GBC Community Update: Immanuel means God is with US!

Good afternoon!  I hope you’re making this a great week!  I’m not sure about you but I find myself listening to Christmas music and even humming songs a lot lately as I go about my sometimes hectic schedule.  Music really does make the season better! I’m looking forward to our carol sing on Sunday and then again on Christmas Eve.  I hope you’ll be part of it!
  
 
Christmas Carol Sing Update
We’re fast approaching our big event on Sunday!  I’m excited to have the chance to sing songs of the season. Here’s some things that’ll help you prepare:
 
Parking- half of our main lot will be closed off for the event so if there are no more spots there use the side lot or park on the street.  The city of Guelph has kindly given us a parking exemption for the night.  Thanks Bob Chapman for arranging this.
 
RSVP reminder- if you’re coming, please let me know how many are coming so we can be sure we don’t go over our gathering limit. Call the office or email me at [email protected]
 
Other Details…I’d encourage you to bring a friend, especially if they don’t know Jesus or if maybe they’ve drifted away from him.  This is a great opportunity to introduce someone to the ‘reason for the season’.
If you’d like to sit, bring a lawn chair as there’ll be no seating.  There’ll be hot chocolate and cider as well to enjoy. It’s going to be a fun night!
 
 
Help us with our roof!
A couple weeks ago I shared with you a new capital project we’re undertaking here at GBC in order to replace our roof. IT’s a BIG and expensive project but one that we really need to do.  I want to say an even BIGGER thanks to those of you who’ve already supported this effort. Working together, we can take care of this project and not have to incur any debt for the church.
Here are the details again for your consideration.
 
 
Thought for the day: Immanuel mean God is with US
On Sunday I looked more in depth at the name Immanuel and what that means for the Christmas story.  When the angel said to Joseph: "All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' - which means, 'God with us.'" This had implications for not just Joseph but for us as well.
I like how singer Michael Card put it: "The implications of the name 'Immanuel' are both comforting and unsettling. Comforting, because He has come to share the danger as well as the drudgery of our everyday lives. He desires to weep with us and to wipe away our tears. And what seems most bizarre, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, longs to share in and to be the source of the laughter and the joy we all too rarely know."
Why do we turn to God so quickly in times of sorrow and struggle, in danger and fear, and forget him in the times of joy and rejoicing? If God is the giver of joy and he is "God with us," then he must want to share in those moments of great joy, and even in those times of silly laughter and fun.  God does that, really? Yes, he does. He wants to share in our joy too, that’s another meaning of God with us. This Christmas, and yes, even this Covid-Christmas, when those inevitable moments of joy and laughter break out, be sure to invite God in to share it with you because at Christmas, how can you not?
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris