Friday, December 30, 2011

Old year, new year


We gather for worship on both Dec 31 (7:30 p.m.) and Jan 1 (10:00 a.m.). We will be looking at the story that immediately follows Jesus' birth in the gospel of Matthew - the visit of the Magi and then Herod's attempt to kill Jesus. Herod's attempt fails because history and God's salvation plan unfold according to God's timeline. Looking back at 2011 we see that God was in control. And that gives us hope and confidence for 2012.

Grandbaby #6


And now there are six! Bentley Margaret was born on Dec 17. That's her, on the right with Daddy Kevin and big brother Nolan. The three littlest KG cousins, Katelyn, Kayla & Bentley, were all born in 2011, and all girls. God continues to bless our family.

Friday, December 23, 2011

A Christmas Love Letter

We have walked around the nativity scene during these weeks of Advent. Today we stand with the others and gaze into a manger, where a child lies. This baby, wrapped in cloths and placed in a manger, is God’s message of love. Look, listen. May you know the certainty of the things that have been conveyed to you (Luke 1:4).

Monday, December 19, 2011

Sunday School Christmas Pageant

Yesterday our Sunday School children presented the Christmas story to our congregation. Beautiful! (See the slide show.)

Friday, December 16, 2011

Joseph was a good man—the bible says he was a “righteous man.” When he learned that Mary was pregnant, and that the child was not his, he was obligated to do the right thing. The righteousness of God also calls for the “right thing,” and in our case, the right thing would be to punish us for our sins. But God introduces a new righteousness, and it comes through faith in Jesus Christ. Did God do the right thing? Justice says 'no'; love says 'yes.' For God so loved the world... Sunday, Dec 18, 10 a.m.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

GEMS at the Goat Farm

A Note From our GEMS Girls’ Club Counselors: For the last 2 years, a very enthusiastic bunch of GEMS, parents and siblings have piled into vehicles to visit the largest milking goat farm in Ontario - the VanderVlies farm, owned by Anja and Henry in Teeswater. There are over 700 milking goats, and pens full of mamas-to-be. Tours are done throughout the year, but we chose the month of October for this tour, as this is the time for kidding. Sure enough, each one of us got to hold and love on a tiny new-born. To see the rest of the pictures, visit the GEMS page on our church’s website: http://lccrc.netne.net/gems.html

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

How Many Kings

Marc Martel's youtube video of his Freddie Mercury rendition has gone viral. But we first heard/saw Downhere at Fair Havens Bible campground when they were still students at Briercrest College. We even bought their first album and had the CD cover signed by the boys. This Sunday Trevor Askes sings Downhere's How Many Kings during our worship service.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Making sense of it all

What do you think about when you can't fall asleep? Sometimes we just can't turn the brain off. Mary had a lot on her mind that first Christmas night - things to ponder, things to treasure in her mind. She was trying to make sense of a mystery that defies explanation: that she would give birth to a son, and was to give him the name Jesus. He would be called the Son of God (Luke 1: 31,35). This Sunday we too will ponder the mystery of the incarnation - at the nativity scene but also at the cross in our communion meal.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Carolfest 2011


Lucknow Carolfest at the Lucknow Presbyterian Church, featuring six local church choirs, including ours (pictured here).

Saturday, December 3, 2011

The Nativity Scene

In November a number of us went to Walkerton to see the display called "Thousands of Nativities." There were over 3000 nativity scenes on display, all of them unique, and yet all of them representing the same people gathered in that barn in Bethlehem on that first Christmas Day. This season of Advent we will be visiting the nativity scene, spending some time with the shepherds, and with Mary and Joseph, and the baby Jesus. After Christmas we'll visit with the wisemen (though they wouldn't have shown up until 2 years later!). Tomorrow morning, Dec 4, we meet the shepherds who heard the announcement of Jesus' birth. When they went to see the baby, they saw beyond the manger, recognizing the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. We too, are invited to come and see, and to stand amazed.