Pastor's Message - By Pastor Bob Bahr
Dear Friends,
I’m writing this Christmas note while sitting in front of the warm fireplace in our family room here in Walnut Grove. This morning I spent a couple of hours helping to clear the driveways of the people living in our complex. It’s been years since we have had the volume of snow that fell last night. Truly beautiful. Holly loves it.
As I settled down to write I’m conscious that the greatest thing we need in our lives, this and every season, is to know that God the Father is with us. This surely is the message of Christmas and thus the message of our faith. I love the way one writer put it: “What begins in the stable ends in our salvation. That is why we celebrate Christmas, and it’s the best and only reason the human heart needs” (Charles J. Chaput).
Jesus is with us! Jesus is not only the Babe of Bethlehem, He is also the Son of God who was born to live for our righteousness, and to die for our sins.
Christ is the missing piece to life. Without Him our lives are incomplete. With Him our lives, even in their most complex or disappointing parts, make sense.
Marleen and I personally look forward to being present with you on Christmas Day and she joins me in praying that you might be touched anew by the wonder of God’s relentless love and grace.
Office Holiday Closure: The office will be closed from December 26 to January 2. Email and voicemail will be checked daily.
Volunteers needed for the technical team: We are looking for volunteers to help the tech team on Sunday mornings. Computer experience would be helpful and training will be provided. For more information email wvbc@westvanbaptist.com or call the office 604.922.0911.
Year-End Donations: Just a reminder that tithes and offerings for 2022 must be in the office by December 31, 2022, or postmarked no later than the same date. Charitable tax receipts will be available once the year-end financials have been closed, but no later than mid-February. If you want to know what your year-to-date giving is, please call or email Judy Thompson, she is in the office on Mondays from 10am to 2pm. Or email jthompson@westvanbaptist.com.
We will be sending out the charitable tax receipts by email again this year. If we don’t have an email on our database the receipt will be mailed or available for pick-up in the office. If you need more envelopes please contact the office at 604.922.0911. If you want to know how much you have donated so far this year send Judy an email or give her a call on Mondays only. Thank you for your support for the ministry of our church.
Council Email: if you have any thoughts for Council, please send them to a special Email we’ve created council@westvanbaptist.com. This will be reviewed on a regular basis.
Events
Mark your calendars for these great events coming up.
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