Esther and I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year! We realize that the Christmas season has been both a time of celebration for some and sorrow for others. For those of you who haven't heard yet, Stephanie's mom passed away and went to be with Jesus over the Christmas break. Stephanie, we want you to know that we love you and are praying for you through this time of grieving as well as bearing a lot of the load of dealing with your mom's affairs and the funeral arrangements. There will be a Celebration of Barb's Life next Saturday, Jan. 19th @ 1pm at Jesus Loves You Society downtown. Let us know if you need any help with that, Steph. and to confirm the above.
We want to give you a heads up on some of our forms or types of gatherings over the next month or so:
- Sunday Jan. 13th- We will meet at our place 7719 Bowcliffe Cres. N.W. @ 10:30am for some worship, prayer, and listening to another teaching on Jubilee from Leviticus 25 and Is 61: 1-7, and Luke 4:18-19
- Saturday, Jan. 19th - Celebration of Steph.'s mom at 1pm @ Jesus Loves You Society
- Sunday, Jan 20th - possible gathering - Who would like to host...Mcfadden's? Let us know Joel and Amy if that would work for you
- Saturday, Jan 26th - Esther's 50th B-day. We need to celebrate. Stay posted for more details
- Sunday, Feb 3rd - Super Bowl Party @ Schultz's - chance to invite neighbours to hang.
- Sunday Feb. 17th - Gathering for worship, pray, and the Engage Series - at the Schultz's place.
- Sunday, March 3rd - Gathering at the Braun's for worship, prayer, discussion, ministry time or whatever the Braun's plan
- March 31st which is Easter Sunday, we are planning to have a bigger gathering with some of the other communities connected to the Mosaic from around the city and possibly from folks from out of town. Stay posted for more info on this.
Hope that helps in the planning. There may be other forms of gathering I've missed or that 'organically or spontaneously come up. Let us know if you have something you're planning where you would like the community involved. We want to keep gathering with friends and neighbors who are close to the Kingdom and deepen our friendships with them.
Just a closing reflection to ponder. Esther is turning 50 this year and I'm in my 50th year Esther tells me even though I'm 49. 50 is the number of Jubilee. (Read and Reflect on Lev. 25:8-54, Is 61: 1-7, Luke 4: 18-19) If you study the Old Testament, the nation of Israel was called by God to Celebrate, Get Rid of Debt, and Get Freed Up from any bondage or slavery that is robbing you of joy and life. I will be sharing more about this on Sunday. We have had some practical and visible signs, not only in the number 50, but in other ways that this is to be a year of JUBILEE. God wants us to celebrate - in fact God ordered that the tithe be spent on celebrating and helping the poor. It is a year to work at getting out of debt and it is a year where God wants to bring freedom where we are bondage or bound up, which is a form of slavery, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Come on Sunday prepared to share where the HS wants to bring application in your life around the theme of Jubilee. It is to be a year of breakthrough in this areas. So get ready to PARTY!
Love,
Tim and Esther
