Author: Kathrin Veenstra

Keith Knight, chair of the Canadian Christian Business Federation, will be in Barrie on Wednesday October 26th to launch a Barrie Chapter of the noted organization. The meeting will take place a Williams Coffee Pub on Bryne Drive commencing at 730am.

The 2016 Barrie Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast is Wed Oct 5/16 at 7:25 a.m. at the South Shore Centre.   $16.00 in advance at Owen Law Office at 26 Owen St., Barrie (705) 726-1181  or $20.00 at door.    Jody Cross is the soloist and Trinity Western University Professor and leading Christian human rights lawyer Janet Epp-Buckingham is the speaker.     Please join the Mayor and area politicians to pray for our elected officials and to encourage Christian insights on the issues of the day.

“Prayer before Sleep” by Timothy Keller

“O Lord God, now grant me the grace not only to rest my body this night, but to have my spiritual repose, in soul and conscience, in Your grace and love, that I may let go of all earthly cares so I might be comforted and eased in all my ways.

And because no day passes that I do not sin in so many ways, please bury all my offenses in Your mercy, that I might not lose your presence.

Forgive me, merciful Father, for Christ’s sake.

And as I lay down in sleep to safely wake again only by Your grace, keep me in a joyful, lively remembrance that whatever happens, I will someday know my final rising– the resurrection– because Jesus Christ lay down in death for me, and rose for my justification.

In His name I pray, Amen.”

–Tim Keller, Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God (New York: Dutton, 2014), 266. This prayer was freely adapted from John Calvin’s prayer before sleep as quoted in John Calvin: Writings on Pastoral Piety, Ed. Elsie McKee (Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2001), 214.

 

 

PRAYER BEFORE SLEEP – JOHN CALVIN

O LORD GOD, who hast given man the night for rest, as thou hast created the day in which he may employ himself in labour, grant, I pray, that my body may so rest during this night that my mind cease not to be awake to thee, nor my heart faint or be overcome with torpor, preventing it from adhering steadfastly to the love of thee. While laying aside my cares to relax and relieve my mind, may I not, in the meanwhile, forget thee, nor may the remembrance of thy goodness and grace, which ought always to be deeply engraven on my mind, escape my memory. In like manner, also, as the body rests may my conscience enjoy rest. Grant, moreover, that in taking sleep I may not give indulgence to the flesh, but only allow myself as much as the weakness of this natural state requires, to my being enabled thereafter to be more alert in thy service. Be pleased to keep me so chaste and unpolluted, not less in mind than in body, and safe from all dangers, that my sleep itself may turn to the glory of thy name. But since this day has not passed away without my having in many ways offended thee through my proneness to evil, in like manner as all things are now covered by the darkness of the night, so let every thing that is sinful in me lie buried in thy mercy. Hear me, O God, Father and Preserver, through Jesus Christ thy Son. AMEN.

John Calvin and Henry Beveridge, Tracts Relating to the Reformation, Volume 2 (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), 98-99.

This autumn we will be doing a series on the Psalms.  God gave us this part of His Word to train us, especially in our every emotion to walk through every circumstance of life finding true blessing and happiness with Him.  Please take the time to fill out the following survey on the Psalms, even if you just write in what a meaningful Psalm has been for you and why.  A printed version will also be available in the foyer of the church.

PSALMS SURVEY: Survey Can be Found HERE

Please take the time to fill out this survey as Pastor Harry prepares to preach on selected Psalms.  The last 10 questions are part of an online survey that gives you the answers at: http://www.crosswalk.com/culture/infographics/quiz-how-well-do-you-know-the-book-of-psalms.html

 

Highlights from Around the World

Many members of a group of teachers were making a return trip when they visited a nearby cathedral as part of an Educational Care workshop, yet almost all of them left with a greater appreciation for the landmark after leaving.

“Although they had visited before, not many of the teachers really read the descriptions or thought about the building’s connection to history,” says Al Persenaire. Al serves with CRWM’s Educational Care program, recently led a training in the Dominican Republic for 16 Christian school teachers. He says this trip to the cathedral was among the highlights of the training.

Al challenged each of the participants to learn something new while perusing the ancient building. He also asked them to come up with ways that they could use this experience to educate their students.
“When we talked the next day they were full of life, started gelling with one another, and had a meaningful conversations.” Al’s recent experience in the Dominican Republic is just one of many highlights from visits to the field. Here are a few more from CRWM’s regional leaders.

West Africa: Although CRWM has no missionaries on the field in Liberia and the grants that we provide are modest, God reaffirmed the importance of long-term commitment to ministry here to Ron Geerlings when he visited for a country evaluation. This included a visit to a Christian school in a Muslim town.

Philippines: On a visit to the Philippines, Paul Yu met the international students who are attending Asia
Theological Seminary. He introduced them to Timothy Leadership Training and Educational Care and the students were excited about the idea of bringing these tools to their home countries of India, Korea, Brundi, Indonesia, Thailand, and Myanmar.

Germany: Steve Van Zanen traveled to Germany to lay the groundwork for CRWM’s new position in Germany. Among his highlight was meeting members of Berliner Stadtmission, the main organization with which CRWM will be partnering in its work with refugees.

Mustard Seed Growth

In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus compared the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed—one of the world’s smallest seeds that produces one of the largest trees. This parable reminds us that the work of missions is often slow, but with God as our gardener, He creates amazing results.

This month’s Missions Advocate shares a few highlights from around the world that reminds us of this mustard seed growth. Seemingly small acts like going on a field trip in the Dominican Republic, giving a small grant to Liberians, or adopting a missions strategy in a Canadian church are already bearing much fruit.

This video from Moving Works (found atcrwm.org/MustardSeed) or by clicking the image below) reminds us of the importance of the mustard seed in missions. Share it with your church or missions council.