Update Tuesday 6/12/11

With lights dimmed and gathered around the glow of a single candle we gathered to contemplate hope.  This group, in age from 6 to 67- child, youth, adult and senior, shared about the hope and expectation of a people thousands of years ago as they awaited their Messiah.  We spoke of our hope and expectation as we await Jesus' second coming when His kingdom will be established in its fullness.  And I pray for our little group that this year, as Christmas approaches, that we might have a fuller understanding and a fresh experience of Jesus as he breaks into our lives afresh and we are renewed.  Tonight, we will gather again, in much the same way, as we think about peace.  We will  celebrate the peace with God, the reconciliation made possible through Jesus, the future peace that is reality when we live in a world without sin, and the peace that we can show the world here and now as we live out His example and teachings in the power of the Holy Spirit alive and at work within us. 
This is the Advent Season, and my prayer is that all of us might have the opportunity amidst the business and chaos that can be Christmas, to experience Jesus afresh.  May we celebrate this awesome reality that our God came near, a tiny baby that would change the direction of history for the universe.  I am keenly aware that this season, much like that first Christmas, is a busy chaotic and hectic time and without intentionality we may miss the wonder.  There seems no room for Jesus in the Inn, but let us  quiet our hearts, let us hear the angel voices, let us hurry off to the manger, let us celebrate the King.

Please keep us in prayer this Christmas season as we continue a number of outreaches.
-Our fellowship is planning a carol sing and fellowship time with hot chocolate to reach out to our immediate neighbours.
-I continue to meet with a group of low income gentlemen at the Beer Store (which houses the recycling depot) each Monday where we chat over a cup of coffee and whatever food donations I have been able to find.
-We will be doing a food, coffee and blanket distribution to the homeless on Dec. 18th.

As things progress, we find ourselves distributing a lot of coffee/hot drinks at almost every event or gathering that we have.  We have been thinking about and looking for a larger and more insulated coffee dispenser.   I was downtown on the weekend, with some time to kill and I wandered into a kitchen supply store.  While I was there, in the back corner of the shop I almost stumbled over the exact kind of coffee urn that we had been contemplating.  They had one used model for a very reasonable price.  We don't have the funds for such a purpose at this time but if this is something that you would be interested in making a donation towards I would love to hear from you.  We need to raise just under $200.

Thanks again for all the continued support!