To God’s Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
I love John 3 and 4 as Jesus displays the beauty of His love and the purpose of His coming powerfully and interacts with the religious elite and the cultural rejects. So thankful for His love and grace as well as the joy we can have in aligning ourselves with Nicodemus or the woman at the well and experiencing satisfaction in Him. May we find that satisfaction in our relationship with Jesus and in all of life, rest in Him.
Book marks with John 3:17 are now available, and really would love if each of you reading this would take the time to memorize it. It is an amazing verse and an encouragement for us to be those who believe, and KEEP ON BELIEVING! Take the time to watch our Examining the Scriptures on this verse, and to have it in your heart so you grow in your pursuit of holiness (Psalm 119:11). You can pick up these bookmarks from the office when you drop of your tithe, or if you just want to come by.
The news is filled with churches that are choosing to meet in BC during the pandemic against the PHO guidelines. There are three (that I am aware of) that have decided to supersede Romans 13 with their response to the pandemic. I have been asked when we will join them, and our line in the sand is that we will be a church that will continue to obey God’s Word, and not cultural or political pressures, even when they are strong. By this I mean we will obey Romans 13, and supersede it only when the pressures are those seen in Scripture, rather than scientific or social. You can find a much clearer presentation of this online in a civil disobedience message posted earlier. Please keep praying for wisdom for your elders, and unity in God’s family as we seek to follow God’s Word and keep in step with the Spirit in a world filled with chaos. We do long for the day we can gather again, we are working hard to see how we can give our perspective to the PHO and world of the importance and impact we feel the restrictions on the church are having, and we will rejoice with great joy when it is legal for us to meet again!
I heard yesterday that Christmas was cancelled. Well, in spite of a pandemic, and a provincial response you can’t cancel Christmas! So, please take the time to get ready for an amazing Christmas Eve service that is filled with kids singing and the Gospel message (will be made live at 4:00, Christmas Eve, you can watch any time after 4). As well, please go out of your way to love on those who might be alone this Christmas. Bring a gift, send a card, make a phone call, be an encourager, and may this, “different”, Christmas be our best ever as we overflow the love of Jesus to others in need.
Watch For:
- A Membership Class In The New Year
- A Baptism Service (coming soon to a church near you)
- A New Sunday School Class (our last one this year will be on December 13)
- A Prayer Week to kick off the new year, and a focus in the coming year on PRAYER! 2021 we will be a church that prays, and increases in our prayers. Join us for our plans for January and beyond.
- A Mid-week Bible study focused on how we should think and live in the world we now find ourselves in.
I am thankful that God is Sovereign over 2021, and I anticipate if we seek His face, and the power of prayer and living in the Spirit that it could be our most impactful yet. We are still here, serving, loving, and seeking the fame of God's name together! Join us, and we will shine together for Him.
Sunday is Coming:
- Advent Candle #1: HOPE…that is secure.
- Advent Candle #2: LOVE…that can be experienced.
- Advent Candle #3: Joy…Commanded In All Circumstances
Sermon Title: Overflowing Joy
Text: 1 Peter 1:3-10
- What is Christian joy?
- How does it differ from happiness?
- How can you experience joy always?
- Why do you think that joy is such an important theme in God’s Word?
- Why would this have been hard for the readers of Peter’s letter? How is this hard for you?
Privileged to serve you through a pandemic, for your joy
Pastor Rob
Announcements:
Some Connecting Opportunities:
Please check out our online bulletin that is updated every week: Keep Informed
cloverdalebaptistchurch.ca/
ZOOMIN on Sunday mornings for Sunday School
We are continuing our Sunday School: Zooming In on the Christian Life. It is taught by Pastor Ray and Pastor Thomas.
How does this work? You go to the link below to watch the teaching time (about 15 mins), then join the Zoom conversation on Sunday morning from 9:30am - 10:00am. Please email Pastor Thomas to get the zoom link: pastorthomas@
Teaching Video Link:
https://www.
Join us for our ONLINE connection Cafe
Stay informed and stay connected and choose to be an encourager, the people God brings to your mind that need His love through you will miss it if you choose to ignore those promptings (and this one).
Share what God is teaching you, and be a blessing to another family member, as WE ALL NEED IT (Hebrews 3:12-14).
Invite 1, encourage 3....