Announcements

Happy Thanksgiving Folks!

At the beginning of September, my bible reading had me in the book of Judges. Judges 6:14 really spoke to me.  Here’s what it says:

There’s a lot of things going on around us and amongst us that need prayer.  “Our Community Needs Prayer” list in the bulletin is overflowing with requests…and those are only the requests that are known.  There’s so many more things that are unknown by us, but still very real and heavy on people’s hearts.  Can I encourage you today to just keep praying?  Pray for the needs on our list, pray for the community, pray for our pastors and church leaders. Throughout the day, as God puts a name in your mind, send up a prayer for them.  As Pastor Randall often says, “This is good and faithful work…” and it’s work that we can ALL do.

 “This is the confidence that we have in our relationship with God: If we ask for anything in agreement with his will, he listens to us.”
~1 John 5:14 (CEB)

How’s your “What’s Your Next Step” coming?  Have you considered learning something new through online audio? (podcasts).  In this Sunday’s bulletin, Pastor Marc has included a couple of different podcasts that might interest you.  We’ve also posted them in a new section on our website entitled, “Pastor Marc’s Discipleship Resources”.  Over the next few months, we’ll be adding more content and resources, that will be helpful for you in your Christian journey.

Join us this Sunday for Sunday School at 9:45am, and our Worship service at 11:00am.

Take care Folks!
“Rejoice always.  Pray continually.  Give thanks…” (1Thes. 5:16-18)
Delora

Below is a prayer that I wanted to share with you.  Whatever season you’re in, whatever circumstance you’re facing, whatever frustration you’re holding, I pray that you’ll be able to release them, along with me, into our capable and loving God’s hands.

O God, gather me
to be with you
as you are with me.

Keep me in touch with myself,
with my needs,
my anxieties,
my angers,
my pains,
my corruptions.
that I may claim them as my own
rather than blame them on someone else.

O Lord, deepen my wounds
into wisdom;
shape my weaknesses
into compassion;
gentle my envy
into enjoyment,
my fear into trust,
my guilt into honesty.

O God, gather me
to be with you
as you are with me.
by Ted Loder, Guerrillas of Grace

Amen.

This Sunday we have a special guest at Malmo.  Marc Lantz will be with us & will be sharing about his new ventures with “Covenant Youth of Alaska”.  He’ll also be sharing a message from God’s word with us.  So come join us on Sunday as we worship God together, in song, prayer, message and fellowship.

See you Sunday – 9:45am Sunday School and 11:00am Worship Service.

Stay warm,
Delora

I’m struggling this morning to know what to write to you.  I must confess my attitude isn’t always in a very good place these days.  I’m a farmer.  I look outside at the snow and I am frustrated about it, knowing full well that there is nothing I can do about it.  And in that place, discouragement has been threatening all week.

One of the things that I’ve chosen as my “What’s next…”, is to attend the adult Sunday School class.  (I confess that I haven’t been in Sunday School for quite some time!)  Anyhow, the class is going through the book of Joshua.  As only God can divinely direct , He knew that I needed to hear and be part of the conversation in that class on Joshua Chapter 1.  Did you know that in the first 9 verses of Joshua, God encouraged Joshua with 7 different admonishments?  (If Joshua’s anything like me, he needed to hear the same message, 7 different ways!) . Here’s what God told Joshua:

• “For I will be with you…” (v.5)
• “I will not fail you or abandon you.” (v.5)
• “Be strong and courageous…” (v.6)
• “Be strong and very courageous.” (v.7)
• “This is my command – be strong & courageous!” (v.9)
• “Do not be afraid or discouraged.” (v.9)
•  “For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (v.9)

So those are the words that we talked about in Sunday School class – and then a few days later it rains and snows, and my own internal battle is threatening.  But the words from Sunday have been coming back to me all week…”Do not be afraid or discouraged.”, “For I will be with you…”.  I am grateful for those words of reminder, because I needed to hear them this week.  When I choose to take my eyes off of the snow and the unknown and put them back on Jesus, the circumstances around me begin to fade and a peace, that can only be from God, comes and settles me down.  Is every day perfect & easy?  No!  Definitely not.  Like Joshua, I still have to face the battle, but I have this promise of God’s presence. And that really DOES make all the difference.

This Sunday is our ‘World Relief/Tearfund Canada Giving Sunday’.  I’m pleased to be able to share with you a little bit about what they do – and how we fit into that picture!  If you’d like to support them financially, please make your cheques out to ECCC & memo it ‘Tearfund’, and Andy will be happy to forward those on to them for you.

Looking forward to Sunday – no matter what the weather will be!  😉
Sunday School at 9:45am
Worship Service at 11:00am

See you then!
Delora

Have you been thinking about “What’s Your Next Step?”  What are the things that you’re going to get involved with this Autumn, to help you grow spiritually?  Here’s just a few suggestions, to get you thinking about the possibilities…

• Attend Sunday school
• Serve your community
• Cook for youth nights
• Invite a family over for dinner
• Play an instrument
• Pray
• Lead a Small Group
• Read your bible
• Help with church maintenance
• Visit & encourage the sick
• Volunteer with youth
• Get baptized
• Visit the elderly & shut-in’s
• Send encouragement cards
• Become a member
• Join a Small Group
• Teach Sunday school
• Mentor/Disciple someone
• Attend a retreat
• Help with Care Home services
• Memorize scripture
• __________________________

Take a look at this video, by our own Steve R., about folks using their gifts and willingness to serve where Jesus has called them.

September has arrived, with it’s cool mornings and beautiful coloured leaves.  It’s a delight to the eyes, isn’t it?  Last Sunday, Pastor Randall asked us, “Where have we seen God’s glory?”.  It was great to hear all the different answers – so unique to each person and to their own experience.  That question has followed me into my week.  I’ve paused in the middle of a field, with the wheat swaying and the sun setting, acutely aware of God’s glory and provision around me.  One late evening, I looked up at the night sky and was completely blown away by the stars and the intricacy of the constellations, remembering that God knows EACH of those millions of stars by name!  In that quiet moment, it spoke volumes of God’s glory to me.  All of this has made me more aware of God’s presence with me – in each moment of every single day.  No matter what I am doing, He is with me, He loves me and He is continually showing me His glory.  The magnitude of that truth causes me to worship and adore Him, with gratitude and praise.

“Heaven is declaring God’s glory;
the sky is proclaiming his handiwork.”
Psalm 19:1 (CEB)

This Sunday begins our Autumn season – and we are excited about it!  🙂 . Start the day off with us at 9:45am for Sunday School.  Meet in the Sanctuary and we’ll have some songs and announcements before we break into our classes.  And remember – we have classes for ALL ages!  At 11:00am we’ll have our Worship service – songs, prayers and a message from God’s word.  And then after the service we’ll EAT – and fellowship together over a Potluck Lunch.  Bring a main dish and a salad or a dessert to share and we’ll have a delightful time in community over some delicious food.  (If you’re able, we’d love some help in the kitchen with set-up and clean up.) .

So you’re not going to want to miss this Sunday.  Gather your family and we look forward to seeing you all on Sunday.

Have a super weekend!
Delora

P.S.  Are you still thinking about “What’s Your Next Step?”.  We have a special video to share with you on Sunday about this.  🙂

Have you been thinking about ‘What’s your next step’?  We have  been A LOT here in the office.  We’re having conversations, not only about what’s next for Malmo, but what’s next for us individually too.  What does God have for us to do?  How does He want to ‘grow’ me this year?  Am I willing to step into what He has for me, even if I don’t see the details clearly yet?  Or as Pastor Randall shared with me this week, “Am I willing to start moving, and in that moving He begins to make things clear…” The verse that keeps coming to my mind, is when God is speaking to Moses & the Israelites in Deuteronomy 2:2-3, as they were wandering in the desert;

“Then at last the Lord said to me,  ‘You have been wandering around in this hill country long enough; turn to the north.”

As the Israelites obeyed God and ‘turned to the north’, God started making things clear and showing the way they should go, small step by small step.  I, too, am feeling that it’s time ‘to turn to the north’, and step out in faith into what He has called us to. He has called each of us individually, yet when we come together, the pieces fit together like a most beautiful and intricate puzzle – and this brings God glory.

“So if we’re serious about living in the fullness of who we are in Christ, if we truly understand the value God has placed on us, we must ask ourselves;

‘What has God prepared me for?’

and

‘Am I living that out every day?’”

~Ginger Kolbaba

I found the above quote this past week.  It has been encouraging me to continue to consider ‘What’s next’.   I hope it encourages you too, as you continue to pray and make decisions about “What’s your next step”.

It’s ‘Apple Time’!  The Malmo Youth are again selling apples & pears, fresh from Davison Orchards in B.C.  They’ll be downstairs taking your orders after the morning service.  Deadline for orders is this Thursday, September 6th.  Apple pick up day is September 17th at Malmo.  CLICK HERE to see for the order form.

Remember, this Sunday we are meeting for morning worship service at 11:00am.  (Don’t worry.  If you forget and come early, you can have coffee with us.  😉 .

See you Sunday!
Delora

“God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.” 1 Peter 4:10

We’re beginning to gear up for the Autumn season and all that it entails.  The question that we’ve been pondering here in the office is…What’s your next step?  Over the next few weeks, you’ll be hearing us talk about this a bit more, but we’d like to ask you to start considering this question.  “What’s your next step” here at Malmo?  Where can you get involved?  How can you use and share the gifts that God has given you?  Thanks for taking some time to consider this question with us.  We’re looking forward to the Autumn season and are excited for what God has in store for us all.

It’s ‘Apple Time’!  The Malmo Youth are again selling apples & pears, fresh from Davison Orchards in B.C.  They’ll be downstairs taking your orders after the morning service.  Deadline for orders is September 6th.  Apple pick up day is September 17th at Malmo.  CLICK HERE to see for the order form.

Looking forward to seeing you at our last Summer Worship Service, this Sunday at 10:00am.

Have a super weekend!
Delora

“If we wait until the details of life are securely in place before we can say yes to being bold and brave, then we miss the wonder of wandering for the love of God now.”  ~Shelley Miller

I love this quote.  I don’t know about you, but for me it is easier to read it and love it, rather than doing it and loving it. To move forward without knowing all the details requires faith and trust in a God who DOES know all the details.  If I actively live into that promise, He gives me the strength to take the next step and to be amazed at what HE is doing.

“The one who supplies seed for planting and bread for eating will supply and multiply your seed and will increase your crop, which is righteousness.”
~1 Cor. 9:10 (CEB)

This Sunday, we’ll be gathering together at 10:00am for our Summer worship service.  AFTER the morning fellowship time, we’ll be heading over to Larry & Pattie’s home at 12:30pm, for our Annual Church Wiener Roast.  Please bring your lawn chairs, roasting sticks and a salad or dessert to share.

So gather your family and join us for a great Sunday!

Delora