Month: September 2021

This Sunday we will continue to focus our time together on God’s Grace as we also celebrate the Lord’s Supper together. Yes, as followers of Christ we have all experienced “Failure, Forgiveness and Grace”. God is totally able to take our failures, those times when we mess up, yes, even our acts of sinfulness, and transform them into growth, of holy learning, and righteousness, all through His forgiveness and grace.

And one of the amazing aspects of Grace is that in love, God chooses us to be a part of His family. Take a moment to read the following from Pastor Max Lucado in his book “GRACE: more than we deserve; greater than we imagine”.

My child, I want you in my new Kingdom. I have swept away your offenses like the morning clouds, your sins like the morning mist.

I have redeemed you. The transaction is sealed; the matter is settled.

I, God, have made my choice.

I choose you to be a part of my forever family.

                                                    God

Lucado also writes the following:

“To live as God’s child is to know, at this very instant, that you are loved by your Maker not because you try to please him and succeed, or fail him and apologize, but because he wants to be your Father. Nothing more. All your efforts to win his affection are unnecessary. All your fears of losing his affection are needless. You can no more make him want you than you can convince him to abandon you. The adoption is reversible. You have a place at his table.”

 All by Grace

So, you are invited to come to the table, to eat, to share, to celebrate. But then to also walk in obedience and to invite others to the table as well.

And the table will be wide. And the welcome will be wide.

And the arms will open wide to gather us in. And our hearts will open wide to receive.

And we will come as children who trust there is enough.

And we will come unhindered and free.

And our aching will be met with bread. And our sorrow will be met with wine.

And we will open our hands to the feast without shame.

And we will turn toward each other without fear.

And we will give up our appetite for despair. And we will taste and know of delight.

And we will become bread for a hungering world.

And we will become drink for those who thirst.

And the blessed will become the blessing. And everywhere will be the feast.

                                                                                       Voices Together

Over these next two weeks, the focus of our Sunday worship will be on “Failure, Forgiveness & Grace”. Each of us has experienced failure, we have sinned, BUT God…. As we come to him with confession, He forgives and through His grace redeems and restores. Praise God.

May this be true in your heart and life.

The following prayer speaks so well to the work of God in restoring that which is broken and damaged. May God answer this prayer in each of our lives.

From all that is broken, let there be beauty.

From what is torn, jagged, ripped, frayed,

let there be not just mendings but meetings unimagined.

May the God in whom nothing is wasted

gather up every scrap, every shred and shard,

and make of them new paths, doorways, worlds. 

Amen

Prayer Requests:

·       Pray for leadership of our Christian Ed. program as decisions are made concerning programming this Fall with the uncertainties of Covid. Lord, continue to lead!

·       Grief is a difficult road and different for all who walk it. Thank you for your continued prayers for the many spouses, children, and family members of our church community who are grieving the death of a loved one. Invite God to bring these individuals to your mind; invite Him to guide as to how you may reach out with support, care and love. Pray for God’s peace and comfort in the life of each individual.

·       Continue to pray for Kara as she concludes her sabbatical within the next three weeks. May God provide physical and spiritual  rest and renewal through His presence and place a fresh vision of His call within her heart and mind. We pray Father that you would wrap your arms of love around her.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Psalm 139: 23-24

Failure is very much a part of our life experience. We may have failed that first Driver’s Road Test (yes, that was me); that waterskiing attempt which ended with a huge gulp of lake water and some very sore muscles the next day; or that great Business idea that struggled to a horrible death after months of effort and money. Failure is painful. It can be discouraging and lead to a time of discouragement and depression. But it can also become a time of growth.

Yes, the reason for failure can be as simple as poor planning, a lack of giftedness, or it may be the result of sin in our lives. Our world and the scriptures are full of examples of moral failure and the consequences that result. But failure is not the end of the story. Many times, great success and significant discoveries come after multiple failures. And the same can be true regarding sin. Forgiveness and grace is available through Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection…..what a gift!

The focus of our worship for the next two weeks, as we look to celebrate The Lord’s Supper together on Sunday Oct. 10, will be Failure, Forgiveness and Grace. God is totally able to take our failures, those times when we mess up, yes, even our acts of sinfulness, and transform them into growth, of holy learning, and righteousness, all through His forgiveness and grace.

Read and reflect on the following two examples where the disciples stumbled & failed, and how Christ responded in love.

A.     ³³ They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.

³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

³⁶ He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ³⁷ “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”   Mark 9: 33-37

B.     ⁵⁴ Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. ⁵⁵ And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. ⁵⁶ A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

⁵⁷ But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

⁵⁸ A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied. ⁵⁹ About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

⁶⁰ Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. ⁶¹ The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” ⁶² And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Luke 22: 54-62

[To read Christ’s response of love to Peter, read John 21]

As we enter the Fall season this week, my prayer is that God would reveal His beauty and power to you through all that you see around you. May you know security in His love, peace through His presence, and joy in the reality of His power working in and through you.

May the Son of God, who is already formed in you,

grow in you so that for you he will become immeasurable,

and that in you he will become laughter, exultation,

the fullness of joy which no one will take from you.

VT 1057

Prayer Requests:

·       Thank you for your continued prayers for the many spouses, children, and family members of our church community who are grieving the death of a loved one. Invite God to bring these individuals to your mind; invite Him to guide as to how you may reach out with support, care and love. Pray for God’s peace and presence to reign.

·       Continue to pray for Kara as she continues her sabbatical over these next weeks. May she find deep rest and renewal through the presence of God in her life, and a fresh vision of God’s call on her life in the church

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.  Psalm 100: 1-2

This Sunday morning as we gather for worship (whether for an outdoor service or back at the church), we will spend significant time praying for each other. We will pray for our children as they return to school, for teachers and parents, for Christian Ed. Staff and for all who serve in some capacity in the life and leadership of Wellesley Mennonite Church. We so look forward to having you join us.

The following would be my prayer for each of us as we move into this Fall season.

       May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths,

       and superficial relationships, so that you may seek truth boldly

       and love deep within your heart.

       May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,

       so that you may work tirelessly for justice, freedom, and peace.

       May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with all who suffer from pain,

       rejection, and starvation, so that you may reach out to bring comfort

       and transform pain into joy.

       May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really can make a

       difference in this world, so that you are able, with God’s grace,

       to do what others claim cannot be done.   VT 1058

Prayer Requests:

·       Thank you for praying for the many spouses, children, and family members of our church community who are grieving the death of a loved one. Invite God to bring these individuals to your mind; invite Him to guide as to how you may reach out with support, care and love. Pray for God’s peace and presence to reign.

·       Continue to pray for Kara as she continues her sabbatical over these next six weeks. May she find deep rest and renewal through the presence of God in her life.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” Col. 4:2

Over the past two days we have had some good thunderstorms roll through the KW area. Last night again as we were heading to bed, the drums of thunder were loud, the lightning was flashing, and the rain was being driven against the back wall of the house. I actually enjoy a good thunderstorm, because as a child we would often sit outside on the porch of the old farmhouse and joy in the crashing and the show of lightning. But last night, as was true as a child, I had significant protection. A strong roof over my head, a solid structure around me, protecting me. There was really nothing to fear.

Not so for the disciples as recorded in Mark 4: 35-41. Read the following and sense the terror of the disciples.

³⁵ That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” ³⁶ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷ A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸ Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” ³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” ⁴¹ They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

Can you feel their terror, the fear that literally takes your breath away? Have you walked in their shoes? Maybe not while in a boat on a stormy lake. Your storm involved the word “cancer” coming from the mouth of a doctor, the pink slip from an employer, or the reality that you do not have the funds available to pay the bills at month end, and there appears to be no one to help.

That is what the disciples experienced as well, yet Jesus was right there in the boat with them. “Don’t you care?,” they shouted to Jesus. And what was His response? “Why are you so afraid?” “Do you still have no faith?”

Jesus was right there; He was present, yet the disciples were still overwhelmed with fear. Yes, Jesus is right there in your life and experience today…. right now! He knows exactly what you are facing and in absolute love He says “Peace. Be Still.”

Over the past two weeks, God has brought to my mind Phil 4 again and again. “Do not be anxious about anything….pray.” “And the peace of God…. will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Yes, storms will come. But Jesus is present, and He cares about you because you are His child. “Fear not…Peace be still.”

God Bless you and keep you….

Last evening as the rain at times dumped down, at other times a gentle sprinkle, my mind slipped back to our final song of worship this past Sunday morning. Yes, you remember….”Rain Down”.

Take a few moments to read and meditate on these words:

Rain down, rain down, rain down your love on your people.

Rain down, rain down, rain down your love God of life.

1.     Faithful and true is the word of our God,

All of God’s works are so worthy of trust,

             God’s mercy falls on the just and the right;

             Full of God’s love is the earth.

2.     We who revere and find hope in our God

Live in the kindness and joy of God’s wing.

God will protect us from darkness and death;

God will not leave us to starve.

3.     God of creation, we long for your truth;

You are the water of life that we thirst.

Grant that your love and your peace touch our hearts,

All of our hope lies in you.

Rain down, rain down, rain down your love on your people.

Rain down, rain down, rain down your love God of life.

Oh, how we need God’s love to be poured out in our world. Mental stress, antagonism and frustration with others, anger and bitterness all seems to be the norm around us. But, if we truly believe that last line of verse 3 – “Grant that your love and your peace touch our hearts, all of our hope lies in you.” – then this song should become our daily and consistent prayer.

Invite God to pour His love into your heart and life in such a way that it naturally overflows to all those you connect with, from family, to co-workers, to the cashier at TIMS. And as His love “rains on you”, take the time to observe the changes in brings to those around you, and to you!

All are welcome!

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

Col. 3:23

Let me again encourage you to pray the following simple prayer this week as you start each day…. may you experience God’s amazing peace.

This day, God, may I dream your dreams;

This day, God, may I reflect your love;

This day, God, may I do your work;

This day, God, may I taste your peace.

                    Voices Together #313

Sometimes we struggle to know how to pray for the country of Afghanistan. We grieve for people who continue to wait, hoping to flee to safety. We cry out to you Father for the women and children that today are living in fear of the Taliban, and the repression that potentially lies ahead. We grieve for those families who lost family members in the latest terrorist bombings, both American and Afghani. We also grieve for the many who had hoped to flee their country to safety elsewhere. God, hear our cries, may your power come down and may your will be done. We also pray for those families who have been spirited to safety to a new country and homeland. Lord, may there be individuals and organizations that will step up in love and compassion, providing care as needed. And Lord, if that is a role you are calling us to fill, grant us courage and wisdom

Save us, God, from being self-centered in our prayers,

and teach us to remember to pray for others.

May we be so caught up in love for those for whom we pray

that we may feel their needs as keenly as our own,

and pray for them with imagination, sensitivity, and knowledge.

We ask this in Christ’s name. Amen              Voices Together 1000

Prayer Requests:

·       Thank you for praying for the many spouses, children, and family members of our church community who are grieving the death of a loved one. Invite God to bring these individuals to your mind; invite Him to guide as to how you may reach out with support, care and love. Pray for God’s peace and presence to reign.

·       Continue to pray for Kara as she continues her sabbatical over these next six weeks. May she find deep rest and renewal through the presence of God in her life.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes……”  Eph 6: 10-20

Good morning and welcome to this first day of September. As a former teacher & Principal at the Secondary School level, September 1 always felt like the beginning of a new season.A new school year was about to begin along with a whole lot of time and energy to be given, joys and frustrations experienced….it was all part of the work. This coming weekend as we celebrate Labour Day, we will take some time on Sunday morning to consider our “work”. How does it mirror the work of God in creation? Can our work, our deeds be an offering to God? What does it look like to do all that you do in life “in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him”? Col.3:17

Where do you start? Take a few minutes to read the following portion of scripture from

Col. 1: 15-20 from Voices Together #189.

Christ is the image of the invisible God. Christ is the firstborn of all creation.

Everything was created in Christ, everything in heaven and on earth, everything seen and unseen, including all forces and powers, and all rulers and authorities.

All things were created through Christ, and everything was made for Christ.

Christ is the one who was before all else, and the one in whom everything is held together.

Christ is the head of the body which is the church.

Christ is the very beginning, the first to be raised from death, so as to be above all others.

God was pleased to live fully in Christ. And God was pleased for Christ to make peace through His blood, shed on the cross, so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God.

I invite you to pray for the many needs around the world, families in Louisiana, struggling from the effects of the recent hurricane, the many in Haiti who need assistance after the earthquake, the turmoil in Afghanistan, the elections in Canada etc., as well as for needs within our church community.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”

Col. 3:23