Sunday December 27, 2015

NOTICE

There will be no church service this evening (December 27th) because of the weather.

Stay home, stay safe, be blessed.

Sunday December 20. 2015

Here's some notes from Sunday's service.  (Thanks, Heather)

Merry Christmas to you and yours!! I pray a joyous season! I know for many Christmas is a time to remember loved ones who've passed, or maybe finances are extremely tight this time of the year, or maybe there's bad experiences remembered... I hope something sparks a hope, a love, a faith this 2015 season! We are all in our own battle; be exceptionally kind and compassionate during this Christmas season :)

Something to think about

• Matt 2... Story about Wisemen and shepherds 
• Humans are funny creatures... Want everything fast... Fast Lube, minute rice; if we can't get it first, we want it first.
• At the same time, we don't want change (you want your burger just the same)
• Same in church! We want to prayer right now and get our answer/request.
• If things don't come, we take things into our own hands.
• Shepherds were the lowest of the low; no education, not knowing prophesies, they just went saying 'let's go and see Jesus'
• Wisemen were educated. They went as well.
• People who were trained in the law/prophesies they were so emerged in their traditions that they sent others to see.
• Life is a journey... Like the Wisemen and shepherds, you have to 'GO'.
• If our destination is Christ, our journey will be much more pleasant.

The Message - Natalie MacDonald

• LOVE
• Everyone has their own traditions during the Christmas season... Movies, music, treats, tree, dinners, visiting
• There are some that associate Christmas with pleasant memories... Loss of a loved one, work, abuse
• How did Christmas stray from the Christ child?
• It's now about accumulation of things... And as the Western world, we love our stuff so much that we rent storage units to hold them haha
• Matt 6:19-21 (ESV)
• Luke 12:15
• 1 Timothy 6:9-10
• 2 Cor 9:7
• 1 John 3:17
• It's not about giving the best gift, the more extravagant gift, or many gifts... The true meaning of a Christmas gift is a meaningful gift!
• Read Pastor Todd's article in the bulletin.
• Replace Jesus for 'love' in the love verses in Todd's writing.
• You can READ the Bible, which is a great helpful thing; you can SEE someone practicing the Bible; you can DO what you see and learn with others being taught my your deeds. 
• We are to be Christ-like, and Christ is God, and God is love... Therefore 'I am love'.
• In the 'love' verses, now replace 'I' where love is.
• Are you able to put your name in there?
• We should share this truth, in love, and our example will influence those around you.
• Throughout the WHOLE scripture, there are sprinkles of LOVE. Of course, there are things in the Bible that make us say 'ouch', things we don't like to hear, things on 'stop', 'no', 'change'...
• What if we replaced stress with peace?! Mourning with hope?!
• As advent represents LOVE, JOY, PEACE, HOPE... So is Christ.

Cheers

Sunday December 13, 2015

Some notes from Sunday's service.  (Thanks, Jean)

Sermon notes - Pastor Todd Mac Donald

Theme: JOY

True joy is in the things we cannot see. Joy is Jesus-Others-You. Jesus coming to earth was a fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies. Immanuel means God with us. Jesus is the King of Kings.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

We need to remember Christmas means the celebration of Christ, christ-mas, mass of Christ.

We also need to remember God's timing is perfect, he sent Jesus to this earth the first time at just the right time and he will send Christ to return to this earth again at just the right time. We need to believe in God's providence, Jesus will fulfill every need. We need to remember joy is rarely what we can give materially to others. We can give true joy by simply sharing Christ and our time others. Jesus asks us to die to self and to be born again, to stop sinning, obey and follow Christ.

John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

Instead of buying presents we should be a present. Instead of going out to see the lights we should be a light.

Matthew 5:14. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

There is no need for Christmas stress when we have Jesus. He is all we need and all we need to give to others.

Let us be blessed by the words of Saint Paul wishing joy and peace.

Romans 15:32-33

32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.

33 Now the God of peace be with you all. 

Amen.

Sunday December 6, 2015.

Some notes from Sunday's service.  (Thanks, Heather)

'Tis the season to spread good tidings of great joy! Does that make you outwardly sigh?!  Hmmmm... doesn't that sound like a great sermon intro!! :D 

Please let me note here that I invested in an iPad Air with one of it's purposes of taking notes in church right on this wonderful electronic; no more chicken scratches THEN rewriting my notes. Soooo, if you see me typing away in church, I'm not playing games... Truly, I'm taking notes ;) haha  Here is the fruit that was sown Sunday past...

Something to think about
⁃ Matthew 2... Story of the wise men
⁃ Familiar story, 3 wise man, baby Jesus, manger, shepherds...
⁃ Is that how it really happened?
⁃ Doesn't say 3 wise men, or that they were kings
⁃ They DID come from Persia, and there was a star; which they had agreed to meet there every year.
⁃ Proof is the bones of the Magi are actually in a cathedral today.
⁃ Jesus DID come to the Jews first, He did come to the lowly... shepherds were one of the first to meet Christ.
⁃ The Wise men illustrate many things to us: they weren't satisfied to just SEE... they following, persevered. They rejoiced. They went into the house to see the Baby, not just sit outside
⁃ The came, they persevered, they worshiped,
⁃ We have to persevere to find the treasure after our search

The Message - Pastor Todd
⁃ Peace
⁃ Strife has been going on for YEARS... BUT God says he is our Peace
⁃ Isaiah 9:67
⁃ Christ came to us. Walked with men.
⁃ Why didn't he come as a king? Why did he instead come as a child?
⁃ A child is not threatening! If he came as a warrior, he would be felt as a threat.
⁃ Was there any time God raised his hand to a human? NO. Yes he turned the tables in the temple.
⁃ He's shown on his knees more then anything!
⁃ Woman caught in adultery, instead of a puff-chested and 'I'm going to fix this' attitude, he knelt and started to write something in the ground.
⁃ He knelt down to wash the disciples feet. The fight was not with those 'up-there' but with self/God.
⁃ Just before His death he was on his knees. He didn't get into an argument with God, He just prayed.
⁃ We need to get back on our knees in prayer... offering peace to others.
⁃ Christ does not want to fight... (ex: putting back on disciples ear... or telling Judas to do what he has to do (before betraying Christ).
⁃ Funny how in just ONE swipe from Christ, we could be a 'whipped' slate
⁃ Christ even says Love your enemy as yourself
⁃ Prayer brings a sense of peace
⁃ Mankind has forgotten what makes them happy; giving Christ the opportunity to reign over Satan's schemes.
⁃ He came as a child, nonthreatening, and with no strength... He came in peace
⁃ The 'Christmas Day Truce of 1914', the German and British ceased fire due to Christmas singing and gift-exchanging. In the name of CHRIST.
⁃ Luke 2
⁃ Matt 5:4-11... blessed are those...
⁃ Work toward peace for those around you... but also the peace within you
⁃ John 14:27 (Jesus talking about leaving, before he was crucified)
⁃ Let there be nothing between you and your neighbor
⁃ Before coming before Christ for Communion, lets arrive with peace, releasing issues with Christ. 

Smile... it's contagious!

Heather

* Please note: We WILL be having a Christmas Eve service, Thursday, December 24th from 7-8. 

                                                                   Please bring your family.

______________________________________________________

A note from Todd & Natalie:

Merry Christmas

As you know, we will be pastoring in Sundre AB at the Main Avenue Fellowship Church of the Nazarene starting in January 2016: over two thousand years ago, another couple set out on a journey for a place probably unknown to them. Joseph, being from the line of David, was directed to attend the census in the home his forefathers and, with a very pregnant Mary, they set off on a journey into the unknown. There was no house waiting for them, no guarantee of a place to stay or of provisions and no way to know if Mary would be able to make the trip but He who is all knowing had a plan even though they did not understand it at the time. (Micah 5:2-4 NIV)

The Word, that is Jesus Christ (See John 1:1-2), was about to come from Heaven to abide with all mankind yet those who were bearing the Word did not know why they were being sent. The scriptures from the Old Testament prophesied that He would be born in Bethlehem and He would bring with Him the strength of the Lord. God knew exactly what He was doing when He put the events into play. The powers that be declared a census and had all return to the village of their ancestors yet it was God who orchestrated that event. Mary did not give birth until she arrived in Bethlehem and the birth of the Saviour was in the town of David, witnessed by only the animals of the stable and Joseph. The servants of the land greeted the King of kings and God protected the Prince of Peace from all who would do Him harm. My God works in mysterious ways but in all things He knows what He is doing.

Just after the celebration of Christmas, Natalie and I will begin our journey west and with us we carry the Word of God. We celebrate the opportunity presented by God but wonder why He would call us yet we are obedient. None of us know why God opens or closes doors but I do know we need to trust in Him for our journey. Who could have figured that God would get Mary to Bethlehem by means of the governing body of the day? With that thought in mind, who knows what He has planned for us as we travel west. Lord knows.

Trust in Him and follow His calling on your life, you will never know where He leads you or the purpose of your journey. (Matt 28:19-20)

May you and yours have a very Merry Christmas and may God bless you very richly in 2016 and beyond.

Rev Todd and Natalie MacDonald