This will be the last Newsletter of 2023. Next week, Christmas Eve and the following week, New Year’s Eve, there will be a weekly e-blast but no Newsletter or Word from the Pastor.
As we move towards the end of the year, can I appeal to those who call CLA church home to make room for December tithes and offerings? This is vital to allow us to finish 2023 in a strong position. CLA’s outreach, benevolence, emergency counselling, care packages, staffing, buildings, ministries of discipleship for five generations and leadership development are costly and we need full participation by the followers of Christ to help cover it. In addition, the campaigns for Help Us Tell the Story, CLA Missions, and our Heart for the House mortgage reduction are all amazing opportunities to increase God’s grace in our “Jerusalem, Judea, Sameria and world”. Over a third of total charity revenue is contributed in a single month, December. We need every individual and family to help us over the next two weeks. Thank you for making this a prayerful consideration. Your participation is an important spiritual discipline.
Next Sunday, join us for one of two identical candlelight services at 10 am or 4 pm. Candlelight worship services are special. Isaiah says, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light, on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned”. Light is a power symbol of the incarnation. Into the evil and ignorance of untold suffering comes the Light of God to guide His creation to hope and peace. Light shows us the pathway. It illuminates our minds to truth otherwise unknown. Light is both beautiful and true. Join us next week!
The CLA Langley Campus office will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. We are open Dec 27, 28 and 29. We will bring in the new year together at our 10 am service on December 31. This will guide us into our January Week of Prayer. This year our annual Week of Prayer is January 14 to 21 and I encourage you to consider setting aside those days to join us at our nightly prayer services (they will also be online). We are excited to unveil our Five Big Prayer Initiatives for 2024. These days can also embrace fasting (many things can be fasted; food, social media, all TV or screens, types of beverages like coffee or even as the Apostle Paul encourages – sexual relations). The new year is a wonderful time to examine 2023 for the things God has taught us. I always do a top ten. As we examine our spiritual disciplines in January, consider the role that daily Bible reading, meditation, journalling and prayer can play in the habits of 2024.
Sara and I will be taking some time off in the early days of 2024, pray for our rejuvenation and a fresh Spirit infilling. We will be back for the Week of Prayer.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
