition.”
At a Messiah performance in 1759, honouring his seventy-fourth birthday, Handel responded to enthusiastic applause with these words: “Not from me – but from Heaven comes all.” In his last years he worshipped twice every day at St. George’s Church, Hanover Square, near his home.
The Messiah was first performed in Dublin in 1742, and immediately won huge popular success. In order to have room enough for the people a request was sent far and wide, asking, “The favour of the Ladies not to come with hoops this day to the Music Hall in Fishamble Street. The Gentlemen
Continued on next page
Just before Christmas, Conductor Jean-Sébastien Vallée will lead the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the vibrant voices of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir (pictured) along with four outstanding soloists in a resplendent rendition of Handel’s beloved oratorio. [www.tso.ca]
MUSIC
Handel’s Messiah -
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are desired to come without their swords.”
This is how the Dublin Newspaper reported the event: “…The best Judges allowed it to be the most finished work of Musick. Words are wanting to express the exquisite Delight it afforded to the admiring crowded Audience. The Sublime, the Grand, and the Tender, adapted to the most elevated, majestic, and moving Words, conspired to transport and charm the ravished Heart and Ear…” Handel could have made a financial killing from the Messiah, but instead he designated that all the proceeds would go to charities.
In contrast to the Irish, the English did not initially like the Messiah. This oratorio, after all, had no story. The soloists had too little to do, and the chorus too much. It was different, and the audience wasn’t ready for it. Jennens who wrote the script didn’t like it either. He commented: “Handel’s Messiah has disappointed me, being set in great haste, though he said he would be a year about it and make it the best of all his Compositions. I shall put no more Sacred Works into his
hands, thus to be abused.”
Twenty-five years later, Handel’s Messiah was so popular with the English that they almost rioted, while waiting to hear it at Westminster Abbey. People screamed, as they feared being trampled. Others fainted. Some threatened to break down the church doors.
The Bible in the theatre!
Handel’s use of biblical words in a theatre was revolutionary, and those who opposed him went to great extremes to keep his oratorios from being successful. For example, certain self-righteous women gave large teas or sponsored other theatrical performances on the days when Handel’s concerts were to take place in order to rob him of an audience. As well, his enemies hired boys to tear down the advertisements about Handel’s Messiah. One opponent wrote to a newspaper asking, “if the Playhouse is a fit Temple…or a Company of Players fit Ministers of God’s Word.” This person saw the Messiah as “prostituting sacred things to the perverse humour of a Set of obstinate people.”
In contrast, the famous preacher John Wesley liked Handel’s Messiah. He wrote:
“In many parts, especially several of the choruses, it exceeded my expectation.” One clergy, William Hanbury, in 1759 said that you could hardly find an eye without tears in the whole audience.
The tradition of standing for the Hallelujah Chorus
King George II of England was so deeply stirred with the exultant music, that when the first hallelujah rang through the hall, he rose to his feet and remained standing until the last note of the chorus echoed through the house. From this began the custom of standing for the Hallelujah Chorus. When a nobleman praised Handel as to how entertaining the Messiah was, Handel replied, “My Lord, I should be sorry if I only entertained them; I wished to make them better.” What is it about the Messiah that makes it so popular? Many scholars point to the spaciousness in Handel’s music, the dramatic silences, and the stirring contrast. In his biography Stanley Sadie commented that the music of Handel’s, is a blend of different styles: English church music (especially the choruses), the German Passion-music tradition, the Italian melodic style. In fact, three
of the choruses are arranged from Italian love-duets which Handel had written thirty years before.
In 1759 the almost blind Handel conducted a series of 10 concerts. After performing the Messiah, he told some friends that he had one desire – to die on Good Friday. “I want to die on Good Friday,” he said, “in the hope of rejoining the good God, my sweet Lord and Saviour, on the day of His resurrection.”
On Good Friday, he bid good-bye to his friends and died the very next day on Holy Saturday, April 14, 1759. Handel was fittingly buried in Poet’s Corner at Westminster Abbey. A close friend of Handel’s, James Smyth, said: “Handel died as he lived – as a good Christian, with a true sense of his duty to God and man, and in perfect charity with all the world…”
May the words and music of Handel’s Messiah help us experience the intimacy of Handel’s relationship with His Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.
The TSO will present renditions of Handel’s Messiah from Sun, Dec 17 to Sun, Dec 22, 2024 at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall. For tickets or more information, visit www.TSO.ca
Interpersonal Relationships in a Scrambled World
An interview with Dr. Terence C. Young
One of the greatest investments in yourself and your future that you can make is to look for two or three people you feel you can trust and begin to commit to a deeper level of communication, thus sharing your thoughts, business dreams, praying together and doing life together.
Terry Young has some valuable insights on building DEPTH of relationship, which he identifies as the key distinction between biblically focused friendships and secular relationships.
Henry Cloud, in his book The Power of Other strongly recommends that we find, shape and nurture a small band of trustworthy brothers and sisters as a leadership priority. That is how intimacy grows, and leaders flourish in their ability to build others up and intentionally touch the lives of others with God’s favour and encouragement.
Terry’s story
Raised in a pastor’s home, Terry spent thirty years as a pastor himself, plus nine years as a professor of Pastoral Theology at Ambrose University. After observing how students struggled with discerning healthy interpersonal relationships, he decided to write a book.
This led to publishing Base Camp Manifesto: How a Secure Base Can Save Your Life and Leadership in a Scrambled World. Terry outlines four major benefits in building
by Nancy Kingdon
strong interpersonal relationships, namely: clarity, agility, durability and generativity.
Clarity results in less confusion. Agility produces freedom from carrying backpack loads of guilt, shame, regrets, and unforgiveness. Durability deepens through connections. Generativity is the opposite of degenerativity. For example, when a leader uses influence and power for goodness, justice, righteousness, abundant life happens. People are blessed and lives flourish in a generative direction. Whereas abuse of power, and the need to control others for personal gain, ignites degenerate outcomes.
Terry’s face lit up as he shared an early story about Lloyd Matheson, before he became CEO of Cooperators Insurance.
Longshoremen between Halifax and St Johns liked working alone, and did not seem interested in the co-op Lloyd was offering. One day, as was his daily habit, Lloyd cheerfully greeted a short, very stocky local switchboard operator, thanked her with a smile and overlooked her gruff, abrupt way of speaking to customers. No one liked her. But she warmed up to Lloyd because of his smile. When asked why he treated her differently from the way others treated her, Lloyd said he believed everyone was made in God’s image, and therefore deserved to be treated with kindness, respect and digni-
Senior Consultant, CREST Leadership
ty. He tried to live this way.
One day in early spring, this lady beckoned Lloyd over, saying: “There’s a delivery truck here with bait for the whole season of fishing, but no one from fisheries has arrived to meet him. He’s ready to leave,” she said. “Do you want to talk to him?” she added, an unexpected wink in her eye.
Lloyd went downstairs to meet the driver and immediately bought his entire shipment of bait. He then picked up the phone to invite a dozen longshoremen to come to unload the bait. That season was special because the longshoremen had a three day start on the fishing season, ahead of the huge local fisheries plant. That fisheries plant may have lost millions. But the little business longshoremen profited mightily and also joined together as a co-op. This led to the start-up of the Cooperators Insurance company, close to seventy years ago, that Lloyd eventually led as CEO.
In conclusion, relationship building matters. Since the quality of our relationships can be directly translated into the quality of our leadership, it is imperative to carefully select our friends and close connections. Are these people trustworthy, spiritually mature, courageous? How robust is each relationship? Will they help to carry us, in times of anxiety and fear?
In today’s explosive world of social media, there’s a crisis growing: people are hungry for truth and meaningful relation-
ships, longing for stronger intimacy and trust in their interpersonal relationships. Fortunately, the Bible teaches us that having a strong relationship with Jesus and developing faithful, and trustworthy personal relationships with mature Christians deepens our capacity to be fruitful as leadership kingdom builders.
Biblical Principles Explored....
• Look for imperatives on how to relate with one another. For example, love one another (John 13:34); encourage and build one another up (1 Thessalonians 5:11); forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32); confess our sins to one another (James 5:16); teach and admonish one another (Colossians 3:16); plus over 40 additional passages to build relationships of trust with one another.
• The Power of Two is taught in Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12. Note two is better than one because two produce a good return on labour, they help one another, and keep one another warm in cold climates.
Nancy Kingdon is the story writer for the Canadian Christian Business Federation. This column is part of a series of interviews with Business leaders on living out Biblical Leadership Principles. www.ccbf.org
by Floyd A. Brobbel
COMMUNITY CALENDAR Christian HERALD
Greater Toronto’s most comprehensive guide to Christian events
BOOKSTORE |BUSINESS | CONCERTS
&
MUSIC | CONFERENCES/MEETINGS | MOVIES | PRAYER | SUPPORT GROUPS | WOMEN
BOOKSTORE
Christmas Night Out
Thursday, December 16, 2024; 6:00-8:00pm Christmas Card Crafting, Charcuterie, and Christmas Carols. Create 3D Christmas cardwhile listening to Christmas carols. Snacks will be provided. Held at the Canadian Bible Society Bookstore, 10 Carnforth Road, Toronto. To register visit www.bit.ly/4fTM19b, or email torstore@biblesociety.ca.
BUSINESS
Canadian Christian Business Federation Monthly Morning Meetings
Local chapters of The Canadian Christian Business Federation host monthly morning breakfast meetings for Christian business and professional leaders, men and women, in select Southern Ontario cities. For more information, or to inquire about starting a CCBF chapter in your community, visit www.ccbf.org.
CONCERTS & MUSIC
Gospel Music Industry Hub
Mondays; 7:00pm
GMI Hub Online is a weekly meeting and webcast of panel meetings with successful gospel music industry leaders discussing the state of the gospel arts industry and sharing their experiences and knowledge. www.gmihub.ca.
The River Worship - Season 11
Tuesdays @ 7:00pm, starting January 14th! Midweek worship has arrived in the Durham Region! You’ll find us at the Canada Christian College auditorium, 300 Water Street, Whitby. The River exists so you can come before God in the middle of the week, leave everything else at the door, and encounter Him in a personal and meaningful way. Expect to hear your favourite current worship songs and get ready to worship. Things might get a little loud! www.theriverworship.ca.
Whitby Christian Coffeehouse Saturdays; 7:30-9:30pm
The Coffee House is an outreach ministry of Durham Full Gospel Church focused on spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was established over thirty-eight years ago and is still going strong. Halfway through the evening there is a 15-minute break for refreshments
and fellowship. Each night there is a different Christian group ministering through songs and testimonies of what the Lord has done in their lives. Held at 419 Brock St North, Whitby. For the current schedule of performing artists, visit www.durhamfullgospelchurch.org
A Gospel Jazz Christmas featuring Toronto Mass Choir and Mike Janzen Trio
Thursday, December 12, 2024; 7:30pm Immerse yourself in the unique musical celebration of “A Gospel Jazz Christmas” featuring the acclaimed Toronto Mass Choir and the electrifying Mike Janzen Trio. Join us at Toronto’s prestigious Koerner Hall for an unforgettable evening of soulful gospel, artful song and grooving jazz. The Toronto Mass Choir, known for its powerful performances and inspirational messages, will blend their harmonious voices with the genre bending, innovative music stylings of the Mike Janzen Trio. Together, they will create a festive atmosphere that captures the spirit of Christmas, bringing together elements of gospel, pop and jazz in a way that is uplifting, inspiring and accessible. www.mikejanzentrio.com.
Christmas at The River
Saturday, December 14, 2024; 7:30pm Christmas at The River is always one of the GTA’s favourite events. This year will be extra special! Join us for your favourite Christmas carols, candle lighting and of course, worship! Special guest, Mark Masri of The Tenors will be joining The River Worship for an unforgettable evening. The General Admission ticket at $20 includes a gift as we are giving FREE Christmas Ornaments to the first 1,000 guests! Hot Chocolate will also be served in the lobby after the service. The VIP ticket at $50 includes all GA perks as well as reserved seating in the first five rows, reserved parking spots next to the entrance, early red carpet access, AND an exclusive Christmas at The River T-Shirt! Bring the whole family to celebrate the Gift of Christmas. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. This ticket serves as a donation to make the next Season possible. www.theriverworship.ca.
Messiah
Dec 17-24, 2024
Rejoice greatly! Jean-Sébastien Vallée leads your TSO and the vibrant voices of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir along with four outstanding soloists in a resplendent rendition of Handel’s beloved oratorio. Gather friends and family for Toronto’s grand musical holiday tradition—a
majestic performance that will leave you singing “Hallelujah!” At Roy Thompson Hall, Toronto. www.tso.ca.
CONFERENCES/MEETINGS
Christian Heritage Month
Flag Raising Ceremony & Celebration
Sunday, December 1, 2024
Flag Raising 3:00-4:00pm Celebration 4:15pm
Flag Raising Ceremony will take place at Brampton City Hall (2 Wellington Street West, Brampton) Afterward, join us for a special celebration featuring worship, celebration, inspiring speakers, leaders, officials, flag raising, and proclamation, at the nearby Rose Theatre (1 Theatre Lane, Brampton.) Fellowship and refreshments will follow after 6:00pm. This event is free, but please reserve your spot today to ensure your attendance. For more information or to register, visit www.christianheritagemonth.org. Contact us at christianheritagemonth@gmail.com or call 647-800-7350.
The 2024 Oakville Prayer Breakfast Wednesday, December 4, 2024; 6:330am
The OPB is thrilled to welcome 2024’s special guest, President of Health Partners International, Lois Brown. Please join us for breakfast, prayer, inspirational worship and fellowship as we enter the advent season! Tickets: $40., Table of 10: $400. For more information visit: www.oakvilleprayerbreakfast.com.
Canadian Church Research Gathering December 12-13, 2024
Sponsored by the Canadian Institute for Empirical Church Research. Join us for a day of insightful discussions and networking with fellow church researchers on trends in the Canadian church. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals passionate about church research, data-informed decision making and opportunities for mission. Whether you’re a seasoned researcher, denominational leader or just starting out, this event is perfect for anyone interested in exploring the latest trends and findings in Canadian church research. At Wycliffe College, 5 Hoskin Street, Toronto. www.ciecr.wycliffecollege.ca.
Envision Pastors & Leaders Conference February 3-6, 2025
A unique Christian leadership conference streamed from Israel. Your invitation to be enriched, envisioned, and empowered. Meet
like-minded church and ministry leaders from around the world; Hear from proven Christian leaders about finding direction from God in times of crisis; Learn more about Israel’s amazing modern-day restoration; Engage with Israeli officials, community leaders, and Messianic and Arab pastors; Pray with church leaders from Israel and around the world. Register for this online conference at www.icej.ca.
The 2025 Toronto Prayer Breakfast Tuesday, March 4, 2025; 7:00-9:00am
The Toronto Prayer Breakfast provides an opportunity for Churches and Christian organizations to join with the business community, government leaders and local citizens, in prayer, fellowship, Christian love and shared faith. Keynote speaker: Richard Long of One Way Ministries. Worship: Martine Kelsey. Tickets: $49. Table of 10: $450. Tickets and tables available online. New for 2025: New location at Parkview Manor in Don Mills! www.torontoprayerbreakfast.com.
MOVIES
Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. In theatres starting Friday, December 6 As the world teeters on the brink of annihilation, Dietrich Bonhoeffer is swept into the epicenter of a deadly plot to assassinate Hitler. With his faith and fate at stake, Bonhoeffer must choose between upholding his moral convictions or risking it all to save millions of Jews from genocide. Will his shift from preaching peace to plotting murder alter the course of history or cost him everything?
www.angel.com/movies/bonhoeffer.
for King + Country’s
A Drummer Boy Christmas LIVE Sunday, December 15, 2024
Embrace the most wonderful time of the year with the holiday event of the season – for King + Country’s A Drummer Boy Christmas LIVE | The Cinematic Concert Experience!’ Step into the Christmas spirit like never before as 4x GRAMMY-award winning brothers Joel + Luke Smallbone lead audiences on a sonic journey that blends the sights and sounds of the season with the musical mastery, heartwarming storytelling, and dazzling production the duo is renowned for. Filmed during their largest ‘A Drummer Boy Christmas’ tour to date in front of a high energy, sold out arena crowd of 12,000+ in Houston, TX, the festive phenomenon features never-before-seen live performance footage
To list your event for free in the Community Calendar, format your listing exactly as those on this page and email it to us at
info@christianherald.ca. Submissions which are incorrectly formatted may not be published. All submissions are subject to space and taste considerations. Christian Herald reserves the right to decide what is appropriate, and may edit submissions. Placement in the Community Calendar is NOT guaranteed. All persons and organizations submitting events to the Community Calendar must agree with the Statement of Faith as found on our website at www.christianherald.ca. Events sponsored by churches which distribute Christian Herald will be given priority. Your calendar listing must reach Christian Herald by the 20th of the month preceding the issue in which you would like it to be printed. (For example, the listing must arrive by the 20th of October to be included in the November issue.)
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
and breathtaking views from A Drummer Boy Christmas. www.cineplex.com.
PRAYER
24 Hour Worshippers Toronto Monthly
The mission of 24HW is to exalt God through worship and prayer as one body, while standing in the gap for the city, the country and the church. Worship and prayer teams from congregations in Toronto take 2-hour slots and pray through a weekend each month, starting on Friday at 7:00pm and running for 24 hours. www.24hourworshippers.com.
SUPPORT GROUPS
Alpha
Alpha is an 11-week course that creates a space, online or in person, where people are excited to bring their friends for a conversation about life, faith and Jesus. The same Alpha content is run all over the world, by Christians of all traditions, and provides a common expression of faith. Over 1 million people in Canada have experienced Alpha, and millions more have taken Alpha in over 100 countries and over 100 languages around the globe. Find a local Alpha course at www.alphacanada.org.
DivorceCare
DivorceCare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. Don’t go through
separation or divorce alone. Find a local group at www.divorcecare.org.
DivorceCare for Kids (DC4K)
Are your children angry, hurt, and confused about your separation or divorce? A DivorceCare for Kids (DC4K) support group is a safe, fun place where your children can learn skills that will help them heal. DC4K groups blend, games, music, stories, videos and discussion to help kids process the divorce and move forward. Groups meet weekly and are designed for children ages 5-12. Find a group at www.dc4k.org.
DivorceCare - Surviving the Holidays
Various GTA locations and dates
After separation or divorce, your holidays won’t look the same as they used to. Traditions change. Some family members won’t be there. Social gatherings can feel stressful. DivorceCare Surviving the Holidays can help! It’s a 2-hour seminar that includes a video, sharing time, and a “Survival Guide” filled with tips and encouragement for managing the holidays after separation and divorce. www.divorcecare.org/holidays.
GriefShare
GriefShare is a weekly support group for those facing the loss of a loved one through death. You will be most welcomed into a warm caring environment in which you can receive hope and encouragement by relating to others who are facing similar emotions. Find a local GriefShare group at www.griefshare.org.
GriefShare - Surviving the Holidays
Various GTA locations and dates
Facing this season while grieving can sometimes feel like taking one step forward and two steps back. Holiday traditions have changed. Social events are draining. Sights, songs & smells trigger emotions. Like a trusted guide, a 2-hour GriefShare Surviving the Holidays event will prepare you to navigate the season’s changes. www.holidays.griefshare.org.
Parents of Human Trafficking Victims: Online Support Group
First and Third Thursdays, 7:00-9:00 pm (Family members suffer greatly when a loved one becomes entangled in the sex trade. If you are a parent or family member of a young person exploited in this way, we offer a safe space for you to be understood. Zoom in or meet with us in person to process your feelings without fear of judgment. We also work with families, individually, to bring an end to the exploitation. Parents Hope is part of the Christian ministry of Lifeworthy - SIM Canada. For more info, please email Lynda at parents.hope@lifeworthy. ca or visit: www.lifeworthy.ca.
Pure Desire
Pure Desire Ministries International is a biblically-based and clinically-informed ministry committed to true revival in the church through the healing of the present day epidemic of sexual brokenness. Pure Desire groups offer a roadmap to recovery from sexual addiction, betrayal, and relationship issues by providing a safe, confidential place to process your life
story: learning how family of origin, traumatic experiences, and wounding messages impact relationships. www.puredesire.org/join-a-group.
Sharing The Burden
There is Hope! Come and take life-healing steps. Addiction, anxiety, depression, co-dependency. Don’t be alone with it any longer. Group support, all welcome. email: scott@sharingtheburden.ca or visit www.sharingtheburdenradio.org.
WOMEN
Moms in the Making
Christian Infertility Support Group
First and Third Tuesdays; 7:00pm
Moms in the Making exists to support and encourage women on their journey to becoming a mom by sharing the hope and truth of God’s Word. One way we accomplish this mission is by hosting in-person groups, which meet twice a month as we together focus on scripture and our hope in Jesus. Moms in the Making groups are for married women who, in partnership with their husband, are looking to expand their family. Whether you are taking a natural approach or pursuing treatments, adoption, foster care or a different route, you are welcome. The Newmarket, Ontario group which meets at 7pm on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month. www.momsinthemaking.com/canada.
Finding the right Bible
As the month of December draws to a close, thoughts turn to resolutions for a New Year. Many Christians find themselves looking for a new Bible, hoping to spend more time in God’s Word, especially as our world gets more turbulent by the day.
Among Christians, discussions about Bible translations can get heated quickly. Understanding of the Scriptures determines a Christian’s worldview, which is basically your operating system for living. That worldview often shapes your politics, and your approach to culture. Discussing which Bible translation to choose among a group of believers can be like discussing Mac vs. PC, liberal vs. conservative, and American football vs. soccer, all at once.
Since the earliest days of the faith, the precepts of Christianity have been passed down from teacher to student, pastor to congregation. Often, the older generation is more familiar with a well-worn translation, and suspicious of new ones with which they are less familiar.
The translation explosion
In recent days, the pace of new English translation has accelerated greatly. Centuries, even decades ago, one would have to quite a bit of travelling to personally view manuscripts, ancient prayer books, and inscriptions on artifacts in preparation for a new Bible translation. Translators from a wide variety of Christian denominations and universities would need to be consulted in person and deliberations about word choices and styling took years of effort.
By contrast, today’s Bible translators can open a laptop computer, search a database for a particular scripture passage, and every known artifact and manuscript associated with that verse instantly appears right in front of them. Paired with the increase in modern communication options, new translation efforts now take a small fraction of the time as before to get to market.
Copyright law and royalty issues are also driving some translation efforts. And there
are concerns about the methods of translation - whether a particular translation is more ‘word-for-word’ or ‘thought for thought’
‘Word-for word’ Bible translations are often viewed as closest to the original text. ‘Thought-for-thought’ translations are generally easier to read, but occasionally add words that are not found in the original text. In reality, almost all major translations use a blend of the two methods.
Textual differences
The King James Version (KJV) was the standard translation for Protestant North America from the mid-17th to the early 20th century.
The global nature of the British Empire ensured that the KJV was ensconced throughout the world. Many common English language phrases are taken directly from the KJV. Some Christians believe this embedding of the KJV across the planet offers a partial fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to the Church of Philadelphia in Revelation 3:8: “See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.”
The widespread acceptance of the KJV around the world has fueled a KJV-only movement that rejects most newer translations as inferior, with conspiracy theories about corrupted sources being spread.
The fact is that in the last 500 years, the field of Biblical archeology has made huge advances, and we are also blessed to live in a time when the three major branches of Christianity--Protestant, Catholic and Orthodox--all get along well enough to share manuscript evidence.
As such, ancient manuscripts from individual branches can be compared with each other. Through the science of textual criticism, Biblical scholars can detect when and where minor copying and translation errors entered the major manuscript families.
This is why modern translations have notes acknowledging small differences between the various manuscript families. And in a very few cases, sentences and words
that were determined to have been copied in error have been removed. (For example, a medieval scribe may have accidentally written a sentence in the wrong place, and that error was repeated in hundreds of later manuscripts.)
These textual comparisons often get a lot of press for the very few and minor scribal errors found, but the whole process has served to only strengthen the case that the Holy Scriptures we have are practically identical to the ones in the earliest days of Christianity.
From the time of the early Church in the Book of Acts, Christians have written, quoted, sung and engraved the scriptures on just about every medium they could find. This Christian predilection for incessant Bible quoting has driven non-believers crazy for two millennia. But it has served to embed the Bible for all time: Even if every complete ancient manuscript suddenly disappeared from the earth, the New Testament could be completely recovered from fragments of prayer books, artwork, jewellry, early Church letters, hymnals, and the like.
Bible purchase considerations
• Plain Text or Study Bible (with notes)
• Hardcover, Leather or Bonded Leather
Study Bible examples
• NIV Study Bible
• ESV Study Bible
• NIV Life Application Study Bible
• NKJV Study Bible
• NLT Student Life Application Study Bible
Men’s Study Bible examples
• Rooted: The NIV Bible for Men
• CSB He Reads Truth Bible
Women’s Study Bible examples
• Flourish: The NIV Bible for Women
• CSB She Reads Truth Bible
Children’s Study Bible examples
• NIV, Adventure Bible
• CSB Explorer Bible for Kids
• ESV Holy Bible for Kids
Bible Translation Roundup
NIV
The New International Version (NIV) is a translation of the Bible into contemporary English. Published by Biblica, the complete NIV was released in 1978 with a minor revision in 1984 and a major revision in 2011.
KJV
The King James Version (KJV) was commissioned in 1604 and first published in 1611. Noted for its “majesty of style”, the King James Version has been described as one of the most important books in English culture and a driving force in the shaping of the English-speaking world.
CSB
The Christian Standard Bible (CSB) was published by Holman Bible Publishers as the successor to the Holman Christian Standard Bible. Work on the CSB was completed in June 2016, with the first full edition released in March 2017.
ESV
The English Standard Version (ESV) was published by Crossway in 2001. Created by a team of more than 100 leading evangelical scholars and pastors, the ESV Bible emphasizes word-for-word accuracy, literary excellence, and depth of meaning.
NLT
The New Living Translation (NLT) was published in 1996 by Tyndale House Foundation. The origin of the very easyto-read NLT came from a project aiming to revise The Living Bible - a Modern English paraphrase.
NKJV
In 1975, Thomas Nelson Publishers commissioned 130 of the most esteemed Bible scholars, church leaders, and lay Christians to produce the New King James Version. Their goal was to retain the purity and stylistic beauty of the original King James Version while incorporating a modern, more up-to-date language. Using a literal method of translation, those who worked on the project held to an uncompromising faithfulness to the original Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic texts, as they employed the most recent research in linguistics, textual studies, and archaeology.
2025 Daily Bible Reading Guide
Compiled by Henry Watrich
Looking to read the entire Bible in the coming year? Here’s a handy chart that breaks down the Scriptures into easy-to-handle individual readings. The chart goes through the Bible chronologically. You can move through portions as they are listed or jump around as you please. Be sure to keep track of what you’ve covered!
17 Num. 14-15
18 Num. 16-18
19 Num. 19-21
20 Num. 22-24
21 Num. 25-26
22 Num. 27-29
23 Num. 30-31
24 Num. 32-33
25 Num. 34-36
26 Deut. 1-3
27 Deut. 4-6
28 Deut. 7-10
29 Leap Year
MARCH
1 Deut. 11-14
2 Deut. 15-19
3 Deut. 20-23
4 Deut. 24-27
5 Deut. 28-29
6 Deut. 30-32
7 Deut. 33-34, Josh. 1-3
8 Josh. 4-7
9 Josh. 8-10
10 Josh. 11-14
11 Josh. 15-17
25
29
30
1
2
12 Josh. 18-20
13 Josh. 21-24
14 Judg. 1-3
15 Judg. 4-6
16 Judg. 7-9
17 Judg. 10-13
18 Judg. 14-17
19 Judg. 18-20
20 Judg. 21, Ruth 1-3
21 Ruth 4, 1 Sam. 1-3
22 1 Sam. 4-8
23 1 Sam. 9-12
24 1 Sam. 13-15
25 1 Sam. 16-18
26 1 Sam. 19-21
27 1 Sam. 22-24
28 1 Sam. 25-28
29 1 Sam. 29-31, 2 Sam. 1
30 2 Sam. 2-5
31 2 Sam. 6-10 APRIL
1 2 Sam. 11-13
3 2 Sam. 17-19
4 2 Sam. 20-22
5 2 Sam. 23-24, 1 Kings 1
6 1 Kings 2-4
7 1 Kings 5-7
8 1 Kings 8-9
9 1 Kings 10-12
10 1 Kings 13-15
11 1 Kings 16-18
12 1 Kings 19-21
13 1 Kings 22, 2 Kings 1-2
14 2 Kings 3-5
15 2 Kings 6-8
16 2 Kings 9-11
17 2 Kings 12-15
18 2 Kings 16-18
19 2 Kings 19-22
20 2 Kings 23-25
21 1 Chron. 1-2
22 1 Chron. 3-5
23 1 Chron. 6-7
24 1 Chron. 8-10
25 1 Chron. 11-13
26 1 Chron. 14-16
27 1 Chron. 17-21
28 1 Chron. 22-25
29 1 Chron. 26-28
30 1 Chron. 29, 2 Chron. 1-3
MAY
1 2 Chron. 4-7
2 2 Chron. 8-11
3 2 Chron. 12-16
4 2 Chron. 17-20
5 2 Chron. 21-25
6 2 Chron. 26-29
7 2 Chron. 30-32
8 2 Chron. 33-36
9 Ezra 1-3
10 Ezra 4-7
11 Ezra 8-10
12 Neh. 1-5
13 Neh 6-7
14 Neh. 8-10
15 Neh. 11-12
16 Neh. 13, Esther 1-5
17 Esther 6-10
18 Job 1-4
20 Job 9-12
21 Job 13-15
22 Job 16-19
23 Job 20-22
24 Job 23-27
25 Job 28-30
26 Job 31-33
27 Job 34-36
28 Job 37-39
29 Job 40-42
30 Ps. 1-6
31 Ps. 7-13
JUNE
1 Ps. 14-17
2 Ps. 18-19
3 Ps. 20-24
4 Ps. 25-29
5 Ps. 30-33
6 Ps. 34-36
7 Ps. 37-39
8 Ps. 40-45
9 Ps. 46-49
10 Ps. 50-54
11 Ps. 55-59
12 Ps. 60-66
13 Ps. 67-69
14 Ps. 70-73
15 Ps. 74-77
16 Ps. 78-79
17 Ps. 80-84
18 Ps. 85-88
19 Ps. 89-90
20 Ps. 91-95
21 Ps. 96-101
22 Ps. 102-103
23 Ps. 104-105
24 Ps. 106-107
25 Ps. 108-112
26 Ps. 113-118
27 Ps. 119: 1-88
28 Ps. 119: 89-176
29 Ps. 120-127
30 Ps. 128-134 JULY
1 Ps. 135-139
2 Ps. 140-144
3 Ps. 145-148
4 Ps. 149-150, Prov. 1
7 Prov. 9-11
8 Prov. 12-14
9 Prov. 15-16
10 Prov. 17-19
11 Prov. 20-21
12 Prov. 22-24
13 Prov. 25-27
14 Prov. 28-30
15 Prov. 31, Eccl. 1-3
16 Eccl. 4-7
17 Eccl. 8-12
18 Songs/S 1-6
19 Songs/S 7-8, Isa. 1-2
20 Isa. 3-7
21 Isa. 8-11
22 Isa. 12-16
23 Isa. 17-22
24 Isa. 23-27
25 Isa. 28-30
26 Isa. 31-35
27 Isa. 36-39
28 Isa. 40-42
29 Isa. 43-46
30 Isa. 47-51
31 Isa. 52-57
AUGUST
1 Isa. 58-62
2 Isa. 63-66
3 Jer. 1-3
4 Jer. 4-6
5 Jer. 7-8
6 Jer. 9-12
7 Jer. 13-16
8 Jer. 17-19
9 Jer. 20-22
10 Jer. 23-25
11 Jer. 26-29
12 Jer. 30-32
13 Jer. 33-36
14 Jer. 37-40
15 Jer. 41-44
16 Jer. 45-48
17 Jer. 49-50
18 Jer. 51-52
19 Lam. 1-3
20 Lam. 4-5, Ezek. 1-2
21 Ezek. 3-6
24 Ezek. 16-17
25 Ezek. 18-20
26 Ezek. 21-23
27 Ezek. 24-27
28 Ezek. 28-31
29 Ezek. 32-35
30 Ezek. 36-38
31 Ezek. 39-41
SEPTEMBER
1 Ezek. 42-45
2 Ezek. 46-48
3 Dan. 1-3
4 Dan. 4-6
5 Dan. 7-10
6 Dan. 11-12, Hosea 1-2
7 Hosea 3-8
8 Hosea 9-14, Joel 1
9 Joel 2-3, Amos 1-2 10 Amos 3-7 11 Amos 8-9, Oba. 1 12 Jonah 1-4 13 Micah 1-5 14 Micah 6-7, Nahum 1-3
15 Hab. 1-3, Zeph. 1-3 16 Hag. 1-2, Zech. 1-3
Zech. 4-8
Zech 9-13
Zech. 14, Mal. 1-4 20 Matt. 1-3
Matt. 4-5
Matt. 6-7 23 Matt. 8-9
Matt. 10-11
Matt. 12-13
Matt. 14-15
Matt. 16-18
Matt. 19-20
Matt. 21-22
Matt. 23-24
OCTOBER
Matt. 25-26
Matt. 27-28
Mark 1-2
6 Mark 7-8 7 Mark 9-10 8 Mark 11-12
9 Mark 13-14
10 Mark 15-16 11 Luke 1
Luke 2-3
Luke 4-5 14 Luke 6-7 15 Luke 8
Luke 9 17 Luke 10-11
Luke 12-13
Luke 14-15
Luke 16-17
Luke 18-19 22 Luke 20-21 23 Luke 22
Luke 23
Luke 24
John 1-2
John 3-4
John 5-6
John 7
John 8
John 9-10 NOVEMBER
John 11 2 John 12-13 3 John 14-16 4 John 17-18 5 John 19-20 6 John 21, Acts 1 7 Acts 2-3 8 Acts 4-5 9 Acts 6-7 10 Acts 8-9 11 Acts 10-11
12 Acts 12-13
2 2 Sam. 14-16
19 Job 5-8
5 Prov. 2-5
6 Prov. 6-8
22 Ezek. 7-11
23 Ezek. 12-15
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
SEASON PRESENTING SPONSOR
TORONTO SYMPHONY FOUNDATION