To become more "Doers of God's Word" than we already are.

Secondly we want to experience in our relationships, the type of spiritual family, brothers and sisters in Christ, that God's Word calls us to be.

To that end...

We're challenging everyone at Port of Grace to, twice a month, invite someone from the church over for a meal or coffee and desserts, or any other activity (ie. game night) that will us truly get to know one another and truly become brothers and sisters in Christ, not just spiritually but in experience as well.

Also, remember to set aside every fourth Sunday for our Potluck after the morning service!

Gord's viewing will be at Davidson's Funeral home, from 12PM - 2PM.
It will be followed by the funeral service at 2PM. From Davidson's we will be traveling to the cemetery.

From the cemetery all are invited back to Port of Grace for a light reception.

We had a church lifetime high of $3200.00 - This will be matched by the Canadian Government, which means, that offering will be doubled.

Thank you so much for giving extravagantly and generously this past Sunday for others who are in need. This is the heart of God.

May God encourage you and bless you for your faithfulness in helping those less fortunate.

Check the beacon for ongoing and upcoming activities at POG.

When you watch the news and see the unimaginable destruction and catastrophe in Haiti, one thing becomes clear. How can we possibly help? However, the right question is not how much can we do? But, How much will we do? The first question paralizes us. The second question empowers us to act.

As a church we believe there's two things we can do. First, and most important, we resolve to pray for Haiti. Most of all Haiti, needs God's supernatural move in the hearts of it's people. The United Brethren Denomination has 40 churches in Haiti. News coming out has been slow. Life was hard for everyone in Haiti before this earthquake. Now it seems almost impossible. This is true for everyone, Christians haven't been spared. But even, and especially, at a time like this, we pray that Christians in Haiti, would be strengthened, even in and through their mourning, to be powerful witnesses of God's healing and power in such a time like this, and the many years to come.

But as a church, we also want to sacrifice on the behalf of the Haitian people. With that in mind this coming Sunday, January 24, all of the offering that we receive, 100%, will go to Haiti! - The Canadian government is also matching any donations made to Haiti, so whatever we give will be doubled. Because we have contacts in Haiti, we know that 100% of the money will be used to help, and that it'll be used wisely.

So please pray for Haiti. And please consider giving sacrificially this coming Sunday.

Advent Conspiracy challenges to do a few things to get our hearts truly focused on Christ's coming.

Worship Fully
Spend Less
Give more
Love All

Go to Advent Conspiracy so you can find out how you can do each of those things this Christmas.

At Port of Grace we are doing three things with this in mind...

Making Food Baskets (Christmas in a Basket) to give away to families in need in our community. So far, $650 have been donated to do this. That means dinner for about 15 families. Pray that God will lead us to the families he wants to bless through us.

Toy Collection in connection with Santa's Helpers. We're challenging one another to pick up a toy for a kid who might otherwise not receive a toy this Christmas.

We have also already sent out Operation Christmas Child boxes

Join the Advent Conspiracy this year!

We welcome Paul Smylski to our midst. Paul started a new position, as "Community Youth Mentor" at Port High this past September.

Last year the clergy in town were approached by Mr. John Freeman (then the Port High Principipal) with a deep concern he carried for the students of his high school in the area of 'spiritual support'. The question asked then, was, "Can the faith community help?"

Paul, also a youth pastor from Welland, who also works with Pastor Gord Abraham, who many of you know, was considered and accepted the position.

Paul's job description involves things like being involved in the Christian Fellowship, Breakfast Club, Homework Club, Extra-curricular activities such as sports, Project Lighthouse (Port Cares), and The Hub.

This has been and continues to be an opportunity for the faith community to make a positive difference in our community.

Paul comes to share with us about his journey so far.

As we consider the basics of discipleship, we consider what the early church did as it began. Things that helped it grow not just as a body, but also helped the individuals within the body to grow. We find in Acts 2:42, they devoted themselves to four very simple things. The Apostle's teaching. Fellowship. The Breaking of Bread and Prayer. Want to grow, then in the very least, these things need to play a part in your life.

As we start this new series on the 5 G's of a Disciple, we begin by looking at Grace. Because that's where it all starts and ends. God's Grace. The passage we're looking at this Sunday, reminds us that grace is completely backwards from what we're used to. Jesus told a parable, the parable of the vineyard workers, that reminds us, in a world where people are looking for fairness, Grace is completely unfair. But sometimes, unfair is good. And exactly what we need. Grace reminds us that no one is too bad for God's Grace. Grace also shows us some people think they're too good to need God's grace. Still, for the Christ follower, it's all about Grace, and it really is amazing.

You can read Matthew 20:1-16 in preparation for Sunday morning.

This weekend (October 18) we will have a baptismal Sunday, where Sharon & Kelly will be baptized. It's been a joy, for me (pastor ed) personally, to see the growth and excitement of new Christianity in their lives, over the past 6 months or so.

if you missed this past weekend's message, you can listen to it online - it is about baptism also, here are some passages you can look up that speak to the issue - Matthew 3:13-17 / Matthew 28:16-20 / Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 / Acts 2 / Acts 10 / Acts 19-20 / Acts 22:16 / 1 Corinthians 12 / 1 Peter 3:8-22

The Christian Ordinances
We believe that the ordinances, viz. baptism and the remembrance of the sufferings and death of our Lord Jesus Christ (communion), are to be in use and practiced by all Christian societies; and that it is incumbent on all the children of God particularly to practice them; but the manner in which ought always to be left to the judgment and understanding of every individual. Also, the example of washing feet is left to the judgment of every one to practice or not; but it is not becoming of any of our preachers or members to traduce any of their brethren whose judgment and understanding in these respects is different from their own, either in public or in private. Whosoever shall make himself guilty in this respect shall be considered a traducer of his brethren, and shall be answerable for the same.

As we'll be celebrating communion, it might be good to also read through 1st Corinthians 11. Communion can become one of those "familiar" things that is easy to do without thinking. Yet, scripture is very clear that communion is not something to be taken lightly. It is our most visible, ongoing, response to what Jesus has done on behalf of sinners. We cannot take lightly that to take communion if not being in proper relationship with Jesus Christ is to bring judgment on ourselves. So examine yourself, respond appropriately (in obedience), then come to the table and celebrate.

One of the hardest things to do when we read our Bible is to read the Bible for what it says, while at the same time laying down what we might already believe, or be biased towards, especially on issues of contention or what Paul calls in our passage this week, disputable matters. The problem is that when we don't see an issue as disputable, and the Bible teaches that it is, this often leads people not just to disagree with one another but to bring dissention and even division to the body of Christ. Try to read/study the following passages and just taking notes on what they say. And whether or you agree with what it says, ask yourself, what is God saying here is most important?

Your homework... read & study Romans 14-15 and as you read, ask yourself...

-what are the issues Paul raises?
-why the use of "weaker brother/sister" and what does it mean?
-why not have these rules?
-how are both sides supposed to treat each other
-what are some of the guidelines both groups need to follow to live rightly!
-what do we learn here about disagreement in the body of Christ?
-what is at the heart of Paul's teaching, what's he saying is really important, even beyond the issues themselves?
-what does all this have to do with worship?

Happy Studying!

Looking at what it means to worship all well, we've turned to Romans 12. In John 4 Jesus tells a Samaritan woman that God is looking for worshippers who will worship him in Spirit and Truth. In Romans 12 Paul tells us that to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God is our spiritual act of worship. And to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, away from the patterns of this world, towards the pattern of God's Kingdom.

We've seen that the motivation for obedience and worship must be who God is, and we see who God is, best, through his great mercy to us, which is what Romans 1-11 tells us all about. Romans 12:1,2 tells us what we should do in light of that great mercy (see previous paragraph) and then Romans 12-15 outline what doing that looks like.

This past Sunday we saw that Worshipping God all week or everyday, means...

This coming Sunday we're looking at what else Paul has to say in the remainder of Romans 14-15.

Your homework... read & study Romans 14-15 and as you read, ask yourself...

-what are the issues Paul raises?
-why the use of “weaker brother/sister” and what does it mean?
-why not have these rules?
-how are both sides supposed to treat each other
-what are some of the guidelines both groups need to follow to live rightly!
-what do we learn here about disagreement in the body of Christ?
-what does all this have to do with worship?

Happy Studying!