Well, good evening, everyone, and greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Welcome to this wonderful occasion. Electricity or not, the Lord is with us, and we are so thrilled and pleased to be with you. My name is Pastor Matt Dick, and I am the moderator of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Canada's Presbytery, and it is a privilege to be with you this evening. And those of you who are from the congregation or may be visiting and coming to celebrate with us and to be with us, so welcome. May the Lord bless you as you join us. And if the power does come on, if those of you who are listening online, then we will It'll be to no effect of myself or anyone here, but the Lord's good providence. We'll wait upon that. Yes, we're here this evening to install our brother, Reverend David Mathis. We will begin this evening to what is called a narration of steps, and that is a way of making sure we are gone through the the process and what the the Lord and his providence has brought us to up to this point this evening and so I'm going to ask that Reverend Quigley would come forward as the clerk of our Presbytery and he is going to read the narration of steps and then we will proceed with a call to worship Suffice to say that the congregation met on the 17th of April, 2024, and they issued what I believe is a unanimous call to David to be their minister. He accepted that call, having been examined by the presbytery on the 1st of May. He accepted that on the 12th of May, 2024. And then subsequently, the presbytery agreed that the court would be constituted tonight, and that we would have the joy of participating in the installation of theatre to be a member of this congregation. With that, I'll hand back to the moderator. We are going to open this evening with Psalm 67A and it's printed out in your bulletin. Wonderful Psalm to open us that asks the Lord to bless us that the whole of the earth may know Him and shine His grace upon us that His saving ways may be known." And what a beautiful description of the call of Christ upon His people and the design of the Church is that the ways of the Lord, His salvation may be known. So I'm going to invite you to stand with us and we're going to begin with Psalm 67 and then constitute the court in prayer. O come to us, O mercy, and bless us in thy grace. Cause thou to shine upon us the brightness of thy face. That's all, by way most holy, On earth may soon be known, And unto every people Thy saving grace be shown. O God, let peoples praise thee, let all the people sing. Let nations now be joyful, let songs of gladness ring. For Thou wilt judge the peoples in truth and righteousness, And o'er the earth shall nations Thy leadership confess. O God, let peoples praise Thee, let all the peoples sing, for earth in great abundance to us her fruit will bring. God, our own God, will bless us. Yea, God will blessings send. And all the earth shall fear him to its remotest end. Join us in prayer. Blessed and most glorious God, Great and mighty is your name, to be feared among all the nations as we have sung. It is our privilege to call upon you and call you not just our glorious and most holy Creator, most blessed, merciful Father, the true and only God. We ask, Lord, this, that you would come and dwell and be here that, Lord, your spirit that you have sealed, Father, through that blood of Christ, that, Lord, you would be pleased to dwell with us this evening, that where there may not be as it is power in the building, there is power in your people, that your presence, Lord, is our life, that your Son is our King who walks among his lampstands, And that, Lord, you are faithful. Faithful to have established and maintained this lampstand amongst this, your people. For this long, Lord, you have brought them to this place. And you have brought forth another gospel minister, a servant. They have, Lord, asked to come serve them. and minister the Word of Christ. We are with them rejoicing. We are giving you this praise this evening, that Lord, you have maintained a lampstand, maintained a gospel witness, that as we have sung this evening, Lord, this would be true, that your saving ways may be known here in this place. That, Lord, it would be as from strength to strength, Lord, from glory to glory, that you would build your kingdom, that you would continue to strengthen and establish your church. We thank you and praise you. We ask, Lord, this evening, that in and through the name of Christ, who is our King and the head of this church, that, Lord, you would constitute us now as a court of your house, servants, Lord, of your kingdom. That, Lord, you would do this this evening and establish this, we ask in the name of Christ, the great prophet, priest and king. It's in his name that we pray, all of your people said. Amen. Please be seated. This is genuinely an auspicious occasion. There will be meetings held in Vancouver tonight, important meetings. Financial meetings, other meetings that people will invest their time in. But to the best of our knowledge, this is the meeting in Vancouver tonight. Because tonight we stand before God and you will take a subscription and a vows before Christ the King and the head of the church. that will see you become the minister of the gospel of Christ in this church and for this city. That's a truly, truly remarkable event. And it's all because of the work of Christ and to the glory of God. Reverend David Mathis, you are being asked tonight to subscribe. in the presence of Almighty God, to the doctrinal standards of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Canada, and to take vows for office, which is a solemn act, and it should only be undertaken following prayerful deliberation. No man is at liberty to subscribe to doctrines or to make vows which he does not truly believe or is unwilling to fulfill entirely. So you're speaking not just to a group of friends and to your brothers in Christ, you're speaking in the presence of God. You're subscribing and making statements before God about what you believe and what you trust in. Having examined you in May, we understand that you understand the gravity of this. What we've seen of you, we know that this is the most important thing in your life. And that there's nothing more important as you understand it. And that's why we have committed to be here tonight. But I have to ask you the question. Do you understand, David, what you're about to do? And are you ready to sign this covenant? I'm going to ask you now to read the subscription document. that you are about to sign. So I'm going to ask you to come here and to read this so that everybody can hear. So far as I know in my heart, I, Reverend David Mathis, believe that it is the call of Christ, the glory of God, and the welfare of the Church, and not any selfish object that has moved me to undertake this sacred office. I vow in the grace and strength of the Holy Spirit to live a holy and exemplary life, to study and promote the purity, peace, unity and progress of the Church, to watch over the spiritual growth of all the members of the congregation, to visit the afflicted and to attend the meetings associated with my office. I promise in his strength to bring to the congregation the fruits of earnest study of the Word, to watch for souls as one who must give an account, and to endeavour to win others to Christ. Given that all people, in every place and condition, are morally obligated to serve the same Eternal God according to what He requires in the Bible, I further covenant before God to testify against all the errors and corruptions that are contrary to God's Word which are particularly manifested today within the Church and our nation. and I will defend and promote the sovereign rights and prerogatives of Jesus Christ over his Church and over the nation of Canada as King of Zion and the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. I sincerely believe and subscribe to the Westminster Confession of Faith and the larger and shorter catechisms as a sound exposition of the Word of God. I declare these as the confession of my faith. I swear in the presence of Almighty God that I will adhere to, maintain and defend this doctrine in all points. I also vow to keep and uphold the directories for worship and for church government of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Canada. If I should ever find myself unable to believe or own any doctrine set forth in the Westminster Confession of Faith, or the larger and shorter catechisms, then I swear that I will not propagate any new convictions, but will immediately reveal and explain my new convictions or doubts to the session, the presbytery, or a higher court, where they may be examined. I promise cheerfully to submit to the judgment of the court and or that I will peaceably withdraw and join some other branch of the visible church with which I can walk harmoniously. This is my statement of subscription. So as a prayer of installation, let's bow before our great God in heaven. Oh God, our Father, almighty God in heaven, holy are you, matchless in your perfections. We do stand here in awe with our brother, We've heard the words that He has read soberly and solemnly before you and before these witnesses. these covenant vows that he has made with utmost seriousness. Father, we are so grateful you have brought him to this place where he is ready to serve these people that you have given to him to flock, to shepherd, and to lead, and to feed, and to protect. And Father, as we entrust our brother to you, we believe that you will be with him as he seeks to make disciples, to teach everyone under his care, to observe everything that you have commanded, and to administer the sacraments for their edification. And that He would be laboring hard, studying Your Word, rightly dividing it. And that He would be an example to the flock in speech, conduct, in love, faith, and purity. And that, Father, as You have given to Him this great and awesome responsibility, that He would steward it well. He would be a good manager of his home. And Father, that he would be faithful in all the duties that he has been entrusted with. And that as he begins his labor, we know this great labor in this great city of Vancouver to be an evangelist. To see that many will come to know saving grace in Jesus Christ. And as a minister of this glorious gospel of grace, may he continue to daily rejoice in that grace for himself, as he feeds himself from your holy word, seeks your face each and every morning and night, and be a man of prayer. Father, we ask that you will so fill him with your Holy Spirit as you have given him so many gifts. We have seen them. And may you fan them into the flame that they will be useful for your service, Master. And that he will be that vessel for honor, used mightily of you. in Vancouver and especially for this congregation. Father, we thank you for this gift that you have given them and may he be faithful with this work that he has to proclaim the whole counsel of God and not to shrink in any way from this course that He is on, to testify of this gospel of grace. And that when Father, He has finished the course, He would receive those words, Well done, good and faithful servant. And He would receive that unfading crown of glory. that you promised for all those who labor as elders and who await the chief shepherd. And so, Father, we are commending our brother to you and to your hands, installing him into the Vancouver Reformed Presbyterian Church and entrusting him to the Word of Grace in and through the name of Jesus Christ, who is the King and Head of this church and the church universal. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. It is our privilege on behalf of the Reformed Presbyterian Church of Canada as moderator of the Presbytery to declare that Reverend David Mathis has been installed as your pastor and we will continue to I pray for you as you labor together in this gospel ministry. And we praise God. We're going to sing together Psalm 72 in your bulletin. It's listed there. You might not quite be on a hilltop here as Psalm 72 talks about the Lord sowing His crop there, but while you are, we did come up the hill a little bit towards here. It is excellent, the city on a hill that He would continue to build. Let's stand together at Psalm 72 and sing to the praise of God. He'll show the world His empathy, and save the needy by His might. Our God and Lord, He'll set them free. Their blood is precious in His sight. So he shall live a gift of gold, from Siva they'll be poured in clay. Then in a constant prayer of hope, Their blessings on him shan't all day. On him a stone, a little grain, Like leaven on with fruit shall end. New life was in, we shall attain. She shall life, grasp, grow, and extend. Long as the sun his reign shall last, it shall endure through ages all, and men shall still in him be blessed. Blest all the nations shall Him call. Now blessed be our God of old, Jehovah God of Israel, For only He, God's wondrous Son, His deeds in glory far excel. And blessed be his glorious name, long as the ages shall endure. All the earth extend his praise. Amen, amen, forevermore. Please be seated. I'm going to ask Reverend Matthew Kingswood, the pastor of the Russell Congregation, to come. He's going to bring us the word this evening. Matt? Well, good evening. What a delight it is to be with you here. On this occasion, especially, and what a blessing it is to be able to open the word of the living God together, the words of eternal life. Where else can we go? So please open, if you have your Bibles with you, to our two scripture readings for this evening. The first from the Gospel according to John chapter 17, verses 20 through 26. And then from the Old Testament, Psalm 133. Page 903, if you're using the few Bibles, for the first reading and 519 for the second. So John 17, we'll begin the reading at the 20th verse. This is the holy word of our holy God. I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me, I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one. I in them, and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me, and love them even as you loved me. Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, that you have given me because you have loved me before the foundation of the world, O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them. and continuing to hear the Word of God from Psalm 133, Song of Ascents of David, let's continue to hear the Word of God. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity. It is like the precious oil on the head running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever. Amen. Beloved congregation, for centuries, the Church has confessed what the Bible teaches. One, holy, Catholic, apostolic Church. Tonight, with God's help, we'll consider the first of those classic attributes of the Church, namely its unity. I spent a good deal of time thinking about what to preach on this joyful, auspicious occasion. And to help answer that, I asked myself a practical question. What should I be praying for David and Sharon and the congregation here? And to answer that question, I asked, what is Jesus praying for this congregation? And I considered the end of John 17, the high priestly prayer of our Lord. And then from the prayer of Jesus, I settled on what to preach, the unity of the church. The unity of the church is a central, significant, encouraging, and beautiful theme. For David and Sharon and little Isaac, unity might be a very emotional topic to raise tonight. After all, they've just experienced a huge separation in many ways. You both must be feeling keenly now the distance between family and friends and congregations, especially Bury St. Edmunds and Trinity. I'm not raising unity to rub salt in the wound. Rather, I hope to encourage you and to bring a balm to your souls because there's a unity revealed in the scripture and experienced in Jesus Christ that transcends geography and transcends this world that's passing away. The same time, my prayer is to encourage and call all of us here tonight to this gospel grace of the unity of the church. I'm thinking of the congregation here, of course, but also of Christian family and friends joining us here and by live stream all over the world. We're encouraged. If there are any here, I'd have to look around if there are any other representatives of other denominations of like precious faith. I hope that we see here a testimony of the organic unity of the Church of Jesus Christ. We are not in competition with other parts of the visible Church. No, we are parts of the one body and Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. testifying to and striving toward the greater visible union of the Church Catholic. And in the book of Psalms, God has given us a song to sing about that unity. One of the Psalms of Ascent, Psalm 133. We love to sing it. We need to sing it. Often. And with confession of sin, and with hope in the gospel. Tonight, just a few big picture points from Psalm 133. First, unity is good. Unity is good. Now to some people that might sound very underwhelming. Today, if something is not awesome, Why should I be interested in it? Everything is awesome. When something truly is awesome, you don't have a word left to describe it. Unity is good, according to this psalm. I think we can be helped when we remember creation. God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was good. Even very good. And notice that this psalm begins with the word behold. That Hebrew word which one writer says is the red flashing beacon of the Old Testament. Behold grabs you by the shoulders, looks you in the eye, and says you better listen to this. What I am about to tell you is very important. Christian unity is truly something to behold. Especially because we will never sing Psalm 133 the way we should until we really know, admit, feel, and confess the disunity and discord of this fallen world. The fractured relationships, the broken friendships, families, and congregations. we all experience too much and too often. Sin sometimes unites what should be separate, but often it divides what should be united. First, we need to acknowledge the separation sin has brought between God and humanity. The word for unity in Psalm 133 is first used in the Psalter in Psalm 2. The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against His anointed. That's the unity of fallen sinners. We need to see the disunity often in human relationships. This word is found on the lips of Goliath. when he says, give me a man that we might fight together. And that's what we see so often in the world. But this unity is good. And it's not just people who get along. There are lots of people who get along at a club or on a sports team. This is gospel unity. when brothers live in unity. It's not just human relationships, it's bigger than that, it's gospel relationships, it's the family of God under the fatherhood of God. Why is this unity so good? We often jump to people getting along and how good that is and pleasant it is and we'll get to that, but this unity is good in more profound ways. I'm just going to mention a couple. First, It is a unity of doctrine. A unity of doctrine. What did Jesus pray? John 17, 20, 21. My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one Father. It's the apostolic preaching of the Gospel that is at the heart of the unity for which Jesus prays. The true Church has unity with the teaching of the Apostles. In Ephesians 4 it speaks about men being gifts to the Church, pastors and teachers. The goal of ministry and equipping the saints, the unity in the faith and knowledge and in the knowledge of the Son of God. We must never be satisfied or seduced by a unity that relegates doctrine to something indifferent or even injurious. You ever see the coexist bumper stickers? That's demonic. That kind of unity is demonic. Unity is good when it is apostolic unity. But second, unity is a unity with God Himself. It's not merely doctrine, but life. John 17, 21, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in me and I am in You, may they also be in us. It's not just assenting to the truth that demons believe and shudder. No, this is love of the truth, animated by the love of God. Christians never become God, but we do experience union and communion with God. Unity is good because it is a reconciled and restored relationship with the living God. And then, thirdly, unity is good because it is the outworking, the practical outworking of love among brothers and sisters. If you're united to Jesus Christ tonight, you're also united to everyone else united to Jesus Christ. Here we see brothers dwelling even together, and that's good. Abram said to Lot, let's not have any quarreling between you and me or between your herders and mine, for we are brothers. Unity. Literally, the psalm says, behold, how good, how pleasant, repeats it. Unity is so beautiful that both these commendations come together. And that's really amazing. We should just quickly read over that. Not everything pleasant is good. The Bible speaks about the passing pleasures of sin. And also, not everything good is pleasant. It's good to change a baby's diaper. I saw that tonight getting ready for this service. That was good. But I looked again, I haven't done it for a while. It's not always pleasant. But gospel unity is both good and pleasant. It's right and pleasing. It's excellent and exquisite. Unity is good. Desire it. Delight in it. But secondly, unity is God-given. Unity is good, and it is God-given. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. In Psalm 133, David used two comparisons, two similes, to describe Christian unity. Oil and dew. Oil and dew. We won't dig into these too deeply tonight. It may not sound that flattering. Boys and girls, oil and dew. You might just think this is something greasy and damp. But it's beautiful. These are beautiful similes. And both similes share a common feature, and that's what I'd like to focus in on tonight. And I wonder if you noticed it, because twice in verse two, and once in verse three, David speaks of the aspect in these similes of coming down. It is a coming down. Unity is a gift from above. It comes down from God. It is a gospel grace. It's a gift. The fragrant oil, literally the Hebrew just says it's good oil, another use for that word good, is connected to the high priest. It's the fragrant, holy anointing oil, and this points us then so directly to Jesus Christ, the holy Son of God who came down, made like us in every way, yet without sin, uniting to his divine person, a true body and a reasonable soul. and then so identified with his people that he was even numbered among the transgressors as he suffered on the cross to bring reconciliation with God and with one another. This union is union in Christ, our great high priest. He prayed for this unity. but he also paid for this unity. He laid down his life to purchase a people for God and to purchase their unity with God and with one another. Let me just mention at this point, you never know who is in any gathering like this. So we're thinking about union and unity and union with God. If you are separate from Christ, the Bible says you're without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus, you are once far away, have been brought near by the blood of Christ. He himself is our peace who has made the two one, who has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility. That's the unity that's most important. Union with Christ. And this unity in Christ is by the Spirit, the fruitful dew. Ephesians 4.3 says to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit. And that ought to be done in the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Beloved, unity is good and it is God-given. So thank God for it. Pray for it. Ask God in Christ by the Spirit to give it and then to maintain it and deepen it in His Church. And third and last, unity is glorious. It's good, it's God-given, and it's glorious. And glorious in the literal sense, relating to, pertaining to, glory. Nothing less than glory, the glory of God. Again, in Jesus' prayer, John 17, 22, I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. You see how unity is connected to glory. I'm going to read that again. That's a staggering statement. As Jesus prayed it, I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. The God who said in terms of idolatry, Isaiah 42, 8, I am the Lord, that is my name, and my glory I will not give to another. Neither my praise to graven images. Yet in his family, we have a glorious God-reflecting glory in the unity of the church. One day that will be perfectly expressed and experienced and enjoyed. Father, I want those that you have given me to be with me where I am and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you love me before the creation of the world. It will be that consummated, perfected union and communion with God, uninhibited, unmarred by any sin. And then it will be that union and communion with one another, unmarred, unhindered by any sin. Remember that Christian brother or sister that you have such a struggle with now will one day be closer to you in heaven than your best friend on earth ever was. That will be then, but there is already a glimpse of the glory of God for the church to enjoy now, and for the world to see now. It's glory for the world to see. A world so fractured, so polarized, ethnically, politically, nationally. By people in their own families who have known such disunity in so many ways, in harmful and hurtful ways, there is already a glimpse of glory for the church, for the world to see. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one, I in them, you in me, so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me. and have loved them even as you have loved me." What a statement that is. What is the great witness, the supreme apologetic that Jesus prays for here? What will God use to convince the world that the Father sent Jesus and that the Father loves his people? It's the preaching, the gospel, lived out in the unity of the church. Beloved congregation here in Vancouver, do you perhaps ever feel so few and so weak, maybe even ineffectual and insignificant in this great city? Do you wonder perhaps, tempted to wonder what new program or creative initiative will bring people to Christ? Well, there's much we can and we should do, but here's what Jesus focused on in his prayer, the unity of his people, a glory for the world to see. That people would come to this place and hear apostolic truth, unity to the apostolic message, and see the love of Christ lived out in this place. The unity of his people, that they would be compelled to confess, God is in this place. By this, everyone will know that you're my disciples, if you have love one for another." Unity is good. It's apostolic. It's union with God. It's the love of the brethren. So practically, David Preach, teach the Apostolic Gospel. Nothing new, but this word. Have that unity in this place with the Apostolic Gospel. Be one Holy Catholic Apostolic Church. Love the Bible, teach the Bible. love God, love Christ, love the Holy Spirit, and love one another. Love the truth, love God, love each other. That's it. Unity is good, God-given, and glorious. Is it any wonder that the Apostle Paul wrote these words? As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle. Be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body, one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called. one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. Beloved, we believe one holy Catholic Apostolic Church, for there the Lord commands the blessing, even life forevermore. Let's pray. Father, we thank you for the glory of Christ and the glory of his life and death and resurrection, the glory of the gospel, of which he is the perfect prophet, priest, and king. And Father, if this is what Jesus prayed for, And it's just such a great emphasis of that great high priestly prayer. Father, we pray that the unity of the church would have its right place in our thinking, in our believing, in our confessing, but also, Father, in our praying, and in our living, and in our loving. Father, we confess to you And when we think of these words of Jesus' prayer, it turns for us into a prayer of confession of sin, so often. We're so thankful that if we confess our sins, you're faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Father, we pray that in our union with Christ, in our union then with the Godhead, our Triune God and Redeemer, that you would help us to grow in unity with other believers, filled with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. And Father, I pray for this pastor and this congregation in this place, in this great city, You bless your word when you send it out. It will accomplish the purpose you have for it. And Father, how I pray that that would not be a purpose exclusively of judgment on people, but one of mercy and grace and forgiveness and reconciliation with you. and then reconciliation with others, Father, as well in the church. Father, we thank you for these heaven-sent blessings. And I pray, Father, that we would just be able to rejoice, hearing of what you are doing and will be doing in this place, to the praise of your glorious grace. And Father, may the congregation here, and may David, now a member of our presbytery, know how good and pleasant it is to be brothers and sisters together. David, to be a brother in the presbytery. Help us to come alongside each other as much as we're able. Though distance separates, Lord, I pray that there would be no doubt, no doubt, that we are brothers who dwell even together. May you command the blessing, even life forevermore. We praise your name and thank you. In Jesus' name, amen. Well, let's stand to sing Psalm 133. And after we sing, we will remain standing and the benediction will be pronounced by Pastor David Mathis. Let's stand to sing Psalm 133. Behold how good a thing it is, and how becoming well, when those that brethren are delight, in unity to dwell. For it is like the precious oil poured out of Aaron's head, that going down upon his beard, upon his garments spread. Like mermaids do upon the hills of Zion that descends, the Lord commands His blessing there in life that never ends. Please stand to receive the blessing of the Lord. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen. say a few things that's actually quite amazing that David's here with us. About two years ago our previous pastor Norm left and we've been looking for someone and I sent out a number of advertisements to various seminaries across North America, Scotland and the UK. And when I had done that in 2017, I had quite a number of responses. But in 2022 and 2023, I had no response whatsoever. And I thought, oh, wow, that's what's changed. Anyway, on July 16th, I received an email. And it was from, it said Bob, Bob D. Avis, RD, something like that. He said, hey, you have a church service. And I thought this was somebody from the Avis rental company that was looking for some sort of sponsor. I said, oh yeah, we've got a service at 2pm, you're most welcome to join us. And then his wife showed up. They had been on a cruise, Alaska cruise. Lots of people from all over the world come down to Vancouver to enjoy the beautiful coast, up to Alaska, and he came and joined us at the service, and we were very thankful, and we had a conversation, and we were sharing things. And he was about to leave, and he said, are you looking for a pastor? And I said, oh yeah, who you are, why, do you know someone? He said, well, There's this fellow in England, he's just graduated and he doesn't have a place. He hasn't received a call and, you know, I think he'd make a good fit for you possibly, I'll give you his email. And so Bob went back to his hotel and fired off an email to myself and David and I had no response. Anyway, I fired off another email to David about a week later, and I had no response. And I fired off another email about a week later, and I had no response. I thought, well, I guess that number's not going to lead anywhere. I had a session meeting with Andrew and Matt, and at the session meeting, Andrew pipes up and says, David, not the sign of David. He says, I'll send him an email, if that's okay with you. So Andrew sends an email off to David, no response. And about a week or two later, all of a sudden, I think Andrew might have sent a second email, and then I got an email back. And from a young man named David Mathis indicated that he may have some interest in exploring a possibility of coming to this place, but Obviously, he needed to find out a little bit about us. And so, in October, we invited him, October 2023, we invited him out, and he was very well received by everyone. But he said, that I need to speak with my wife, we're expecting a child, and it's not the easiest thing to pick up from a life in Ireland, in England, in Scotland, to come over here. And so in March we arranged for David and Sharon to come. And thankfully that visit went very well, and the folks really appreciated David's preaching and ministry of the word, which then led to Presbytery meetings, our giving him a call, and as Andrew explained, the process in that regard. So, from my perspective, it's very providential. You know, humanly speaking, I have thought over the past number of years that maybe the Lord was done with us here. Those were pretty small. But I'd say this has been, for me, an amazing conjunction of circumstances that humanly speaking would maybe not have occurred because this man that I referred to, Bob Davis, was a pastor in West Virginia in a PCA congregation, and he'd been over in England in Newcastle on time where David was studying, and had sat in on a church in that location and had heard David preach. And that church had wanted to give David a call, but David at that particular time did not feel led to that location. So in the Lord's providence, he shifted David a third of the way around the world to come and bring a word to us now. Thank you. Thank you, Hugh. It's wonderful to hear your version of events. Yeah, about those emails. It's an old email address. We all have one. Actually, my brother strangely had access to that email address and he saw it and he said, David, you've got an email in there from Andrew Quigley. You should probably answer that. So I've fixed that now. If you need to get in contact with me, the address on the website, it will get through to me. But in all seriousness, it has been such a joy to come to this congregation. Both in October and both in March, it was a joy to come here and meet the folk here. Faithful, loving, dedicated people. Longed to meet together and worship together. and they just drew my heart in and I can truly say that I have a love for this congregation, these people. And I want to thank the congregation for all the hard work that they've put in, in preparing the manse and getting the paint on the walls and just so many little details that have come together. Thank you to Kyla for all of the techie stuff and getting everything recorded here tonight. But I want to just leave you with a thought from Psalm 127 which says, except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. And we are builders, we are watchmen, and yet we can spin our wheels, we can work hard, and yet the Lord isn't in it. We do it in vain. And so pray, pray for us that the Lord would be in this, that the Lord would bless this work. I would also leave you with what Paul says to the Colossians. He says, continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving. With all praying also for us that God would open unto us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ for which I am also in bonds, that I may make it manifest as I ought to speak. Pray that in this place the Lord opens a door for the gospel message into people's hearts. Open hearts, open ears to hear the word. May that be the resounding prayer for us. You can pray for lots of practical things, but ultimately we are here to preach the gospel of Christ, pray that the Lord would open hearts and open ears. Thank you.