Good morning. I hope you’re making this a great week.  While we’ve finished our teaching series “Servant” please don’t lose focus on the call on our lives to serve. As society opens up there are going to be more opportunities coming to share our faith.  We have Oasis Camp coming up, our Repair Café next week through the Guelph Tool Library, and an initiative with Michael House to name a few.  Don’t limit them though to just church activities!  Our community needs volunteers, sports associations need help and on and on it goes.  The amazing thing is God has given us gifts and talents that can be used to let the light of Jesus shine. Figure out what you’re passionate about and then go and be a servant.
 
 
GBC Summer Jobs!  
 Are you between 15 and 30 years old?  Are you looking for a meaningful summer job?  
 Do you like developing programs for children or doing projects with your hands?  
 If so, consider applying for one of two positions available this summer.  The roles will be focused on delivering our OASIS summer camp, supporting children and youth ministry and doing light duty facility and grounds maintenance work.    
 Roles will last 8 weeks and pay $15.25 per hour for a 35 hour week.  Start dates can be as soon as the beginning of May.   
 Speak to Pastor Chris or Dan Chapman for more information. 
 
 
Join us on Sunday in-person or on our livestream as we start our new spring series “In focus”-God’s call on this church
Sunday we begin our new series for the spring. We will be bringing focus onto God’s call for this church.  After our 100 Days of Prayer in 2020 we felt God calling us to bring focus onto 4 specific areas of ministry: outreach, small groups, prayer and our Sunday morning experience. Since then this has guided much of what we do here at GBC. So, We’re going to examine this from a biblical perspective.
This Sunday Patrick kicks it off looking at the topic of outreach examining the study of Jonah. What can we learn that pertains to today? Find out Sunday!
Remember, you can join us as we gather in-person or you can connect through our website www.guelphbiblechapel.ca  our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE
 
 
Thought for the Day:  Sharing your faith: Be a Friend
Tuesday I started my new series of thoughts on sharing our faith. I examined first that we should look at our motives and why we’re doing it before getting started. So, motives in the right place? Great!  Let’s look at the next step.
Be friends to be friends, not to “get someone saved.”
This is huge. I think it’s easy to give the impression that we’re only friends with someone to try to “get them saved.” This leaves people feeling used and devalued, which is the opposite of how God feels about them.
If I’m going to be friends with someone, we are going to be friends whether or not they come to know the Lord.  That being said, sometimes I will pray for more friends who don’t know God because I want people to know about Jesus. I want people to naturally see how much joy He’s brought into my own life! (And I also don’t want to get stuck in a totally Christian bubble.) But I’m definitely not going to stop being friends with someone if they don’t become a Christian.
That said, our friends are very influential in our lives, so it’s important to be careful about whom you choose to be your closest friends. We can have acquaintance friends and then we can have close friends who play a significant role in our lives. And those close friends make a big difference in the person you become.  It’s important to choose them wisely.  So just be careful as you choose close friends (no matter what their faith), and ask yourself: “Do I like who I become when I’m with this person?”
As you’re genuine friends with someone, as you spend time together and are there for them in hard times, then they’ll know you care. And that will make it so they can actually hear your heart and your love when you tell them how much Jesus loves them.  That opens the door for conversations and natural opportunity to share your faith. More on this next week!
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris

Good morning!  We have a couple of outreach opportunities coming up in the weeks ahead as a church and that’s got me thinking about the subject. So, for the next couple of updates I’ll be sharing some thoughts on sharing your faith.
 
 
GBC’s Repair Café needs volunteers
As many of you likely already know, GBC is hosting a Repair Cafe run by the Guelph Tool Library on Saturday May 7.  This is a free event for the public to bring items to be repaired by fixers from the Guelph Tool Library.  We pray that this will support and engage our community & give us another pathway to share Jesus' love with our neighbours. 
Here's how you can help!
We're looking for volunteers to be part of the event.  You can choose from either two shifts: 9 am - 12:30 pm or 12:30 - 4 pm.  The main activity is setting up or putting away tables and chairs.  In addition, we'll need help with refreshments, ushering, parking attendant (if needed) and mingling (as you feel led to!). This is an easy and accessible way to let your light shine.
Pray for the event.  Pray for a great connection between us the Tool Library and for a welcoming environment. Pray also that we may have opportunities to show the love of Jesus.
 
To help, or for more information, please contact Andrea Thornton at [email protected] or her cell 905-537-9607 if you're interested in volunteering.
 
 
Thanks from Karen Fangrad
Our dear church family,
Thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity extended to our family.  The meals you prepared were a huge help during a difficult week.  
Your prayers offered in faith are among our most precious gifts.  Thank you for caring for each of us in this trial, and for loving us like Jesus!
Karen
 
 
Oasis@Midweek tomorrow
Our final installment for April for our popular mid-week kid’s ministry Oasis@Midweek happens tomorrow. GBC Youth is leading this time so look for some great games, our popular drama and a topical message around the theme of “treasured”.  This ministry for children JK to Gr.6 is not only for those who attended Oasis Camp or are part of GBC Kids Ministry but any in that age group that would like an encouraging evening event.
 
 
Thought for the Day:  Sharing your faith: look at your motives
When I was a younger in my journey as a follower of Jesus sharing my faith felt like a never-ending assignment hanging over my head at all times. I felt like I never did it enough and never did it right. Have you ever felt that way?
Now things have changed and I feel different about sharing my faith. It’s become a far more natural part of my life—something that’s motivated by love instead of motivated by fear. So, over the next couple of weeks, I want to share some things that have helped change my perspective, and I hope they can help you as well.
 
First, look at your motives.
It’s easy to approach sharing the gospel out of fear. Here are a few examples:
“If I don’t say something right now and this person gets into a car accident and dies and goes to hell, it’ll be my fault!”
“If I don’t tell enough people, will I go to heaven?”
“If I tell this person about Jesus, then people at church will think I’m a really good Christian.”
Ever thought any of these?
 
But here’s the thing: When our motivation is fear, the people we’re talking to can tell—and they’ll feel used. It will seem as though we’re telling them about Jesus to ensure our own salvation, appease our own conscience or make ourselves look good.
Ever feel that way?
 
Now the amazing thing is God can use anything, even wrong motives! Anytime we share about Him, He can use that (which is good news because I don’t think we’ll ever have perfect motivations). But for me, it helped to think about why I was sharing the gospel, and I realized that genuine concern and love for the person should be my “why.”
 
Here’s what I mean: Jesus has changed my life for the better, and I couldn’t imagine life without Him. So, I really want people I care about to know how He can do the same for them.  I want them to know how much God loves and cares about them too.
 
Can you see how this shift changes not only our approach but also our attitude?  It’s not about being pushy; it’s just sharing what has helped you because you care enough about the other person enough to share what hopefully is a pretty major part of your life.
I think then, sharing your faith with the right motives is not only more effective but also the proper way to do it.  I hope you agree. More to come on this in the days ahead.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris

Good morning!  I hope you’re making this a great week!   Someone shared a powerful video with me about Good Friday. As you prepare to remember the cross tomorrow I’d encourage you to watch this and reflect on the amazing message of why this is GOOD Friday.
What's So Good About Good Friday? - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzxXvEtf9D0
 
 
Good Friday Breakfast and service Reminder!
As a reminder, our Good Friday Breakfast will be held at the Guelph Bible Conference Center (“The Grounds”) at 8:30am.  A delicious hot breakfast will be served.  Then please travel down here for a 10AM service. Cost is free will offering. For our service, we’ll have a special guest doing music, communion and a time to reflect on the cross.
 
 
Join us on Sunday in-person or on our livestream as we continue our series “Servant in motion”
Sunday at 11am we hit the ‘high water mark’ of Jesus as servant during Passion Week.  While we will celebrate the empty tomb, we will be looking back over chapters 14 and 15 starting at Gethsemane ending at the cross. 
I will be looking at this critical part of our faith and some of the powerful teaching and lessons held.  What do I mean when I say the servant suffered?  Join me on Sunday to find out.
You may want to ‘read ahead’ and get prepared for Sunday by looking at the passage for the day- Mark 14-15.  We cover a lot of ground so it might help to read before Sunday!
Remember, you can join us as we gather in-person or you can connect through our website www.guelphbiblechapel.ca  our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE
 
 
Thought for the Day:  Who’s Got the Body? Part 3
                                     …an examination of evidence for Jesus’ resurrection.
Tuesday, we spent some time looking at the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection. As a reminder, things like this are used to strengthen our faith and answer questions that may arise.  So, here’s the last one, and perhaps the most powerful:
The Appearances of the Risen Christ
For 40 days after His death, Jesus was reported to be seen alive on earth. It was reported in the scriptures and also in extra-biblical sources like Josephus, who I’ve mentioned before.
How do we explain this?
Some say these were hallucinations, but do the accounts show that?  Only certain high-strung and imaginative types of people usually have such psychic experiences. Yet a woman, a tax collector, several fishermen and more than 500 people at one time claimed they saw Him. Hallucinations are very individualistic– contrasting with the fact that over 500 people saw the same thing at the same time and place.
Two other facts undermine the hallucination idea. Such imaginations are usually of expected events, yet the disciples had lost hope after the crucifixion. Also, psychic phenomena usually occur in cycles, but the appearances came in no set pattern.
Attempts to explain away the appearances run into a brick wall of facts. The facts point to one conclusion: Jesus is risen.
Of course, the above is not exhaustive proof, but rather a reasoned examination of the evidence. For us now, we must each consider and evaluate the evidence ourselves to determine the truth of the resurrection claim. If the facts support the claim, then we can conclude that He arose. In any case, a mere intellectual assent to the facts does nothing for one’s life, we need to do something with it.  So yes, we take this on faith but its also supported by facts. I believe this, do you?
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris

Good morning. I hope you’re making this a great week!  Seems like we’re in for a lot of rain in the next week. You know what they say, ‘April showers bring May flowers’.  I saw some tulips starting to peak out in one of our gardens yesterday. Spring is upon us!
Please remember to pray for our pastoral search team, elders and myself as we hold the next round of interviews with our candidates on Saturday. These are exciting times!
 
 
Good Friday Breakfast and service Reminder!
We had a great response to our announcement about the Good Friday breakfast Sunday.  It’ll be nice to have a meal together again!
As a reminder, our popular Good Friday Breakfast is back!  Join us Good Friday at the Guelph Bible Conference Center (“The Grounds”) at 8:30am for a delicious hot breakfast then travel down here for a 10AM service. Cost is free will offering. For our service, we’ll have a special guest doing music, communion and a time to reflect on the cross.
If you’re interested in joining us for breakfast sign up in the foyer. If you’re part of our virtual congregation, you’re still welcome to come out! Just send me an email and I’ll add you to the list. It would be great to have you come out again and join us.  It’s going to be a blessed day!
 
 
Join us on Sunday in-person or on our livestream as we continue our series “Servant in motion”
Sunday at 11am we continue to look at Jesus’ experiences as servant during Passion Week, leading to the cross. 
Patrick will be looking at chapter 13 which has some powerful teaching and lessons.  Not sure what to make of all this?  Join Patrick on Sunday to find out.
You may want to ‘read ahead’ and get prepared for Sunday by looking at the passage for the day- Mark 13.  We cover a lot of ground so it might help to read before Sunday!
Remember, you can join us as we gather in-person or you can connect through our website www.guelphbiblechapel.ca  our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE
 
 
Thought for the Day:  Who’s Got the Body? 
                                     …an examination of evidence for Jesus’ resurrection.
For we who are followers of Jesus this may be something we don’t even think about. Yet in the world around us this is an important and legitimate question. Why is this important?  It makes all the difference in the world. If Christ did not rise, then thousands of Christians have lived and died for a hoax.  You may say, ‘but Chris, I believe’. Great!  But lots of others don’t. So, as we seek to let our light shine, and engage with the world around us with the Good News of life in Jesus, I’d like to share some evidence for the resurrection.  This is very important in the days we’re in since if He did rise, then He is still alive and can act now to straighten out our chaotic world. Let’s take a look.
 
Facts always speak louder than opinions. Let’s examine some of the historical evidence for the resurrection and see where the facts lead.
 
One preliminary consideration: countless scholars–among them, the apostle Paul, Augustine, Sir Isaac Newton and C. S. Lewis–believed in the resurrection. We need not fear committing intellectual suicide by accepting it as well since we’re in great company.
Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians that “Christ died for our sins, He was buried, He was raised on the third day. He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now.” 
Understand that this was written about 20 years after the event so could have been researched and refuted then, yet it wasn’t.  That’s what we’d call contemporary historical evidence.
 
Speaking of evidence, consider this: the explosive growth of the Christian church
Within a few weeks after the crucifixion a movement arose which, by the later admission of its enemies, “upset the world.” Something happened to ignite this movement a very short time after its leader had been executed and it’s been going ever since. Things like that don’t happen, and more importantly last, without a lasting, tangible stimulus. I’ll look at this further on next week as we prepare for Easter weekend.  Until then, we can be confident that what we believe on faith has a solid foundation in fact and history. I hope that’s an encouragement to you today.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris

Good morning!  As society continues to open, I’m thankful we are able to hold a Good Friday breakfast again. Its amazing the simple things we took for granted pre-Covid that are now precious. I hope you’ll sign up and join us.
 
 
Oasis@Midweek craft request
Our Oasis@Midweek Kid’s Ministry has been a great time of learning in creative ways that we are treasured by God.  Part of the program is a monthly craft station led by Krista Schito. You may recall she put an appeal out for craft supplies. Many of you have responded which is great.  She shared the following with me:
“I’ve been able to mostly use donated craft supplies, stuff from my home and oasis camp leftovers.  If you could add in another reminder to one of your update emails that we need more craft supplies, that would be great.  People who want to donate to this branch of the ministry can give them to me or leave them near the kids library.  Anything and everything gets used, because we put all the supplies we have out, and I give the kids the freedom to see the demo craft, but create whatever they’re inspired to make, using what we have.  It’s cool to see what they come up with.  I appreciate the donations we get.  They’ve been great!  The craft demo is designed to reinforce the Bible lesson they learned, and a tangible reminder of that night’s theme.” 
What a great report!  So, what do you say?  Do you have some craft supplies around the house or something you think might be useful?   Donate it!  If you have any questions about this, please talk to Krista.  She’d love to connect with you on this.
 
 
Mission’s Team Update-upcoming opportunity to support Ukrainian refugees
While our Mission’s Team is active supporting our ongoing mission partnerships, they have been looking for new opportunities to assist groups and people ministering the gospel in various parts of the world and here in Guelph.
One thing they’ve been working on we will have the opportunity to participate in at the end of the month!  The Potma’s, who we support and had a virtual visit with a few weeks ago, have become involved in helping Ukrainian refugees.  We will have the opportunity to support this endeavor. More details will come in the weeks ahead about this tangible way to show the love of Jesus to those who have lost so much. Stay tuned!
 
 
Thought for the Day: Why the need for the Easter sacrifice of Jesus? Pt.2
On Thursday I looked at the idea of why Jesus had to go to the cross from the position of our legal standing. It’s important to understand that what happened at the cross was a legal proceeding like no other. God is victim, judge and defense counsel. It may seem a bit strange to us, but this is the way it must be. God is judge by right of creation. He made it all. He owns it all. He sets the rules in place for the governance of it all. God is also the victim here because, in spite of His right to require obedience, I have sinned again Him (and so have you!). I have refused to live according to the decrees of the Owner of all. He is the injured party in this proceeding.
But that verse I shared in Micah on Thursday also tells me that God is the defense counsel. I discover that God is not simply the moral policeman of the universe. He is exactly as He describes Himself in Exodus 34:6 – compassionate and full of mercy. God steps in to plead my case when there is absolutely no excuse for my actions.
So, what does pleading mean when I am a confessed criminal? From my perspective, it can only mean one thing – a cry for a merciful verdict. In these circumstances, that’s all I could come up with. That, however, is not God’s way. God’s way is amazingly controversial, completely unanticipated and absolutely unique. The victim voluntarily dies in the place of the guilty. This is the whole creation turned upside-down. Nothing could have prepared us for this solution. The law is upheld. The judge is satisfied. The guilty are forgiven. Mercy triumphs over wrath without compromising justice.
That’s why we call it Good Friday and why we praise the God who died in our place. It’s the only reason we are free, that’s why there needed to be a cross, that’s why there needed to be an Easter sacrifice.  Pretty amazing, huh?
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris