To God’s Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
Merry Christmas!
This week we celebrate the coming of Jesus as precious and powerful life-changing history! As you take the time to love on your family and worship your King, take the time to love those around you.
Great News: We can still hold our services, and welcome all who are willing to mask. What a small price to pay to gather together and celebrate the greatness of Jesus. So thankful that we are still getting special favour in comparison to so many others restricted way beyond this, at this time of year.
Authentic Christians are needed this year to show the love of Jesus in the midst of so much noise and focus on so many other things! Find someone to share the love of Jesus with, and show them the difference He is making in your life, and through you theirs!
I praise God we are doing this well as a church:
- Thankful for all who invited friends and family to our service on Joy, and kids singing and telling the story of the Gospel.
- Thankful for a team that loves Jesus and serves Him even in changing times filled with confusion and conflict (well done Robyn and Hannah)
- Thankful for our evangelism training time that had more people at it than ever before. Exciting that so many long to share the Gospel and do it well.
- Thankful that we are serving at Cloverdale Kitchen, and seeking to display God’s love actively and with servant hearts. We were concerned that during COVID people would not join us and we have enough for two shifts and a display of God’s love powerful through His people at CBC…engaged in partnership in the Gospel.
- Thankful for our largest ever Young Adults banquet, and the desire they have to invite friends, include them, and share of the love of Jesus (well done Roby).
- Thankful for the an amazing Youth banquet, that was better attended than pre-covid.
- Thankful for our Hamper program, again your gifts have been overwhelming and to share food and gifts in the name of Jesus such a pleasure. Again, the way we are generous is on display, and Pastor Thomas and Ray delivered this love on our behalf!
- Thankful for so many who have engaged in prayer for opportunities to use this season and the worlds situation to share the goodness of Jesus in the Gospel story!
- Thankful for so many sacrificing comfort and convenience, and even their worldly views for the good of the church of Jesus at CBC, and the glory of God.
- Thankful for Global Children’s Network, and Malachi kids, founded by one of our elders, and reaching over 555,000 children world-wide and growing (amazing fruit from God’s work through His people at CBC)! Yes, you read that right, 555000...
- Thankful we can trust God, stay focused on Him, and find unity in the midst of so much destruction and disunity in the Bible and basking in God’s love. KEEP IT UP!
- Thankful for Christmas season, and so many of us sharing the Gospel and praying for an open door, open hearts and open mouths!
- Many of you have brought friends, and shared how meaningful it has been for them. Well done, keep it up!
- Thankful for Cloverdale Baptist Church!
Reminder: For all of our services, masks are now mandated for all spaces indoors, including the sanctuary.
This means we would ask that all who attend wear their masks unless eating or drinking and keep them on while indoors. Thank you for your humility and love in doing this, we know for some of us, it is inconvenient, even painful but as elders, we think well worth it to keep on meeting.
Reminder that we have a Christmas Eve special service where we rejoice in the meaning of the season. We will begin at 5:30 with a special time of music and fellowship, and then gather in the sanctuary from 6-7.
Reminder that we will begin our year in prayer, and encourage you to join us for a week of prayer and pursuit of God and His glory!
Reminder: Membership Class begins in early January. Sign up and learn what the Bible teaches about belonging to a church family, and the privileges and service that go with this from His Word.
There is so much to be thankful for! Make sure to let thanksgiving dominate your conversation, and what a great reminder that God is at work in us and through us, and accomplishing His purposes even when we struggle to see Him. WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE! HIS LOVE IS NOT BOUND!
Sunday is Coming
Jesus Makes A Difference: Ownership
Text: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21
- Why is it so important to know that Jesus is LORD?
- How do you show that Jesus is your LORD?
- What do you think it means to make it your goal to please Christ in your life?
- Why do you think this is so hard for those in our culture? Luke 9:23; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 1:21
- How can you point to Jesus?
- Why is this one of the most important things you can do with your life?
- Why is your identity in Christ significant?
- What can you do this week (and beyond) to live on Jesus mission for you?
Merry Christmas!
So blessed to be in this family, and longing to see many come to know our God and conform to His likeness with us!
Your servant and His,
Pastor Rob