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Weekly News for Sunday, December 22, 2019

The Promise of Bethlehem

4th Sunday of Advent

Micah 5:2

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From [a]everlasting.”


Sermon Notes

“Satan wants us to focus on the problem, not the Provider. He constantly points to what seems to be rather than to what God has promised to do. If we stop spending time with the Lord in prayer, the concerns of the physical world snatch our attention and dominate us, while the spiritual senses deaden and the promises fade.

I am absolutely convinced that the number one reason that Christians today don’t pray more is because we do not grasp the connection between prayer and the promises of God. We are trying as individuals and churches to pray ‘because we’re supposed to’ without a living faith in the promises of God concerning prayer. No faith life of any significance can be maintained by this ‘ought-to’ approach. There must be faith in God at the bottom.

...When real faith in God arises, a certainty comes that when we call, he will answer...that when we ask, we will receive...that when we knock, the door will be opened...”

Jim Cymbala, Fresh Faith: What Happens When Real Faith Ignites God’s People

  • Dr Charles Stanley asks “How many times have you prayed for something, asking God to meet a need that you have and to speak to you through His Word, and as you read the Bible, He provided assurance that He heard your prayers and will answer?”Dr Charles Stanley asks “How many times have you prayed for something, asking God to meet a need that you have and to speak to you through His Word, and as you read the Bible, He provided assurance that He heard your prayers and will answer?”
  •  Why do people doubt God’s ability?
  • Are you holding tight to the promises of God? He put them in His Word so that you can lean on them and find strength and hope from His promises. 
  • What are you facing today that could use the faithfulness of God’s promises?

Scriptures to Consider


  1. Exodus 14:14, 20:12
  2.  Isaiah 40:31, 41:10, 13
  3. Philippians 4:6-7

This Week


Monday, December 23
9:30 am Women's Prayer
9:30 am Men's Prayer 

Tuesday, December 24
3:30 pm Christmas Eve Service
5:00 pm Christmas Eve Service
6:30 pm Christmas Eve Service

Wednesday, December 25
Merry Christmas!
(Church Office is Closed)

Thursday, December 26
Boxing Day (Church Office is Closed)

Friday, December 27

Saturday, December 28

Sunday, December 29
9:15 &11:15 am Worship Services


JOURNEY UPDATES


CHOIR REHEARSAL for Christmas Eve services. Join us Sunday (December 22) at 1:00 pm.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE TIMES Tuesday December 24 3:30, 5:00 and 6:30 pm. Come prepared to worship our King!

ALPHA is coming to SGAC! Alpha is a series of sessions exploring the Christian faith. Each talk looks at a different question around faith and is designed to create conversation. Alpha is run all around the globe, and everyone’s welcome. Who will you invite? Come explore together. Sundays, beginning January 12 from 6:00-8:00 pm in the Oasis Room. Space is limited. Sign up today by contacting Pastor Steve at steve.kim@sgac.net. Please indicate the number of guests upon sign up.

Brendan Evjen has been serving with us for the past several months as our Worship Arts and Prayer Intern. We have appreciated having him on our staff. He will be finishing this term at the end of December and, as we stated when he started, we would like to give him a love offering. He has not been on payroll. If you would like to give him a gift please note: Use the BROWN envelopes at the Welcome Centre. Gifts can be ONLY BE cash or cheque (made payable to Brendan Evjen, NOT SGAC). No receipts can be issued for these gifts. A donation box will be made available on Sunday, December 22 and 29 at the Welcome Centre. 

Regarding 2019 Tax Receipts, all giving must be in the church office or completed online by December 31. Please ensure that the church office has your current address, especially if you have moved in 2019.

Discovery Island will take a break for Christmas. The Nursery and 2 old rooms only will be open for December 22 and 29. Children age 3 and up will join their parents in the service. Activity boxes will be available.

SOUL CARE CONFERENCE, March 5-7
at St. Albert Alliance Church w/ author Rob Reimer.
We are often limited by our past wounds, our current behaviours, and our faulty thinking. The Soul Care Equipping conference teaches biblical principles for the healing of the soul and how to overcome broken and sinful areas of life as well as equips participants with tools to help others find hope and healing in Jesus.
Join Dr. Rob Reimer, creator of Soul Care, for this life changing conference!
Super Early Bird Registration- $79
(Until December 31)
Early Bird Registration - $89)
(Begins January 1, 2020)
Registration -$99
(Begins February 1, 2020)
Student Registration-$49
(Must be enrolled full-time)
Cost includes lunch each day, snacks, coffee and tea
To register, visit them online.


PRAYER


Please pray for:

  • Our International Workers: Cori Ibsen, Dan & Melodie Ibsen, A & J.

  • Our Pastoral Team Staff Member: Pastor Art Quist. Art is married to Betty and they have 3 grown children.

  • Our Support Staff Team Member: Joanne Fehr. Joanne is married to Bruce and they have 2 adult children.

  • Our Elders Team Member: Fred Zelensky. Fred is married to Darlene and they have 3 married children.

  • Our Students: Brendan Evjen at Vanguard College.


Family Matters


  • Thank you to all who participated in the Blessing Tree gift cards. We are immeasurably blessed to serve you here at SGAC.
    -Pastor Scott Buck
    -Pastor Art Quist
    -Pastor Coreen Frey
    -Pastor Karen Houcher
    -Pastor Josh Palsky
    -Pastor Andrew Bugiera
    -Pastor Steve Kim
    -Pastor Joel Marquez

  • The church office will be closed Dec. 25 and 26; Open Dec. 27, 30 & 31.

  • Deepest Condolences to Brenda Schroeder-Rose in the passing of her Mom--
    Annie Wills on December 19.