A Touch Of Autumn In The Air

Dear Friends,

This week has been a reminder of the change of seasons. In my walk through South-Central Ontario, I saw fields with tall stalks of corn, green leafy soya plants and thick summer wheat. While the rain has been a concern for us in the city, in the countryside it’s been the key to a lush growing season. My hope is that among all the concerns we’ve had to juggle in our work and family this summer, God has been actively growing something in each of our hearts.

This Sunday Deacon Anthony will be preaching at TCBC giving a conclusion to our “Prayers of Jesus” message series. His talk will be about Jesus’ prayer for all believers. Supporting him will be our ever-faithful Audio/Visual support and music ministry. There will be no Bible teaching class. We will start a new Bible teaching class on Sept. 1 and walk through the Gospel of Mark.

This weekend, a good number of us from the English Congregation will be at the University of Waterloo residences having some time together to learn and practice listening prayer. There is always so much we need to say to God. We give to God our concerns, our prayers for others, our struggles with balancing work and family, our doubts and our failings. Sometimes we forget that prayer is a dialogue and God has much to say too. We will learn how to listen better.

Then comes September with people getting back to work in earnest and sometimes moving away for school. If I can draw your attention to our Ministry Lunch Sunday on Sept. 8.

• After the morning service, we will have our coffee and during our regular Bible class time we will instead have introductions from our different ministries:

1. Our English Fellowship and Bible study groups

2. How to get involved in our Sunday worship: morning choir, Audio/Visual support, worship team, reading Scripture, front door greeting, coffee/snacks

3. Introducing our Youth Ministry that begins a new school year

4. Our Ministry partnerships

   • Tuesday Alpha Course starting in October

   • Friday Scouts with TCBC Children Min

   • Sunday ESL with TCBC Mandarin Min

   • Sunday Sports with Cornerstone CPC

   • Love Matthew House, Love TCH (22 McCaul) neighbourhood outreaches

Then we will have lunch together downstairs. It will be potluck style and there will be enough food for visitors and guests. This is a time to share stories about your summer and get to know some new friends. All this will be in the church basement after Sunday service.

I’ll be at the Waterloo retreat this weekend. If I don’t see you, enjoy what looks like a warm August weekend.

In Jesus,

Pastor Nolan