Church report
Article content
Sunday, November 24
Langton Baptist Church
Rev. Keith Sutherland opened the ‘Christ Is King’ Sunday church service at 11 a.m.
His message was on ‘Our king, our lord, our saviour, our redeemer. Jesus was seen as king when the country was occupied by the Romans. Jesus offered forgiveness through love and the reign of forgiveness through the cross. Jesus is our king and our life and He wants to be with all of us. All things hold together in Christ, as we recognize God in our lives. The battle has been fought and won on the cross. Keep telling people that Jesus is Lord. Prayer followed.
The children’s story was on ‘Kings were important and chosen by God. God chose David to be a king and to follow God’s ways. Give thanks to God for choosing kings in the past.’
Hymns sung, were: Come Thou Almighty King, All Hail King Jesus and Rejoice The Lord Is King.
Scripture readings were Psalm 148, Psalm 132:13-18, Jeremiah 3:5-6, Luke 1:67-79, Luke 23:33-43, and Colossians 1:11-23.
Prayers of supplication and praise were given by Rev. Sutherland.
Offering was received by Barbra Sinnesael and Marilyn Hammond.
Avondale United Church
The congregation at Avondale gathered at 10:30 a.m. for worship. The Christ candle was lit by Johnathan Lamers. Lay Reader Dan Rasokas welcomed everyone and gave the announcements. In the time with children, Rev. Fred Hagle asked the children to name who is queen and to name some princes and princesses. As subjects of Queen Elizabeth we are loyal to her and as Christians, we are loyal to Jesus.
The scripture read was taken from John 18: Jesus before Pilate. The message for adults was Jesus: A Strange Kind of King. Jesus was born in human form and became obedient even unto death.
Jesus said: "My Kingdom is not of this world." Jesus chose to die to give life to His people. He was pictured as a king even before he was born. In a month we celebrate Christmas and the birth of Jesus. He believed in peace not war, sacrifice not subjugation and in mercy, generosity and humility. The choir's anthem was a combination of Shine Jesus Shine and This Little Light of Mine.
Some of the songs sung by the congregation were Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, Rejoice the Lord is King and Lead On O King Eternal.
You are welcome to join us Sunday at 10:30 a.m. for worship. Come at 9:30 a.m. and you can sing in the choir. Coffee is available at 10 a.m. Hope to see you there!
St. Paul’s Port Burwell/Vienna United Church
The congregation met at 11 a.m. with Rev. Cordell Parsons leading the service.
Rev. Parsons opened the service with announcing that today is the Reign of Christ Sunday which means it completes the church year and sums up what we have learned about God and Jesus.
The minister opened the service with prayer and a sung response followed the opening called, Rejoice the Lord is King.
There was a call to worship led by Rev. Parsons and responded to by the congregation.
There was a period of passing the peace amongst the congregation followed by the sung response called As We Are Gathered.
The minister had a story for the youth of the congregation followed by the minister leading the congregation in repeating the Lord’s Prayer.
The next hymn was Crown Him With Many Crowns.
The minister’s sermon was entitled: Let’s Not Lose Focus.
The scripture reading was taken from Luke 23: 33-43 which talks about Jesus being crucified on the cross along with the two criminals. The one criminal demands Jesus save himself and the two criminals but the other criminal states they should be crucified but Jesus should not be. Jesus stated he would welcome the second criminal into Paradise with him for his beliefs.
Sunday was Reign of Christ Sunday which leads us directly into Advent which is a time in which we put into focus the birth of Jesus.
The next hymn was Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.
There was a choral call to prayer led by Rev. Parsons.
The next hymn was In Christ There Is No East or West.
The service ended with vesper You Shall Go Out With Joy.
Next week service will be at 11 a.m. and all are invited to attend and worship.
On Dec 1st. Straffordville United Church will join Port Burwell church in Port Burwell for the combined monthly service.
First Baptist Church
Recently, FBC Bolivian mission team, Rick and Deb Young, Alida and Gary Hunt, Annette Mitchell and Pastor Steve Amorin, plastered hut walls and poured concrete floors in Bolivian homes as part of the Chagas disease program funded by Canadian Baptist Ministries.
The goal of the program is to prevent the vinchuca bug from biting people. It likes to live in adobe walls and thatched roofs and comes out at night. A parasite transferred through the bite moves through the blood stream and eventually destroys a person’s major organs, causing death.
Usually people do not know that they have the disease till it is too late. If caught early, treatment will stop the destruction.
Since 2005, 1,500 homes have been bug proofed. Canadian Baptist Ministries also provides a steel roof. Homeowners are required to provide doors and windows.
The team also visited the CBM children’s jail school in Cochabama, where children who are taken to jail by parents who have to serve prison time are able to come out of jail for schooling and three meals a day. Normally meals are served in the jail two days a week for inmates. Regular school lessons are provided as well as counselling.
During the stay, the team visited numerous churches and Christian groups and institutions, helping with teaching children, taking part in worship and Pastor Steve preached bible-based lessons.
Throughout November various aspects of the mission were presented on Sundays. Presentations will culminate this coming Sunday (December 1) at 12 noon, followed by a light lunch (open to all), displays, videos and a Q&A. Bryce Lansdell and Larry Hudson from different mission trips will also be present.