October 6, 2016
I have been thinking about being a light. Jesus said that he is light. Think about this: if Jesus is light and if Jesus is in us, we are his light in the world. You may not feel like being much of a light. Maybe you are burning in a very dark place; it might be at work or in your home where you are the only one bearing the light of Christ. If you light a candle in a very dark room, the candle can be seen from a long way off. If the candle is lit during the day with natural light streaming in the windows, it will have a very small effect. The point is that the darker it is the more attractive the light in you will be.
Light is a great metaphor as it is infinite, while darkness is finite. Darkness seems oppressive but when it comes into contact with light, light always wins. It is comforting but also disquieting as it reveals what is present.
Some don’t like light as it reveals their own wickedness in their heart. I was at a Christmas party many years ago. I sat quietly in the main room while one of the partiers was telling a story. In the middle of the story he stopped, looked at me and said, “You are making me nervous.” Really!
I said, “Why”?
His response was powerful. “Just because you are in the room.”
I had not said a word, did not give any visible clues of displeasure, (actually I was enjoying his story) or cause any disturbance. So what was going on? As far as I could tell I was the only “candle” burning at that party, but it was having an effect just because I was present.
You are light. Plain and simple. You don’t have to be profound, witty, or do acts of spiritual significance. Just be.
Never underestimate your influence.
This Sunday is Thanksgiving weekend. We can give thanks that “light” has come into the world and is making a difference. We are that difference. Why not come into the light this Sunday and be encouraged by the difference you can make.
Communion
This Sunday we will be coming to the Lord`s table. It is a time for all of us to share the emblems we have chosen to represent the body and blood of our Lord. We do this in response to the teaching of our Lord, as he taught; we are to do this often. It is a time of reconnecting with Jesus and each other as we share God`s grace together.
Haiti Update
Lisa Honorat from Haiti Arise gives us an update of the Hurricane aftermath:
Friends. First we want to thank you for your many prayers of protection during the Hurricane Matthew hitting Haiti. Please continue to pray as the storm rages its destructive course up the east coast of the US. And pray for Haiti still. The hard part will be the aftermath clean up and recovering.
Haiti is in need of -Our Tapion church roof was blown off. - banana gardens all flattened.
-tons of large trees are fallen on homes.
-Petit-Goave bridge completely washed out and still flooded. -Small bridge & culvert in Grand-Goave to Taino beach completely flooded and large mango tree has broken the bridge.
-two large trees fallen on our Haiti ARISE medical clinic, sustaining damage to the roof.
We also had extensive leaking in the tech school causing damage to hallway and classrooms. The best way for you to help is give! Some things we'll be doing immediately: - thanks to a donor of $5,000 & another of $10,000 we are cooking food to distribute and giving food packs. - to repair our perimeter wall on the goat farm we'll need about $10,000 - to repair the Tapion roof, we'll need $4,000 - to clean up tree debris we'll be gathering work crews from our church and community and providing food for them. We'll be sending an assessment team as early as flights allow. Then two clean-up & reconstruction teams that you can volunteer to join. We are looking for engineers, construction workers, medical personnel, strong labourers, and people willing to get their hands dirty. Potential team dates: - Oct 12-Oct 22. Assessment team - Nov 1-10/15. Clean up & reconstruction team alongside HFL medical team - Nov 20-Dec 1. Reconstruction team
KCF is preparing to help in Haiti. If you would like to donate to this disaster, we can assure you that a hundred percent will go to those in need. Visit Kootenay Christian Fellowship to donate on line. And pray for these kind and desperate people.
A New Phone Number!
Kootenay Christian Fellowship and Our Daily Bread has a new phone number. Please update your records. Our new number is (250) 352-1722. The old 1-888 number is discontinued.
S.H.A.R.E Nelson IS MOVED!
The S.H.A.R.E. Nelson move is complete! They will be open for business on Monday. Come and see our new location and what the new store looks like.
If you can help at the store to organize and set up, please call the store at (250) 352-1222.
Thanksgiving Dinner
Thanksgiving Dinner is this coming Monday! Come and join us on Monday October 10th at 5pm for this wonderful time of good food, good times and most of all thanksgiving! (Doors open at 4:45pm)
Bright Lights – A Club for Kids
This “extraordinary” club for kids is being offered again this year for Kindergarten to Grade 4 beginning Saturday, October 15, 2016 and every Saturday from 1:00 – 3:15 pm at KCF. This club is not exclusive and any child can come! There will be games, music, crafts, movies, character building, and snacks! Registration and Orientation is on October 15 and is $30 per child, $50 per family, or $5 drop-in fee. Contact Doreen to Register 250-354-2077.
Reading the Bible
If you follow the monthly reading program, you can successfully read the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice this year. I have attached this month’s prescribed reading to this newsletter. Start something new and watch God's word make a difference in your life.
Calendar of Events
Visit our website at http://www.kootenaychristianfellowship.com for all the news, sermons, and places to donate.
Looking forward to seeing you this weekend.
Pastor Jim
E-transfers to office@kcfoffice.com
Kootenay Christian Fellowship520 Falls Street (1/2 Block up from Baker Street)Nelson, BC V1L 6B5