First News & Notes - Amazon S3€¦ · ber 11, and resume with moms group in January. We meet at Sovereign Grace church Tuesday mornings. We are in need of more child care workers

First Baptist Church Petrolia December 2018—January 2019

First News & Notes December 2018—January 2019

Photo credit: Meggan Douglas

An Everlasting Christmas Pastor Alex Craig

A little boy in his exuberance for the Christmas season said to his father, "Wouldn't it be great if Christmas lasted forever.” His father replied, "Christmas does last forever and it comes with interest! I charge all these Christmas presents on my credit card and it takes me forever to pay it off!"

I guess Christmas is forever in more ways than one! God desires that you and I experience Christmas in a differ-ent sort of way . . . an everlasting experience.

Why? Because we need God's counsel, help, care and peace today, tomorrow and eternity to come. And through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, we are offered an everlasting Christmas.

We hear the voice of Isaiah proclaiming an everlasting Christmas in a day that was filled with fears, anxiety, ar-rogance and selfishness. The nation was under the threat of attack, and in all the commotion the voice of God speaks. Isaiah 9:6

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Councilor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Wonderful Councilor:

Do we consider the wonder of life anymore? Have we considered lately the wonder of a wild flower, birds flying south for the winter, a new born baby, or the salvation come down to man? Have we lost the wonder of life? Has life become boring filled with bad choices that lead us further from the counsel of our Wonderful Councilor?

Jesus Christ our Wonderful Councilor is God's Word in the flesh. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1

Literally this title means “a wonder of a councilor.” The word “wonderful” means “astonishing” or “extraordinary.” The writers of the Old Testament used it for acts of God which man cannot understand. The word “councilor” means “advisor” or “ideal ruler.”

This means he is a reliable councilor. Those who come to him will never be led astray. People like Dr. Phil or Judge Judy all make their living giving advice to others. But they can’t claim perfection. Psychiatrists routinely make up to $350) an hour and more for their counsel. Much of it is good, some not so good. But the Lord goes to no one for advice. And when anyone comes to him, He gives them the counsel they need.

He is the perfect teacher and the ultimate councilor. His plans are not our plans, his ways not our ways. He will accomplish things beyond human comprehension and he will do it in ways we cannot fathom. He will do the greatest work ever accomplished and he will do it successfully. A violent death would not be man’s way to victo-ry but it was God’s plan and our Lord carried it out perfectly.

In this tiny baby we see all the wisdom of God wrapped in swaddling clothes.

He is the Wonderful Councilor. Will you let Him be your Everlasting Christmas?

First Baptist Church Petrolia 2 December 2018—January 2019

December 2018 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2

10:30 Worship

3 4

7:00 pm Bible Study/Prayer Meeting

5 10:00 Ladies Bible Study

6 7 8

9 10:30 Worship

11:30 Christmas Dinner

10 11 7:00 pm Bible Study/

Prayer Meeting

12 10:00 Ladies Bible Study Ends for Christ-mas

13 14

Jean Bradshaw

15

16 10:30 Worship

17

Sing For Joy 7:00 pm

18

19 20

21 22

23 10:30 Worship

24

Christmas Eve Ser-vice

25

Merry Christmas

26 27 28 29

30

10:30 Worship Janice Kazek

31


SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1 2 3 4 5

6

10:30 Worship

7 8


Ron & Wanda Pratt Anniversary

9

10:00 Ladies Bible Study

10 11 12

Travis Brandon

13

10:30 Worship

14 15


16


17 18 19

20

10:30 Worship

21 22


23


24 25 26

27

10:30 Worship

28

Jessica Jay

29


30


31

January 2019


Many Thanks to all who participated in the Samaritans Purse shoebox col-lection.

23 boxes went from this congregation to children who would not usually get a present.


Some of the highlights from the Deacon's Board;

1) The Adult Sunday School Class is in recess until 2019. Pastor Alex will conduct a survey to see if there is an in-terest in starting up again.

2) Harald Rust was appointed as moderator for our next Business meeting to be held on Tuesday Nov. 20th 2018.

3) Bill Baker has agreed to change the furnace filters and take over from George McPhee.

4) The Ministerial Association was approved to use the Church for a meeting on Tuesday Nov. 20th in the afternoon.

5) Pastor Brian Horrobin has agreed to be our Anniversary Speaker in 2019.

6) The front sign will be addressed by the Property Committee and consider a new front sign.

7) The Baptismal Tank and improvements will be contracted out by the Property Committee.

8) The Far East Broadcasting Canada Friendship dinner was approved on April 9th 2019.

9) A new DVD player was approved to be purchased.

10) a motion was passed to extend Donna McAuslan as a Deacon for another year.

November 5, a nice group of ladies joined together for the Baptist Women’s day of prayer. Donna McAuslan and Sara Rust organized the event, dividing up the prayer requests from other Baptist Sisters from around the world. Many of the requests are similar, things like requesting safety and help raising children, various laws that impact families and persecution of Chris-tians in many places. A lovely ta-ble of refreshments provided by Wyn Craig and Betty McPhee end-ed our afternoon of prayer.

Pregnancy Centre News This fall has seen a change in the staff of the pregnancy centre. Tara Steeves, along with her husband, has moved on to join a missions organization based in Northern Ireland. She may also partner with churches in Ireland to work with them in possibly opening pregnancy centres. Jenn Bennett, formerly the office manager, has stepped into the role of executive director. Michelle Gingerich, a volunteer for the previous year, started in the position of client service director in October, and a new office manager, Jessica McKnight, has been hired as well. With these changes, moms group was put on hold for the fall. We will host a Christmas party for the moms Decem-ber 11, and resume with moms group in January. We meet at Sovereign Grace church Tuesday mornings. We are in need of more child care workers beginning in January. Child care is needed from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. Tuesday mornings in Sarnia at Sovereign Grace. If you know anyone who would be able to help please contact Sara Rust at 519 882-0104.


13th Annual Camp Hermosa Banquet The Camp Hermosa Banquet was held at West View Baptist church in London on Saturday September 29, 2018, which typically draws about 200 guests each year. A wonderful meal was served and live and silent actions were held as well. A number of camp hermosa teens were present to help serve the meal and to clean up af-terwards. There was a real spiritual tone set. The staff from last summer worked very well together. A video taken at camp was shown, with various campers putting into words how much camp meant to them. Also, the three life guards from last summer had the vision of raising enough money to build one new cabin. They de-cided to tread water from 7:00 pm to 7:00 am one night to raise money. They stated out together in the water for the first hour. Then they took turns, always having one in the water while the other rested. They finished off the last stretch together. All night, donations were coming in. They were encouraged and amazed that by the end, they had surpassed their goal. There are plans for new girls cabins to be built for the 2019 season. The goal at this year’s banquet was to raise $20000 for various projects around the camp. Camp Hermosa is a ministry well worth supporting. Many young peoples’ lives are permanently touched by the Lord through the ministry that happens at camp, and life-long connections are made. Sara Rust

Also from Camp Hermosa

Applications for summer staff will be open on DECEMBER 1 this year! Former staff mem-bers, can you chime in and let us know your fa-vorite memory from your time on staff?

Registrations for 2019 begin December 1, 2018

Coming in 2019 - New Girls Cabins! The old girls cabins have already been moved in anticipation of brand new cabins that will be ready in time for summer 2019.

To date, the project is 70% funded. Your sup-port will ensure that we reach 100% funding be-fore next spring. If you would like to partici-pate in the construction of these cabins, please contact Tammie Ryall.

mailto:[email protected]?subject=Hermosa%20Build%20Volunteer%20Inquiry


The church’s web site is: http://firstbaptistpetrolia.ca/

The church’s new email is

[email protected]

If you need spiritual help during this time, please contact one of the deacons:

Ministry Leader: Alex Craig 1-519-786-3325

Deacons:

Harald Rust—519-882-0104

Brad Loosely – 519-882-2073

Donna McAuslan – 519-882-3092

Lloyd McDonald – 519-882-1740

Janice White 519-882-1874

Find us on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/First-Baptist-Church-Petrolia-

Our Church’s 150th Anniversary is only 4 years away!

Jean Bradshaw and Wanda Pratt are collecting pictures and stories they hope to share in an expanded book to celebrate this occasion. Please let them know if you have pictures and/or stories to include.

Missionfest Our congregation did a great job raising funds for Missionfest this year. Our total was $4,000 towards the $30,591.75 that will be di-vided between a Church Plant in Verdun, Que-bec and the Golden Triangle in Thailand.

The achievement was celebrated at Central Baptist in Sarnia on November 10 with a Thai Meal, some inspiring music and the presenta-tion of our collections. 15 of the 18 Associa-tion Churches were able to participate.

Below we see Canadian Baptist Ministries representative Adrian Gardner accepting the cheque for over $30,000.00.

Our own Harald Rust was the moderator for the evening and as each church presented their offering, they added a piece of the ‘jig saw puzzle’ behind Adrian.


FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, PETROLIA 2019 NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT MUSIC DIRECTOR Cheryl Cassin PIANISTS

Cheryl Cassin Diane O’Dell

DEACONS

Brad Loosley (2018, 2019) Donna McAuslan (2019) Harold Rust (2018, 2019) Janice White (2019, 2020)

TREASURERS

Joyce Finlayson Earle Woolaver (Assistant)

MISSION SECRETARY & ENVELOPE SECRETARY

Earle Woolaver Joyce Finlayson (Assistant)

CHURCH CLERK

Helga Mursall CHURCH SECRETARY

Helga Mursall CHURCH MODERATOR

Harald Rust (2019) NEWSLETTER

Cheryl Cassin Wanda Pratt

AUDIO COORDINATORS Helen McDonald George McPhee Ron Pratt

JUNIOR CHURCH COORDINATORS Judy Baker Diane O'Dell

TRUSTEES

Joyce Finlayson (2018, 2019) Cheryl Cassin (2018, 2019) Brad Loosley (2019, 2020)

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Deacon – Trustee – Treasurer - Joyce Finlayson Assistant Treasurer/Envelope Secretary -

Earle Woolaver Betty McPhee (Member)

. Jean Bradshaw (Member) COMMUNION STEWARDS

Betty and George McPhee (Jan., Feb., March) Bev Woolaver (Apr., May, June) Sharon McGrail (July, Aug., Sept.) Wyn Craig (Oct., Nov., Dec.)

USHER COORDINATOR

George McPhee CHURCH LIBRARIANS

Sharon McGrail Betty McPhee

OUTREACH COMMITTEE Pastor Alex Craig Wendy Scott Debbie Wolsey Deacon Harold Rust Lloyd McDonald


Nominating Committee recommendations for 2019 PROPERTY COMMITTEE

Deacon – Trustee – Joyce Finlayson Leo Bradshaw Norman McAuslan Bill Baker Earle Woolaver Leone Mater Chuck Montgomery

CHURCH TELLERS

Joyce Finlayson Donna McAuslan Helen McDonald Sharon McGrail Helga Mursall Mildred White

FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE

Deacon – Helga Mursall Debbie Wolsey Christa Woods Marie Montgomery Wyn Craig

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Deacon/Chair – Donna McAuslan 1st Deacon---Brad Loosley 2nd Deacon - Pastor Alex Craig Diane O'Dell Sharon McGrail Earle Woolaver

CONVENTION DELEGATES

Pastor Alex Craig ASSOCIATION DELEGATES

Pastor Alex Craig Donna McAuslan

FLOWER/CARD COMMITTEE

Joyce Finlayson Bev. Woolaver

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION & CHILD SAFETY POLICY COMMITTEE

Jean Bradshaw Sara Rust Jessica Jay

AUDIO/VISUAL

Wanda Pratt Bill Baker Harald Rust

ADOPTION OF NOMINATING REPORT November 11, 2018 as amended Moved by Brad Loosley Seconded by Sharon McGrail That the Nominating Committee Report be approved and recommended to the General Congregation, Carried.


Our local church voted at the June 12 2018 business meeting to sponsor the couple pictured

here Elie and Mireille Haddad in Lebanon , in the amount of $ 1200.00 for a one year time span.

This support follows the pattern of our support earlier for Rupen and Mamta Das. (Rupen Das went on

at the beginning of 2018 to serve with the Canadian Bible Society).

Here is a biography of the Haddad’s wgi work including with the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary which we helped to support as part of the 2014 Missionfest project.

Serving in Lebanon

Elie and Mireille Haddad serve with CBM in Lebanon as Team Leaders for the Middle East and North Africa region. They help the team reach organizational ends by directing, coaching and empowering our Field Staff, and assisting our national partners in the accomplishment of our shared objectives. The Haddads promote their sphere of ministry both on the field and here in Canada, and they help shape the agenda for the future.

In addition, Elie serves as President of the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS) in Beirut, Lebanon. ABTS equips lead-

ers for the Church in the entire Arabic-speaking world. Students come from as far west as Morocco and as far east as Iraq.

Mireille serves with Heart for Lebanon, a Christian NGO that provides humanitarian aid and relief to marginalized people

groups, including the ever increasing number of refugees who continue to enter Lebanon. Mireille works primarily among fe-

male refugees, caring for them physically, emotionally, educationally and spiritually. Both Elie and Mireille grew up in Leba-

non before immigrating to Canada. Elie was a senior technical consultant in the field of information technology before he and

Mireille joined CBM in 2005.

Documents

First News & Notes - Amazon S3€¦ · ber 11, and resume with moms group in January. We meet at Sovereign Grace church Tuesday mornings. We are in need of more child care workers