NOVEMBER 2016
Everything has a starting point. You have a starting point. Your faith has a starting point.
Sunday’s @ 10:30 am
640 Grosvenor St. London Ont N5Y 3T4 (519)858-4123 churchalcc1@gmail.com #abundantlife_london Twitter: @LifeALCC
www.alccnet.com
discovery| simplicity | empowerment
GOD IS GOOD: Today I read a sign at the gym that said, “Only three more months of this year, have you met your goals?” It is hard to believe that we are now entering the last two months of this year. (the sign is old) Did I meet all my goals at the gym this year, not likely? But one thing is for certain, God is still good to me. When I was younger, I found meeting goals to be a great determination of growth for me. Now I find myself more at peace in knowing simply that God is with me. Yes, it is nice to meet goals, but not as important as knowing God’s love for me each day. Friends today he is with you. So in whatever place we find ourselves, we need to relish the fact that God is with us regardless of circumstances. However, I have also found that when things aren’t good, God is still not finished working. When Tony spoke a timely message about Growing in Grace, it spoke to me in a variety of ways. In part, I understand more today that when I am troubled, God isn’t done. BUT his silence doesn’t mean he isn’t working, it simply means, you don’t see the end result. So what do we do in the process? 28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28
Trust God because he is good. He is good to those who love him and has a purpose for our lives. He doesn’t leave us in limbo. He is right there with us today and every day. So remember, if your life isn’t good, God isn’t finished yet. PB and Kathy Check out your fridge. Really! You might find Thanksgiving leftovers, expired jars, food that you said you’d eat but now you aren’t sure if it’s edible anymore. November 15th is Clean Out The Fridge Day! A reminder to clean the fridge is a reminder that we have things that we no longer need. A reminder that there are things taking up room for no other purpose than to rot. A reminder that we have made some poor choices so time to throw it out. A reminder that things get old and the new and fresh are meant to replace. Jesus reminds us of this in Matthew 23:26-28 (AMP) “26 You [spiritually] blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the plate [examine and change your inner self to conform to God’s precepts], so that the outside [your public life and deeds] may be clean also.” When people come over, I don’t clean the fridge but I do clean the outside and all around it. I don’t want people to see what’s in there until the fridge opens and there’s the stench. You know I’m not really talking about fridges, right? This is a reminder that whatever is in your “fridge”, it doesn’t have to be there anymore: the hurt, pain, bitterness, control, the past, the poor choices, it all. All of that can be tossed. It’s there, it smells and God can point it out to us (Psalm 139:23-24). We do this by going to God and asking Him to do what we haven’t or couldn’t (1 John 1:9). Trust me, He doesn’t mind! He knows the right timing and He is a gentleman. And God doesn’t leave us empty, He replaces and cultivates with “ . . . love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control . . .” (Galatians 5:22-23) All of that doesn’t expire and keeps your “fridge” fresh and clean! Cleaning out the fridge, Tony Mejia
We are glad you are here, and we trust that feel at HOME. It is our hope and prayer that you will join in as we share our lives, struggles and celebrations of faith together. We believe life is about discovering our faith and purpose, and using this discovery to live out His plan for us with passion. We call ALCC our HOME. We are intentional about relationships with God and each other to bring this 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!
Good Morning Café @ 10 am
discovery| simplicity | empowerment
Sundays 10:30-noon
Your kids will learn how to be made new in their hearts and in their thinking as how to take off the bad habits of the old self and train to put on the new self. Our hope is that your kids will see how to be that new person who was made to be like God, truly good and pleasing to God
You must be made new in your hearts and your thinking. Be that new person who was made to be like God, truly good and pleasing to Him. Ephesians 4:23-24
PLAYROOM CHRISTMAS PARTY Sunday December 18 @ 10:30 am discovery| simplicity | empowerment
Paradise Kids Team Welcome Care Givers! 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 service by
Be Made new in your hearts and your thinking Ephesians 4:23 In this series, preschoolers will learn how to be the best ninjas they can be by being made new in their hearts and in their thinking.
Monday—Friday 7am –4:30 Call Cathy at (519) 476-6942
discovery| simplicity | empowerment
ThanksGiving Family’s gather together to share their thankfulness and appreciation for each other and God’s grace to us. Thank you Café team for an awesome good morning treat!
Small Groups resumes January 2017
discovery| simplicity | empowerment
Starting Point Small Group Everything has a starting point. You have a starting point. Your faith has a starting point. Our 3 small groups have spent the past 6 weeks exploring and discussing our STARTING POINT and where we go from here.
Thank you Bessie Wesley We would like to thank Bessie Wesley for her many years (decades) of faithful greeting and ushering. No one forgets a welcome by Bessie. Her warm smile and along with her unconditional love and acceptance of people has long been a pillar of Abundant Life. We are also happy to announce that Bessie will be our new MISSION COORDINATOR will be leading a Missions Team to the Dominican Republic in Spring 2017.
Welcome Team Everyone likes a warm welcome. So whether you are a newcomer, a guest or a regular, it is the Welcome Team’s privilege to greet and meet you as your enter our beautiful facility.
discovery| simplicity | empowerment
Ladies fall tea Our Fall tea was a great time of enjoying wonderful homemade scones/sandwiches/wraps with a delicious dessert. Our guest speaker Sarah shared her faith story/God journey of brokenness, restoration and an abundant life.
discovery| simplicity | empowerment
discovery| simplicity | empowerment
Doors open 5:30 pm Come early & join in the PRE-YOUTH activities
Student ministry 11– 18 years
finding connecting belonging
IGNITE equips teens with personal faith to take on our changing world. It is a space where they can be themselves without fear of judgment. Group activities, music and messages geared for teenagers to get them excited for a God filled life.
discovery| simplicity | empowerment
Last Breaking Free Study November 15 Celebrating our with lunch at Red Lobster PROMISEKEEPERS.CA 1.888.901.9700
Don’t walk the journey alone
See Pastor Bill or Pastor Tony
discovery| simplicity | empowerment
Nov. 2 @ 6:30 pm WHAT CAN I DO? Phil and Donna Williams
The Neely Family
Servant Heart Ministries
YWAM International
Dominican Republic
Bringing hope
Each of our
LIFE GROUPS
Providing the comfort of a caring heart and warm feet
will be finding a way to make their own impact in London.
Stay tuned!
discovery| simplicity | empowerment
Since 2006 HOPE A Ministry of self-examination based on the Beatitudes. Step 2 :"We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity." Step Two is often referred to as "The Hope Step". In coming to believe that a Power greater than ourselves can restore us to sanity, we will remember what it was like to live sanely and have the faith to hope that sanity can return. "What is faith?" the Bible asks. Hebrews 11: 1 "It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.” The Bible also tells us that the key to this hope is in the nature of the God we look to. We are told that "anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that there is a God and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him" (Hebrews 11: 6). Without Hope we are miserable. Hope is the driving force behind all recovery. If we had no Hope, there would be no possibility of recovery. Understanding who Jesus is gives each of us a Hope that can transcend even our deepest despair. Jesus' resurrection forms the basis of our Hope because in it God demonstrated His power over death. We may have learned a long time ago that hoping only brings disappointment. Our hopes were dashed. The promises we believed were broken. We were left feeling like fools for ever hoping in the first place. But perhaps we were devastated because we put our hope in the wrong place. Turning our life over to God means placing our Hope and confidence in Him instead of people, who will disappoint us. When we place all of our hope and trust in other people, it's like expecting a tree to flourish in a barren desert. People will disappoint us and are unable to satisfy our deepest needs. Trusting God changes everything. In John 4: 14 Jesus says "the water I give becomes a perpetual spring within them, giving them eternal life."
When our hope is in God and our life is in His care, we are sustained when we otherwise would be devastated. If you are looking a safe place to make a change in your life, then join us
Pot Luck Oct. 27 @ 6pm
Thursday’s @ 7 pm. We believe healing comes in the sharing. Men/Women’s THE JOURNY BEGINS study Tuesday’s
discovery| simplicity | empowerment
alccnet.com Abundant Life Community Church London, Ontario Abundant Life Church @LifeALCC abundantlife_london
Dec 5 Servant Council 7 pm Dec 11 Leaders Christmas Party Dec. 18 ALCC Christmas Party Dec. 24 Family Christmas Eve Service 7 pm NO SERVICE CHRISTMAS DAY