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Weekly News for Sunday, January 1, 2017

It's a New Year!

Philippians 3:1-16

All for Christ
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Pressing Toward the Goal
12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind.

Happy new year!

We say this greeting to one another today and for the next few days. Is there an appropriate time to stop saying ‘Happy New Year’? I think, perhaps not!
So what are we really saying when we greet one another in this way?
According to Macmillan Dictionary, happy, along with such words as cheerful, enjoyable, heartwarming, joyful and satisfying are synonyms of the word blessed.
So what does it mean to be blessed? The Greek word for ‘blessed’ used in the Beatitudes is makarios.
According to the Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, in ancient Greek times, makarios referred to the gods. The blessed ones were the gods. They had achieved a state of happiness and contentment in life that was beyond all cares, labors, and even death. The blessed ones were beings who lived in some other world away from the cares and problems and worries of ordinary people. To be blessed, you had to be a god.
A second meaning, referred to the ‘dead’. The blessed ones were humans, who, through death, were now beyond the cares and problems and worries of earthly life. To be blessed, you had to be dead.
Finally, in Greek usage, makarios came to refer to people whose riches and power put them above the normal cares and problems and worries of the lesser folk -- the peons, who constantly struggle and worry and labor in life. To be blessed, you had to be very rich and powerful.
Matthew (reflecting Jesus' thoughts) uses this word in a totally different way. It is not the elite who are blessed. It is not the rich and powerful who are blessed. Rather, Jesus pronounces God's blessings on the lowly: the poor in spirit, those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, the meek, those pure in heart, the peacemakers.

Happy (Blessed) New Year - 2017


THIS WEEK

MONDAY,  January 2
Church office is closed

TUESDAY,  January 3

WEDNESDAY, January 4
9:45 am Keenager’s Study
6:30 pm Worship & Prayer
THURSDAY,  January 5

FRIDAY, January 6

SATURDAY , January 7
1:00 pm Margaret Franks Memorial Service

SUNDAY, January 8
9:15 am Worship Service
11:15 am Worship Service
6:00 pm Hymn Sing


JOURNEY UPDATES

Safety and Risk Management Training: ALL Youth and adults who have been or would like to work with children, are required to be trained once per year. Please join us for this important training on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 9:30am (breakfast provided) or Sunday, Jan 15 at 1:15pm (hot dog lunch provided). Please RSVP to debbie.funk@sgac.net and mark this on your calendar.

HYMN SING Jan. 8 at 6:00 pm. Join us in the Fireside room for traditional hymns of the faith. This is open to all ages. Please bring a tray of goodies to share after the event.

Men’s Bible Study: We will be starting a new weekly Bible Study beginning Wednesday, January 11, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, studying the book of Ephesians. Men, please join us or contact Pastor Art for details.
New Attenders Lunch Are you new to SGAC? Join us on Sunday, January 29 for the New Attenders Lunch. RSVP to the office or Pastor Art by January 25. 

CORPORATE PRAYER & WORSHIP will
resume this Wednesday, January 4 at 6:30 pm.

AWANA Full AWANA programming will resume Wednesday, January 12.

Jr. High Small Group will resume on Wednesday, January 11

Sr. High Small Group will resume on Thursday, January 12

Youth resumes on Friday, January 13, 2017, spending an evening with students and teachers from Vanguard College. Pizza will be served - so we need to know if you are coming. Please RSVP to Janet in the office janet.sawatzky@sgac.net . This will be an evening of fun, games and a great time of fellowship to start the new year off right! Don’t miss it!

Discovery Island full programming will be back for all children ages 0- grade 6 next Sunday, January 8.


PRAYER 

  • Our Christian Workers: A & J, Tim & Brenda Tjosvold, Jon & Angie Coutts.

  • Our Pastoral Staff:  Pastor Coreen Frey.  Coreen is married to Dave and they have 3 married children.  

  • Our Administrative Staff: Debbie Funk. Debbie is married to Rod and they have two children ages 13 and 11.

  • Our Elders: John Olsen, John is married to Arlene and they have 4 children ages 13, 11, 6 and 4.


FAMILY MATTERS

Our Condolances go out to the family Of Margaret Franks who passed away Dec. 20.  There will be a Memorial Service here Jan 7 at 1:00 pm


FINANCIAL UPDATE

Week thru Dec. 25 $34,138
26 Week Average $24,459
BUDGET $26,153 PER WEEK
BUDGET TO END OF Nov. $575,366
BUDGET SHORTFALL November 30 ($72,872)

Future Dev Cash on Hand Nov. 30 $165,231
Global Adv Fund July to Nov. 30 $61,768
Canadian Fund July to Nov. 30 $16,477
Revenue YTD Nov. 30 $502, 494
Expenses YTD Nov. 30 $437,479