GBC Community Update: Focus on the positive

Good morning!  Welcome to December! It sure is a winter wonderland out there today. Sunday was a blessed service.  The time of communion was great and the outreach workshop was well-attended with people interested in sharing their faith.  So, all in all, a great day.
Not so great is what I’m hearing in the media these days. There’s a lot of talk about Christmas being ‘different’ or even that ‘Christmas is cancelled’.  I LOVE Christmas (my office is already decorated!) so this kind of talk can be very discouraging. Then I remember that while Christmas may be ‘different’, the MESSAGE of Christmas never changes- God sent his son Jesus to dwell among us to bring peace on earth. That message has survived wars, other pandemics and even neglect. Still, perhaps this year we need this message more than ever.  That’s so like God. Welcome to the Christmas season!
 
 
Help us with our roof!
Today is called Giving Tuesday. I want to thank those of you who have faithfully supported GBC financially this past year and especially during the pandemic.  It has been SUCH an encouragement to me.
I do want to share with you a financial need we have.  Our roof is in (near) desperate need of replacing. We held off on the replacement this year due to the pandemic but we’d like to do it as soon as we can in the spring.  Would you be able to help us with a special, year-end gift to offset the cost?  Attached is a letter that goes over our need and how you can help. 
Thanks again for allowing us to continue to share the light of the Gospel through your giving!
 
 
Wednesday Prayer
Join Jacob and Karen Ginter for a time of prayer on Wednesday afternoons at 3pm here at GBC in the Side Auditorium.
For questions or further details please contact Jacob at– [email protected] or text 519-803-4453
 
 
Thought for the day: Focus on the positive
Like the faithful people of old, we should focus beyond this fearful world on the positive future God has in store. We can also meditate on and appreciate the comfort and peace God gives now.
Paul directed our thinking toward the positive in Philippians 4: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Later in the scriptures he reminded us to rejoice always and gives thanks in everything.
We’ve been looking at fear and on Thursday we’ll begin to focus on Christmas so remember this: perfect love casts out fear.  As a result, fear is conquered. John summed up the ultimate goal this way: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear”.
We can go to God with our fears. We can seek more of His Spirit. We can grow in faith in His ability to defeat anything that threatens us. We can find comfort and security in His loving care.  The fear and loathing of this age will be replaced with love and rejoicing forevermore.  What a great thought to formally kick off the Christmas season!
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris