To God’s Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
It has been a year since we were asked not to meet physically as a church, and it has been a very difficult year! The week we shut down I had been assured, and shared that assurance that this was not a huge deal…and yet it has been. I MISS GATHERING with you, as commanded by God, physically, "and all the more as the day approaches!"
The church is ESSENTIAL, and not being able to meet together for a year has hurt our physical, spiritual and emotional health! WE NEED EACH OTHER! I am so thankful that our church family has worked hard at staying connected and long for the day (hoping and believing it is soon) when this will be a memory where we look at what God was doing in this time (Romans 8:28-29). We have sought to courageously believe and follow God's Word (1 Peter 2:13-17), even as we have longed to get back together safely. We are conscious of our reputation in the community and responsibility to LOVE one another (1 Peter 2:11-12, 4:8) as we seek to respond in difficult times.
Many of you have asked if we as a church have written or engaged with government on allowing us to meet safely sooner, and the answer is yes. We have personally, and as a church sent letters, gone to meetings, and joined others (Northview and a group of larger churches, as well as TGC Canada, and more) in petitioning for the ability to gather physically in compliance with the PHO as soon as possible. We do not believe that churches have been targeted unfairly, we DO BELIEVE that church is a lot more important than is currently understood by politicians/PHO (and we are not surprised or offended by this). We will continue to petition God (MOST IMPORTANT BY FAR), and others for our ability to re-engage safely AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Please keep praying, staying united, and hoping with us that the end is near, and …. Continue to honour our Saviour as a part of this family that believes that the LOCAL CHURCH IS ESSENTIAL and God's Word shows us how to follow Him in difficult times!
There is much to be concerned about, and in prayer for, as a church family. The latest bill that has been passed in Canada (March 11, Bill C-7) is one that devalues life, and is extending the dangers of doctor assisted suicide to include those it previously did not. It is horrifying to me that we as a nation are not affirming the sanctity and dignity of every human life, especially the VULNERABLE who are struggling with mental or physical illness and all that comes with that, and those who are defined as being disabled. Please pray that the Gospel would so transform the church, that our impact on the world would be to protect those who need it, and to value all life from the womb to the grave as made in the image of God, and as such His, to declare the value of, rather than ours to kill.
News That Impacts Our Church Family:
PRAYER MEETING: We will be having a church-wide prayer meeting on Thursday night at 7:00. That is this coming Thursday, March 18. Please contact ken@cloverdalebaptist.ca to join in this zoom meeting.
Sunday Is Coming:
Title: A Worthy Hero
Text: Romans 15-16; 1 Corinthians 11:1
- Who would you say your hero is?
- What makes them your hero?
- Why is Paul to be someone we follow and seek to emulate?
- What from Romans can we learn about him that we should be more like?
- How can we make sure that we truly follow God as our PRIMARY hero, even as we learn from others how to follow Him?
Excited to gather with you together soon, waiting with eager anticipation for our Lord’s return, and pleased to be your servant for HIM,
Pastor Rob
Other:
Please check out our online bulletin that is updated every week: Keep Informed
cloverdalebaptistchurch.ca/
Other:
Please help our search committee as they look for the man of God that will help us exalt His name in song and deepen our love for Him as we celebrate His greatness together. We long for God's man for the ministry, and would like this to be sooner than later (our timing), so please pray, and help us to pursue this patiently and in God's POWER! If you know of anyone...please share with them this amazing opportunity and have them apply!
Every Sunday we have CONNECTION CAFÉ: Join us before the service in a time of sharing what God is doing. We need to try significantly harder to stay connected during times like these, so please make this effort to connect!
Sunday School Is On!
Pastor Ray and Pastor Thomas are teaching on Radical, starting this Sunday....
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: (you can review the excellent material here, as well as watch the newest release so that you can join us in this)
https://www.
Kids ministry is seeking to serve you
And help in discipling our children and families even though we are not gathering physically. Please take advantage of this, and continue to make church a priority that your children can see and taste!
Thanks all for staying informed, and for being a family who has a positive impact for God's glory and the good of His church in the world He has sovereignly placed us.