Today we will reflect on Words of Life, Psalm 119. Psalm 119 is unique among all of the Psalms. It is not only the longest of the psalms but also the longest chapter in the entire Bible! In addition, this longest of all Psalms has one central focus: the Scriptures. What insight did the psalmist have that compelled him to lovingly compose 176 verses…

Today we will reflect on Psalm 143, Teach Me. In Psalm 143, the psalmist asks God for his mercy as his spirit is faint and his heart is dismayed. He meditates on all God’s works, he hides himself in the Lord, putting his trust in God. He asks the Lord to show him the way and to teach him how to do the Lord’s will. This Reformation Sunday, we will r…

Today we will reflect on Genesis 2:7-9, 15-17, God: the Best, the Greatest, the Perfect Gardener! God gave us the mandate to rule over everything he had made on Earth. This morning we will reflect on what it looks like to rule over what God has made. What does it look like to be a steward of God’s creation and what part of God’s creation may He be …

Today we will give thanks to God for all his blessing through the year, and for the blessing of his presence during the difficult times. We will be reflecting on Psalm 66, Praise the Lord! In Psalm 66 we join the psalmist and all the earth in shouting for joy to the Lord for all the Lord has done for us, his people. As part of our service, we will …

Today we will reflect on Psalm 91, Our Rescuer. This is another of those powerful psalms in which the psalmist is in awe of God and how God is always there for him as his rescuer and refuge. Psalm 8 gave us a “Wow!” look at God through creation. Psalm 91 gives us a “Wow!” look at God through how he is always there for us as our protector and saviou…

Today we will reflect on Psalm 73, Losing Our Foothold. The psalmist is looking at the world around him and he’s puzzled. Why do the bad people succeed more than the good people, why do God’s people suffer while the evil people do really well? These are still important questions that followers of God still wrestle with today. The psalmist decides t…

Today we will reflect on Psalm 46, Fortress and Refuge. Most of us, when we think of Psalm 46, think of the words, “Be still, and know that I am God.” It’s the context that makes these words so important. The psalmist amid uproar and chaos, and in spite, or even because of the chaos, he hears the Lord invite him to “Be still, and know that I am God…

Today we will reflect on Psalm 27, Seeking the Lord’s Face. Psalm 27 is a psalm in 2 parts. The first part of the psalm is a hymn of confidence in the Lord, while the second part is a moving prayer for help. In this psalm, we see how the need for confidence and trust in the Lord helps us come to the Lord in times of need. Our prayers are important …

Today we will reflect on Psalm 8, The Work of Your Fingers. In the middle of a group of psalms that focus on those experiencing oppression and powerlessness, comes this psalm of wonder and awe celebrating the majesty of God. We will also commission those involved in our children’s, youth, and teaching ministries in the upcoming church year.…

Today we will be looking at Psalm 81, God’s Lavish Tough Love. This psalm begins with praise to God for who He is. It then moves into God talking about how He brought Israel out of Egypt and freed them from bondage and the burden of slavery. Sadly, Israel didn't obey God, but God still longs to fill their mouths and feed them with the finest wheat …

Today we are beginning a new series: A Journey Through the Psalms. Over the next few months, we will reflect on various psalms and their themes. The psalms are written for worship and to give us words and ways to talk to God in almost any situation. We will begin our journey by reflecting on one of the most well-known psalms, Psalm 23, also known a…

Today we will reflect on Matthew 24:1-35, Signs and More Signs. The Church has been fascinated with figuring out exactly when Jesus is coming back. We will take a look at a passage that many people turn to try to figure out Jesus’ timing. The problem is that even Jesus himself told his disciples that he didn’t know the time of his return.…

Today we will begin a 2-week series on Eschatology. We will begin our series by reflecting on 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11, The King is Coming! This is the passage where the Bible talks about the rapture, in Greek the word is “Parousia”. But rather than coming to take us away, Paul tells his readers that when Jesus comes as King, we will go out to mee…

Today we have the pleasure of Pastor Henry Steenbergen leading us in worship. The focus of our reflection will be on Luke 15:1-3;11-32, Extending Grace to the Lost. Often in this world, we can assume like the older brother in this parable, to be our own saviour. When in reality we need to recognize our need for God’s gift of forgiveness and how we …

Today we will reflect on Isaiah 30:1-22, Judgement and Joy. Without judgement there will never be the joy. These are the two irreplaceable core elements of the Gospel. Jesus echo's these words from Isaiah in the Gospel of Mark, as he starts His ministry on earth, "Repent and believe the good news!" Just like King Hezekiah in the Old Testament, we n…

Today Eddie Maguire from Central Alberta Youth Unlimited will lead us in a reflection on Hebrews 11:1-3,13, Commitment. When you make a commitment it is usually accompanied by the words “I will”. The words of Jesus in John 14:3, “I will return.” Many have committed to serving Jesus because of those words. In Hebrews, we see a host of people of fait…

Today we will reflect on Hebrews 12:1-13, Run the Race Well. This past week we held our Athletes in Action Summer Camp. We will reflect on the authors use of a sports metaphor to encourage our faith life. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus as we are called to live our lives according to Jesus’ way.Av Bethel CRC

Today we finish our series on The Covenants by reflecting on Revelation 5, Covenant of Redemption Fulfilled! We enter into a vision given to John of heaven’s throne room, where we find the Lion of Judah who is also a Lamb, a sacrificial lamb. Before the Lamb is a scroll that no one can open, containing the history of the battle against God by Satan…

Today we will reflect on Jeremiah 31:23-37, The New Covenant. Israel’s in captivity, slaves to a foreign power, far from home. The Lord comes to his people through Jeremiah and now offers hope and a promise of a new covenant. This is a new commitment that builds on all the previous covenants by placing it right in the hearts of the people. You don’…

Today we will reflect on 2 Samuel 7:1-17 The Davidic Covenant. David is at peace; he’s brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem. But now, as he sits in his palace, he realizes that the ark is still in a tent. He wants to build a house for God, but instead, God’s covenant is to build a house for David, a house of descendants who will sit on…

Today we will reflect on Exodus 20:1-21 and Exodus 24:3-8, The Mosaic Covenant. Here God gives Israel the 10 Commandments and various other laws to shape Israel into his people. A people who will reflect him to the nations. God reminds them of who he is and what he’s done for them, leading them out of slavery and into freedom, using his power and a…

Today we reflect on Genesis 17, The Covenant of Circumcision. This covenant is made with Abraham where God promises to make Abraham the father of many nations. The Lord makes it clear that the child He has promised Abraham will come through Sarah, who will be the mother of the promised child, not Ishmael, who has just been born to the slave girl Ha…

Today we reflect on Genesis 12:1-9 and Genesis 15:1-21, The Abrahamic Covenant. This is a two-part covenant of land and heirs; a promise to give Abraham an heir from his own body, who will live in the land the Lord is giving him. The Lord tells Abraham that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars in the night sky. A promise that God will p…

Today we will reflect on Genesis 9:1-17, The Noahic Covenant. The Lord punishes the world for its evilness by sending a flood. God sees that Noah is righteous, so he calls Noah & his sons to build an ark to save themselves and the animals of creation. This flood story takes us back to creation and the Lord’s commands to Adam and his family: to be f…

Today we will reflect on Pentecost; the great harvest feast of the Jewish people. We will focus our reflection on Acts 2:1-13, The Gift. On Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection and 10 days after his ascension to heaven, Jesus sends his Spirit to empower the church and to carry forward his last instruction to go make disciples. The Spirit gi…

Today we will reflect on Jesus’ ascension to heaven by focusing on Matthew 28:16-20, Last Instructions Before Returning Home. Jesus returns home to heaven 40 days after his resurrection from the dead. Jesus is going home to claim his crown as King of kings; to take up the authority he has been given and take his place on the throne beside God his F…

Today we are celebrating the Profession of Faith of 8 young adults as they commit themselves to Jesus and the church. Aiden, Rachel, Connor, Kayla, Torey, Conner, Brooklyn, and Kyler will profess their faith in Jesus and their desire to make him Lord of their life. We will reflect on Jeremiah 29:1-14, For the Welfare of the City; a verse that shape…

Today we will reflect on Isaiah 56:1-8, A House of Prayer for All Nations. This will be our annual prayer service and will incorporate prayers for various topics. In this passage from Isaiah, the Lord ties together justice and righteousness with keeping the Sabbath. Worship and right living go hand in hand in the Christian life. God is calling not …

Today we are celebrating GEMS Sunday, where our girls’ ministry will be leading many of the parts of our worship. We will reflect on Isaiah 40:28-31, Rise Up! Lessons from Queen Esther. Esther is a fascinating woman in Israel’s history, she goes from being an orphan to becoming the most powerful woman in the empire. Esther is called to put her life…

Today we are celebrating the sacrament of baptism . The family has chosen Isaiah 46 where God promises “I Will Sustain You.” God is speaking through Isaiah, reminding the people that he has upheld his people and carried them since they have been born, unlike the idols which have to be borne by beasts of burden or people. Rather than sustain idols, …

This year our Good Friday Service will be held at 7:30 p.m. on March 29, 2024. We will hold a Tenebrae service reflecting on John 1:29 and John 10:14-18, Picture Jesus: The Lamb. This is a service of shadows as we journey to the cross with Jesus. During this service, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper.…

Today is Easter the high point of the church year! We will join with the universal church by rejoicing in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. We will reflect on John 11:25-26 and John 20:1-9, Picture Jesus: The Resurrection and the Life. These are wonderful words of comfort & hope; knowing that whether we live or die we belong to Jesus. Through his …

Today is Palm Sunday celebration we will reflect on John 12:12-19, Picture Jesus: The King. Historically Palm Sunday has been associated with Jesus’ kingship; however he was not the king the people wanted but the king that the people need. The Jewish leaders and the Romans felt threatened by Jesus as king. They mocked the idea of his kingship in hi…

Today is the fifth Sunday of Lent and we will focus our reflection on John 13:1-17, The Foot-washer. This is our Mexico Mission trip commissioning service. We will reflect on what it looks like to be a servant; to be willing to humble ourselves, to place the needs of others first, making serving a part of our character, and a regular part of our li…

Today is the fourth Sunday of Lent and we will reflect on John 10:11-18, The Shepherd. In this passage Jesus refers to himself as the Good Shepherd; echoing back to the bad shepherds that Ezekiel describes in the Old Testament. Kings, such as King David, were often referred to as shepherds, called to provide and protect their people and ensuring th…

Today is the third Sunday of our Lenten series, John 2:1-11, The Miracle Worker. Picture Jesus at a wedding feast when an embarrassing problem comes up; the wedding runs out of wine. This is a shameful thing for the groom and his family, so Jesus’ mother asks him to help. Jesus replies that it’s not his time yet, but in a spirit of grace, Jesus tur…

Today is the second Sunday of Lent. We will reflect on John 6:25-40, The Bread of Life. This story happens the day after Jesus fed 5,000 people with only 2 small fish and 5 loaves of bread. During the night, Jesus spent time with his Father and then walked on the water to join his disciples in their boat. Soon after arriving on the other side of th…

Today is the first Sunday of Lent. During the Lenten season, we will reflect on the pictures of who Jesus revealed in the Gospel of John, beginning with Picture Jesus: The Living Water, John 4:1-15. As Jesus travels with his disciples from Judea to Galilee, he encounters a Samaritan woman at a well during mid-day; an unusual time of the day for som…

Today is Friendship Ministry Sunday. We will celebrate this ministry with our Friends and their mentors. To wrap our series on Ephesians, we will reflect on Ephesians 6:10-20, The Armor of God. When we put on the armor of God, we are able to be brave, have courage, and stand firm in our faith against the devil’s schemes. Paul calls us to be strong,…

Today is Cadet Sunday. A time for us to celebrate our ministry to boys. Each Meeting their counsellors lead them to a deeper knowledge of Jesus and how to live it out. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians will direct our reflection on the Cadet Theme “Rooted and Grounded,” Ephesians 3:14- 19. Good roots help us grow strong and healthy and we need to be r…

Today we will reflect on Ephesians 5:1-21, Be Filled with the Spirit. In this chapter Paul focuses on being imitators of God by living as His children and living with love towards each other. We are challenged to a way of thanks-living. He contrasts the ways of darkness with being light in the Lord, thus echoing back to Jesus’ call to be the light …

Today we will reflect on Ephesians 4:1-30, Unity of the Spirit. Paul returns again to his ongoing theme of grace in this letter, this time it’s about living out the grace that we’ve been given by God. By living and growing together in the Lord it builds strong unity in the faith. Showing a maturity in Jesus; a growth in our faith, and recognition t…

Today we begin a new series on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. We will reflect on Ephesians 1:1-14, Spiritual Blessings. Paul is reconnecting with the church in Ephesus, a church it seems that he has a special love for. Unlike many of Paul’s letters, he doesn’t have any errors or heresies that he’s addressing. This is a letter that reflects a lot o…

Today we continue our series on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. We will reflect on Ephesians 2:1-10, The Lord and Giver of Life. In this part of his letter, Paul contrasts the difference between being dead in our sin and alive in Jesus. Paul focuses heavily on God’s grace in Jesus that brings about our salvation and new life. Love, mercy, grace, an…

Today we will reflect on Matthew 2:13-23, A Nazarene, the story of how Jospeh took his family and fled with them to Egypt because of Herod’s murderous anger. Jesus becomes a refugee and spends time in a foreign land because it’s not safe for him in his own land. When they return to Judah after Herod’s death, they go to Nazareth in Galilee, far from…

Today we are completing our Advent series The Names of Jesus. We will reflect on Matthew 2:1-12 and Colossians 1:15-23, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Magi from the east came looking for the one-born King of the Jews, after reading God’s birth announcement in the night skies. Imagine their surprise when they got to Jerusalem, and no one had a clu…

Lessons and Carols will be held this evening at 6:30 p.m. (so young families can feel free to come as well.) We will have a brief homily on John 1:1-14 and how Jesus came to live among us.Av Pastor Jake Boer

Today we come together to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We will focus on Matthew 1:18-25, Immanuel. In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ birth, Joseph is told to give Mary’s baby the name Jesus, which means “he saves.” Matthew goes on to remind his readers that the prophets told the people that the virgin will have a child and his name will be “Im…

Today we are celebrating our Children’s Christmas service where the children and youth will be leading us in worshipping Jesus through the Christmas play: Manger Moments: But Wait! There’s Myrrh! We will also continue reflecting on The Names of Jesus, by reflecting on Isaiah 9:6-7; John 14:27; John 16:33, Prince of Peace. Jesus is the Prince of Pea…

Today we continue our theme for Advent by reflecting on John 10:11-21, I Am the Good Shepherd. When Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd, he immediately points to how his willingness to lay down his life for his sheep; He is fully committed to providing for and protecting his sheep from the dangers around. The second thing we learn about Jesus as …