January 29, 2012

Pathfinders 9:45 am

Worship 11:00 am

Youth

• Bible Busters, Thursdays 3:30pm
• Purpose Groups, Fridays 3:30pm
• Cornerstone, Fridays 7:00pm

Kids’ Club will start up again on March 7th.

Men’s Bible Study Saturdays at 7:30am

Sunday, February 5th:

• Congregational Meeting at 12:00pm after the service
• Lunch (after the meeting) to support the youth attending CHIC in Tennessee in July
• “Journey” led by Al Zepeda at 6:30pm in the fireside room

Rip’n'Roll Tuesday, February 7th:  3-5pm and 7-9pm (Come to either session or both!)

Snow Days February 24 – 26 …more information to come soon.

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Please Note

• For the most up-to-date event information and new events not mentioned in the bulletin please click on the Calendar on our website homepage or click here for a shortcut!

Cleaning this week:   D. Innes, B. Westerlund, S. Unger

Kids’ Club has returned.  Due to a winter break for some of our staff, calving season for another and the school break in February for the students, we will be suspending Kids’ Club for February.  Kids’ Club will happen at its regular time and place on the following dates:

• January 11, 18, and 25
• March 7, 14, 21, and 28
• April 4, (break for Easter) 18, and 25

We trust you will mark your calendars and this will not be too confusing for anyone.  We enjoy having your students here and trust that they are learning something of value for their life journey.

Judy Nelson for the Kids’ Club staff.

Please phone 594-2670 or 594-2233 with any questions.

Please click here to read Becky’s news, prayer requests, and plans for the upcoming year.

Also here are the links to two videos that Becky made on YouTube…

                     1. Elderly Care
                     2. Day Centres

If you would like to send Becky a message, please take note of her email address at the top of the newsletter.

February 24-26, 2012
SNOW DAZE
More information to come in the new year!

March 2-3, 2012
Free seminars at College Park Covenant Church in Saskatoon
Presented by Steve Burger from the Department of Christian Formation, Chicago.

Friday, March 2, 2012
Seminar: Understanding Children
6:00pm – 9:00pm

Saturday, March 3, 2012
Seminar: Parents as Spiritual Mentors
9:00am – 12:00pm

March 30, 31 and April 1, 2012
A weekend with Bret Widman, teaching on the Psalms, here at the church in Norquay.
Bret Widman is the lead pastor at River Life Covenant Church in Sacramento, California.
Bret previously taught at the Covenant Bible College.

We just received an e-mail from Ray Baloun with the following good news about Kernels of Hope 2011!

The same update and others may be found on Ray’s blog at the link provided below.

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Christmas time is often the time of year that people look forward as a time of visiting with their families and friends and for giving and receiving gifts. Sometimes those gifts are just caring for others that need it more than we do!

This year on Dec 23rd we got our final numbers in for Kernels of Hope. We banded together across the country and even some of our neighbours south of the 49th parallel to join in raising crops to help people in North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa. You likely know that we have been helping these people in this war torn country resettle onto their farmland through helping them attain seed and tools and even fishing equipment so they can once again feed their families and get some extra income to better their lives. The Hudyes of Norquay have been a huge supporter of this project through their unique project called “Helping Feed The World”. This project adds to our virtual farming theme by having actual producers in their area designate the whole production of 10 acres of crop to Kernels of Hope. The crops in many areas were average at best this year but in the Norquay area things were great! Big bushels multiplied by big prices and backed up by big hearts equal an amazing addition once again to Kernels!

The Hudyes are very committed to making a difference this way and they challenged their good friends in Burlington, Colorado to have some producers help out too! They came through big time!

When we add all the components of Kernels together this year, Benefit Projects like the “Wide Open Spaces” Musical by Neelin High School in Brandon, The Ugly Sweater, the Real farmers growing real crops for the donors or the virtual farmers, real farmers donating actual grain to World Relief Canada through the CFGB on behalf of Kernels and the wonderful enthusiasm and funds from “Helping Feed the World” we have raised $100,000 this year! That is a record in our 7 year history! The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) is matching those funds $4 for every $1 we raise. That makes a total of $500,000 for our project in the Congo this year. What a benefit it will be to the people of the Congo. What a Christmas present for me to find this out at this time of year. For my part the giving of time and resources to this project has come back to me as blessings many times over just by having the privelege to farm with all of you and to make a difference that can last for generations. We are truly blessed in North America. Thanks so much for farming in what ever fashion you did this year if you were able … We are going to farm again in 2012!

Stay tuned for how we can once again turn something little like a seed into a life changing program for them and for us! Grow with us again! 

If you want to see more of what happened this year go to www.kernelsofhope.blogspot.com

Blessings in 2012 from Ray the Grain Guy!

Photo Credit: Kurt Kirchmeier

As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’”

The “voice of one calling in the desert” that Isaiah prophesied was the voice of John the Baptist. In John’s day, before a King took a trip, messengers would tell those he was planning to visit to prepare the roads for him. Similarly John told his listeners to make their lives ready so the Lord could come to them.

To prepare for Jesus’ coming to us, we must prepare our hearts and minds to receive him. With humility and repentance, we can straighten the crooked paths in our lives and renew our commitment to God.

Photo Credit: Lisa Ratcliffe

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy… For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

In a time of great darkness, God promised to send a light who would shine on everyone living in the shadow of death.

This message of hope was fulfilled in the birth of Christ. 

Jesus came to deliver all people from their slavery to sin. He is truly the light of the world who came to show us the way. May his light shine within us and overflow to reach others for his glory.

Photo Credit: Warren Lynn

And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In Romans 15, Paul teaches that we should accept one another as Christ accepted us, that then God would be glorified. He reminds us that Christ came as a servant to the Jews and for the Gentiles just as Isaiah had prophesied. And we are to have his attitude of love towards others.

Jesus is our hope and we can rest in the joy and peace that he brings.

Photo Credit: Daniel Burton

O Bethlehem of Judah, you are not just a lowly village in Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.

Matthew often quoted Old Testament prophets. This prophesy, paraphrasing Micah 5:2, had been delivered seven centuries earlier. Most religious leaders believed in a literal fulfillment of all Old Testament prophesy, they believed the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, but ironically, when Jesus was born, these same religous leaders became his greatest enemies. When the Messiah for whom they had been waiting finally came, they didn’t recognize him.

In Micah 5: 4-5, the prophesy continues “He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace.”

In one of Jesus’ final talks, as quoted from John 14:27, Jesus said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives gives us a deep and lasting peace. Unlike worldly peace which is usually defined as absence of conflict, this peace is confident assurance no matter what the circumstances. With Christ’s peace we have no need to fear the present or the future. Sin, fear, uncertainty, doubt and other forces may try to unsettle us but the peace of God moves into our hearts to overcome these forces and offer comfort in place of conflict. Jesus says he will give us that peace if we are willing to accept it from him.

Thank you God for the gift of your son, Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Just one year after it was discovered in Haiti and just shy of a year of when Eben-ezer Clinic accepted its first patient, cholera is on the rise again.

Since November of last year, the Eben-ezer Clinic cholera treatment centre (CTC) has treated approximately 3,000 patients. After the initial outbreak, the number of cases began to decrease steadily in the new year and by March or April, the CTC was treating less than 10 patients a day. Over the spring and summer months, the CTC remained open to treat 3 or 4 patients per day with staff from Eben-ezer Clinic and nurses provided by the Ministry of Public Health in Haiti.

In the past couple of weeks, the number of cases began to increase to about 20 by last week. Over this past weekend, the numbers surged and we are currently treating 60 patients.

We cannot do this alone. Over the past year, we have received generous financial support from several organizations and individuals in Canada, the United States as well as Doctors without Borders and the Haitian Government and we are grateful. To continue to operate the CTC and provide quality care, we are asking again for your financial support.

We need to increase the number of nurses and support staff in the CTC to ensure quality of care for our patients. Cholera is a treatable disease if caught early enough and given the proper attention.

The Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada, one of Eben-ezer Clinic’s partners, is accepting donations for cholera relief. To make a donation by cheque, please make it payable to:

Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada
PO Box 34025, RPO Fort Richmond
Winnipeg, MB R3T 5T5

Please include a note that it is for Haiti Cholera Relief.

To donate online, please follow the link…

http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=s12866 

and designate your gift to “Haiti Clinic” from the drop down box and write “cholera relief” in the comment box.

Tax receipts will be provided.

Please pray for the patients and as well as the staff and board of Eben-ezer Clinic as we face this challenge again.

Blessings,
Janelle Peterson