Sermon Video – The ABC’s of Following Jesus

John 13:1-17 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Bulletin – October 15, 2017

HMC EVENTS

It’s Building Connections Sunday! Plan to stick around after the service for a drink and a treat as we get to know one another better.

Ladies Social All ladies are invited to join together on Wednesday, October 18 at 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. in the upper room. Carolyn Pearson will share on the topic “Easy peasy, lemon squeezy”. She will bring helpful info about meal prep and planning, school lunches, slow cooker tips, and much more. Please bring a favourite recipe to share with others. Refreshments will be provided.

Men, plan to join the Men in Action for a hot breakfast and work bee on Saturday, October 21.

Save the date! Our AGM will take place on Thursday, November 16 at 7:00 p.m. All members and regular attenders are encouraged to attend.

LEAD PASTOR UPDATE

Last week it was announced that we have a candidate for the Lead Pastor position. Visit the website to learn a little bit about Dave Hildebrandt and his wife, Shannon, then come out on Saturday, October 21 from 3-5 for a Come & Go – Meet & Greet. On Sunday, October 22, Dave will preach. A congregational meeting will follow the service. There will be a Q&A period and members and non-members will be invited to vote on whether or not we offer Dave the position of Lead Pastor of HMC. Please make it a priority to attend both the service and the meeting.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please pray for those among our congregation facing health concerns.

Please continue to pray for our church leadership. Pray for wisdom and discernment as they make important decisions regarding the future of HMC.

There is a list of prayer requests specific to the needs of HMC available on our website, or by speaking with Karen Schmalz or Brian Austin. Alternatively, if you’d like to receive daily prayer reminders delivered to your email, you can sign up at eepurl.com/cM9ZVj

OPPORTUNITIES

Operation Christmas Child is coming! Boxes will be available on October 29 and must be returned by November 12. Start collecting your shoebox items now! For suggestions, pick up an information sheet at the reception desk

Have you felt led to help the people affected by Hurricane Irma? Although the EMCC website doesn’t have a specific site for this disaster, Joel Zantingh (Interim Director of World Partners) suggests two options. 1.) The Disaster Relief Fund on the EMCC website allows you to donate towards the ongoing needs in the world (emcc.ca/engage/support-a-global-project/relief-and-development-projects/emcc-disaster-relief-r-d-10) or 2.) Visit the Red Cross website and make a donation. Thank you for helping those in need!

Meals on Wheels. Every nine weeks it is our turn to deliver meals to people requiring this service. It takes approximately thirty minutes to an hour on the day of your choice and requires you to carry light packages. You can choose to travel in pairs or on your own. Please connect with Brenda Kaufman to volunteer. 519-364-6113.

The Annual YFC Banquet is coming up and they are looking for volunteers to bake and donate dessert for the meal (serving approximately 200 people). If groups or individuals are interested and willing to contribute towards this goal, please connect with Greg Dow at 519-364-3316

Reminder: some people in our congregation are very sensitive to scent. Please refrain from using perfume when you join us for worship.

Consider signing up for pre-authorized giving. Forms are available in the foyer and online.

MISSIONARY OF THE MONTH

Alan & Sue McDougall have a ministry called “Free the Family”—God impacting families for His Global Glory. Leading missions trips with Missionary Ventures Canada allows opportunity to reach out to couples as well as ministry with children and elderly. The McDougall’s are ‘reps’ for Missionary Ventures Canada.

Please pray for planning and the Lord’s direction for a trip to Mozambique. Pray for the teams that are planning trips this fall and winter.

Daily Prayer Request – Friday, October 13, 2017

Pray for Good to Prevail over Evil. Pray for protection for our HMC church body from the attacks of the enemy. Help us be as wise as serpents and as innocent as doves as we deal with spiritual forces around us. Show us how to test every spirit to see if it is from God. Help us recognize the enemy’s counterfeits and schemes so that he won’t outwit us.

Daily Prayer Request – Thursday, October 12, 2017

Pray for our Young at Heart leaders and members. Pray that we would be wise enough to tap into their wisdom and that they would be encouraged to share. Pray that whether strong and active or increasingly frail, their lives would be a testimony of the faithfulness of God. Pray for the measureless honour that one of them would take up the challenge of praying by name for you on a regular basis. Pray that we would find ways to express our respect and our love to them.

Daily Prayer Request – Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Pray for the courage to surrender our will to God for ourselves and for our church. We live in a very independent culture. Surrender, even to God, feels foreign to us.

Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139: 23-24

Update on our Lead Pastor Search

Meet Dave and Shannon Hildebrandt. Dave is being presented to the congregation as the candidate for the position of the lead pastor. Dave has been married to Shannon for just over 12 years, and have three active and friendly boys: Josh (9), Andrew (7), and Caleb (4). They presently live in Port Rowan, Ontario, just off the shores of Lake Erie.

Dave grew up in a Christian home. His father was a pastor for many years and was born in Burkina Faso, Africa, where Dave’s grandparents served as missionaries for 40 years.

Presently Dave serves as the pastor of youth ministries at Port Rowan Mennonite Brethren Church. Prior to that, he spent time working with 100 Huntley Street on the 24 hour prayer lines, was the sole pastor at a church in rural Saskatchewan, and was a worship ministries director prior to that. Dave has attended Columbia Bible College in Abbotsford British Columbia, and Briercrest College in Caronport, Saskatchewan. He is presently working towards his Masters of Divinity through Heritage Seminary in Cambridge. Dave’s ministry passions are getting to communicate the Word of God in a life changing way, caring and encouraging those who are hurting, empowering and equipping people to serve in their God given areas of gifting, seeing people understand who they were created to be in Christ, and loves seeing the church fulfil the purpose that God has laid before it.

Shannon is an American ex-pat, coming to Canada shortly after marrying Dave in 2005. She worked as a R.N. in the states prior to moving to Saskatchewan. She presently works at McMaster University for a trio of pediatric surgeons and has loved every minute of it. She felt God leading her to resign her position for the end of October 2017 and is excited to see where God is directing the family.

In their spare time, they enjoy board games, good coffee, good music, and  spending time with friends and family. They do not canoe (anymore)

Join us on Saturday, October 21
from 3-5 p.m.
for a casual meet and greet with
the Hildebrandt family.

Consider volunteering to help with this event (speak with Marie) or sign up to bring some desserts (sign up sheet on the reception desk in the foyer)

On Sunday, October 22, Pastor Dave will be preaching. Immediately following the service we will hold a congregational meeting to vote. All members and regular attenders are encouraged to attend.

The Good Shepherd

John 10:1-21 New International Version (NIV)

The Good Shepherd and His Sheep

10 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.

7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.[a] They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

19 The Jews who heard these words were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to him?”

21 But others said, “These are not the sayings of a man possessed by a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Footnotes:

  1. John 10:9 Or kept safe
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.