Bethel CRC Lacombe
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Today is Palm Sunday celebration we will reflect on John 12:12-19, . Historically Palm Sunday has been associated with Jesus’ kingship; however he was not the king the people wanted but the king that the people need. The Jewish leaders and the Romans felt threatened by Jesus as king. They mocked the idea of his kingship in his trial and his death by posting on the cross above his head “King of the Jews.” Following this story John records God affirmation of Jesus and directs us to glorify Him. The question we will be leaving with is: “ ?"
Today is the fifth Sunday of Lent and we will focus our reflection on John 13:1-17, . This is our Mexico Mission trip commissioning service. We will reflect on what it looks like to be a servant; to be willing to humble ourselves, to place the needs of others first, making serving a part of our character, and a regular part of our life journey as we follow in Jesus’ footsteps. We will reflect on how washing feet is also an image of Jesus washing away our sins.
Today is the fourth Sunday of Lent and we will reflect on John 10:11-18, . In this passage Jesus refers to himself as the Good Shepherd; echoing back to the bad shepherds that Ezekiel describes in the Old Testament. Kings, such as King David, were often referred to as shepherds, called to provide and protect their people and ensuring that there was justice in the land. Being a shepherd is not an easy task, as sheep don’t always follow well and can be stubborn. Yet Jesus chooses to be our shepherd, chooses us and we get to call him our shepherd. We get to say that the creator of the universe has chosen us as his sheep and knows us by name !
Today is the third Sunday of our Lenten series, John 2:1-11, . Picture Jesus at a wedding feast when an embarrassing problem comes up; the wedding runs out of wine. This is a shameful thing for the groom and his family, so Jesus’ mother asks him to help. Jesus replies that it’s not his time yet, but in a spirit of grace, Jesus turns 6 jars of water into the best of wines. This was the first of many signs revealing his glory. Our focus today is the meaning of this sign.
Today is the second Sunday of Lent. We will reflect on John 6:25-40, . This story happens the day after Jesus fed 5,000 people with only 2 small fish and 5 loaves of bread. During the night, Jesus spent time with his Father and then walked on the water to join his disciples in their boat. Soon after arriving on the other side of the lake crowds begin to gather; their hope is to be fed again by Jesus, but also to put him on the throne in Jerusalem. Jesus challenges them on why they want him, telling them that he is the bread of life and if they come to him, they will never go hungry. What does it mean to come to Jesus; what are you hungry for ?
Today is the first Sunday of Lent. During the Lenten season, we will reflect on the pictures of who Jesus revealed in the Gospel of John, beginning with , John 4:1-15. As Jesus travels with his disciples from Judea to Galilee, he encounters a Samaritan woman at a well during mid-day; an unusual time of the day for someone to come to the well. Jesus asks her if she would be willing to give him some water and during their discussion, Jesus offers her living water so she would never be thirsty again. Jesus asks us the same question still today, How do you answer him ?
Today is Friendship Ministry Sunday. We will celebrate this ministry with our Friends and their mentors. To wrap our series on Ephesians, we will reflect on Ephesians 6:10-20, . When we put on the armor of God, we are able to be brave, have courage, and stand firm in our faith against the devil’s schemes. Paul calls us to be strong, to stand firm, and to pray in the Spirit. All these acts fill us with the courage to trust in God and be his people. It’s important to remember that Paul is writing this from a prison cell and wants people to experience the same courage that he’s received from Jesus.
Today is Cadet Sunday. A time for us to celebrate our ministry to boys. Each Meeting their counsellors lead them to a deeper knowledge of Jesus and how to live it out. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians will direct our reflection on the Cadet Theme “,” Ephesians 3:14- 19. Good roots help us grow strong and healthy and we need to be rooted in good soil of the Bible. As followers of Jesus, we’re called to be rooted in the Bible, connected to the vine, and filled with the Holy Spirit
Today we will reflect on Ephesians 5:1-21, . In this chapter Paul focuses on being imitators of God by living as His children and living with love towards each other. We are challenged to a way of thanks-living. He contrasts the ways of darkness with being light in the Lord, thus echoing back to Jesus’ call to be the light of the world. Paul then calls us to live as wise followers of Jesus rather than unwise. We have a choice. Who are you going to be ?
Today we will reflect on Ephesians 4:1-30, Paul returns again to his ongoing theme of grace in this letter, this time it’s about living out the grace that we’ve been given by God. By living and growing together in the Lord it builds strong unity in the faith. Showing a maturity in Jesus; a growth in our faith, and recognition that how we live together, reflects to the world who Jesus is.
Today we begin a new series on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. We will reflect on Ephesians 1:1-14, . Paul is reconnecting with the church in Ephesus, a church it seems that he has a special love for. Unlike many of Paul’s letters, he doesn’t have any errors or heresies that he’s addressing. This is a letter that reflects a lot on what the church is and how the church lives together. He begins by offering them a blessing and reminding them of who they are, where they find their identity.
Today we continue our series on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. We will reflect on Ephesians 2:1-10, . In this part of his letter, Paul contrasts the difference between being dead in our sin and alive in Jesus. Paul focuses heavily on God’s grace in Jesus that brings about our salvation and new life. Love, mercy, grace, and faith are all things Paul touches on as being rooted in God’s kindness to us.
Today we begin a new series on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. We will reflect on Ephesians 1:1-14, . Paul is reconnecting with the church in Ephesus, a church it seems that he has a special love for. Unlike many of Paul’s letters, he doesn’t have any errors or heresies that he’s addressing. This is a letter that reflects a lot on what the church is and how the church lives together. He begins by offering them a blessing and reminding them of who they are, where they find their identity.
Today we will reflect on Matthew 2:13-23, , the story of how Jospeh took his family and fled with them to Egypt because of Herod’s murderous anger. Jesus becomes a refugee and spends time in a foreign land because it’s not safe for him in his own land. When they return to Judah after Herod’s death, they go to Nazareth in Galilee, far from the circles of power. Nazareth is a small village with nothing to distinguish it from any other village, in a province that also is not powerful or influential; an unusual place for a Messiah to come from.
Today we come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We will focus on Matthew 1:18-25, In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth, Joseph is told to give Mary’s baby the name Jesus, which means “he saves.” Matthew goes on to remind his readers that the prophets told the people that the virgin will have a child and his name will be “Immanuel,” which means God is with us. This is a message of hope and comfort in a troubled world, a message that holds the same hope and comfort in our day!
Today we are completing our Advent series The Names of Jesus. We will reflect on Matthew 2:1-12 and Colossians 1:15-23, Magi from the east came looking for the one-born King of the Jews, after reading God’s birth announcement in the night skies. Imagine their surprise when they got to Jerusalem, and no one had a clue regarding what they are talking about! When Israel’s Wisemen checked out their claims, they rediscovered that the Magi’s news fits with their own prophets’ predictions. Paul described Jesus as being higher than any king and he is also head, or king of the church .
Lessons and Carols will be held this evening at 6:30 p.m. (so young families can feel free to come as well.) We will have a brief homily on John 1:1-14 and how Jesus came to live among us.
Today we are celebrating our Children’s Christmas service where the children and youth will be leading us in worshipping Jesus through the Christmas play: We will also continue reflecting on The Names of Jesus, by reflecting on Isaiah 9:6-7; John 14:27; John 16:33, . Jesus is the Prince of Peace who helps us find peace in our hearts and souls with God our Father and helps us to build peace with others through offering and receiving forgiveness and grace. Jesus also helps us to find peace from our worries and fears by giving us the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Today we continue our theme for Advent by reflecting on John 10:11-21, . When Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd, he immediately points to how his willingness to lay down his life for his sheep; He is fully committed to providing for and protecting his sheep from the dangers around. The second thing we learn about Jesus as the Good Shepherd is that he knows us, he knows who we are—our hopes and dreams, our fears and failures, our desires and struggles—he knows in a way that no one else ever can and loves us for who we are.
Today we will reflect on Ephesians 1:15-23, . Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is one of his most positive and encouraging letters to a church. Paul is writing to help the church know God better; to understand the high goals God has for the church as well as His eternal purpose and grace. In these verses, Paul is expressing his thankfulness for them and how God has chosen them to be His children. He reminds them of their salvation found in Jesus and how God has revealed to them what His will is - which is to unite all things in heaven and earth under Jesus. The amazing thing is that He uses us to bring glory to His name as He uses us to bring the gospel story to the world
Today Bethel is blessed to have Pastor Bob De Moor to lead us in worship. Pastor De Moor will be focusing on James 3:7-18, As followers of Jesus, what we do really matters, but so does what we say and how we say it. That will either be a significant contribution to God’s church or Kingdom, or it will cause distress, disunity, and disfunction within the family of God and in the world to which we are called to be Christ’s ambassadors. Ambassadors need to honestly and openly speak God’s truth. But they must do so showing all appropriate respect and diplomacy. Shall we?
Today we are finishing up our series based on N.T Wright’s book, . We reflect on John 19:1-16, . Jesus is standing on trial before Pilate. Pilate has the power of life and death over Jesus; however, Jesus tells Pilate that the only power Pilate has comes from above. What is power? Why are we given power? How is power to be used as a follower of Jesus? These are all important questions in a time when we see many people use power carelessly and even dangerously for their own ends
Today Pastor Bob De Moor will be leading us in worship. Pastor De Moor will be focusing on John 2:1-11, Jesus’s first public miracle seems to be relatively unimportant in the grand scheme of things; he rescues a bridal couple from embarrassment. But his disciples, with the eye of faith, see much deeper revelation of who Jesus truly is and what he has come to do.
Today we will reflect on John 18:28-40,. Jesus is standing before Pilate. He tells him that everyone on the side of truth listens to me. Pilate asks a really important question, “?” In a time like ours, where truth has become very slippery and subjective, this is an important question for reflection. Jesus calls Himself the way, the truth, and life, so if we’re looking for truth, the first place to go is Jesus.
Today we will reflect on John 8:31-41, . When we think about freedom, we often think in terms of the North American definition of freedom which is the choice to do what we want without anyone being able to tell us anything different; to have the freedom to be who I want to be. When we follow Jesus, we discover that true freedom is the freedom to serve, the freedom to follow the path of Jesus and to be the people Jesus calls us to be. Freedom is about becoming a slave to Jesus; giving our lives over to Him completely as our Saviour and Lord
Today we continue our series based on N.T Wright’s book, . We will reflect on John 1:1-18 . At the beginning of John’s gospel, we see how John introduces us to who Jesus is. The universe was created through Jesus; this beautiful, wonderful universe. In Genesis we’re told that God saw everything he had made and it was good, very good. The beauty found in creation points us to who God is and tells of God’s glory. John’s focus is that in Jesus we have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son.
Today during our Thanksgiving service we will be reflecting on Psalm 95 . We’re called to sing for joy, to come before God with thanksgiving because of who God is, not because of what we get from God.
Today we are continuing our series based on N.T Wright’s book . We will reflect on John 13:1-17; . Jesus lives out His love for His disciples through the act of washing His disciples’ feet. Love can be really hard, especially when the person you are showing love to is actually working against you. We all ache to be loved. However, many people feel alone and unloved today. Love is a signpost that points us to Jesus and his sacrificial love. Love that led Him to the cross, so that we can be reconciled and experience deep unconditional love.
Today we will begin a series based on N.T Wright’s book . As Wright recognizes, “signposts name a reality and point us in a direction.” The signposts we will reflect on point to deep meaning that help us understand the world and its challenges. However, these signposts are broken and let us down. This is why we will turn to the Gospel of John to show us how these themes point us to Jesus and the kingdom of heaven. We will reflect on John 3:16-21; . Jesus is sent to the world not to condemn it, but to save the world through Himself. We know that things aren’t the way they should be in our world and that injustice is all around us. Something needs to be done to make things right, but what? Jesus came to shine His light into the darkness and invite those who love the darkness to come into His light
Today is our commissioning service for all those involved in our various children and youth ministries; a sign that our new church year is here! We will be focusing on Proverbs 22:6 . Beginnings are important. The better the beginning, the stronger the finish; this is true for our children and especially their faith. In Old Testament Israel and throughout Scripture, it is both the parents and the faith community that are responsible for raising children in the faith. It is a reminder that we are part of the family of God together
