BRIAN J. EVANS Special to The Standard UXBRIDGE: The Uxbridge Prayer Breakfast has expanded to become the North Durham Prayer Breakfast, with the 2026 edition uniting Uxbridge, Scugog and Brock townships. Taking place on Wednesday, May 20th, from 7 to 9 a.m., at Mill Run Golf Club, in Uxbridge, the popular breakfast will feature keynote speaker Dr. Steven Russell. In 2016, Dr. Russell became the first chair of the Board of Oak Ridges Hospice, a palliative care facility, locat

by Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley Appreciating life is about learning to see the value in what’s already in your hands. Family, friends, health, or the simple luxury of enjoying your morning tea. Those are the things which truly matter. Life is a collection of stories, moments, growth and flashes of wisdom. We spend so much time chasing more, thinking those things will make us happy. Yet, in the small ordinary moments, we often overlook, happiness can reside. There are days when y

TINA Y. GERBER-MCCURLEY Special to The Standard I have said this many times, God didn't promise you a life without pain, struggle or hardships. He did, however, promise to give you strength to get through it. It is important to keep those parts working properly by remaining active. Keeping body parts active as you age is essential to maintaining your independence, helping to reduce pain, and preventing further injuries. Since my visit to the hospital, last December, I will ad

by Tina Y. Gerber - McCurley Every generation has its own battles; our parents and grandparents went through war, famine, and grew up in the middle of a worldwide economic meltdown. They struggled with high costs, job insecurity, and political conflicts. Things have not changed, and many are still overwhelmed today, as most media wants to keep us scared and agitated. Sometimes, life doesn't make sense. There are moments when the path ahead feels uncertain. Faith means believi

It's a time of casting off the callousness, encasing one's existence, and soaking up something new offered there. Like when a seed discards its outer shell and is given new life, provided by the bacteria from the soil, an entirely new manner and direction of growth is activated. The transformation is radical, a seed radical, if you will. This is when new purpose is begun, living in darkness below the soil is ended, and a stage of soaking in the light, a dependency on the sun,

by Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley As we welcome March, I am hoping for a time of renewal and looking forward to Spring. March, with its changing weather and longer daylight hours, present both opportunities and challenges. I would think and believe, as a senior, I play a vital role in my family, community, and so do YOU. I want to ensure I remain healthy, active, and engaged. It is more important than ever. It was a tough start to 2026 and the key to my success is maintaining my o

Nancy Newton , Soroptimist KAWARTHA LAKES: Members of Soroptimist International of Kawartha Lakes celebrated International Women’s Day (March 8th) by helping local women and their babies. Club members donated diapers, clothing, baby food and other items to the Kawartha Lakes Pregnancy Centre. Michelle Botting, the Centre’s Executive Director, acknowledged the impact of the donation. “The Kawartha Lakes Pregnancy Centre (KLPC) walks alongside anyone facing challenges related

by Tina Y. Gerber - McCurley I will admit, I am tired of living with so many health concerns. It has definitely been a very challenging time. I keep pushing and trusting a breakthrough will arrive because God is present and supportive during these trials, so we are never alone in our struggles. It is important to remember, being concerned about your health is normal, but one mustn't let health anxiety take over their life. God has provided me with comfort, strength and compan

On the first Friday of March each year, a powerful wave of prayer circles the globe as more than 1.5 million Christians in over 150 countries unite in spirit for the World Day of Prayer. Speaking more than 90 different languages, participants gather to pray for issues affecting women and children, continuing a movement active for nearly 100 years. The World Day of Prayer is a global ecumenical movement bringing Christians of many traditions together to observe a common day of

COLLEEN GREEN The Standard For Merlyn Bales, a lifetime devoted to gospel music can be traced back to three words, spoken with quiet certainty: never say never . Forged through fear, faith and perseverance, the phrase frames a journey stretching from a terrified child, on a church platform, to more than six decades of singing in churches, concert halls, camp meetings and even a barn. “I want people to see what God can do through the journey,” Mr. Bales said. “He’s there with

by Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley Prayer isn’t just for storms, it’s also for ordinary days. I give daily whispers of thanksgiving and gratitude, to God. Life gives us different choices, different ways of life, and presents those who will attempt to distract us and keep us separated from the truth! This is why we need discernment and wisdom, and need to keep going. It comes down to, a relationship with Jesus is the only thing which matters. Life offers many choices and challenges.

Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley As my husband and I faced health issues, leading into January 2026, I found myself prayerfully asking the Lord to fix me when I am the problem, and to protect me when I am not. The challenges brought anxiety, upset, and conflict with loved ones. However, I’ve learned, listening is one of the quietest and most powerful ways to show love. I know God is near, listening with love, every time we turn our hearts toward Him. My life is far from perfect, but

by Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley We all carry so much in this busy world, and there are so many changes expected for seniors in 2026. Are you ready? I often wonder what we are chasing. It’s easy to be swayed by what we see on social media. I hope you understand what you often see is not reality! Struggles are a common experience in this life, whether you are 35 or 85, so the experiences of older people can be very relatable. Consequently, it may be mutually beneficial to check on

Canada was built on the idea people should be free to believe, or not believe, without government interference. From the country’s earliest days, religious freedom helped shape our communities. Churches, synagogues, mosques, and other faith groups helped build schools, hospitals and charities which still serve Canadians today. This was possible because the state did not control belief and belief did not control the state. That balance is now being questioned by Bill C-9. Supp

Gifts are given, the days been lived in. The children have spent the day in delight, the big feed has happened, and maybe some laughs and memories have passed between family members who came to visit. A flurry of phone calls, Zoom calls, and texts have taken place and a warm glow of support and renewed connection is in the atmosphere. Well, what's next, tomorrow? Do we continue on, in this newly asserted goodwill, or do we malinger back into the distances we have become accu

I thought I would share of some of the Christmas traditions we have entered into, in our home and family time. Christmas, many will agree, is especially marketed to children these days, however, it's truth has nothing to do with children frantically opening boxes of gifts, set aside so quickly they have no time to truly appreciate the thought behind the offering. In our early years of being married, my wife Colleen and I attempted to start a new Christmas tradition of making

Translated: The inward experience, beyond words enough to fully explain, saturated with a sense of Higher reality! The third and fourth weeks of Advent, commemorated on the next two coming Sundays, are focused on the inward experience of Joy and Love from God made possible by Jesus' birth here on earth. Without God giving, without Christ coming, there would be no atonement, aka. no substitutionary death by Jesus for us, so no opportunity to accept His gift of exchange and be

by Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley The average age for one experiencing dementia is not a single number because its prevalence increases significantly with age, particularly after 65. Dementia is not a typical part of aging, but age is the biggest risk factor. Dementia includes difficulty with familiar tasks, problems with language, disorientation with time and place, poor judgement, withdrawal from social activities and planning or problem solving. Communication difficulties can b

Hope is always tied together with the answer to a question, problem or need. In the big question, what Jesus did for us, was take upon Himself the punishment for the sin invasion which had affected humankind. Much of our difficulty and sense of not being enough in life comes in the struggle to be “better.” Certainly, in some senses we get it, like not being addicted to something, or putting on airs, which comes from comparing ourselves with others or what we think we should b

by Tina Y. Gerber – McCurley Life doesn't come without it's various pains, struggles or hardships, but God promised to give you strength to get through them. Fear attempts, in it's way, to keep us frozen in pain. The more we struggle the deeper we sink. These feelings can paralyze us, however, if you call on the Lord, He will save you. We need to do more than eat healthy food, take vitamins, exercise, and rest to feel your best. Who has time for everything … stop spreading yo