Dear Emmanuel Family & Friends,

A few words

Thanks to everyone who came out to pray during at least one of the 15 prayer times during this week's Week of Prayer.  We know that some of you couldn't join us, but you prayed at home, work or school.  Seeking the Lord together on behalf of our church is truly one of the most vital things that we can do.  It is one of the ways that we acknowledge our need of Jesus in every area of our lives and ministries.  May He do things in us, through us and among us that only He can receive the credit for!

After-Words

Last Sunday was the first Sunday of Epiphany.  Matthew 2:1-12 recounts the visit of the magi from the east to worship Jesus.  These pagan wise men were led by God to find the promised King of the Jews.  They laid precious gifts at His feet in worship, symbolizing His royalty, divinity and humanity.  They remind us that Jesus came for everyone — from everywhere.  We pray for missions, go on mission trips and support missionaries as we remember that Jesus told us to make disciples of all nations (people groups).  Have you considered how you might be a part of sharing the Gospel with the entire world?

Fore-Words

This Sunday is the second Sunday of Epiphany.  We'll be Studying Matthew 3:11-17, the baptism of Jesus by John the baptizer.  Why would Jesus, the only sinless person who ever lived, need to be baptized?  We'll look at some possible answers together this Sunday.

Please pray for all three services this coming Sunday (9:30 & 11:15 am and the Connection at 6:00 pm.)

Grateful that we're on this faith-journey together,

Lou

Dear Emmanuel Family & Friends,

A few words

It's hard to believe that it's already 2015, but it came without our permission or preparedness (or lack of preparation!).  Time does that.  It moves forward regardless of how we feel about it. 

God has given each of us the same number of minutes, hours, days, weeks, months and years as everyone else.  How we choose to invest our time is an indicator of what we really believe about ourselves, others and God.  I want to encourage you to pray about how you will invest that priceless commodity known as “time” in the year ahead.  We can't alter how we spent last year, but we can decide how we'll use our time in the days ahead.

Please join us for at least one of the 15 prayer slots during the Week of Prayer next week.  We'll meet Monday through Friday at 7:15 am, 12:15 pm or 7:15 pm each day for 30 minutes each time.  We'll seek the Lord together for His direction, His blessing, His empowerment and a growing awareness of His presence among us.  Seeking the Lord together is a wonderful investment of the time He's given us.  Hopefully you'll be able to join us.

After-Words

Luke 5:1-11 is the account of the calling of Peter, James and John to follow Jesus and become “fishers of people.”  These men left everything to become disciples of Jesus.  They literally gave themselves to the Lord.  Although they stumbled at times as they walked with Jesus, they grew in their understanding of His character, His love and the way He lived life.  Though they were uneducated and ordinary people like you and me, God used them to help transform the world for eternity.

Jesus still wants us!  He came to the people that He created because He loves us.  The fruit that we bare for Jesus is a by-product of His Spirit working in and through us.  The greatest gift that we can give Jesus is to surrender our lives to Him because we love Him in response to His love for us.  Nothing held back.

If you still have questions about what it means to know and walk with Jesus, please give one of the pastors a call so that we might have a conversation with you.  We're on this journey of walking with Jesus with you.  We're still growing and learning with you along the way.

Fore-Words

This Sunday is the first Sunday of Epiphany.  We will be studying Matthew 2:1-12, where wise men (magi) from the East came to bring precious gifts to Jesus.  Although these men were non-Jewish astrologers (a practice forbidden in the Old Testament), God used them to remind us that He came for all people, of all cultures and lands.  God's heart is for the nations of the world and all people to know and worship Him.  He invites us to be a part of His plan for His Kingdom to continue to unfold locally and around the world.

Please pray for all three services this coming Sunday (9:30 & 11:15 am and the Connection at 6:00 pm.)

Trying daily to surrender all of me to all of Him,

Lou

lou@emmanuelbaptist.ca

Dear Emmanuel Family & Friends, 

A few words

The warm weather and melting snow are a welcomed change, but bring slush, slippery roads, slips, falls and accidents.  It is a reminder that life is filled with both blessings and trials, whether we are followers of Jesus or staunch atheists.  For those of us who have experienced the love and grace of Jesus, I want to encourage you to thank God for His blessings and remember that He is right beside us in our difficult times.  How we respond to both our blessings and troubles are clear reflections of what we truly believe.  

This Advent season, let's focus on the One who Himself is the gift that should cause us to overflow with gratitude, worship and love.  Expressions of that worship include showing love and grace towards others.  Everything else this season is just decoration. 

After-Words

Isaiah 9:6-7 tells us that our Messiah is Emmanuel (God with us) and the Prince of Peace.  He came to a spiritually dark world that neither expected or welcomed Him.  He doesn't come to drop off peace, as if it were one of the good things that He has for us.  Instead, the peace of God overflows from the presence of God in our lives.  When we allow Him to fill us through His Holy Spirit as we walk in intimacy with Him, He brings peace even in turmoil.  He rarely causes our problems to disappear, but always promises His presence to see us through even the fiercest of trials.  Welcome Him into your struggles and lack of direction.  As we worship Him for who He is, He gives us His peace that is beyond understanding.     

Fore-Words

This third Sunday of Advent, we will focus on the gift of joy that God brings through Jesus.  Brendon will be teaching from the 35^th chapter of Isaiah, where God brings life and joy to people who have experienced the parched and arid desert wilderness.  Come expecting your joy to increase as we worship the One who exchanges our mourning and sorrow for everlasting joy. 

Your prayers for our worship this Sunday (both the morning and Connection services) are always deeply appreciated. 

Check out Christmas happenings (available in the church foyer) and invite friends, neighbours and family to one of our 3 Christmas Eve services (6:00 pm; 9:00 & 11:00 pm). 

Grateful that no one can take Christ out of Christmas,

Lou