WE CAN’T WAIT TO WORSHIP WITH YOU
Worship Service 10 am
Overflow seating is available in our Fellowship Hall and the Gym
IGNITE KIDS – during the service watch for your cue to go to kids church!
Our live stream will continue via our Century Meadows Baptist Church Youtube channel - subscribe to see all
of our services – or via our website, www.centurymeadows.ca
INVITATIONS TO OUR CMBC CHRISTMAS SERVICES &
PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE FOYERS. SHARE AN INVITE WITH FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS!
PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR PASTORS
Sunday, December 19 – Pastor Rob 4th Week of Advent - JOY
Message: “God With Us: Shepherds“
Scripture: Luke 2:1-20
Sunday, December 26 – Pastor Brett Message: God With Us: Simeon & Anna”
Scripture: Luke 2:22-40
CHRISTMAS AT CMBC
Advent Sermon Series: “GOD WITH US”
November 28 – “God With Us: Zachariah & Elizabeth”
December 5 – “God With Us: Mary”
December 12 – “God With Us: Zachariah“
December 19 – “God With Us: Shepherds”
Family Christmas Program: “Behold, Jesus is born!”
Sunday, December 19, @ 6 pm
All are welcome to come celebrate Christ’s birth &
worship the Savior together! We will have a surprise for the kids to take home after the program!
Christmas Eve Service – December 24, @ 6 pm
*You must register to attend. Please use the link provided by email or facebook or call the office to register!
Century Meadows Baptist Church
To Our Century Meadows Family
Weekly Newsletter December 19, 2021
Happy Birthday!
Dec 19 Clayton Ellingson Dec 20 Brian Topping, George Ibrahim, Mason Dick Dec 22 Cass Hill, Edith Gerber,
Marilou Yampolsky Dec 23 Christen Turner Dec 24 Gordon Schlaak
Dec 25 Bennet Topping, Dwayne Wohlgemuth, Marissa deHoog, Mya Herder
WEEKLY EVENTS
SUNDAY MORNINGS
PRE-SERVICE PRAYER – 9:30 am in new counselling room (next to South staff door); a prayer time for our service, our church and for our search for a new lead pastor.
WORSHIP SERVICE – 10 am NURSERY – available for ages 0-3.
IGNITE – (NO IGNITE DEC 26 & JAN 2)Partway through each service, kids ages 4-gr 6 will be dismissed to Ignite in the Crosswalk. Meet at the new children’s coatrack.
We will bring your kids back to be picked up after the service by the new Children’s Church room. Parents of kids ages 4/5 need to sign them in/out. *A parent/guardian is no longer required to accompany their children.
WEEKLY
MOMS ‘N TOTS – 2nd Wednesday of each month 10:00am-noon in the CMBC gym or a park. Join our CMBC Moms & Tots Facebook group to stay in the loop on monthly plans. Contact: Judes Olson 403.620.5253.
YOUTH – Resumes Jan 5. Wednesdays 7-9 pm at the church & Crosswalk! Contact: Amy Kowal 780.678.6052 YOUNG ADULTS–Resumes in Jan. Thursdays 7-9 pm at the Crosswalk Follow CMBC_youngadults or the CMBC Young Adults page for up-to-date information.
PARENT-LED AWANA – Contact Jodi to sign up for our at-home program! 780.679.8681 or awanacmbc@gmail.com LADIES BIBLE STUDY –Resumes in Jan. Fridays 9:30-11:30am in the Fellowship Hall. Childcare is available for $2/child! Contact Char 780.608.7149
Our church office will be closed from December 24 through January 3.
Sunday Bible Study!
Behold Your God - The Weight Of Majesty
We will be studying an attribute of God's
character each week in small group discussions.
We hope you will join us!
Sunday nights, 6-8pm in the church Gym
Runs from January 9 - April 10 (no study Feb 20) Cost is $25 for workbooks, registration is required.
To Register contact Leanne at 780-340-1583 or leannesokolov@gmail.com or the church office.
PRAYING FOR OUR NEIGHBORS
• Joan Sears – in hospital; pray for wisdom as she prayerfully considers her next steps.
• Doreen Baker –recovering from a stroke.
• Ruby Lamprecht – Pray for clarity of mind and peace as she continues her recovery.
• Del Steeves (Brent Steeves’ dad) –stage 4 lung cancer; pray for God’s hand of healing.
PRAYING FOR OUR MINISTRIES
• Church Board – pray that they would continue to honor and obey God no matter what is happening in the world.
PRAYING FOR OUR MISSIONARIES
E
• Yuri Nakano (Japan) – pray for God’s guidance &
wisdom in recruiting women leaders to create a planning team for spiritual development events; for spiritual encouragement; for creativity to share the hope of Christmas
THIS WEEK’S ENCOURAGEMENT
He Has Come
by L.B. Cowman, from
Streams in the Desert
They will call Him Immanuel — which means,
“God with us.” Matthew 1:23 Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
There’s a song in the air! There’s a star in the sky!
There’s a mother’s deep prayer,
And a baby’s low cry! And the star rains its fire While the beautiful sing,
For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King.
A number of years ago a remarkable Christmas card was published by the title “If Christ Had Not Come.” It was based on our Savior’s own words, “If I had not come,”
in John 15:22. The card pictured a minister falling asleep in his study on Christmas morning and then dreaming of a world into which Jesus had never come.
In his dream, he saw himself walking through his house, but as he looked, he saw no stockings hung on the chimney, no Christmas tree, no wreaths of holly, and no Christ to comfort and gladden hearts or to save us.
He then walked onto the street outside, but there was no church with its spire pointing toward Heaven. And when he came back and sat down in his library, he realized that every book about our Savior had disappeared.
The minister dreamed that the doorbell rang and that a messenger asked him to visit a friend’s poor dying mother. He reached her home, and as his friend sat and wept, he said, “I have something here that will comfort you.” He opened his Bible to look for a familiar promise, but it ended with Malachi. There was no gospel and no promise of hope and salvation, and all he could do was bow his head and weep with his friend and his mother in bitter despair.
Two days later he stood beside her coffin and conducted her funeral service, but there was no message of comfort, no words of a glorious resurrection, and no thought of a mansion awaiting her in Heaven. There was only “dust to dust, and ashes to ashes,” and one long, eternal farewell. Finally he realized that Christ had not come, and burst into tears, weeping bitterly in his sorrowful dream.
Then suddenly he awoke with a start, and a great shout of joy and praise burst from his lips as he heard his choir singing these words in his church nearby:
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
Let us be glad and rejoice today, because
He has come. And let us remember the proclamation of the angel:
I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord Luke 2:10-11
He comes to make His blessing flow, Far as the curse does go.
May our hearts go out to the unconverted people of foreign lands who have no blessed Christmas day.
Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared.
This day is sacred to our Lord. — Nehemiah 8:10
SONG OF THE WEEK
His Name Is Jesus (Heaven’s Hope)
(by Travis Cottrell) The glory and the wonder It still hangs in the air
The star that saw His face still shines The song heard at the manger The angel anthem raised
Still echoes through the ages today Rejoice peace on earth has come His favor rests on us
His name is Jesus
Rejoice the King has come for us Receive what love has done His name is Jesus
Heaven's hope
Awakened with a baby's cry Still His voice
Breaks through the night He is Almighty God Immanuel The Prince of Peace so wonderful They worshipped then and we do still His name is Jesus
Rejoice peace on earth has come His favor rests on us
His name is Jesus
Rejoice the King has come for us Receive what love has done His name is Jesus
His name is Jesus His name is Jesus
CCLI Song # 7118017 Ben Cantelon | Krissy Nordhoff | Travis Cottrell © 2018 Great Revelation Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.) Universal Music - Brentwood Benson Publishing (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.) Ben Cantelon Designee (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Capitol CMG Paragon (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Integrity's Praise! Music (Admin. by Integrity Music) Nordained Music (Admin. by Integrity Music)
Let’s Pray
You are a leader (whether you have the title or not).
Your values drive your behavior. Whatever you value drives your thinking. Since your activities and behavior will be consistent with your values, it is critical to know and define your values. As a leader of a church, your family or business enterprise, your values are
demonstrated consistently by you and your followers.
“Values are those things we consider or rate highly, prize, esteem or deem important.” Hunter, 2015)
Values are your beliefs that are critical in the way you live, lead, work, rest, and play. Your values serve as the most important component in your sense of purpose, passion and play. When the things you do and how you lead match with what you value, you are a happy fulfilled person. When your values don’t match what you do, you are stressed, unhappy and unfulfilled.
Values are without compromise, un-debatable truths, characteristics that drive and direct behavior. They are motivational; they give reasons why we do things. They are restrictive and place boundaries to guide our
behavior. They provide the core of individual, group or organisational identity. They are enduring judgments about what you consider to be important, like the shoulders on a major highway. Values can be described as what we treasure the most, those things we want to live by or die for; belief characteristics that distinguish us one from another.
Leaders who are living by their values reap a great benefit from the Lord; David said they “will never be shaken.” (Psalm 112:6 NIV)
Remember, you and I may be the only Jesus some people will ever see.
Hence, this week, let’s do everything we can at home, at work, at play and at church to demonstrate God’s love in everything we do.
Yours in Service,
Laurie D. Kennedy
Pastor of Congregational Care
SERMON NOTES
God With Us: HUMILITY
As I reflected on last Sunday’s sermon, and prepared for this Sunday, I was struck that they are both about humility. “God With Us” can either fill us with pride or humility. It reminds me of the joke about dogs and cats.
The dog thinks to himself, “This human feeds me, shelters me, and loves me. He must be God!” The cat thinks to herself, “This human feeds me, shelters me, loves me, and even cleans up my litter box. I must be God!”
Last week’s scripture, Luke 1:57-80, encourages humility realizing that God is bigger than our theology, that His answers to prayer encompass more than just ourselves, and that we need to trust God even when we don’t understand Him or what He does (or doesn’t do).
This week’s scripture, Luke 2:1-20, challenges us to see ourselves with humility and to see others with grace. As you read this passage, ask yourself what it reveals about how we should understand God, ourselves, and other people.
- Pastor Rob
Additional Membership Meeting
Sunday December 19, @ 12pm
We will have a short membership meeting this Sunday, Dec 19, at noon at which the 2022 Board slate will be presented. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the 2022 Board slate presented, answer any questions that members might have, and vote on reaffirming the 2022 Board Slate.
Voting will take place at the meeting only. There will be no early or late voting. For those
uncomfortable attending in the sanctuary still wishing to vote, they may pick up a ballot at the main entrance to mark and pass through the mail slot.
Meeting Agenda and Attachments were emailed out last week. Paper copies are available in each foyer.
Thank you.
Just a friendly reminder that we have installed a change table in our new accessible washroom for your family’s needs!
MEALS ON WHEELS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
CMBC provides drivers for Meals on Wheels 3 to 4 times per year. Would you be willing to be part of our delivery team? Contact Amy at
youth.amy@centurymeadows.ca or 780-678-6052.
THE CHURCH-WIDE RETREAT at Camp Caroline in January will unfortunately not be feasible due to
COVID complicating factors and cost.
We look forward to more connecting opportunities in the new year.
FINANCIAL REPORT
*Please remember that all donations for 2021 MUST be received prior to December 31st. Please consider that the office will be closed Dec 24th to Jan 3rd. Thank you!
Your faithful giving continues to support ongoing
ministries in our church, our city, our nation or around the world. Your faithful giving continues to support ongoing ministries in our church, our city, our nation or around the world. Here’s just a reminder of the different ways to give:
• Cheque mailed to: Century Meadows Baptist Church 3720 66 Street Camrose AB T4V 3N4
• Cheque dropped off at the above address (mail slot is to the left of the glass foyer doors toward the office)
• E-transfer – donate@centurymeadows.ca. No need for a security question.
• Automated debit transactions – contact the church for the form or download from our website:
www.centurymeadows.ca.
*The Benevolent Fund increases when there is loose change in the offering plate. If you wish to give to the Benevolent Fund please designate cheques and etransfer.
CONTACT US
We’re Here For You!
CMBCOFFICE(SHAR ON/RU TH-AN N) PH: 780-672-3230
Email: office@centurymeadows.ca LAURIE KENNEDY
Interim Pastoral Care Ph: 780-608-7149
Email: pastor.laurie@centurymeadows.ca PASTOR BRETT McCARROLL
Pastor of Youth Ministry Ph: 780-608-7489
Email: pastor.brett@centurymeadows.ca PASTOR ROB McLAREN
Transitional Pastor Ph: 587-306-0442
Email: pastor.rob@centurymeadows.ca AMY KOWAL
Youth Ministry Assistant Ph: 780-678-6052
Email: thriveyouth.amy@gmail.com OUR GIVING Dec 12/21 YTD
Giving for Budget $15,410.00 $396,072.72 Budget Requirement $10,696.68 $534,834.00
*YTD Giving 74% of Budget