OUR CHURCH FAMILY

Please remember our church family in your daily prayers, at mealtimes and during your personal devotions. Continue to remember those young and old with ongoing physical, spiritual, and emotional struggles.

Please note that Steve & Caroline Ogi have moved and their address is now #4 – 4510 C&E Trail, Lacombe. Their mailing address continues to be Box 5931, Lacombe, T4L 1X4.

Condolences to Jenny Bajema with the death of her sister Annie Poelman in Lethbridge on December 1^st. She was 88 years old and had been struggling with cancer. The funeral was held on December 5^th. We are comforted in the assurance of faith in Jesus our savior.

We are concerned for Alberta and Tilly Biel as Albert is getting weaker. May God be near to them both and the family as they gather to share the Christmas season.

Congratulations to Pita Doornenbal as she celebrates her birthday on Thursday and to Klaas Boskers as he celebrates his on Friday. Wishing you both a wonderful day with family and friends and our Lord’s blessings to you s well.

Do remember those who are unable to worship regularly with us: please keep Jenny Bajema, Albert & Tilly Biel, Klaas Boskers, Gerry Doornenbal, Lea Dykstra, Lillian Mercier, Ernie Stebner and Grace Vander Veen in your prayers.

Pray for our missionaries around the world.

Bethel News

The Fellowship Ministry Leadership Team would like to invite the congregation to share some of their Christmas baking with each other after the Candlelight Service and the Christmas Day Service. Please bring your contributions to the kitchen and we will look after serving it. Thank you!

Dear Congregation: On behalf of the General Administration Leadership team I have been asked to give you an update on our financial situation. We have slowly fallen behind in our budget giving by approximately $3000 per month. We have been able to meet our Classical, Kings University and Ministers’ pension fund obligations and one third of our Denominational ministry shares. Another $30,000 is needed to fulfill this part of our budget. All together we can give as the Lord has blessed us and share with fulfilling the denominational needs. One more note – December 28^th will be the last day to donate to the church budget. Please prayerfully consider these requests. From the Church treasurer, August Luymes

BETHEL YOUTH

The GEMS 

would like to thank everyone who ordered Dutch cheese through our club fund raiser. If you haven’t picked up your cheese order yet, you can find it in the fridge in the kitchen. Thanks once again!

The Cadets Seniors & Grandparents Banana Split Social 

scheduled for this Wednesday, December 16^th has been cancelled due to rescheduling of Christmas programs at the schools.

Bottles & Batteries

The Cadets are once again fundraising by collecting Bottles & Batteries in January. Please save them for us as we will collect them on January 9^th when we have our fundraising drive.

Young Peoples 

will meet after the evening worship service today for a Bible study at the Scholings’ home.

Tuesday Nite Youth 

will meet on Tuesday, December 15^th at 7:30 p.m. Doors will open at 7:00 p.m.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Neighbourhood Life in Central Alberta

is midway through our discipleship series. We are intentionally challenging more than 15 neighbourhoods to be disciples in their own back yard by: 1) Learning our neighbours' names (so we can begin to pray for neighbours). 2) Learning new attributes (helping us to better understand their lives) and 3) learning about our neighbours' hearts and what matters to them (increasing our measure of care). Since September, these 15 neighbourhoods have collectively added 125 new insights into their respective neighbourhoods, intentionally seeking out new information. The numbers are not as important as the movement indicated in this ongoing discipleship. In addition, Neighbourhood Life is writing a book including real life stories from Central Alberta. The book will be part of a leadership series created by Forge Canada (www.forgecanada.ca). As a result, we have also been invited to help lead a missions course at Burman University in the new year. We thank God for the movement we witness. And we thank you for your encouragement and support as we head into the new year.

Pastor Rick Abma

Central Alberta Christian High School’s Fall Debt Drive 

will be officially over on December 13^th. This year’s goal was set at $100,000.00. So far, this year’s Drive has resulted in donations totaling $91,624.50. We would ask that you prayerfully consider to what extent you can support CACHS through this year’s drive. Please contact Wendy Barnes (Business Administrator) 403-782-4535 or Clarence Verveda (Board Treasurer) 403-747-2454 if you have any questions or need assistance. You may also mail your donations directly to C.A.C.H.S. 22 Eagle Road, Lacombe, AB, T4L 1G7, Attention: Wendy Barnes. The school will be closed for the Christmas break from December 19^th to January 3^rd. If you would like to still donate you can drop off your cheque in the mailbox outside the front doors, we will be picking up the mail during the break before December 31^st or give Wendy a call at 403-885-5187. We would like to thank the many people who have contributed to our annual Fall Drive.

Singing In God’s Ear: 

On December 15^th at the First CRC in Red Deer a Dutch, Afrikaans and English Christmas Singalong will be held at 2:30 p.m. There will be a free will offering in support of the Salvation Army. Dr. Jack Hielema will be the Master if Ceremony. Please join us for coffee, tea and goodies. See you there.

Festival of Choirs and Carols: 

Will be held on Thursday, December 17^th at 7:30 p.m. at First CRC in Red Deer. Participating choirs are 1^st CRC Chancel Choir, Red Deer Chamber Choir, Red Deer Gospel Chorale, Gaetz United Sanctuary Choir and Soliloquy. Invite friends and neighbors to come hear and sing carols of the season.

PERSECUTED CHURCH

Syria

In February a mass abduction took place in Tel Temir town. 200 Assyrian Christians were captured by ISIS; another 3000 were driven from their villages along the Khabur River. Most of them have not returned home. Since the start of negotiations 98 Christians have been released, mostly the sick and elderly; 158 Assyrians are still in captivity. Many Assyrians have been unable to pay the hefty ransoms demanded by ISIS. Concerns for the lives of the remaining hostages persist as members of ISIS have expressed a willingness to follow through on their threats to kill the Assyrians. Thank the Lord for the return of the hostages who have been released. Please join us in praying for the protection of those still being held in captivity. Also pray for wisdom and guidance for the negotiators who are mediating for the remaining victims. Intercede for the members of ISIS who themselves are in bondage spiritually; may a great number of them experience the salvation and freedom that take place when encountering the Risen Savior.