I Then Shall Live

How many people have, over the past year, found heartache and sorrow because they have relied on something or someone who has failed them? Elections that have torn families and communities apart, a forgetful moment that has caused someone to fail another, a word spoken in haste that has fractured a relationship. These are times from our past that we would rather forget but the memories tend to return like a boomerang and hit us when we are not watching.

Truth be told, over the past year I have messed up and caused a few issues and have tried to make restitution. Some have forgiven, some have held onto the anger but through it all we are still here and we are still bathed in the glory of God regardless of our human faults. I want to throw this out there. Are we truly living if we are holding onto the past in expectation that the past can be relived and changed? A car crash that happened in January can’t be revisited, the circumstances changed so the accident never happened thus changing the events, just to placate our own desires of a pleasant journey.  It happened, we learn from it and move forward rather than dwell and stew over the events or incidents so that we are encumbered, shackled even, to the actions of the past.

My Father in Heaven knows my every move and my every thought. He cares for me with infinite love and gave up His own Son so that I may know the grace and glory of God not only here on earth but also in Heaven when my time comes. To know this message is to know the perfect release. To know God’s grace, His perfect forgiveness of my sins, is to know life. When we take the measures of our past and those things that we have held onto and give them up to a loving and forgiving Father, it is then that I shall live; that we shall live. The things of the past are gone and done, the things of the future are ahead and will be known soon enough. Life is a gift, that is why it is the present. The time has come to live in God’s love and to understand that He is in control and that our future is secure in His glory. God has made it abundantly clear that the future is in His control regardless of what we predict and stress over. To know this is to truly live.

This Sunday marks the start of 2017. Let us resolve to live; live in His blessings and His grace. When we recognize this we shall truly live.

Happy New Year

Pastor Todd

From all of us to all of you...

Merry Christmas and may God bless you richly in 2017

Thy Will Be Done

I know I am not alone when I say that I tend to rush through the Lord’s prayer at times. The words slide together and the depth of meaning is lost in the familiarity of the passage. If this has never happened to you then praise God but it has, on occasion, been a time of mindless regurgitation of set words for me. At the dinner table, the meal time prayer flows from the tongue like a babbling brook and there has been, on occasion, times where I don’t recall the final amen of my nightly offering. But, then again, there are those times when I am compelled to stop and analyze what I am praying; last night was one of those opportunities.

In Matthew, Christ informs us how to come before the Father in prayer. The line I paused at last night was “Thy will be done”. Not “my will be done” but rather “Thy will”; God’s will! Consider this while you ponder the message in that short verse. What is His will for mankind? Is His will to have troupe of mindless robots chanting sterile words to the universe while staring glass-eyed into space? Does He want a world of lemmings blindly following Him as He leads them to the precipice so He can watch them fall to an icy death? Are we expected to regurgitate lines verbatim ion order to achieve a heightened status in Heaven? What is His will?

Jesus came to earth, born in a manger, born for all mankind. He came to walk amongst His children, guide them, teach them and love them. His will on earth, His will for all mankind, is that we love Him as He loves us. Christ left the comfort of Heaven and came to live in the filth mankind created on earth. He came for all mankind so that we would know His will. He came to fulfill the prophesy, teach us how to love and forgive, to provide the example for us all and what happened but He was rejected and despised. Today He is rejected by groups who demand that His presence be exterminated from the “holiday season”. The “Sanhedrin” is alive and powerful in the world today but the Word of the Lord is still alive and powerful.

Christ is the reason for the season, He is the King of kings, mighty Counsellor and Prince of Peace. His will on earth is that we recognize and declare His love for all nations and that we take time out each and every day to not only reflect on His love for us but also that we show His love to the nations.

Merry Christmas to one and all.

Pastor Todd 

Christmas Eve Play

If you are looking for a Christmas Eve Service in Sundre, we invite you to our play "A Shepherd's Christmas" 6:30 pm Dec 24. There will be coffee and sweets there as well. Hope to see you here.

A Shepherd's Christmas
written by TMac

A Savior Has Been Born To You

Well this past year has certainly been anything but boring. As I take a few moments of indulgence on how God has blessed me, I encourage the same for you. He carried me through knee surgery that alleviated chronic pain. He walked with me through an emotional roller coaster. He preserved my job with my employer, and I am thankful for both. When Satan tried to knock me down, and I was weakened, Jesus picked me up and carried me. He kept my family together and safe, and watched over and protected my children and grandchildren even if they were not aware. When a window was closed locally for His word to be shared, Jesus opened a door. Even in this publication,(The News) He  continues to work through authors like me to bring His message of hope and love to all who read His words.

He will continue to work through many in our community to keep His name front and center. When some try to silence Him, He energizes us to raise His name. He is alive and well in the hearts of groups in prison ministry, in missions to help our youth, and in the many hands and voices that minister to the elderly, the in firmed and the forgotten. God is at work in every church family in our county. We may gather in different buildings, but we all attend the same church, His. Jesus is our Lord, and what we do to, and for each other is what we do to, and for Him.

So, now as we are on the eve of what we celebrate as Jesus’ birthday, I would ask that we all remember that this past year, and the past two thousand would have never been the same if it were not for the birth of a baby named Jesus. This Christmas morning, may we all take a moment to read Luke 2:11 (NIV) Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the messiah the Lord. Then remember that the miracle of His resurrection after going to the cross for us, almost completes the story. May we always see the cross, when we look at the cradle. This should give us even more reason to celebrate Christ in our lives. Give thanks for the most precious Christmas gift from God, His son Jesus.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

Peter's Picks

The Perfect 7-day Diet – Peter’s Picks

‘GOD’s Gifts to Us?’

Day 1: Romans 12:3 – FAITH – “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”

Day 2: Romans 10:9-10 – SALVATION – “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved."

Day 3: Philippians 4:6, 7 – PEACE – “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Day 4: Psalm 16:11 – JOY – “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”

Day 5: Romans 15:4 – HOPE – “Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.”

Day 6: 1 John 4:7 – LOVE – “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God."

Day 7: 2 Corinthians 5:21 – RIGHTEOUSNESS – “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”

** Verses taken from the New Living Translation

Week At A Glance Dec 26 – Jan 1, 2017

Office Hours

Church Office Closed      - Mon - Tues, Dec 26-27

Church Office Open        - 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Dec 28-30

Church Office Closed      - Sat, Dec 31

Church Service                 - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Sun, Jan 1

Special Events

Quad Fellowship                              - Resumes Jan 2, 2017

Lady’s Bible Study                          - Resumes Jan 11, 2017

Lady’s Crafting with a Purpose       - Resumes Jan 11, 2017

Alpha Study                                     - Resumes Jan 11, 2017

Men’s Leadership Study                  - Resumes Jan 12, 2017

Men’s Coffee Fellowship                 - Resumes Jan 12, 2017

New Year’s Eve Games Night          - 6:30 PM Sat, Jan 31, 2016

Church Service                                 - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Sun, Jan 1

Care Home Services                         - None Scheduled this week

Note: Quadding Fellowship on Monday requires participants to contact Pastor Todd to sign up, have an insured and registered quad, have a helmet and bring a lunch. This is not a ministry of Main Avenue Fellowship but rather a gathering of people who want to go out into the great outdoors and enjoy each other’s company and God’s gift of nature. MAF does not assume any liability for injuries or accidents.

Week at a Glance Dec 19-25, 2016

Office Hours

Church Office Closed      - Mon, Dec 19

Church Office Open        - 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Dec 20-23

Church Office Closed     - Sat, Dec 24

Church Service               - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Sun, Dec 25

Special Events

Quad Fellowship                         - 7:30 AM Mon, Dec 19

Lady’s Bible Study                      - Resumes Jan 11, 2017

Lady’s Crafting with a Purpose   - Resumes Jan 11, 2017

Alpha Study                                 - Resumes Jan 11, 2017

Men’s Leadership Study              - Resumes Jan 12, 2017

Men’s Coffee Fellowship            - Resumes Jan 12, 2017

Christmas Eve Service                 - 6:30 PM Sat, Dec 24

Church Service                             - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Sun, Dec 25

Care Home Services                     - No Service This Week

Note: Quadding Fellowship on Monday requires participants to contact Pastor Todd to sign up, have an insured and registered quad, have a helmet and bring a lunch. This is not a ministry of Main Avenue Fellowship but rather a gathering of people who want to go out into the great outdoors and enjoy each other’s company and God’s gift of nature. MAF does not assume any liability for injuries or accidents. 

Jesus, A Gift For All Seasons

As I sat to write this message, perhaps some inspiring words of wisdom and encouragement about how great Christmas and God are, I realized that not everyone can or will accept them. I’ve read many posts lately about how many people dread the Christmas season and anything associated with it. It would be wrong not to acknowledge and address this.

Yes, it is true. Christmas, a joyous time for most of us, is an absolute terror for many people. While we celebrate the birth of Jesus, surround ourselves with family, friends, and joy, many will suffer in silence. I speak of those who have lost loved ones this year, or near Christmas, had marriage or relationship break up’s, those away from family, or in a nursing home with no family, and yes, those who just don’t believe in Jesus’ birth. Then there are those with addictions, mental and physical health problems, the unemployed, and the working poor. All of these people are on an even keel when it comes to not wanting to celebrate.

My encouragement is not to forget those who don’t have the joy of Jesus with them right now. We cannot fix everyone, but we can be more aware of this, and be understanding in these situations. Try to offer some hope by the way we display ourselves. We represent Christ, and as Christians it should be our responsibility to hold all of these people to the Father. Let’s not be fooled into ignoring them, yet let’s pray for them and their situations. Help when we can, and always encourage in the Lord. John 13:34-35NIV Jesus clearly tells us.” A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”. This is one way we can encourage those who are in a depressive state at Christmas.

During this joyous and trying Christmas season, we should all be reminded to read Matthew 25:34-40. As we come together to enjoy a Christmas concert, presentation, or church service, remember how the birth of this little baby changed the world. How He who grew into the man who brought mankind a message of hope, willingly offered himself on the cross, rose from the dead, and is now preparing a place for all who come to Him in belief. This is also for those who are grieving the Christmas season. So now, let’s continue to offer hope in the greatest Christmas gift we can. Jesus.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

Week At A Glance – Dec 12 – 18, 2016

Church Office Closed      - Mon, Dec 12

Church Office Open        - 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM Tues-Fri Dec 13 - 16

Church Office Closed      - Sat, Dec 17

Church Service                - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Sun, Dec 18

Special Events

Monday Outdoor Adventure      - Call for time and details

Morning Prayer                          - 9:00 AM Tues, Dec 13

Sundre Ministerial                      - 9:00 AM Wed, Dec 14

Ladies Bible Study                     - resuming in January

Lady’s Craft for a Purpose         - resuming in January

Movie Night                               - 7:00 PM Wed, Dec 14

                                                    - The Nativity Story

Men’s Bible Study                      - 8:00 AM Thurs, Dec 15

Men’s Coffee Fellowship           - 9:00 AM Thurs, Dec 15

Tis The Season Dessert Theatre – 2:00 PM Sat, Dec 17

Didsbury Memorial Complex     - 6:00 PM Sat, Dec 17

                                                     - 2:00 PM Sun, Dec 18

Care Home Services                    - No Services This Weekend 

Note: Quadding Fellowship on Monday requires participants to contact Pastor Todd to sign up, have an insured and registered quad, have a helmet and bring a lunch. This is not a ministry of Main Avenue Fellowship but rather a gathering of people who want to go out into the great outdoors and enjoy each other’s company and God’s gift of nature. MAF does not assume any liability for injuries or accidents. 

JOY

The greatest commandment encompasses so much and is the perfect message. Matthew wrote down Christ’s proclamation to the Pharisees as they challenged the Son of God looking to have Him trip up. In chapter 22 of the book of Matthew it is written:

[Jesus] “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

This is the perfect representation of the word joy. Years ago my good friend Pastor Doug Webb did a series on JOY; Jesus, Others and You. There is JOY in this verse and when you realize the importance of the acronym, there will be joy in your heart.

Love the Lord with all you are and with your entirety. This does not mean love Him and praise Him on Sunday and Holy Holidays but rather love Him completely, 24/7, in thought, deed and presence. God rejoices in you every second of the day, do you reciprocate? Jesus came to earth to be amongst us. He came willingly and lovingly (see John 3:16-16). His message is one of perfect grace and forgiveness for all mankind and all He asks in return is to trust in Him and Him alone.

Love your neighbours, all of them, those who drop by for coffee every day and those who flip you the bird in rush hour traffic. Love them all because all others are just as much God’s children as you are. By the way, you and I are not easily loved by every person in the world. We have our detractors and, while it would be nice not to have any enemies, we all do but if they were to love us as we would love them, maybe this too could change. Love others more than they love you.

Finally, love yourself. The world stresses self and says you are not perfect unless you look and act a certain way. Guess what, God is perfect and He does not create junk. We are all wonderfully created in His image and that image is one of love. Love Jesus, love others and love yourself the way Christ loves; agape!

Sunday we celebrate JOY. If you can’t be here to join us in the celebration of JOY, you can click on the Message Online tab on our website at www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca to hear the service online.

Shalom Aleichem

Pastor Todd

Advent Service - Peace

Our Sunday service on Peace is now available online. Go to messages online to listen to this morning's offering.

Shalom Aleichem

We sat by the lake on a warm summer night in August. The waves lapped gently on the shore, a soft breeze blew through the leaves of the willow tree and the crickets were just beginning to sing their song to the dusk. There was not a single sound related to the chaos of the city; no cars, no horns, no yelling, just a pure nature quiet.

There are those who go stir crazy when they can’t rely on those sounds. They have become so accustomed to the noise that it is a part of their lives and when it is removed, they can’t settle. Sometimes what some people find peaceful others can’t fathom. I find a trip into the mountains and looking out over a meadow and seeing a herd of wild horses grazing peacefully in the distance to be very peaceful. I cannot relate, however, to finding peace sitting at a table at an outdoor café on a busy street sipping a cappuccino and watching the world scurry by but for many this is their idea of peace.

There are some out there who question my love of the outdoors and taking time to tour the backcountry but then again I have trouble understanding how anyone can relax and find peace in the chaos of the city. My buddy loves the city life and has trouble settling in the great outdoors while I can’t be in the city for too terribly long before my peace quickly leaves. We are good friends and have something very similar in common; the Perfect Peace of God in our lives. We may be miles apart in our ideal appreciation of peace but we share a love of the Prince of Peace. Everything else in life seems so insignificant when the peace of the Master dwells within us.

This Sunday we are talking about the Peace Advent Candle.

Shalom Aleichem (Peace be upon you)

Pastor Todd

Keep Christ In Christmas

So we are now in the month of what we call the Christmas season. Yes the mall parking lots are full, and hopefully the church pews will be. Trees and trimmings are now adorning every home and street corner. Lights, music, and planned family gatherings are on high, as we close in on the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus. The true Messiah, came quietly, as a baby, despite the efforts of threatened kingdoms to stop him.

For everyone, it should be a time of great anticipation and sharing of this celebration. The reality of our world, and our community is that there will be those that will try and suppress this joy. Governments everywhere are at work to try and silence His message, removing Him from schools, public buildings, and even courtrooms, yet they cannot. Many stores will use Christmas only as a tool to improve their bottom line. There will be groups and even co-workers that will try to use political correctness to silence our singing praises to the Lamb. There will be claims and complaints of being offended by the very words, ”Merry Christmas”, or even an aptly decorated tree. There will be attacks because a display or ornament is about Jesus’ birth. Stand proud for Him and remain steadfast in your faith and pray for those who seem to have lost, or have no faith, yet never attack those of other faiths. Never be ashamed of speaking the name of Jesus. In Luke 9:26 (GNT), Jesus tells us,” If you are ashamed of me and my teaching, then the Son of man (Jesus) will be ashamed of you when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”

So as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, wear your nativity broach, hang an ornament, offer a Merry Christmas, do a random act of kindness as a birthday gift to Jesus and let God look after the rest. Remember that God sent Jesus for all of us, carefully wrapped, aptly labeled, ”To all mankind, My gift to you.” Invite someone to a Christmas concert, or church service to learn about the miracle of His birth. Ask them to come and see what the buzz is all about. Offer that perfect gift to unwrap on Christmas morning, and always remember to keep Christ in Christmas.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca

Advent Sunday - Love

Yes, I know, we messed up the order but I have a feeling that the good Lord wanted us to focus on agape today. You can hear the sermon online by going to the Online Message tab.
Blessings all!
Pastor Todd

Week At A Glance Dec 5 – 11, 2016

Office Hours

Church Office Closed      - Mon, Dec 5

Church Office Open        - 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM Dec 6 - 9

Church Office Closed      - Sat, Dec 10

Church Service                - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Sun, Dec 11

Special Events

Quad Fellowship                         - 7:30 AM Mon, Dec 5

Lady’s Bible Study                      - 1:00 PM Wed, Dec 7

Lady’s Crafting with a Purpose   - 2:00 PM Wed, Dec 7

Movie Night                                - 6:30 PM Wed, Dec 7

Men’s Leadership Study             - 8:00 AM Thurs, Dec 8

Men’s Coffee Fellowship            - 9:00 AM Thurs, Dec 8

Church Service                           - 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Sun, Dec 11

Care Home Services                   - No Service This Week

Note: Quadding Fellowship on Monday requires participants to contact Pastor Todd to sign up, have an insured and registered quad, have a helmet and bring a lunch. This is not a ministry of Main Avenue Fellowship but rather a gathering of people who want to go out into the great outdoors and enjoy each other’s company and God’s gift of nature. MAF does not assume any liability for injuries or accidents. 

What Is The Christmas Season?

I was wondering this week what the term “Christmas Season” means. Is it a specific calendar space of time or is it a result of snow falling and windows being painted with images of reindeer, snowmen and Santa figures? I see the term seasons’ greetings, happy holidays and happy new year everywhere yet I have yet to see a nativity painting. I see the mall parking lots bursting at the seams yet church parking lots and services are all but bare. It appears as though the buying frenzy is answering the call of gift desperation and the true meaning of Christmas is being camouflaged with colored lights and loud music.

To be fair, I do see most churches being adorned with the proper trappings to let everyone know that we are to celebrate the birth of Jesus. We all know that Jesus was not born in December but our culture has a long standing tradition of celebrating this time of year. That is what the Christmas Season should really be. It should be a time of ramping up our message to the world and our community that the miracle of Jesus’ birth happened against all odds. It happened against all the wishes and efforts of kings and kingdoms that felt threatened by the coming of the true messiah. The marking of Jesus’ birth is even today, a threat to kings and kingdoms of another type. The huge retailers wish to cash in on Christmas without acknowledging Christs’ birth. The atheist’s must surely dislike this time of year because the sweet sound of Christmas carols in our community have the power to drown out their denial of God’s existence. 

I witnessed a dedicated group at the First Baptist Church erecting a nativity backdrop and a wonderful poster of invitation to Christmas services. I am aware that church bodies in our community, ours included, will be dedicating certain services to music presentations that will sing the praises of the Lamb. We will again be celebrating and sharing the true miracle that happened 2016 years ago. Jesus came unto man without fan fair. He lived a simple life among us, died an undeserved death, asked the Father to forgive us and rose again to go and prepare a place for all who would come into His house. His quiet existence and influence for over two thousand years is as powerful today as it was back then. That, my friends, is what we should all remember and celebrate this “Christmas Season”.

Mike Shindruk

www.mastershandministry.blogspot.ca