April 2016
640 Grosvenor St. London Ont N5Y 3T4 519-858-4123 churchalcc1@gmail.com Week at a Glance
Twitter: @LifeALCC
10am CafĂŠ 10:30 Service
www.alccnet.com
Paradise Kids & The PlayRoom KidMin 10:30
discovery faith and purpose
LIFE Groups 6:30 pm
connection sharing and caring
Tues: Ladies Coffee Hour 10:30
response serving and generosity
Wed: Ignite Youth Group
simplicity The simple message of Jesus
Thurs: Celebrate Recovery 7pm
bring healing and rescue to all people
Sermon Series for April
Instagram #abundantlife_london
discovery| connection| responsibility | simplicity
Grateful…. Last night I was eating asparagus and for the first time, it tasted real good. This morning at 4:20 a.m., I was looking outside and it was raining, and it was so nice to taste the fresh air in my lungs. I was speaking with Bethany and heard her heart for children and was thankful to have a daughter who truly loves what she does for God. Little things in life are large to God and so special…. As you know, I was rushed into the hospital with a cancer scare and upon leaving, here was my thought: Life is good…I have my health and never take it for granted. It reminded me of Psalm 39:4:
“LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is.
Friends, I want to thank you for all your prayers. When I was laying in my hospital room alone at night, I was talking to Papa and sensed a very close presence of his love. It was so comforting, that I slept like a baby until they took blood at 5 a.m. It reminds me of the verse of scripture found in Psalm 52:9: I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done. I will trust in your good name in the presence of your faithful people.
Today I am humbled to be found with the faithful people in my life. Kathy, all my children, my grandsons, and YOU! So many of you prayed and you carried me when I couldn’t. God is so faithful. Even just typing these words, brings me to tears. Life is good when you have your health. But it is better when you have God and faithful people. Thanks for being faithful From a grateful heart, PB
Have you ever woken up and couldn’t get out of bed? Backtrack a little, a week before, I fell asleep on a loveseat. My wife woke me up in the morning and I was a little sore. I thought it would go away . . . it didn’t. Fast forward a week later and I couldn’t get out of bed. The right side of my body was in pain. I tried using my left side to get out of bed but it was hurting too much. I tried swinging my legs, I tried using my left elbow, I tried wiggling my way out which was what I did to get out. I fell off the bed. I went to tell Bethany and she started laughing at me. (When someone else laughs, I laugh.) Bethany wouldn’t stop laughing at how stiff I looked with my shoulders basically to my ears. I started laughing and crying at the same time because of the pain. I took pills, it didn’t help much. I used heat to get blood flowing and it wasn’t much help. I had an appointment at 3pm and I knew that I had to get through the day. I walked back and forth because I couldn’t sit or lay down. Finally 3pm arrived. I saw my massage therapist who begins to laugh at me and she said, “I know your problem already”. I give her one of those smiles, you know the one. She explains to me that I have been babying and protecting my injury for far too long. She said that I did pinch a nerve but I also tensed myself up so much, in protecting the injury, which caused more damage. I waited too long that I didn’t get the care that I needed. She worked it out and gave me instructions on how to heal properly. How many of us live like that? Babying and protecting our hurt and waiting too long in hope that it would go away. “And when Jesus heard it, He said to them, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.’” (Mark 2:17). He came for our hurts. We do a have a Physician that is always available. You don’t have to wait in line, He’ll always take you in. Don’t be me, babying and protecting, it’s better that it gets treated. Go to God directly or you can call the staff or CR on Thursday, it’ll be worth it. Glad to be healing, Tony
Welcome! We are glad you are here, and we trust that are feeling at HOME. It is our hope and prayer that you will join in as we share our lives and celebration of faith together. We believe our life is about discovering who God is, using this faith to live out His purpose and His plan and to live it with passion. We call ALCC our HOME. We are intentional about relationships with God and each other to bring the message of HOPE to our community.
Good Morning Café When we wake up in the morning, we all have our rituals, traditions and “must do’s” before we head out the door. That’s why we offer our to you at 10 am.
Good Morning Café
You will be greeted by a warm and friendly smile from one of our weekly hostesses and you can choose a beverage of coffee (hazelnut or regular), tea (regular or seasonal favourite), juice and not to mention a homemade snack from our dedicated Café Team. So come a little early to enjoy this time of relaxing and the opportunity to get to know your fellow Lifers!
10 – 10:30 am discovery| connection| responsibility | simplicity
Sundays 10:30-noon
The PlayRoom and Paradise Kids will travel through time and take a look at the life of Joseph. As they do, they will develop good character and learn what God wants from us in how we treat others through Micah 6:8! This is what He wants from you: Be fair to other people. Love kindness and loyalty, and humbly obey your God discovery| connection| responsibility | simplicity
Welcome Care Givers! The purpose of PARADISE KIDS room is to provide you with a safe place to nurse/change your baby, and eventually leave them in the loving care of our
Paradise Kids Team Feel free to sign your child in at any time during the service. Some care givers would like their child to stay with them for the music or until they (the child that is) gets restless. Once you have signed them in, you can pick them up at the end of the
singing SHOULDERS on Good Friday & Egg-stravaganza Our KIDS have been practicing this song for a few months now. They did a fantastic job singing and doing the actions. Thanks Bethany, Mike, Dustin and Claire:)
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Good Friday Pancakes & Easter Sunday
An Easter favourite is our German Apple Pancakes on Good Friday. Val and her team do such an excellent job preparing and making this yummy dish.
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bacon & business meeting Our annual meeting of the members and adherents of Abundant Life. After our awesome table of BACON filled snacks/food, the business side of the meeting was full of gratitude, thankfulness and vision. Thank you for your participation, support, prayer and comments.
Mike Fairbanks Cathy Woodburn Servant Council: Servant Council: Pastor Council: Pastor Council: Paradise Kids Community Outreach Recording Secretary Chairman Rick McKeen
Roy Woodburn
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life groups Together we plunge into the depths applying the Word to our everyday life, explore what the Bible says about life issues, and pray for each other. On this particular Sunday night, we took the story of the Passover Donkey that was tied to the post and saw ourselves in the story. What has us tied up? What lie binds us to the post? A faith community is: people who God focused life That’s bland. It doesn’t explain or convey the true message of how the community of faith is or does. But how can you explain belonging? Trust? The freedom to honestly admit your hurts habits and hang ups? Discovery: who are you? Who is God? Connection: you don’t have to do it alone Responsibility: being generous with life Simplicity: God has a plan, and it’s good
life lunch Our MARCH LIFE LUNCH became a celebration that included Bessie’s birthday. These simple gatherings include different people and we get to build/cultivate friendship with each other. The blending of our faith and lives encourages, builds up and brings life to our lives.
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Baby Shower Thank you all for making this baby shower such a blessing:) Mom & dad are more prepared than ever for his arrival!
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Tuesdays 10:30 –noon
A study in 1&2 Thessalonians We come together to share our experiences, strength and hope in our lives with Jesus. As we learn from God’s Word, and take time to pray, we are building a SISTERHOOD of faith. You are welcome to join us for our time of sharing/praying/caring
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Since 2003
CR S T E P E I G HT : Brotherly and Sisterly Love
We made a list of all persons we have harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. Loneliness & isolation go along with the guilt & shame we feel about who we are or what we have done. We may feel lonely even when we are around other people. Guilt, fear of being hurt and self-hatred can make us unable to believe in the love others have for us. We can feel all alone in the struggle even when there are people beside us who want to help. Being willing to accept their love is part of the preparation for making amends. Loneliness can break us and defeat us in the recovery process. When we prepare to make amends, we also need to prepare our heart to accept whatever love, support, or friendship is offered in return. These supportive relationships, along with God’s supporting hand, will strength our life considerably. With our friends and God joining with us to form a triple-braided cord, we will not be easily broken or turned from the path to recovery. In the young Corinthian church, a man was cut off from church fellowship when his sins were made public. After he turned around and tried to make amends, some people refused to welcome him back into the church. The apostle Paul told the believers: “The man who caused all the trouble was punished enough when most of you were united in your judgment against him, otherwise, he may become so discouraged that he won’t be able to recover. Now show him that you still love him.” (2 Corinthians 2: 5-8) There will be some people who will respond with forgiveness, comfort, acceptance, and love. This will help us overcome the grief, the bitterness, and the discouragement we may feel. Their forgiveness will help us move on with recovery. Come and join us to begin the process of experiencing freedom from the hurts, habits and hang-ups from your pass.
We meet every Thursday 7 pm Pot Luck Dinner Thursday April 28 @ 6 pm
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His Torch
I'd like to invite you to read my mini series that gives birth to 10 mini chapters. I feel like the Holy Spirit has spoken through me and has literally helped me to give birth to this article which at the end of the series I pray I can bring us closer to Jesus. God is the Owner of Everything.
I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? ~Psalm 50:9-13 And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. ~Luke 3:6
Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?” Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now.” The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?”“No,” he said. Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown. ~Numbers 22:28-31 I am not trying to tell you how to live, this is simply what the Holy Spirit has been sharing with me and it is has been screaming at me to get it out. I pray you as the reader read this series and see the Holy Spirit working through me. The Holy Spirit has been shouting at me to get this out so I must give credit where credit is due. If we look deep enough we can attribute everything to God and find a purpose to live more soft heartedly and faithfully if we really want to, of course that is what God desires from us. Burning bright and lighting a way with His Word, For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light Let's burn bright together for our Savior. ♡mer♡
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WHAT CAN I DO?
Providing the comfort of a caring heart and warm feet
Building a MOUNTAIN of diapers as a practical way to help our new Syrian neighbours
Phil and Donna Williams
The Neely Family
Servant Heart Ministries
YWAM International
Dominican Republic
Bringing hope
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Doors open 5:30 pm Come early & join in the PRE-YOUTH activities
Student ministry 11– 18 years
finding connecting belonging
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