Pastor's Message
Ricardo Gouvea writes: ‘As a first-year seminarian, I was invited to preach at a local church--only my second time in the pulpit. I was extremely nervous when the big day arrived. After asking the congregation to stand, I read the Scripture, led in prayer, and then launched into my sermon.
Five minutes later, the church's pastor started walking toward the pulpit. "I'm not finished," I said in a low voice. "Take as long as you want," he replied, "but please tell the congregation they may sit down!"
Daylight Savings Time: commences on March 13. Remember to set your clocks forward.
The Annual General Meeting of West Vancouver Baptist Church will be held after the morning service on Sunday, March 27, 2022, in the Sanctuary to consider and vote on the contents of the 2021 Annual Report, to elect Councillors and a Nominating Committee member, and to make a By-law amendment.
For Council: Debra Ames, Les Nasserden, Ken Radant, and Joanna Roork (second 3-year term). For Nominating Committee: Alison Campbell.
Notice of proposed By-law change to be voted on at the WVBC AGM on March 27, 2022. As the Nominating Committee has so far been unable to fill the position of Treasurer (Don Hill’s second term expires at the 2022 AGM), Council proposes the following By-law amendment:
By-law 3.I – Elected Positions. That an additional paragraph, number 7, be added as follows: “In the event that no qualified candidate can be found to fill the Treasurer’s position, the Treasurer’s term may be extended for a further year. Should a candidate be found during that year, that person may take the Treasurer’s position on Council, may stand for election at the next AGM, and would be eligible to serve two terms on Council.”
The Agenda and Resolutions will be in the 2021 Annual Report which will be available after the church service on March 20. If you require a hard copy by mail, please contact the church office.
Additional nomination for Council - for the March 27 2022 AGM. Virginia Jack Bell is nominating Tom Walker for Council, with Lindsay Forsyth seconding . Tom has agreed to serve if elected. His bio is attached to the weekly email. Contact the office if you do not receive the weekly email and wish to view Tom's biography.
Identity Statement Discussion, Session 1, March 16: our postponed meeting with Gerry Teichrob facilitating, will be on Wednesday, March 16 in the sanctuary and on Zoom (use the Mandarin Service link on the website home page) and the topics will include:
- Review of Canadian Baptist previous resolutions 1959-2017 (see CBWC website under Assembly Resources)
- Review Motion 1 with related questions
- Review FAQ’s (see CBWC website under Assembly Resources)
- Open time for questions on the process leading up to the Identity Statement
We will assume that attenders have read the Identity Statement. You can view the full program for the evening under ‘News’ on the church website. We’ll be having a prayer time after the Sunday service focusing on the Identity Statement.
Membership: Council would like to warmly recommend Dave Baillie for church membership. Please advise Hilary Blair at hilarykblair@telus.net if you have any objections.
Prayer Room: following the work done by our insurance company, the prayer room below the adult lounge is now available.
Technical support: with the increased variety of communication methods, our technical resources are stretched. If you feel called to help, don’t hesitate to contact Neil Bell, Don Hill, or Judy Thompson.
Ukraine: a Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) is headed to Poland to assess how they can meet the needs of those fleeing for safety. Additional teams are prepared to go to other surrounding countries. Their teams will work alongside local churches and ministry partners to meet the urgent needs of displaced families crossing the border into areas of Poland and other surrounding countries. You can give on their website under ‘News’. If you prefer, CBM also has a site for Ukraine Emergency Relief. Their website details are also under ‘News’.
Daylight Savings Time commences on March 13. Clocks will go forward!
Day off: please note that Friday is Pastor Chris’ day off, though he is always available in emergency situations.
We ask that the unvaccinated sit in the blue chairs on the left-hand side of the sanctuary as you face the front, and the vaccinated sit in the pews. We also ask that the unvaccinated arrive and leave via Neil Bell’s office on the left side of the sanctuary.
If you feel uncomfortable, the vaccinated may wish to sit further back in the sanctuary, as the worship team will have both vaccinated and unvaccinated
Masks are still required for all in our in-person services. They may be temporarily removed when physical distancing if you are partaking in communion, and if you are ‘officiating’ – emcee, giving announcements, leading prayer, calls to worship, benediction, spotlights on ministry presentations, preaching, scripture reading - and if you are the lead singer of a song or hymn.
We aren’t yet having refreshments after the service, but the vaccinated may fellowship in the foyer. You can still watch the Livestream. And the Mandarin group can log on to ZOOM to hear the translated message.
Events
Mark your calendars for these great events coming up.
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