GBC Community Update: The greatest Christmas gift

Good morning!  I hope you’re making this a great week.  Lots to share today, not surprising really at this time of year!  While lots is going on there’s a temptation to over-program ourselves. Be sure to unplug and spend some time in reflection and wonder at the nativity and what it means for us and our future.
 
 Prayer on Sundays (November 28th to December 19th)  
For the next two Sundays, we are inviting you to join with GBC leadership in prayer for 30 minutes after the service in the Adult Ministry Room on the first floor.  The prayer will focus on items relating to the transition of Pastor Chris (e.g., the search for an associate Pastor in the coming year) and items related to highlighting our Savior Jesus during the period leading up to Christmas. 
 
 Community Carol Sing Update
As has been already shared, on Sunday December 19 at 7pm we’re having another outdoor community Christmas carol sing. As mentioned, like to invites our neighbors (and your friends too!) to join us.  We’ve begun distributing postcard invitations in the area this week. If you have some time, would like to get some exercise and would be willing to not only drop postcards in the area but pray for the neighborhood as you do it, I’d appreciate the help. Let me know if you can help out!
 
Join us on Sunday in-person or on our livestream for our Christmas series-Faithful
This Sunday at 11am we continue our Christmas series: “Faithful”.  We are looking at characters involved with the nativity and what it means to be faithful as they seek to serve or understand a faithful God.  This Sunday Jacob will continue to look at this.
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: The Greatest Christmas Gift
What is the best Christmas gift you’ve ever received? I can think of lots over the years that have been very special to me and even today I remember with a smile. I also reflect a lot at this time of year about the gift of salvation that Jennifer and I received one December many years ago. It was there, for the first time, I understood my need for a Savior. In many ways this is the heart of Christmas: not the tree, not the giving and receiving, not even the carols, but the humble heart that receives anew the wondrous gift, the Christ.  But there’s a big difference between Adam’s sin that led to all our problems in the world (yes, even Covid) and God’s gracious gift of Jesus. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ who was fully God and fully man.  The Bible tells us: for Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s gift leads to our being made right with God; for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
So, this Christmas, lets remember that Jesus is the greatest gift!
Each year we are reminded that Christmas isn't just about giving and receiving presents. Yet, if we honestly consider the heart of Christmas, it is.  If we really think about it, the gift of Jesus is one given that needs to be received.  May this spur all our other activities on. At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the greatest gift ever given, by the greatest gift-giver of all, our wonderful God and Father.
 
In His grip,
Pastor Chris