This Saturday, May 31, the Junior High group is holding a huge Garage Sale from 8 a.m. to 2p.m. The proceeds will go to provide clean water through Living Water International Canada, as well as to send some of our people to assist on a trip with Living Water.

Besides lots of great items for sale, we have lots of silent auction prizes:

• An overnight stay at the Westin Harbour Castle in Downtown Toronto
• Dinner for Two at Tucker's Marketplace
• Shoppers Drug Mart gift Basket
• 3 Month membership at 365 Gym
• $50 Gift certificate from Cara Foods - Kelseys, Montanas, Milestones or Swiss Chalet or Harvey's restaurants.
• and much more

We are grateful to everyone who has donated items for this sale, as well as to the Junior Highs for all their work.

Please click on the image below for the full-size poster:

This week's memory verse:

May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
(Proverbs 5:18)

We've been looking at what Proverbs says about living skillfully and well. When it comes to money, the advice in Proverbs is completely counter-intuitive. Join us Sunday at 10:30 a.m. as we look at what Proverbs has to say about the best way to handle our money.

Yesterday we looked at the theme of sex by God's design, according to Proverbs 5. I mentioned a couple of books that are excellent for anyone who wants to read more on this topic. They are:

• Real Sex: The True Nature of Chastity by Lauren F. Winner
• Pure Desire: How One Man's Triumph Can Help Others Break Free From Sexual Temptation by Ted Roberts

Both books are well worth reading.

I hope you don't feel too uncomfortable talking about sex in church. It's actually one of those topics that's talked about everywhere these days but in church, which is probably where we need to be talking about it most.

There are a couple of reasons why I'd like us to talk about it. The first reason is because it's in the Bible. This may surprise a lot of people, but the Bible isn't squeamish at all in talking about sex. This makes sense when you remember that sex was God's idea. He's the one who made it up.

As we study Proverbs, it would be impossible for us to skip over this topic. Large parts of chapters 5, 6, and 7 talk about sex. You really can't talk about how to live wisely without talking about an area that's as much a part of life as this one is, and Proverbs doesn't shy away from addressing the issue.

This leads me to the second reason I'd like to talk about it: because it is such a part of life, and one we don't always handle very well. Every year some graduates of a preaching program get together with Haddon Robinson, who's a well-known teacher on preaching. Last year someone asked him what we need to be talking about in our churches that we aren't. He said, "Pornography, which is a symptom of something else." It's available all the time in your homes, in fact anywhere that you have an Internet connection or even a cell phone.

One recent study said that 7 out of 10 men between the ages of 18-34 visit a pornographic site in a typical month. Half of the men who attended a Promise Keepers rally in 1996 admitted that they had been involved with pornography within a week of attending the event. That was 12 years ago, but I doubt the number has gone down. Pornography affects even those we think won't be affected. A third of the female readers of Today's Christian Women admitted intentionally accessing Internet porn. Half of all evangelical pastors admit to viewing pornography in the past year. Divorce lawyers are saying that it's a significant factor in their divorce cases.

Statistics are fine, but let's make it more tangible. This is an issue for a number of us here. I was actually working on this sermon when I got an email about one of my pastor friends. He and his wife were friends with another couple in the church. Somehow he got involved in a relationship with this other woman. He's resigned from the church. His wife has left him and has gone home to her parents. I saw him last year and he had everything going for him. Today he's a completely broken man who has lost almost everything.

That's why we need to discuss it: because the Bible talks about it, and because sex is part of our life, and for many of us it's a struggle. And, as we're going to see, the consequences are huge for us depending on how we handle this area.

Sermon from May 18, 2008 by Dr. John Crocker - Audio |

There are some customs that can be discussed easily and politely in mixed company; sex isn't one of them. Although sexuality is part of life, and is seen and talked about everywhere, it's only rarely that we talk about it at church.

Surprisingly, the Bible doesn't shy away from talking about sex. Join us this Sunday at 10:30 a.m. as we look at what Proverbs 5 tells us about Sex By Design.

This Sunday, Richview welcomes Dr. John Crocker. Dr. Crocker will be speaking from 1 Corinthians 13:1-7 on "Love Makes You Real." This is a family service; children will remain within the service.

After the morning service, we will be holding our potluck at West Deane Park on Martingrove north of Rathburn. We'll need volunteers to drive people to and from the picnic.

Please bring a picnic lunch for double the number of people you will be bringing. If your last name begins with a letter between A-K, please bring veggies and dip. If your last name starts with L-Z, please bring sandwiches. The seniors ministry will provide dessert.

Join us Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

Those who fear the Lord have a secure fortress,
and for their children it will be a refuge.
(Proverbs 14:26)

Sermon from May 11, 2008 by Darryl Dash - Audio | Transcript

A father passed by his son's bedroom and was astonished to see the bed nicely made up and everything neat and tidy. Then he saw an envelope propped up on the pillow. It was addressed, "Dad." With the worst premonition, he opened the envelope and read the letter with trembling hands:

Dear Dad,

It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with you and Mom. I've been finding real passion with Joan, and she is so nice. I knew you would not approve of her because of all her piercings, tattoos, tight motorcycle clothes, and the fact that she is so much older than I am. It's not just her passion, Dad. She really gets me.

Joan says that we are going to be very happy. She owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood—just enough for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many children.

Please don't worry, Dad. I'm 15 and I know how to take care of myself. I'm sure we'll be back to visit someday so you can get to know your grandchildren.

Your son, Chad

P.S. Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at Tommy's house. I just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than the report card that's in my desk drawer. I love you! Call when it is safe for me to come home.

If you want to know why fathers get gray hair, that's why. Parenting - in fact, family life in general - can take it out of you, and it requires large mounts of wisdom and perspective.

Richview is searching for two summer students. We are looking for one university student to begin on June 2 for 12 weeks, and one high school student to begin on July 7 for 8 weeks.

Duties will include:

1. Researching our community by summarizing relevant information from the new census, doing community research
2. Building relationships with community leaders and organizations
3. Arranging two community projects for the church to serve the community
4. Helping with Etobicoke Strategy, homework club, and other local community initiatives
5. Proposing potential ministries for the church to pursue
6. Communicating importance of community ministry to the congregation

Students who are eligible to participate must:

• be under 30 years of age;
• have been registered as a full-time student in the previous academic year, and intend to return to school on a full-time basis in the next academic year;
• be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or have official refugee protection status under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; and
• be legally entitled to work in Canada, according to relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations.

Interested applicants can send an email to Pastor Darryl Dash.

Proverbs is on how to live wisely in the world that God has made. If there is any area of our lives in which we need wisdom, it's in our family relationships. Join us Sunday as we look at what Scripture says about living as singles, spouses, parents, and children within the family. We will also be celebrating communion.

The glory of young men is their strength,
gray hair the splendor of the old.
(Proverbs 20:29)

Please click on the image below for the full-size poster:

Sermon from May 4, 2008 by Ebe Sikakane - Audio |