Good morning. I hope you’re making this a great week!  This is my last update, Pastor Dan will be taking over starting next week as part of our transition.
As I mentioned on Tuesday, I began these updates on Tuesday March 31, 2020 as a way of connecting and sharing some things that were going on. I added a devotion to encourage you as an afterthought.  Who (but God!) would have thought it would have continued on and evolved like it has? I have kept a file with all the content and its 475 pages long! That’s a lot of memories!  As I’ve looked back as I prepare to finish I’ve been struck anew at how God works and how faithful he has been to us through the last number of years. There were a LOT of scary days since March 2020 and a lot of uncertainly but God has been faithful and has been with us all the way. Praise him for this!  Thank you to those of you who read this faithfully through the years and would share encouragement and thoughts based on what you read. It was appreciated and meant a lot. May God now guide Pastor Dan as he leads out in the days ahead.
 
 
Potluck Dinner (6:00) & Evening Service (7:00) - Sunday February 4
Please plan to join us as we spend an evening together giving thanks in prayer for God's faithfulness to GBC.  As we enter the last phase of our pastoral transition process, hear some reflections from Pastor Chris and learn more about the vision for the coming year from Pastor Dan.   There is a sign up sheet for the 6:00 potluck in the foyer.  We look forward to seeing you on the 4th!  
 
 
"Follow me"- a series on the Book of Luke. Join us Sunday
We continue our study on the book of Luke this Sunday and the theme of “follow me”.
I will be looking this Sunday at several of Jesus’ miracles and his calling of Matthew as a disciple. There were clear signs of faith here that we can learn from. How? Find out Sunday!
If you want to prepare, please read Luke 5: 12-32. 
If you can’t make it, you can connect through our website:  
www.guelphbiblechapel.ca  our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE
 
 
A thought for the day from April 2, 2020: Focus on what’s unchanging not what is changing.
 [This devotion is still as pertinent today as when it was written. We still go through change, God is still the same and he still has this]
There’ve been a lot of changes to your world and to our community and there will likely be more in the coming weeks. It’s safe to say we don’t even know all the changes this pandemic will have on us. These are all things we never dreamed of a year ago. Be flexible, but remember what hasn’t changed.
 
The Bible says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). In the midst of all this change, you can count on that truth. You can also know that God’s love for you has never changed. God’s call on your life hasn’t changed. Don’t let all the changes make you lose sight of everything that is still the same.
 
So, with that in mind, let’s enter into this weekend with a smile on our face as we look to Almighty God who’s in control. He’s got this.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris

​Good morning.  As we continue our transition here at GBC from me to Pastor Dan this will be my last week of writing the weekly updates. He will be beginning next week.  So, I am going to share my first two devotional thoughts and some comments from when this all began in 2020. For those who are new, it’ll give you some insights into who we are and for those who were there during this, a reminder perhaps of how far we’ve come.
 
 
Oasis@Midweek starts again tomorrow
Our popular children's ministry event Oasis@Midweek happens tomorrow night.
Kids JK to grade 6 are invited to join us from 6:30pm to 8pm for an Oasis Camp themed evening of music, games, life lesson and this time our Kid’s Church team is leading which means a creative craft.  O@M is not just for those who went to camp but for all who would like to remember how MONUMENTAL God is and celebrate his awesomeness.
 
 
Mark you calendars!
On Sunday February 4 we’ll be having our next evening service. Starting at 6pm we’ll have a potluck and then at 7 gather for a service where we’ll spend time in prayer and get an update on our pastoral transition. More details to come but mark your calendar.
 
 
From Tuesday March 31, 2020:  A thought for the day: This will pass
[The very first update was sent on March 31, 2020. That seems so long ago!  Initially this was going to be some practical announcements since we weren’t gathering but right before I sent it I thought to add some kind of devotional or encouraging thought. The rest is history.  Here’s the first devo I sent out]
The Bible tells us there will be trials. First Peter 4:12 says, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised or shocked that you are going through testing that is like walking through fire”. These are tough times, but they won’t last forever.  We need to do what the health professionals and government recommends. We need to take the common sense actions that will decrease the spread of this virus. We won’t need to make these changes forever. Our church will gather again!
 
In the meantime, we can look for ways to connect, continue to gather on Sundays virtually and keep letting our lights shine. Hang in there, God’s got this!
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris

​Happy snowy Thursday. I hope you’re making this a great week! Hope is not some whimsical thing but rather an attitude that sits on a solid rock of faith.  Read below for more thoughts on how to have hope when things seem hopeless.
 
 
Attention men
Here is a message from Pastor Dan:
GBC Men! A group of us will be reading through R Kent Hughes' book "Disciplines of a Godly Man" and meeting regularly to discuss what we're learning and encourage one another. If you're interested in joining us, please write pastor Dan for more info. (And please don't order the book from Amazon - we have cheaper ways to get it!).
 
 
Watoto Children’s Choir performs Sunday at Guelph Bible Conference Center
The Watoto Children’s Choir will be performing at the Guelph Bible Conference Centre this Sunday at 6:30 pm. This is not only a beautiful choir, but a ministry that seeks to bring hope and healing to vulnerable women and children in Uganda and South Sudan. The event will include a free will offering. Check them out if you're interested! https://www.watoto.com/
 
 
"Follow me"- a series on the Book of Luke. Join us Sunday
We continue our study on the book of Luke this Sunday and the theme of “follow me”.
Pastor Dan will continue the theme of what it means follow Jesus.
If you want to prepare, please read Luke 5: 1-11. 
If you can’t make it, you can connect through our website:  
www.guelphbiblechapel.ca  our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE
 
 
Thought for the day:  Some Reasons to Have Hope in 2024
One of my favorite scenes from the Lord of The Rings movies (if you’ve been around GBC a while you’ll know this) is where a young boy who is being pressed into battle says to the hero Aragorn: “They say it is hopeless”.  He replies: “there is always hope!”
Is there hope for 2024?
There is always hope!                
It’s a critical question, particularly as we fully enter into this new year. We live in a broken world, a truth that 2023 reminded us of often. Just about everyone had their lives shook up in some way throughout this difficult year that saw not just growing inflation but political and economic strife plus now a war in Gaza and the war in Ukraine rages on.  I suspect we all struggled with hopelessness at various points of the year. I know I did.  Probably some of you are struggling with this right now because so many are enduring challenges we’ve never faced before.  
That’s why the question, “Is there hope?” is so important for 2024.
This year, no matter what you’re facing, remind yourself, and any who will listen, of the truth we read in 1 Peter 1- In his great mercy God has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
There is always hope!
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris

Good morning!  If you’re on the prayer chain then you would have received the news yesterday that my son Alec and his wife Jazz had their third child, a boy named Augustine Larry Andrew. I’m excited to be a grandfather again. It really is such a joy and I’m thankful. What’s causing you joy these days?
 
 
New Moms In Prayer Group Meeting at GBC
Starting on Monday, January 15th from 10 – 11 am women will be gathering together weekly in the Adult Ministry Room to pray for children, teachers and schools.  Please use the side door entrance.  Moms in Prayer International is a global ministry that impacts children and schools worldwide for Christ by gathering mothers to pray.  For further information about the Moms in Prayer group please contact Jennifer Marett at (519) 836-5484.
 
 
Thought for the day: A different way of looking at rest
I’ve been looking at the idea of finding resolve in our lives the last couple of updates.  This one is not always evident in something that seems to be action oriented:
 Rest
New Year’s should be a time to rest. First, we rest in the reality of our identity in Jesus. We may have failed to meet our heady goals in 2023 for a variety of reasons but Jesus still loves us, despite our failures, unchecked boxes, and disappointment at the scale. The gospel tells us that he loves us in the midst of these.
It’s not the voice of your Savior, but the whisper of the enemy that says you have less worth because you blew your resolutions. A “more successful 2024” will not make Jesus love you any more. He’s the one, after all, who calls broken sinners and empowers them for his mission. Failed apostles, former persecutors, recovering Pharisees—his church is full of them. 
Second, we should plan to physically rest. We don’t often do this on New Year’s. We plan to work and hustle (I know I do!). But do we schedule time to reflect and acknowledge our need for sleep and leisure? Rest isn’t a sign of laziness or weakness; it’s a sign of spiritual strength and confidence that when we close our eyes, our lives are in the grip of a sovereign God. To sleep is to say that we’re not God and that the world can go on without us. This is something I’m trying a lot harder to get better at!
So, as we make our plans, let’s remember that even in our failures, we serve the one who remembers our frame and knows we are dust as is says in Psalm 103. We make plans, but we hold them lightly. We entrust our future, not to our Apple Watch or Google Calendar or a reading list, but to the King who holds the world in his hands.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris

Good morning. I hope you’re having a great week!  The snow continues.  Be sure during this time of year when it’s hard to get outside that you take the opportunity to get out, get fresh air, and some exercise too. It helps with the winter blahs.
 
 
Winter Weather Cancellations
With the snow starting to fly it's a good thing to remember our cancellation procedures.  
If ministry is being cancelled during the week you will hear from the ministry leader by email or by phone in a timely manner.  If ever in doubt, contact the leader directly rather than the main office.
On Sundays, if there is a service cancellation, there will be an email sent out plus we will post it on the CJOY radio winter storm cancellation page.
 
 
"Follow me"- a series on the Book of Luke. Join us Sunday
We continue our study on the book of Luke this Sunday and the theme of “follow me”.
Pastor Dan will continue the theme of what it means follow Jesus.
If you want to prepare, please read Luke 4: 31-43. 
If you can’t make it, you can connect through our website:  
www.guelphbiblechapel.ca  our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE
 
 
Thought for the Day:  Renewal for a new year
So, here’s the third thought, or tip, I’d like to share about finding resolve to carry on through the year:
3. Renew
New Year’s should not just be a time of looking forward, it also should be a time of renewing old commitments, like marriage, family, and church. Before we begin grand plans to lose weight or develop a new skill—good creational goals—let’s begin by renewing the core commitments we already have.
Our most vital work is what we do within the walls of our homes—loving our spouses or our parents and raising our children or co-operating with siblings.  This creates an atmosphere of godliness and grace. We live out the gospel best when we live it out in the daily rhythms of repentance and forgiveness with loved ones. We must reject the lie that says success requires abandoning family commitments.
We should also renew ourselves to the faithful body life of our church. This is not a shameless plug for GBC (no, really!).  The local church is the center of God’s mission in the world, where we gather in community to declare Christ’s kingship each week, and where we work out our salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12) with brothers and sisters in Jesus.  Do you need to get more closely connected with your church family? There’s lots of ways. Not sure how?  Get in touch with me or Pastor Dan.  We’d love to help you.
Commitments to marriage, family, and church don’t always look or feel significant. But faithfulness in these core things over a long period is a radical, countercultural life. They form the habits of a disciple and show the world what it looks like to be a Christian. Renew your relationships, commit to them, and life will be more than bearable, it’ll become joyful.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris 

​Good morning. Happy snowy Tuesday!  It looks like winter has finally arrived. Take your time, slow down, and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.


Oasis@Midweek starts again tomorrow
Our popular children's ministry event Oasis@Midweek happens tomorrow night. This will kick off the year.
Kids JK to grade 6 are invited to join us from 6:30pm to 8pm for an Oasis Camp themed evening of music, games, life lesson and this time our youth are leading which means the next episode in our popular drama.  O@M is not just for those who went to camp but for all who would like to remember how MONUMENTAL God is and celebrate his awesomeness.



Winter Weather Cancellations
With the snow starting to fly it's a good thing to remember our cancellation procedures.  
If ministry is being cancelled during the week you will hear from the ministry leader by email or by phone in a timely manner.  If ever in doubt, contact the leader directly rather than the main office.
On Sundays, if there is a service cancellation, there will be an email sent out plus we will post it on the CJOY radio winter storm cancellation page.


Thought for the day: Repent…it has an impact you might not expect!
You may recall, last week I started looking at some ways to put more ‘resolution’ into our journey in 2024.  Resolution only means to be resolved, or be purposeful about what you do.   Here is the second ‘tip’ or thought on how to do that.
2. Repent
I think the first one, ‘remember’, is probably a lot easier than this one because it really does call for a choice, and often some form of loss.  Our worship of God for his faithfulness, grace and majesty should lead us to repentance. His goodness breaks us in fresh ways as our sin is exposed by the light of his glory. But this isn’t a morbidly introspective, navel-gazing exercise. To repent is to rejoice. Have you ever thought of it that way?  We have the opportunity to CLAIM the promise of 1 John 1:9-if we confess our sins God is faithful and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Why?
Because we know our forgiveness has already been purchased at the cross.
Beginning the new year with repentance is to draw closer to Jesus, to appropriate the fresh grace that is ours in him. This is why confession always brings relief and joy. It’s the gateway to greater intimacy with God.
How can we begin new plans and journeys in 2024 without first allowing his light to penetrate the darkness of our hearts and to reveal areas in need of growth? How can we start working, grinding and dreaming without first renewing our joy in the One who directs our steps?  It’s a great way to start the day, the week, the month and yes, the year!

In His grip,
Pastor Chris

​Good morning. I hope you’re making this a great week. What a glorious day!  It seems like its been weeks since we’ve seen the sun.  I don’t know about you, but it sure makes a big difference to my disposition. It’s the same thing when you have the SON in your life. Be sure you’re spending time regularly with him!
 
 
Communion this Sunday
This Sunday as part of our Sunday service we will again be participating in communion. This is a time to come before the Lord not just as an act of obedience (which is it!) but also to connect with him through the taking of the elements. What a great opportunity this is! So, I would encourage you to start preparing your hearts for this today.
 
 
"Follow me"- a series on the Book of Luke. Join us Sunday
We return to our study on the book of Luke this Sunday and the theme of “follow me”.
Pastor Dan will be kicking us off as we start our teaching for the New Year.
If you want to prepare, please read Luke 4: 14-30. 
If you can’t make it, you can connect through our website:  
www.guelphbiblechapel.ca  our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE
 
 
Thought for the day:  Remember
As I mentioned on Tuesday, I’m going to be looking at some ways to put more ‘resolution’ into our journey in 2024.  Pastor Dan on Sunday asked if anyone still does resolutions. A few of us put our hands up. But what is a resolution? It’s a goal. Do you goal set?  I hope you do. Let’s look at the idea of resolutions and what it really means.
Resolution only means to resolve, or be purposeful about what you do.   It comes down to having goals and then seeking to fulfill them.  Its an act of discipline.  Here’s a thought on how to do this.
1. Remember
We read in Ecclesiastes: “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’”  In January, the year is young and the opportunities seem fresh. So many productivity gurus preach a gospel of self-empowerment, but as gospel people, we know the fragility of human life. We know every breath is a miracle, a gift given to us by God, our Creator.
I love the words of the old hymn ‘Great is Thy Faithfulness’:
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love.
In a broken and fallen world, creation itself reminds us of God’s great faithfulness. Every new season is a testimony, it’s a signpost, to grace. So the proper response to the past year, whether good or bad, is not “I made it through” or “Look what I achieved.” It is “Thank you, Lord.”  Remember that and your whole attitude will change!
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris

Happy New Year!  Welcome to 2024! May the Lord fill us with his spirit and guide us in the adventure to come.
 
 January Calendar is here!
The January calendar is out. You can get a copy on the info table at the back of the auditorium.  As always, this is not just to let you know what’s happening here but is also a tool to know what to pray about.
 
Youth Group- “Alive” starts up tomorrow
Parents, please be aware, our Wednesday night youth gathering is starting up tomorrow night at 6:30pm.
 
 Thought for the day:  New Year’s Resolutions
And so we have begun a brand new year. 2023 was pretty amazing for me in so many ways. While it had challenges there were also a lot of blessings. It’s good to look back and remember.  For many, New Year’s is just another holiday. For others like me it’s a time of deep reflection, both on the past year and on the one ahead.
 
For followers of Jesus, New Year’s has no unique significance. There’s no central biblical narrative informing our celebrations.  But this doesn’t mean Christians shouldn’t pause and reflect on the turning of the calendar. Moses asked God: “Teach us to number our days, so we may get a heart of wisdom”.  Time—seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, is a gift to us from a good God. To wisely follow him, then, is to redeem our time.
 
New Year’s can also remind us of the opportunity for new life.  Each day with Jesus is a chance to turn the page on an old way of life and embrace a new one. We are, after all, new creation people, and we serve a King who renews us daily by the Holy Spirit.
Setting goals for a new year are an important sign that we’re intentional about glorifying God in our callings whether that is at work or in school, at home or at church.
Before we write out our goals, we should begin in the heart. The temptation for Christians is to make our plans and add a splash of Jesus on top, rather than allowing him to form in us the desires and motivations to do his work.
 
Whether or not we’re making concrete goals or more abstract ones, whether you’re writing down resolutions or foregoing them altogether, over the next several updates I’m going to share some steps we can take, as we move triumphantly through 2024, to draw closer to Jesus.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris

​Merry Christmas! I hope you’re making this a great week.  There will be no update on Boxing Day Tuesday so look for the next one on Thursday.
There’s LOTS going on this time of year and its easy to get stressed so please remember to take a breath, count your blessings and engage with the joy of the season.
From my family and I, I pray you have a blessed and happy Christmas. Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
 
 
Community Carol Sing tomorrow night
Our community Christmas carol event is being held tomorrow night in our main parking lot. I would encourage you to park in the west parking lot if able to save spots in the main lot for guests or those who are able as ambulatory.
Weather looks pretty good for the night but if that changes and its not nice out we’ll move inside.
Come and join us, invite a friend or neighbor, and let’s lift our voices in song!
 
 
Christmas at GBC
As a reminder, here are our key Christmas timings and events:
Friday December 22- 7:00pm-  Community Christmas Carol sing in the parking lot- invites friends, family and neighbors
 
Sunday December 24-10:30am- Our Christmas themed service with seasonal music and relevant message for today
 
Sunday December 24- 6:00pm- Family Christmas Eve Service featuring carols, readings and a topical devotion. Come early for hot apple cider and a chance to connect with your church family!
 
The church office will be closed from Dec 21st to January 3rd but you can still reach Pastor Dan for any emergencies at [email protected]
 
 
Year End Financial Update
On behalf of the Elders and GBC's Treasurer I want to express our appreciation for your faithful financial support throughout 2023.  Because of your tithes and offerings, we were able to fund the local ministries of GBC along with those of our global missions partners.  We met our target for the pastor transition fund and were also excited to make investments in areas such as our music and worship ministry as we invited Jamie Iles to join us as part-time Director of Music starting last summer.  We praise the Lord for His gracious provision!
 
We are very close to meeting our overall budget requirements for the year, but anticipate that we may fall short by about $5,000.  Please consider making a special contribution before December 31 to enable us to finish out the year in a strong position.  If you consider GBC to be your church home but are not yet regularly contributing towards the financial needs of the church, we invite you to stand with us in this way.   E-transfers can be made to [email protected] or you can request a pre-authorized debit form from our Administrative Coordinator at [email protected] for convenient monthly withdrawals.   
 
 
"You are to give him the name Jesus"...Redemption has come. Join us Sunday
We continue our closer look at the Christmas story. We will be looking at the prophecies telling of a coming savior and then the event itself with the idea of better understanding what this means for us as we prepare for Christmas and celebrate that redemption has come.
As a reminder, there is no 9 45am pre-service prayer for this Sundays or next.
 
I will be looking again at the Christmas story itself from Matthew’s gospel this time focusing on the visit of the Wise Men and the idea of worshipping Jesus. It may seem straight forward but there are implications for today. What are they? Find out Sunday!
If you want to prepare, please read Matthew 2:1-18. 
If you can’t make it, you can connect through our website:  
www.guelphbiblechapel.ca  our YouTube channel as well as Facebook LIVE
 
 
Thought for the day:  On Christmas Day, come as a child
Christmas morning is probably my favorite day of the year. While I love getting presents the thing that has been the most special to me for years is watching the reactions of my children.  The joy and excitement is something I can’t describe.  Author Erma Bombeck said: "There's nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child."
We are to be childlike as we come to God on Christmas Day, as we remember and reflect upon Immanuel, God with us, and that speaks to our attitude.  Jesus said in Matthew 18: 'I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'"
I don’t think there’s anything more exciting than being a child on Christmas morning. And yet this is what God asks of us not just on Christmas Day but each day, to change and become like little children, to put our hope and trust in him and enjoy the wonder of what he offers us. Each day approach God the Father as a child, with excited anticipation of his goodness. Humbly trust that your every need will be met and every care will be under his control.  Merry Christmas!
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris

Good morning. I don’t about you, but I was blessed by our Christmas choir Sunday. Thanks so much to Jamie for his vision and leadership to put this together.  We have much to be thankful for here and at this time of season.
 
Christmas at GBC
While everything we are doing around Christmas has been announced and is on the calendar, I thought it would be good to put it all together in one place.  May we all engage in the joy of the season!
Friday December 22- 7:00pm-  Community Christmas Carol sing in the parking lot- invites friends, family and neighbors
 
Sunday December 24-10:30am- Our Christmas themed service with our choir singing and relevant message for the season
 
Sunday December 24- 6:00pm- Family Christmas Eve Service featuring carols, readings and a topical devotion. Come early for hot apple cider and a chance to connect with your church family!
 
The church office will be closed from Dec 21st to January 3rd but you can still reach Pastor Dan for any emergencies at [email protected]
 
 No Preservice Prayer December 24 and 31
We won't be meeting early for prayer (pre-service prayer) on Christmas or New Year's Eve.  So no 9 45 prayer for the next two Sundays.
  
Giving at GBC
With the New Year approaching, If you would like a box of pre-numbered weekly offering envelopes, please let Andrea Thornton know by emailing  [email protected]
As always, you can give electronically through EFT to [email protected]
Thank you to all who have supported us financially the past year. Your giving is greatly appreciated.
 
 Men at GBC:  Study possibility
There's a small number of men hoping to create an online group for mutual encouragement and exhortation as we run the race of faith. This might lead to the odd study in the future. If this is of interest to you, please write pastor Dan and ask for more info ([email protected]).
 
 Thought for the day: God can do the impossible, Christmas proves that
I read a great quote recently: "When God intends to make something wonderful he begins with a difficulty. When he intends to make something very wonderful, he begins with an impossibility." That’s so true!  And this truth is found in all its glory in the Christmas story.  The Bible affirms this truth when we read in Ephesians 3: "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!” The verse ends with a hearty AMEN!.
This is the heart of the Christmas story- that God can do the impossible for you. 
The birth of Jesus was not just a difficulty; it was an impossibility. Mary was a virgin. Only God could breathe life into her womb. And just as God caused her to conceive the perfect, sinless Savior -- fully God, fully human -- he can accomplish through you those things that seem impossible in your life.  For this Christmas, Christmas 2023, perhaps we need this reminder more than ever.  A God who did the impossible is on our side, he loved us so much that the Word (God) became flesh. That’s why we celebrate Christmas because Immanuel, God, is with US.  It doesn’t matter whether we have snow or not, what the inflation rate is or who is in office, we can celebrate this and find hope!
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris