Announcements

We will be worshiping in the Hall for the months of January, February and March.  Worship is at 10:30.

The Trustees have signed an agreement with the Brazeau Team to list the Freelton Property. We now need to ask for anyone having a Freelton Church key to return it to the Manse as soon as possible. 

Rev Will

If anyone has any agenda items they would like discussed at the annual meeting please contact Rev Will or Barb Woodburn. Thanks 

The Annual meeting of the Freelton Strabane Pastoral Charge will be held following Worship and Lunch on February 12^th

Join us for The Art of the Spirit. A time for people to gather and work in their favourite art medium and share creative time and conversation.

on the first and third Tuesdays of the Month in the Freelton Strabane United Church Hall  at 1pm beginning in February  on the  7th. 

The new technology leaving you a bit baffled?  Join us for Tech Tuesday for Seniors to learn how to use your technology.   We will be meeting in the Freelton Strabane United Church Hall  on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the Month a 2pm beginning in February  on the 14th  

Do you have an idea of some programing you would like to see at the Church,  send Rev Will an email.   

Sock it To Me and Top Drawer is back. We will be collecting warm socks, underwear, T Shirts and hygiene items through out January and February. 

  Rev Will is always Available for calls. If you find you need to talk or need something please don’t hesitate to call the Manse at 905 659 3380 or text his cell at 905 869 5340 . 

Consider PAR as a means to support the Church 

 Prayer of Approach

  Prayer.  Lord, you have called us to be the salt of the earth and a light unto the world. We confess that this is somewhat of frightening responsibility. Yet to us you have given the words of life. Be a presence in this time so that we may find the direction we need to be your ambassadors to the world that we may become a reflection of you to and in the world.  In Jesus we pray. Amen 

    There was a clergy who decided that he would live without God for an entire year.  He would be in essence an Atheist.  (deprivation tank of faith) He wanted to explore the question of faith. 

I am not sure I have ever met a true atheist, some one who did not believe in anything.  Most people that claim to be Atheist are really not they are in reality Agnostic. They believe in a greater being but usually not the organized church.  That is not to say they are not people of faith. They can be people  of great faith at times. 

What is it like to have an actual  Faith Crisis to stop believing.  Not just questioning but saying “ really “ and walk away.  What happens when the systems the patterns of our life no longer work.

Like that song from White Christmas What do you do with a general when a general stops being a general.  

What do you do with a Christian who stops being a Christian.

What do we do when the church stops being the church

What do we do when our Christianity stops being our center.

What do we do when we become so caught up in what we are doing that we fail to see what we are about.    When the task is greater than the faith.   When the physical becomes greater than the spiritual.

This has been a tiny red caution light in the back of my head as we have moved through the amalgamation/implementation process.   The Spiritual being lost to the task at hand. 

    It happens.  When the wonder of God becomes common place when we fail to see God in our lives.  (hmm, back to the tank?)

So this Pastor wants  to see how it is different living as an Atheist  

Do they work differently, do they look different, do they have different shopping habits, to they love their family differently?     Well no.     People who are Atheist are normal law abiding loving people.    Are there are atheist who are bad people?    Yes.  Are their Christian who are bad people?  yes.  

 So were does this leave us?

Prayers of the people

Hear our prayer we humbly offer

Grant to us your peace O God

Hear our prayer we humbly offer

Grant to us your peace O God.

Prayers

Blessed God we pray that your Holy Spirit might rest with us so that we might let your light shine through us.  That city on the hill and that this place may continue to grow and be a place of welcome and faith growth.  We are thankful for the many blessings you have given us.    We know that there are many who would let there light shine but it has been dimmed by illness.  The salt of their spirit weekend by oppression and hardship.  Those who would be that city on a hill but have been marginalized.    For all those who we do not know who need your presence we pray that your Holy Spirit may be upon them and they may find healing and hope.    We pray that same Spirit rest upon those who we are called to journey with. We name them before you. 

There are those who we are called to journey with that we hold in our hearts. 

You O God are the light that leads us forward. With that light we know that we will be able to do great things in your name.  We offer you our own personal prayers of petition and thanksgiving in the silence of our hearts.    We offer you the great prayer that binds us as one as we say, Our Father….