I was looking over the last few months of activities around the church, and realized how much has happened in 2017, and how much we have to rejoice and celebrate over.  As summer is often a more “settled” time, I thought I would just take time to remind us of how many ways we have been blessed as a congregation, lest we lose track, lose touch.

We have seen new friends coming and getting to know us, in worship and other church activities.  How great it is to see new faces, to hear the laughter, the welcoming sounds that speak to the ongoing open hospitality we work hard to be about. We have had lots of new initiatives in our serving of our community, from helping at the Canada Day Weekend Picnic, to new grocery bags to send out food to people in, that have our logo to remind and invite people back. We have had 8 young people sponsored to attend camps, and actually, a number more than that actually going off to camp, so hoping they all have a great time, safe time.

We have had a large number of people, including six THIRDS, Russ, Henry, CARE Missions, and likely a few I have missed, off in the “mission fields” of Alberta, Africa, and Russia.  Wow, that is a huge response to God’s great commission.

VBC is in full swing as I type this, and we see young and old gathering and growing in their life as God’s people.  

We have had an engagement, three weddings, and three more to come, a new baby, baptisms, birthdays, and a variety of events where people have simply gathered, for games, for coffee, for fellowship in Christ’s name.

Yes, there have been some more serious moments as well, but even those, when reflecting on the word of our God, give us reason for hope and thanksgiving.

So, as we enter the month of August, may it be with hearts eager and anticipating the ongoing blessings and goodness our God is preparing for us.  Look at all that is on the calendar, and feel free to get involved.  I hope to see you often over this month, please stop by for a coffee if my van is at the church, looking forward to seeing people for worship on Sundays and Thursdays, and remember that our God calls us to live our faith, 24/7, not just one hour on Sunday mornings.  As he never leaves us, may we never stray from the shelter of his wings, covering, calling, encouraging us onwards.  

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - In all things give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.