This Sunday is Easter!  Sunday School, for all ages from toddlers to adults, begins at 10am.  Worship services are at 11am and 6pm.  Children’s church and a well staffed nursery are available for all services.

We are busy this week preparing for Resurrection Sunday by distributing thousands of John and Romans booklets to the City of Vaughan.

Upcoming annual events include our worker’s banquet and marriage enrichment fellowship.  Details are announced at church services.

There is another Singspiration on Sunday evening, April 14th.  Come and rejoice in the special music, congregational favourites, and instrumentals.  The testimonies will thrill your soul!

On Sunday, April 21st, following the evening service, we are having another baptismal service.  There are a number of candidates, both adults and children.

On Sunday, April 28th, Missionary Dennis Seely and his family from Carbonear, Newfoundland will be with us all day.  He pastors Cornerstone Baptist Church and will be preaching Sunday morning and evening.  It is always a genuine blessing to have this former staff member and his family with us.  It will also be Membership Sunday and we are expecting at least eight new families to be joining the church.

We are excited about Evangelist Max Alderman being with us again in May.  He will be preaching all day on Sunday, May 5th and on Monday and Tuesday evenings, May 6th and 7th  at 7pm.  The theme this year is Missions and Soul Winning.  If you are looking for some enthusiastic, Spirit-filled revival preaching, then you’ll not want to miss these meetings!

I am preaching a new series on Sunday mornings entitled: “Benefit, From Being Saved,” taken from Psalm 103:2, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” Coming on Sunday evenings, I will be preaching a new series, “Exhortations From Ezekiel.” In the adult Sunday school class, I am leading an expository study of the Psalms.  Preceding our prayer groups on Wednesday evenings at 7pm, I am teaching an expository study through the book of 1 Kings.

Finally, let me update you on the progress of our Christian school.  You can read more in the latest edition of The Anchor.  Applications are now available for the opening of the Vaughan Baptist Christian Academy this September.  If you have any questions, please call the church and ask for Principal Daniel Bousquet.

We pray regularly for all of our sister churches scattered throughout the greater Metropolitan Toronto area.  May God richly bless our co-labourers for Christ as they reach their community for our precious Saviour and endeavour to turn them to Truth.

May you have a blessed Easter season rejoicing in the resurrection of our gracious Saviour!

We have truly been reminded of the brevity of this life as we have had five present or former members go onto glory.  I have had four funerals over the past several months.  We have had our front lines thinned as some good soldiers have been called home to heaven.  Though these are gone, our faith and focus must be on the Lord Jesus Christ and the work He has entrusted to us.  We are trusting the Lord that He will raise up some faithful disciples to fill the gaps that have been left.  Though they are no longer with us on earth, their testimony and sacrificial labours still speak loudly for the Lord (Hebrews 11:4; 2 Peter 1:12-15).  Let me add that, during these difficult days, so many of our people sacrificially, tenderly, and lovingly ministered to the needs of friends and family members.  Their gracious gestures were a genuine mark of Christ-likeness.

On Sunday mornings, I am continuing a preaching series on Jesus’ call for true discipleship: “Journeying With Jesus: Don’t Walk Away” based on John 6:66.  On Sunday nights, Brother Blair Cassidy is preaching an excellent, inspiring series entitled: “The Inexhaustibility Of The Bible.”  We have purposefully made Wednesday evenings our most important service.  We come for Bible study (1 Kings) but it is our prayer groups that are the focus of the evening and underpin our church families and ministries.

With a rapidly growing choir, Pastor Hird continues his God-honouring music ministry along with his much-loved children ministries.
Sunday school is held each Sunday at 10am for children, teens, and adults.  Our staffed nursery is open for every service of the week.

Principal Dan Bousquet is very busy as we progress with the necessary plans for the opening of The Vaughan Baptist Christian Academy in September.  Interested parents should contact the church for further information.
The upcoming schedule for Christmas related services is as follows: Christmas Cantata, Sunday morning, December 9th at 11am with refreshments and fellowship to follow; there is no evening service; Sunday school is at 10am.  On Sunday evening, December 16th, there is a Christmas Singspiration.  On Sunday, December 23rd, there is Sunday school and a morning service only.  On Monday, December 24th, there is a Christmas Eve service at 6pm.  There is no Wednesday evening service on December 26th.  On Sunday, December 30th, there is Sunday school and a morning service only.

Other special church events, activities, fellowships, and marriage seminars are announced at church services.

In these perilous days where self is the center of so many lives, may we Christians love God and our neighbour.  May the fruits of the Spirit permeate our attitudes and actions.  Though we must aggressively and unashameably contend for the faith, may we not be contentious.  May we distinguish ourselves as children of God by our goodness, gentleness, and graciousness.  May faithfulness, forgiveness, and forbearance mark our relationships.  Finally, may we humbly and passionately pursue the glory of Him Who has called us with a high and holy calling!

Last Sunday, with 315 in attendance, we celebrated our 21st Anniversary.  We were blessed by the preaching of Pastor Dennis Seely from Cornerstone Baptist Church in Carbonear, Newfoundland at 10am.  The special music was inspirational while the congregational singing was enthusiastic and worshipful.  Hands were raised for salvation and the altar was well attended.  Our families provided lunch after my preaching with the biggest and best food selections we have ever had!  It was a wonderful day to reflect upon the goodness and grace of God through the years.  I could some up the day with the last hymn we sung: “How Great Thou Art.”

Now we’re back to regular services.  On Sunday mornings, I am preaching a series on Jesus’ call for discipleship: “Journeying To Jerusalem: Don’t Walk Away” based on John 6:66.  Sunday nights are reserved for topical messages.  We have purposefully made Wednesday evenings our most important service.  We come for Bible study (1 Kings) but it is our prayer groups that are the focus of the evening and underpin our church families and ministries.

Sunday school is held each Sunday at 10am for children, teens, and adults.  Our staffed nursery is open for every service.

Other special church events, activities, fellowships, and seminars are announced at church services.

To all of our Christian friends and brethren churches, may we remain faithful to the Lord Who has entrusted His truth and glory to us!

As we have entered the summer season, the Lord blessed as we have seen salvation decisions and seven baptized several weeks ago.

We had a blessed four day Bible Conference with Evangelist Max Alderman last weekend.  The altar was packed each service with standing-room only.  The theme was: “In My Life, Lord, Be Glorified.”  The special music was God-honouring, the congregational singing enthusiastic and our hearts were spiritually stirred for righteousness.  It is our prayer that this theme will be acted out in our everyday lives!

On Father’s Day Sunday, we prayed for each Dad as they have been entrusted with the Scriptural and spiritually sobering responsibility of leading their families.  God bless them!

On Sunday, July 1st, we have another Singspiration scheduled for the 6pm worship service followed by a trip to Dairy Queen.

On Sunday, July 8th, we will have our second Friend Day and BBQ of the summer.  There is no evening service that day.

Please note our 21st Anniversary Service is on Sunday, September 16th.  Missionary Pastor Dennis Seely will be preaching at 10am and I will be preaching at 11am.  There will be a large book table and a presentation by Principal Daniel Bousquet of our new Vaughan Baptist Christian Academy.  80 pizzas will be delivered by the end of the service.  We hope you will join us as we celebrate God’s goodness and faithfulness!

Never in our 21 year history have we met with such sickness as our church is undergoing at the present time.  Because our congregation is primarily young and middle-aged, we have not faced the number of serious illnesses that older congregations encounter.  I felt led to teach a 3 part series on “Scriptural Sickness” on Wednesday evenings to help our people understand the Lord’s purpose and plan in the midst of these afflictions.  If you would, please remember specifically the following in prayer: Frank, Valentina, Blair, and Carol.

The Lord has blessed us with a great group of new visitors over the past few months. Of them, five families have been regularly attending.  All the adults have professed salvation with some now scheduled for baptism.

This week, a number of our families are delivering John and Roman booklets to a predominantly Muslim community.  Pray for the salvation of these precious souls for whom Christ died.

On Sunday mornings, Sunday school classes are held at 10am for toddlers, children, teens, and adults.  My adult class is in the midst of a study of the Psalms.  I am continuing my expository preaching series on Sunday mornings through the book of Philippians.  This Sunday, I am continuing a 6 part sermon series on Christian thinking from Philippians 4:6-9 entitled “Protect Your Mind.”  By guarding our thinking, God’s peace will permeate our minds!  On Sunday nights, I am preaching topical messages.  Wednesday evenings are dedicated to our prayer groups and a Bible study.  I am currently teaching an expository study of 1 Kings.  In each of our four regularly scheduled services we have a nursery and children classes.

On Sunday, May 13th, we celebrate Mother’s Day.  We have a potted flower for each mother in attendance.

There is a work night on Friday, May 18th.

On Sunday, May 20th, there is a Singspiration in the evening service.  There will also be a child dedication segment with baptisms to follow.  Right now we have four to be baptized.  Following the evening service, we are off to the Toronto waterfront for an evening of fellowship.

On Friday, May 25th, our ladies are headed to Ajax for the annual Ladies Retreat.

On Saturday, May 26th, there is a church-wide bowling activity.

On Sunday, May 27th, we are having our first Friend Day and BBQ of the year.  There is no evening service that day.

Then, on Thursday evening through Sunday evening, June 7-10, Evangelist Max Alderman will be back with us preaching: Thursday: 7pm; Friday: 7pm; Saturday: 6pm; Sunday: 10am, 11am, 6pm.  We invite you to join us for these soul-stirring services!
May the Lord bless you.  It is solely by God’s grace that all of us are saved and sustained!  God help us to remain faithful to Him in these perilous times!

We began 2012 with our annual Worker’s Banquet in January. About 60 of us packed the “upper room” of a Swiss Chalet restaurant for about three hours where we enjoyed a delicious meal and some good-home fellowship. I preached a message on three marks of the early church that stand as a pattern for us today. It was great time to strengthen and to sustain ourselves in the great work of the Lord.

In early February, we held our annual Marriage Enrichment Fellowship. With 15 couples
present, we spent an afternoon and evening working on our marriages. The topics included “Being Valiant For Our Vows” and “Maintaining Intimacy In Our Marriages.”

On Sunday mornings, I am teaching an expository study of the Psalms to our adult class. The young people’s class begins again on Sunday, March 11th, as Blair returns from an illness. There are children classes and a supervised nursery.

At the Sunday morning worship service, I am preaching an expository sermon series through Philippians. This Sunday will be message #27 from Philippians 3:12-18. Sunday nights are topical sermons. Pastor Hird continues his oversight of all our children at Junior Church. On Wednesday evenings, before we break into prayer groups, I am teaching an expository study of 1 Kings. There are children classes and a supervised nursery at all our services.

On Sunday morning, March 4th, Missionary to Bolivia Jake Wiebe and his wife will be with us. Brother Jake will teach the men at 10am and then preach our morning service. His wife Sharon will teach our ladies at 10am. I have known the Wiebes for many years and you will be blessed by the preaching and teaching of these veteran servants of the Lord.

On Wednesday, April 4th, Missionary Pastor Dennis Seely from Cornerstone Baptist Church in Carbonear, Newfoundland will be our guest preacher for the mid-week service at 7pm. He is always a favourite of our people.

Easter services will be observed on Sunday, April 8th at 11am and 6pm. Sunday school will be held as usual at 10am.

Be sure to mark your calendars for June 7th – 10th. Evangelist Max Alderman will be returning with his wife for a series of meetings. On Thursday evening at 7pm, his wife will meet with our ladies and Brother Max will be with the men. Then he’ll preach on
Friday evening at 7pm, Saturday evening at 6pm, and all day on Sunday.

Our Christian school preparation continues at a high rate of speed! More information will be forthcoming soon.

May the Lord bless you. Let’s continue to work as we wait His coming!

On Sunday, September 18th, we celebrated our 20th anniversary with 302 in attendance.  It was a special celebration service honouring the Lord for what He has done!  Specially engraved commemorative key chains were given to those in attendance.

Since then, its been a busy church schedule including youth activities, men’s BBQ’s, Ladies meetings, and several missionaries coming through.

On Sunday mornings, my expository sermon series through the book of Philippians continues.  Sunday evenings are topical messages.  In the adult Sunday school hour, we are studying the book of Psalms while our mid-week Bible study continues from 1 Kings, followed by prayer groups.

The young peoples Sunday school class continues to meet at 10am along with our other Sunday school classes for the children.  The nursery is always open with a dedicated staff of workers.

This Sunday, November 20th, Evangelist Max Alderman will be preaching at 10am and 11am.  A SingSpiration will be held during the evening service at 6pm.

Our choir and play participants have been very busy preparing for our annual Christmas Cantata to be held on Sunday, December 4th at 11am.  Sunday school is at 10am. Following the Cantata, our families are bringing refreshments for a time of fellowship.  There is no evening service this week.

On Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25th, we will celebrate the birth of our Saviour at the 11am worship hour.  It is the only service that day.

Our midweek Bible study and prayer meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 28th, at 7pm.

On New Years Day, Sunday, January 1, 2012, Sunday school is at 10am and the morning service is at 11am.  I am preaching on “VBC: Vision 2012.”  There will be no evening service this Sunday.

Our annual Worker’s Banquet will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at a restaurant to be named later.

Then, on Saturday, February 4th, we will be holding another Marriage Enrichment Fellowship.  Our couples come for an afternoon and evening of recharging and refreshing their marriages.

The biggest news over the past several months has been the decision by our congregation to start a Christian school.  As many of you know, it has been a burden and prayer request over the years.  But we have waited for God’s timing in undertaking such a monumental task.  By God’s grace and direction, the time has arrived.  Vaughan Baptist Christian Academy will open its doors in September, 2013.  We have already hired Brother Daniel Bousquet to be our Principal.  He will be arriving here this summer and taking a year to set the school up. God has blessed Brother Bousquet with both academic and practical knowledge.  He has a B.A. in English and a Masters degree in Christian School Administration from Pensacola Christian College.  After having taught for two years at Liberty Baptist Academy in Florida, he became their principal.  For the past five years he has been the principal of a Christian school that now enrolls 490 students.  His wife, Jennifer, is my daughter and she, too, has seven years of teaching experience with a Masters degree in English.  Plans have already begun here while we await Brother Bousquet’s arrival.  Many of our parents are excited about having a school for their children.  By God’s grace, this will be an extension of our ministry into the communities around us.  We covet your prayers for the days ahead as we seek to evangelize, edify, and equip student-servants of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Last weekend’s Revival Services with Evangelist Max Alderman were truly a work of God!  Our church family spent weeks in prayer and fasting preparing our hearts for that which only the Holy Spirit could do.  I believe our hearts were primed.  The blessings overflowed our cups: there was great attendance at all five services; the special music was inspirational; the congregational singing was enthusiastic; the preaching was powerful; and the altar was so packed that folks were praying on the front row of pews.  To all of it, we say, to God be the glory!

This past Sunday morning, I continued my expository preaching series through Philippians.  In the evening, before we observed the Lord’s Supper, I preached from 2 Timothy 3 on: “The Lost At The Last Days.”  The teen and children classes were faithfully held at 10am and I continued my expository teaching series through the Psalms in my adult Sunday school class.

Soul winning, visitation, and John & Romans distribution are held each Tuesday.

Our greatest and most necessary service is our Wednesday evening Bible study and prayer meeting at 7pm.  Following the current expository study through 1 Kings, we break into our prayer groups and spend fervent time before the Throne.

This Friday, the men are meeting at Pastor Hird’s home for a BBQ.

Sunday is Father’s Day.  I will be preaching a special sermon to our dads.  On Sunday evening, Brother Blair Cassidy will complete his prophecy preaching series.

On Sunday, June 26th, our Missionary to Italy Frank Maietta will be us at 10am and 11am.

On Sunday, July 3rd, following the evening service, we will hold a baptism service.

On Friday evening, July 8th, there is a work night.

On Sunday, July 10th, we are having a Friend Day and BBQ.  There is no evening service that day.

On Sunday, August 7th, our Missionary to China Eddie Ray will be with us at 10am and 11am.

On Sunday, August 21st, we are having another Friend Day and BBQ.  There is no evening service.

Finally, on Sunday, September 18th, we will celebrate our 20th Anniversary.  There are many special things planned for this day which we will announce in the days ahead.

In my sermon Sunday night on “The Last Days,” part of the sermon focused on Paul’s statement to Timothy that the last days would be “perilous” times.  This word means dangerous and furious. We Christians must be very careful as we walk among the lost in this worldly “mine field.”  God help each of us, in these last days, to be faithful to our Lord and to walk wisely among the lost, knowing when to “turn away” (2 Tim.3:5) from them and when to turn unto them (1 Cor.5:9-10).

This Sunday morning, I continue my expository preaching series through the book of Philippians.  Sunday evening, Deacon Blair Cassidy will be preaching for us.  Wednesday evening’s Bible study continues our studies in 1 Kings followed by prayer groups.

On Sunday, May 8th, we celebrate Mother’s Day.

We are making preparations for our Revival Meetings with Evangelist Max Alderman.  He will be preaching five times in three days.  On Friday evening, June 3rd, the service begins at 7pm; on Saturday evening, the service is at 7pm.  Brother Alderman will preach on Sunday at 10am, 11am, and 6pm.  Our theme is: “Revive Us Again” and we are praying and fasting that God will do that in each of our lives.  This is a community event and we invite anyone and everyone to join us for these Spirit-filled services.

Spring is coming!  We have now entered March and slowly the snow will give way to flowers!  The beauty and majesty of our Creator’s hand is a constant marvel.

We rejoiced over many good things happening during January and February.  We saw folks saved and three Sundays of baptisms.  Some of our own missionaries visited and gave reports of the Lord’s work among them.  We held our annual church business meeting with the election of our church officers for 2011.  Plans and preparations were made to see how we might glorify God in a greater way this year.

The adult Sunday school hour at 10am each Sunday continues with my study examining Calvinism in light of Scriptural salvation.  I’ve entitled the series: “T.U.L.I.P.: The Toxic Flower in the Garden of Truth.”   On Sunday mornings, my expository sermon series from 1 Peter continues from 1 Peter 5:10-11 with this Sunday’s sermon entitled: “The Sacred Work of Suffering.”  On Wednesday evenings, I am leading an expository teaching series through 1 Kings with our prayer groups following.

In spite of the cold temperatures and snowy weather, we have had three teams distributing John and Romans booklets while our regular men’s and women’s soul winning teams have been busy on follow-ups and discipleships.

This Wednesday, Missionary Pastor Dennis Seely from Cornerstone Baptist Church in Carbonear, Newfoundland will be preaching for us.

Sunday evening’s service will open by observing the Lord’s Supper.

On Sunday evening, March 13th, Deacon David Kapauan will be preaching for us.

The week prior to Easter on April 24th, we will be conducting a church-wide Easter flyer distribution to our community.  On Resurrection Sunday, we are praying to see many souls added to heaven’s roll.

We are looking forward to Evangelist Max Alderman being with us for Revival Meetings on June 3-5.
Cottage prayer meetings will be held as we prepare ourselves for the Spirit’s work in each of our lives and the life of our church.

With the world-wide economic crisis and the global social unrest permeating our media outlets, may these events stir our hearts for righteous living in these last days.  May each of us renew our commitments and rededicate these last days to the sobering work the Saviour has entrusted to us!