Aleisha Taylor Van Houten

Yesterday we celebrated the baptism of Aleisha Taylor Van Houten, baby daughter of Mike & Marita.  We welcome baby Aleisha into God's family!

What's in a name?

What's in a name?  Juliette insisted that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.  And yet, there is something more to a name. Scripture says that "there is no other name under heaven...[than the name of Jesus]...by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).  This is the heart of the gospel; there is no other way to God than through Jesus.  This is not an optional thing, this is not one way of many.  Jesus is the only way.  His name is life.  Sunday, Sept 21, 6:00 pm.

Smart enough to teach?

James says that not many of you should become teachers, because teachers will be judged more strictly (James 3:1).   We might not think we are smart enough, or gifted enough, to teach- may of us might not do so well on "Are you Smarter than a 5th Grader?"  And yet, Jesus commands us to go and teach (Matthew 28:20).  As Jesus was commissioned to preach the good news (Luke 4:18, 19), so he now commissions us.  This Sunday we bless our teachers and leaders as they begin a new season.  We will also be blessed as we celebrate both sacraments.  We share the communion meal and we baptize Aleisha Van Houten.  Sunday, Sept 21, 2014, 10 a.m.

Right in front of us!

This Sunday we worship outdoors at the Mount Mary Retreat Centre in Ancaster.  It's going to be a great service where we see that God's good things have been revealed to us, already now (I Corinthians 2:9,10).  It's like a scavenger hunt - finding those things that are right in front of us!

After the service everyone is invited to stay for a picnic lunch.  The weather forecast says it will be sunny but cool.  If that changes and it's rainy on Sunday, the service will move indoors at the church.  Sunday, Sept 14, 10 a.m.

What is our salvation for?

That's our Ed Glasbergen accepting the ice bucket challenge!  It's been great to see "our people," that is, Christians, getting into this.  Too often our salvation is reduced to an exercise in piety and patience - we try to live good lives and wait patiently for the day we leave this world and live with Jesus.  But our salvation is bigger than that.  This Sunday we begin a series that takes us beyond a narrow view of salvation and draws us into God's "oikonomia," his economy for all of creation - "For the Life of the World." I will be drawing on the video series by that name for these messages.  Sunday, September 7, 10 a.m.