These have been some challenging days in which to live. You all know this because you have been living it. During these difficult and challenging days I have been so grateful for God’s Word that has been confronting and challenging me daily. I have been so thankful for our staff and volunteers who have been working tirelessly (even in areas not specifically in their job description). I am indebted to our reopen team for their diligence and attention to what matters.  I have often stopped and thanked God for our elders who have led our church even in the midst of difficulty and uncertainty. I am also appreciative of our faithful church family who continues to give and send encouragements during times when discouragements are easily available. 

            This week you will have received our reopening announcement. This announcement has been precipitated by hours and hours of work by dedicated people seeking to honour God and follow governmental guidelines. There is still much to do before our opening date: cleaning; training; learning; details; details; and more details. All of this is intended to make your return to this church building as safe as humanly possible. 

            If you would be willing to volunteer your time and are able to help us going forward please give us a call (519-225-2580) or send our reopening team an email (reopen@communitybible.ca) and let them know. Are you available for odd-jobs around the building? Clean-up? Ushering? Greeters? Worship? And the list goes on. I spoke to someone recently who simply said: “Whatever I can do.” That is the attitude of a servant! 

            I have regularly been drawn by God’s Spirit to Romans 12. We are living in challenging days. Many of the government requirements for opening are difficult to nail down and identify. Many of the policies and procedures make adherence challenging. Our reopen team was moving forward in completely new areas … we have NEVER dealt with this before. In these challenging and changing days Romans 12:9-21 directs us in how we should be treating each other as believers … I will simply let God’s Word speak for itself … 

 

“Let love be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good. Love one another deeply as brothers and sisters. Take the lead in honoring one another. Do not lack diligence in zeal; be fervent in the Spirit; serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. Share with the saints in their needs; pursue hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud; instead, associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Give careful thought to do what is honorable in everyone’s eyes. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord. But If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in so doing you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.”

 

“See” You Sunday, 

 

Pastor Byron