Tuesday, October 25, 2011

YF Next Generation Family Feud this Friday (28th)

That was a lot of fun last Friday! It was an amazing blessing to interact with Patrick and the housemates at Jericho Road last week. They shared how encouraging it was to witness joyful enthusiasm as you served. Because we had such fantastic participation (in numbers and attitude), we finished quickly and had a chance to have discussion groups. It was our privilege to serve and Patrick even mentioned another opportunity that I'll outline later in this e-mail. I've been focusing on lifestyle this week and our prayer focus can be this "when Jesus said that he was the Way he meant more than the Way to the Father. He was also telling us a way to think, a way to act, a way to react, a way for all of life. This week pray that you will truly be in the Way." Ps 15; Deut 5:1-32; Galatians 6:1-10; Matthew 25:1-13; Romans 13:1-14; John 15:1-17; Mark 12:28-34; Luke 11:33-36.

This Friday (28th), YF will be joined by youth from other churches and their parents for our Next Generation conference "Anti-Family Feud". All parents are encouraged to join as this event is meant to be a Game Show Presentation for Ages 9-99. Even if your parents are unable to join, join us anyways! We will be joined by other churches and youth as Pastor Jeff's ministry focus is bringing awareness of the second generation to Chinese churches. He is also hosting workshops at our church Saturday for leaders and concerned parents: "The Role of the Church in Raising the Next Genaration", "Raising Your Kids Between Two Cultures", "Raising a Godly Genaration" More details can be found on our church website. Bring your Bibles and parents at the regular 7:30pm time in the upstairs sanctuary.

This Sunday (30th), we will continue our series in Proverbs. 2 Chronicles 9:23 says "All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart." May we eagerly desire wisdom as we saw last week wisdom will protect and watch over us (Prov 4:6).

Patrick (from Jericho Road) has a brother who is organizing an evening of praise, worship and presentation. We are invited to play a couple of songs. It's on Saturday November 12th, 2011 at 6:30PM at 1401 Blair Place (Wells Salvation church), if you are able to play a song or two, make a team and all funds raised will support an orphanage, Feeding program, education sponsorship program, and a training center for widows in Kampala-Uganda.

Had a great time with many of you on Wednesday (26th) as we went to the Met fair and Starbucks. Continue to seek the Lord and counsel from your parents as you discern your future.

Remember to keep up your daily Scripture reading and prayer, "Lord, let me put right before interest; let me put others before self: let me put things of the Spirit before things of the body: let me put the attainment of noble ends before the enjoyment of present pleasures: let me put principle above reputation: let me put you before all else. Amen." - John Baillie - A Diary of Private Prayer Let us know how we can be praying for you.

See you all on Friday!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

YF Serving at Jericho Road this Friday (21st)

Even in this colder weather your participation in last week's Bible study provided enough people to fill the room with warmth! It was awesome to hear about how the Lord has been working in our sister Laura's life. Please continue to pray for her and allow the Lord to teach us from her example of faith as well. Let's continue to reflect on desiring to have the affection of Christ Jesus for others and growing in our understanding that to live is Christ. Thanks for thoughtful sharing during Sunday school as well. My devotion has been focusing on the theme of compassion which encourages to echo this prayer all week "Loving Father, teach me to love and care for those that need you today. Those who are passed over and do not feel love unless I love them for you. May Christ's love for others be felt through me today. In your name and by your power I pray these things. Amen." Lk 6:27-36; 15:1-10; 10:25-37; 11:1-44; Jn 15:9-17; 11:1-44.

This Friday (21st), we have the privilege to continue serving with Jericho Road Ministries at 10 Crerar Avenue (Google Maps directions) from 7:15pm - 9:15pm. This is an amazing compassionate ministry and you can read about how they began and what they stand for at http://www.jerichoroad.ca/. During Discipleship week we spent a morning doing some labor outdoors and it was rewarding to see the final product. May the Lord use us as a blessing this Friday. Please arrange to meet at 10 Crerar and be picked up from there, bring clothing that you don't mind getting dirty (or paint drops) on. The form to give your parents is attached.

This Wednesday (19th), there is a Christian University Fair at the Metropolitan Bible Church that a few of you had expressed interest in. It is from 7pm - 9pm.

This Sunday (23rd), we will continue our series in the book of Proverbs. Throughout this journey we have focused on the fear of the Lord as the beginning of wisdom, how He leads us and the rest of the series will focus on meaningful issues of life like the Lord's path, how to treat others and handle the resources we have been given.

Coming up: Next Generation Conference (28th) Familiy Feud event with parents!


Remember to keep up your daily Scripture reading and prayer... there is so much pain and joy to be shared in our lives. "Compassion is the sometimes fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else's skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too." - Frederick Buechner

Let us know how we can be praying for you this week or if you'd like to catch up!

See you all on Friday (and some on Wednesday)!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

YF Bible Study this Friday (14th)

Hope everyone had a meaningful weekend with family to remember God's goodness this Thanksgiving season. My prayer focus this week is that the presence of Christ would be so present in our lives that it will determine what we think and do. When the Kingdom is placed first, all things in our lives will be given the proper attention. "Lord, deliver me from the small loyalties of habit or tradition that would keep me from larger loyalties of the Spirit. Through Jesus, who understood the deeper meaning of freedom. Amen" - John Killinger. Time for some reading: Psalm 33, Deut 4:32-40; Phil 3:1-14. Please continue in your devotional plan as well.

This Friday (14th), we will be continuing our Bible study series in the book of Philippians. The apostle Paul emphasizes joy in the life of the Christian despite sharing in the fellowship of His sufferings (suffering he asks for in his prayer!). Prior to our study, we'll also have a testimony of how the Lord has been working in the heart of our sister Laura and drawing her to missions. I've asked her to share with YF and pray that it encourages you to see a young sister (who has been with you for the last 3 years) with a heart for missions. As you may already know, she has returned from El Salvador where the Lord enriched her faith and is planning on going to Chile.

This Sunday school (16th) will be flexible, I have a lesson prepared in our journey in Proverbs but also a possible discussion on an issue that is becoming closer to my heart. I'll bring both to Sunday school and pray that the Lord will speak to us either way. We will also set aside time at the end of class to pray for one another and I'll share with you a prayer initiative that our church will focus on.

Next Friday (21st), is a blessed opportunity to serve an amazing ministry (Jericho Road) at Crerar Ave. During Discipleship Week over 20 of us did some pretty hard (and rewarding) work to help serve the clients there and there is some more work that needs to be done next Friday evening. Don't worry, it's indoor work :) I've attached our outdoor activity form for next week.

Coming up: Next Generation Conference (28th) Family Feud event with parents!

This week, a representative from the churches involved will be getting together for us to plan Getaway 2012! Pray for us and begin thinking of what theme you would like to bring to the table at the student leader meeting that we'll let you know about in the coming months. Our desire for the Getaway is for the students to dream, pray, and work together as the body of Christ.

It's also great to meet with you during the week, if your schedule is swamped and you can't meet up, let us know how we can be praying for you!

See you all this Friday!

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

No YF, Awana, Pure Energy or Alpha this week

It was amazing to see such an overflow of people last Friday at the gym! A lot of new faces and a lot of fun despite the lack of some equipment :) Thanks for making this Fall such a great one so far, lots of participation in our retreat, studies and Sunday school and lots of individual commitments to growing through Scripture reading and prayer! My week's theme is 'commitment' and daily reading is Psalm 101 and I've been reflecting from Mark 10:17-31 and John 12:20-33. You can also read your daily Proverb as well (mirror the day like discussed in Sunday School). As we journey together on a deeper prayer life and consistent Scripture reading, we should also see a deeper commitment to Christ. It's a lot easier to be committed to our own interest so our prayer (and my prayer for us) should be like Thomas A Kempis "Write your blessed name, O Lord, on my heart, there to remain so engraven that no prosperity, no adversity, shall ever move me from Your love. Amen."

There is no church Friday night activities this weekend, the C&Y programs and Alpha are cancelled for adult volunteers, children and youth to spend with their families over the long weekend. Enjoy your time with family and friends this weekend, if you have the time feel free to meet up with each other or even help out with the Ottawa Food Bank as an individual or family activity.

Auntie May forwarded this need for anyone that is willing and available this Saturday to help out:
"As you may know, we are mid-way through our annual Thanks for Giving Food Drive here at the Ottawa Food Bank. And, to help keep the momentum going, we are looking for volunteers to get involved during the Thanksgiving weekend. Saturday (Oct. 8) and Sunday (Oct. 9).
For more information or to sign up to volunteer email volunteer@theottawafoodbank.ca."

I'm excited to catch up with a couple of you this week, please let us know when you are available to share what God is doing in your life or if you need prayer.

Grace and Peace to you.