Please check the Worship Service page for our virtual worship services during COVID-19. A video sermon and other service information will be posted to the page around 10 am on Sunday morning.
Sermon Text: 1 Peter 2:13-17 Sermon Title: Serving God In Society
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OUR CHURCH FAMILY Prayer Requests: - for Teresa, Andrew K and Adrianna. - for Willemien, Brian, Harry, Mary Jane, and Chris R as they serve as our elders. - for Jake, Johan, Robert W, and Andrew S as they serve as our deacons. - for all of the members who have been nominated for elder, deacon, youth elder. - Andrew S. and Jennifer H. have expressed their desire to be married. Their wedding will be taking place (albeit smaller than expected) on Saturday June 6, 2020. Please lift them up in prayer as they navigate a wedding in these interesting times. Pray for their family that longs to be there but cannot. Pray for any nerves around the wedding to be calmed. Pray that the vows that they make together will lead and guide them as they grow together as a family. - It's Pentecost on Sunday, May 31! Give thanks that the Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, is now living in us! Ask the Spirit to guide ministry leaders and CRC congregations as we join God on mission. Pray that we will be attentive to the Holy Spirit and follow wherever the Spirit leads. - Resonate missionaries who serve in Japan give thanks that they were able to help lead a retreat for young adults who are part of the Reformed Church in Japan. Because it was held virtually, the number of participants more than doubled! Pray for these young adults—ask the Holy Spirit to go with them into every facet of their life. - The pandemic has been financially difficult for many people. Please pray for families nearby who are affected by unemployment and food shortages. Resonate missionaries in Mexico ask you to especially pray for a Christian school located in a slum, where alumni of the seminary serve as directors. - World Renew Guatemala: Pray for the short-term mission teams that visited Guatemala during 2020, that the Spirit of the Lord may guide everyone in their churches. Upcoming Special Collections: Although we are unable to meet together for regular Sunday worship gatherings, there is still opportunity to share of our gifts, talents and resources. First, be creative in thinking of the ways that you can be a blessing to those nearby to you (offering to buy or pick up groceries, offering child care for those who need to work, offering to cook a meal, etc.) Second, for our church members (we do not expect our guests to contribute financially) there are ways to continue to support our church and the other ministries/agencies that we would normally support on Sunday mornings. Huron County Food Bank Distribution Centre Collection: Our community here in Vanastra has been blessed with the food bank truck coming to alleviate some of the struggles people face keeping their families fed and nourished. As the covid-19 pandemic has been shutting down businesses and people have been getting laid off, the struggles within the community continue to grow. We will be having a collection for the Vanastra food bank throughout the month of May. Please prayerfully consider making a donation to this cause that has such a big impact on the community. The deacons will match the church's donation by up to $1000 to support the food bank. Our church is set up to receive e-transfers; they may be sent to vanastracrcdonations@gmail.com. Please add in your note where the donations are to be directed (i.e. Church Budget, World Renew, etc.) If you are not set up for e-transfer or do not feel comfortable with it, then cheques may be mailed to the church at 50 Fifth Ave. Vanastra, ON N0M 1L0. Please consider giving as if we were gathering together regularly on those Sundays. Counselling: During COVID19 restrictions the CAP counselling ministry through Shalem Mental Health Network continues to make anonymous professional counselling support available to congregants of our church at no charge. All services are provided through a secured video or telephone connection. To book a CAP appt, call Shalem directly at 1-866-347-0041. And for more resource information check their website at https://shalemnetwork.org/.
OUR CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY Watch "Tortured for Christ - The Movie" For Free! This is a special invitation for you to watch for free the cinematic retelling of the testimony of The Voice of the Martyrs founder Richard Wurmbrand and his wife Sabina. Persecuted for his Christian faith under communist rule, Richard Wurmbrand was imprisoned in 1948 for 14 years. We hope watching this movie will inspire and encourage you through its powerful message! Free Webinars: The Staff at Christian Stewardship Services are pleased to announce a series of Virtual Webinars and are delighted to invite you to join in. Since Christian Stewardship Services is partnered with the CRCNA, there is no charge to listen in or receive the personal follow up that is available. Our current webinars topics are: Planning or Reviewing a Will: Learn the basics, dispel the myths (June 2 at 7pm EST or June 4 at 7pm PST); Tools of Gift Planning: Maximize your gift, save more Tax (June 9 at 7pm EST, or June 11 at 7pm PST). You can register for any upcoming Webinar on our EVENTS page at http://www.csservices.ca/events.php or simply email info@csservices.ca to register. Hope @Home: A Virtual Gala in support of Indwell. Join Indwell communities across southern Ontario on Friday, June 12 for an informative, fun virtual gala from 7:30 – 9:00 pm. You’ll catch a glimpse into our current and upcoming affordable housing communities as we travel together across southern Ontario. Register at indwell.ca. The Banner: With so many of us staying at home and having extra time on our hands, The Banner would love to send you our weekly update. It’s free and you can cancel at any time. The Banner Update is a weekly email sent on Mondays to anyone interested in getting the latest news from the Christian Reformed Church straight to their inbox. Once a week, we include links to news, features, online-extra content, Our Shared Ministries articles, and reviews of books, movies, and TV shows readers might be interested in. It gives a sneak-peek of all the new articles posted in the past week at www.thebanner.org. Signing up is as easy as clicking this link. Thank you, and may God keep you all safe during this time.
SCHOOL NEWS Job Posting: Huron Christian School (HCS) invites applications for definite full time primary or junior teaching position for the 2020/21 school year. If you are an OCT qualified, Christian educator who is passionate about sharing your love for God and discovering the wonder of His creation with children, we would like to hear from you. This position could be combined with the French teaching position advertised elsewhere. HCS is a school that is growing in numbers and we just moved into a facility that has undergone major renovations and additions. If you would like to become part of this dynamic community please submit your cover letter, resume, statement of faith, philosophy of Christian education, along with three references (professional, personal and pastoral) electronically to the attention of the principal, Mr. Nick Geleynse at principal@huronchristianschool.ca. Application deadline is Friday, June 19, 2020. Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Job Posting: Huron Christian School (HCS) invites applications for definite part time French teaching position for the 2020/21 school year. If you are an OCT qualified, Christian educator with a passion for teaching French. Familiarity with the AIM teaching method would be an asset, but not required. This position could be combined with the primary or junior teaching position advertised elsewhere. HCS is a school that is growing in numbers and we just moved into a facility that has undergone major renovations and additions. If you would like to become part of this dynamic community please submit your cover letter, resume, statement of faith, philosophy of Christian education, along with three references (professional, personal and pastoral) electronically to the attention of the principal, Mr. Nick Geleynse at principal@huronchristianschool.ca. Application deadline is Friday, June 19, 2020. Receipt of all applications will be acknowledged, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
