February 16th, 2023

Good morning. I hope you’re making this a great week.  I’m not sure what your experience was on Valentine's Day, but I hope you took some time to remember and reflect on God’s love for you (hint: he loved you enough he sent his son to die for you).
 
 
We’re updating our directory
It’s that time of year again! We’re updating our church directory right now. This resource is used as a tool to connect and also a prayer guide.  You can look at your listing on the information table at the back of the auditorium or add yourself in if you’re new to the GBC family.  You can also send updates to our church secretary Elaine Finlay at:
[email protected]
We hope to have it done and ready to distribute the beginning of March.
 
 
Open Altar prayer time returns
As I mentioned last week, we are returning to Open Altar prayer time.  For those who are new to GBC, this is something we did regularly before Covid.  Once a month I, or one of the elders, would be available at the front of the auditorium after the Sunday service for prayer. This could be for a personal prayer need, something that moved you during the service or even for direction from God.  It was a special time that was very impactful for many.
Well, it’s back!
So, on Sunday, there will be two elders or pastors available to pray for you. We’re going to do this on a weekly basis for a bit and see how it goes. So, don’t be shy, come on up and pray with us!
 
 
Join us on Sunday in-person or on our livestream as continue our winter series, “Firm Foundations”-a study of the book of Romans
The foundation of a building is critically important for the stability of the structure that sits on it. In many ways our faith and relationship with God needs the same thing.  How is your foundation? This winter we’ll be looking at this idea as we study the book of Romans, perhaps the best book of the New Testament for this kind of thing. 
This Sunday I will continue to look at the practical outworking of justification.
Want to prepare? Read the text for Sunday ahead of time: Romans 5
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:  Jesus’ disciples stay close to Him by making prayer a top priority. 
As we wrap us this look at what it means to follow Jesus there was one other essential ingredient in his ministry with His followers — He prayed.  We have examples of this throughout the gospels but do we ever stop to think about it?
Jesus taught them how to pray in the Sermon on the Mount and also told them he expected them to pray as we read in Luke 22.  He Himself established prayer as a way for his followers to communicate directly with All-mighty God as the writer of Hebrews 4 reminds us.
Prayer proves that His disciples are dependent upon Him — and true disciples of Jesus will be characterized by a vibrant prayer life.
Why does this matter?
Jesus expects His disciples to follow Him.  Okay Chris, I get that.  This becomes important with all the things life throws us — to learn from Him, talk to Him through prayer and to stay close to Him. That’s what He wanted from His followers during His earthly ministry and that is what He wants from His disciples today. 
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris