Pastor's Message - Bob Bahr
It’s good just to connect on a blustery and wet Thursday morning.
As we look ahead to the week before us I’m grateful for the staff we have here at West Vancouver Baptist. They are capable and gifted people who all have a heart for the kingdom. Please pray for Neil Bell who broke a rib while on holiday and is in a fair amount of pain at the moment.
Personally, I want to thank Ross Lockhart for his inspirational message last Sunday. He spoke on the astrologers from the east who came to worship the Christ child. He reminded us that last Sunday was also Epiphany Sunday. The word epiphany means a moment of sudden and special revelation.
An encounter with Christ is always an epiphany moment and, the result of such a moment is transformational. For the travelers from the east, it led them “to return to their own country by another route.” Matt.2:12 NLT
This is my prayer for our church this year. May we have an encounter with Christ which leads us on a faith journey which both new and exciting. May He go before us and lead us to embark on a journey home by a different route. A journey together that is beyond our wildest expectations - with new sights, new experiences, and new ways of doing things.
This Sunday I will begin a three-part series from Ephesians where I will examine what it means to be The Church. I will examine God’s vision for the Church, as God’s masterpiece which He has put on display before a jaded and skeptical world. A model of what life looks like under his Kingdom rule. Indeed, revolutionary and exciting.
Please read through Ephesians in preparation for these messages.
YOUTH MOVIE NIGHT - Friday, January 20 - pizza and a movie with your friends. All youth are welcome. See our website for more details.
55+ LUNCHEON - January 20 from 12pm to 2pm. Guest Speaker is Deb Chemlaukdas from Better Brains. Sign up in the foyer on Sunday or on our website under “Events”. The last day to register is Monday, January 16.
The Joy of Serving God: Gifted – that’s you! Uniquely equipped to help build up the body of Christ. As a follower of Jesus Christ, serving others is an integral part of your identity and an important key to your personal growth. But how do you cultivate a servant’s heart and your spiritual gifts in ways that build up your church, your family, your friends, and your world without wiping you out in the process?
Join Pastor Chris at 9.00 am. on Sundays in the Adult Lounge from January 29 for a weekly eight-session course that will help us abide in Christ, and experience freshness and vitality that grows as we give. The course will help you understand your gifts and you’ll discover the joy of serving with others – doing together what you cannot do alone. It will require some homework each week. The cost of hard copy materials, which will be ordered by the office, is $26, though Kindle versions are $8. Please sign up on the WEBSITE or with Tracey at tracey@westvanbaptist.com or Pastor Chris at chris@westvanbaptist.com. by January 22.
Small Groups: Please note that our church is looking for people willing to host or join a Small Group. Some groups that began in September are now at capacity and we have members on a waiting list. Small groups allow wonderful opportunities for spiritual growth and deepening relationships in a way that is not possible in larger settings. It is not necessary for hosts to be bible experts. There are many church resources available for support. Please contact Debra Ames for her contact information please call the office at 604.922.0911.
Update Contact Information: Please update your contact information so that we can keep our records current and ensure that you don’t miss out on any communication. Email tracey@westvanbaptist.com
Events
Mark your calendars for these great events coming up.
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