E-Bulletins

see our Ministry and Service page for more information.  And in the meantime, for those of you missing consistent help in the church office, I'm definitely with you there, so please join me in prayer that our vacancy will be filled soon with someone who will understand the unique personality and needs of our congregation and join us in ministry.  Thanks for your prayers and your patience during this time!

Oct 26, 2008 at 8:06 AM

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Confessing Our Faith

some said yes, we need a written confession so we are clear about what we believe as a church, so we can teach our children and new people, so people will know who we are. On the other hand, some said, no, we don’t need a written confession because if people want to know who we are, they should spend time with us and read the Bible—that’s all we need. In the Mennonite Church, we do have a written confession of faith, but we face some of the same issues—yes, a written summary is handy to be clear about what we believe and teach others, but we need to remember it’s just a summary—we can’t contain God in 24 articles of faith. In our worship today, it’s even more of a challenge since we are using just a summary of the summary. But how ever partial and incomplete this might be, in word and song, and in our new member testimonies this morning, we make our confession.

Oct 26, 2008 at 8:05 AM

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Test-Driving a Hybrid

I spent the first part of our short drive saying “I’m scared to drive this car!” It was so new it still had plastic on the hood of the car and on the seats. Instead of unlocking the door with a key, the key-tab unlocked the door automatically when it was still in Gary’s pocket. The car started with the push of a button. It was ultra-quiet as I drove slowly around the automall since it uses the gas motor only when necessary. I can see why people call driving a Prius like being in Star Trek—especially compared to the manual windows, manual door locks, manual everything that I’ve been used to! Everything seemed so foreign it was like being on another planet! But in the end, my test drive became more fun than scary, and now I know I’ll love our new car! But I haven’t totally forsaken my love for Saturns—for practical reasons, we’ve decided to insure our 2000 Saturn “Blackberry” for me to drive for church, with Gary mainly driving the Prius as soon as we take delivery next week!

Oct 16, 2008 at 7:09 PM

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Peace in the Public Square

General Secretary Robert J. Suderman participated in a recent meeting with President Ahmadinejad of Iran.  To hear more about this controversial meeting, and to further think through the possibilities of interfaith bridge-building, please visit www.mennonitechurch.ca/tiny/794

Oct 16, 2008 at 6:52 PM

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A Day at Cedar Springs

- Gary was able to come with me, since he did not have any classes to teach that day and was able to prepare for his Thursday classes ahead of time
- it was a gorgeous day for a drive and no line-ups at the border on our way to Cedar Springs Retreat Centre just outside of Sumas, Washington
- there was time to visit informally with other pastors and spouses who were able to attend—it was good to see them personally and also to catch up on church news from other parts of BC
- worship was led by Tim Kuepfer from Peace Mennonite Church and by Rob Brown (one of my former students at Columbia Bible College!) from Eden Mennonite Church
- Tim shared about the spiritual discipline of Scripture memorization, and I thought about perhaps memorizing Scripture as a church during Lent this coming year—some already have the tradition of giving up something for Lent, last year in a sermon I shared how some people also add something for Lent (like a friend of mine who gave up desserts and added reading a psalm each day), so perhaps we as a church could add Scripture memory during those few weeks
- communion was by tincture (i.e., dipping the bread in the juice) which I confess is not usually my preferred mode of communion, but at that time God also made me very aware that not everything in life is what we prefer--those I know who are waiting results of medical tests or facing surgery or dealing with clinical depression or anxious over finances or experiencing stress with their children or struggling with many other things would prefer life to be some other way!—and yet God is with us in the midst of everything, which is a great comfort and strength.
- we carpooled with Monika who also seemed to thoroughly enjoy her first time at Cedar Springs
- the three of us were very glad we went, and even though it was only for the one day, we returned refresh . . . . thank you God for a good day!
 

Oct 10, 2008 at 9:12 AM

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Oct. 5 Sermon: God's Gifts to the Church

focusing more narrowly on specific committees and tasks within the church, they tried to think more broadly of the wide variety of different gifts that God gives.  And instead of focusing discernment on a small committee, they sought ways to draw on the discernment of the gathered congregation in worship.  I was very excited to share this with our own Nominations Committee, and tomorrow's worship has grown out of this, with my sermon on Ephesians 4:7-16 followed by a discernment time.  I look forward to how God will speak to and through us as a church!  

Oct 4, 2008 at 7:14 AM

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In Praise of Libraries

- The Mennonite which used to be left in the waiting area by the church offices, but now circulates from the library.  Some of the news in this U.S. version overlaps with the Canadian Mennonite which is part of our every-home plan, but all of the articles are original

- Leader which has a very helpful article on Anabaptist worship in the Fall 2008 issue that I’ve shared with our Worship Committee

- Timbrel: women in conversation together with God which focuses on creation care for its July/August issue

- Faith Today which has an article on Canadian hymns (like What a Friend We Have In Jesus, Breathe on Me Breath of God, which I didn’t know were uniquely Canadian)

This is just a small selection of what's available...there seems to be something for everyone in our church library--even if you don't love libraries quite as much as I do!

Oct 3, 2008 at 9:00 AM

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