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THE MINISTER'S NOTE
Text: Genesis 37:3-4 Joseph learned to trust God no matter what his circumstances were.
Now Israel (Jacob)
loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of
his old age, and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his
brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren,
they hated him and could not speak peaceably unto him.
The
weather is getting colder. Some of us are wearing sweaters and coats
to stay warm. Some people let the weather decide what their day will
be like. If it is sunny, they are happy and cheerful. If it is rainy
and cold, they are gloomy and miserable. Other people, you might say,
carry their own sunshine with them. No matter what the weather is
like outside, they choose to be happy anyway. No matter what
circumstances life brings them, they trust in Jesus and go along with
persistence.
This reminds me of the story of Joseph. He grew
up to be like that. He was not perfect. His mother, Rachel, died when
he was fifteen years old. Two years later, his father gave him the
authority to be shepherd over the flocks, even though he had several
older brothers. He was a tattle-tale when his brothers did bad
things. They were not happy about that!
Now Joseph had a
dream. He told his brothers that he dreamed that one day they would
bow down to him and be his servants. Then he had another dream. He
told his father and brothers that one day all of them would bow down
to him . Even his father resented hearing this and told him so. His
brothers envied him even more.
Jesus said neither cast your
pearls before swine. One of Murphy's Laws says the same thing: never
teach a pig to sing. It is a waste of time and annoys the pig. These
dreams were from God to comfort Joseph and strengthen him for the
hard times he would face later. Joseph unwisely got very prideful
about these dreams. He had to learn the hard way that all we have
comes from God, so we should be humble and thankful.
Well that
coat of many colours that showed he was favoured son got Joseph into
trouble with his jealous brothers. Joseph spent many years in the
house of Potipher as slave. He was wrongfully accused of a crime and
put in prison for thirteen years. Eventually, after these humble
years, he was exalted to a position of honour with the ruler. Though
all of these bad and good times, Joseph learned to be happy where he
was, and be the best person he could be with what God gave him. He
learned to trust God no matter what his circumstances.
Yours
in Christ,
Donald C.
Isner
Calendar
of Events
Winter,
2002/2004
Sunday
December 1st - 1:00-4:00 p.m. - Craft & Bake Sale
in the Gym
Sunday December
1st - 1st day in Advent
Saturday December 7th - 8:30 a.m. Pastoral Care Support Meeting & Breadfast
Sunday December 8th - White Gift Sunday, 2nd
day in Advent
Sunday
December 8th - 5:30 p.m. Christmas Dinner in the Gym
Sunday December 15th
- Nine Lessons and Carols, 3rd day in Advent
Tuesday
December 24th - Christmas Eve Service, 7:00
p.m.
Sunday January
12th - Communion Service
Tuesday January
21st - 6:00 -8:30 p.m. "A Life Worth Living" Alpha follow-on starts
Sunday
February 9th - Centennial Annual General Meeting
following the Service
Sunday February 16th
- Installation of new Board Members
Sunday
February 23rd - Prairie Night
Saturday
March 22nd - Queenswood Retreat
Friday,
April 18th - Good Friday
Sunday, April
20th - Easter Sunday