This Sunday night at 6pm is our annual church business meeting. There will be no preaching service inasmuch as the entire evening will be devoted to electing the church officers, reading of the Pastoral and Treasurer reports, and presenting the ministry vision for 2010.  All members are urged to be present and visitors are welcomed to sit in and observe how we conduct our church business and to hear of our goals and plans for 2010 and beyond.

The last two Sunday nights Blair Cassidy and David Kapauan have preached powerful messages,  speaking to our hearts and wills.  On Sunday night, February 7th, Pastor Hird will be our preacher.

Baptisms are planned again for Sunday night,  February 14th.

Then, on Saturday, February 20th, we have scheduled another Marriage Enrichment Fellowship.  We are inviting all of our own church family couples to join us in a time of marital refreshment and reinvigoration.  We have planned skits, games, and are having a special meal delivered.  Couples should sign up on the hallway bulletin board with their meal money, and read about the babysitting, and wedding/dating days pictures to bring.

One of the outreach ministries of our church is the Famine Relief Fund.  This is based on Acts 11:27-30, where monies were sacrificially given by the church at Antioch to help relieve the financial needs of the brethren in Judaea during a famine.  For years our congregation has sent monies every six months to famine-stricken areas of the world.  Like in Acts 11, these monies are sent to a church of like precious faith to help with the needs of their own church people in their crisis.  The last two weeks, we have taken up free-will offerings to help with the crisis in Haiti.  $2120 was raised and will be sent to a veteran BIMI missionary there who, in coordination with national pastors, will distribute these funds to their brethren in greatest need.  We trust the Lord that through this horrific crisis, many will come to know Him and that the brethren there will again experience the sustaining grace of God in trials of their faith!

It’s my hope and prayer that, unlike any other year, this year you and I will strive to know Him better and allow Him the freedom and access in our lives to stretch our faith to greater limits.  With God’s grace and through His enablement, may we strive to make spiritual advancements in those difficult and challenging personal sinful strongholds that exist in each of our lives and ministries.  May we begin this year with good and godly goals that are high and holy.  May these resolutions keep us disciplined, focused and on-track for a God-honouring year.

We’ve had a wonderful start to 2010 with visitors out for every service so far.  With our annual church business meeting coming up on Sunday evening, January 31st (no preaching that evening), I am busy finalizing my presentation for that evening that will include our yearly goals, activities, and events.

My preaching series through 1 Peter continued this past Sunday from 1 Peter 1:6-9 with the sermon title: “Figuring Out The Trials Of My Faith.”  I will preach Part 2 of this sermon on Sunday morning.

This Sunday night, Missionary Pastor Alex Boamah from Ghana, West Africa, is back with us and preaching again.  We are collecting any and all clothing for him to take back for the orphanage which he oversees under his church’s ministry.

On consecutive Sunday nights in January and early February, the men of our church are preaching: Blair Cassidy, David Kapauan, and Pastor James Hird.  These men can really preach and this annual preaching series is a favourite of our people.

Plans are being made to have another of our Marriage Enrichment Fellowships on Saturday, February 20th.  These are always well attended by our couples and serves as a refresher course for a couple, no matter how long they’ve been married.

On Sunday, December 6th, we held our annual Christmas Cantata.  With almost 40 young people participating in the play and with nearly 200 in attendance, our choir led us in a worshipful celebration of our Saviour’s birth.

Yesterday we were blessed to have Missionary to Malta Anson Van de Kemp with us.  After  presenting a very moving video of the spiritual needs of this Bible island, he preached about our precious Stone from 1 Peter.  We are excited for the unsaved people of Malta - a messenger of love with a message of Love is coming.

Our Wednesday evening Bible study through Hosea continues this week.  But what makes Wednesdays so crucial for us is our time of intimate intercession with our Lord in our prayer groups.

On Thursday, December 24th, at 6pm, we will gather on Christmas Eve endeavouring to keep Christ preeminent in our Christmas festivities.

For our own people, our annual Church business meeting is scheduled for Sunday evening, January 31st.  There will be no preaching inasmuch as we utilize the entire evening to focus on the Lord’s business for 2010.  It is an extremely important meeting for our church membership as we discuss our failures and shortcomings as a church and how we can address these.  I also will be presenting my goals for our church in 2010 and beyond.  I ask all our members to mark this date down and do everything you can to be here as we need your insight and counsel.

I wish you all a very spiritual and Spirit-filled Christmas.

This Saturday, we’re anticipating a large turn out for the annual Christmas Open House at our home.  Everyone is invited from 5pm - 9pm.

This Sunday, we are having a child dedication service during the morning worship service.  My expository preaching series through 1 Peter continues.  In the evening, I will be preaching a topical sermon.

Next Sunday, December 6th, is our annual Christmas Cantata at the 11am service.  With close to 40 children involved in the play and with the choir singing, we are practicing and praying for a Christ-honouring service celebrating the birth of our Saviour.

A few days ago, I learned of the death of Pastor E. Robert Jordan, former President of Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary, in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.  He had been sick for a number of years but his passing was still very sad.  I sat through many a class with this great soldier.  I will remember him most for his practical theology, burden for souls and church planting endeavours.  He was the greatest soul winner that I personally knew.  He is now seeing in heaven the fruits of a disciplined and dedicated life.  I thank God for him and the footprints of faithfulness he has left behind for all of us.

Over the past few weeks, the Lord has blessed us with a number of visitors, one of which received the Lord as their personal Saviour and has been faithfully attending all the weekly services.  We had a very challenging Missions Conference with Missionary Denis Celestine from Grenada, West Indies.  With our theme, “Unto The Uttermost,” we were provoked to take the gospel across the seas and across the street.

This Sunday morning, I will continue my expository preaching series through 1 Peter.  Sunday night’s sermon will be topical.  This Wednesday evening, we are looking forward to Pastor Dennis Seely from Newfoundland being with us.

The choir continues to practice as we prepare for our annual Christmas Cantata on Sunday, December 6th at 11am.  Many of the children of the church are hard at work practicing for the Christmas play which is part of the Cantata.

I am so thankful to the Lord for such a dedicated and loving Sunday school staff.  These teachers work regular jobs during the week but their “real” job is helping children and teenagers fall in love with Jesus!  I am humbled and blessed to work along side them week after week.

As we celebrate “Remembrance Day,’ may we be thankful for the sacrifices that have been made by both men and women so that we could enjoy the freedoms we have here in Canada.  My own father fought in WWII and received two purple hearts.  God bless all these heroes, every one!

Have a wonderful week in His gracious grip!