Bethel Crc Lacombe

Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent, we will reflect on Daniel 2:24-47, The Rock That Really Rolls. Daniel is an advisor to the king of Babylon; God has placed him in the center of power of the most powerful empire at the time. Daniel hears of dreams that have troubled King Nebuchadnezzar, and because his wisemen were unable to interpret them, all of them, including Daniel, are sentenced to death. Daniel steps in and asks for time to consult God, who shows him the future of Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom and the kingdoms following his.  He shows them that they will all crumble under the power and might of the kingdom of God. This brings the king to a place where he confesses that Daniel’s God is the God of gods.

Today we will reflect on Psalm 126 and Luke 2:1-20, Like Those Who Dreamed. Psalm 126 is a Psalm of Ascent and reminds us to the return home from the exile during the time of Nehemiah. But the restoration is not complete. This points us to the coming of Jesus and his second coming when our dreams of the restoration of all things will be made complete, but in his first coming already, hope shines forth as we wait for that glorious day

We are in the time of Christmas this week. We will be continuing our Advent theme Pay Attention to the Dreams. Today we will be reflecting on Matthew 2, Dreams to Protect and Guide. This is a hard story of evil. Herod sees the infant Jesus as a threat and seeks to murder him. God works through dreams to Joseph and the Magi to protect Jesus; leading Joseph and his family to a place of safety. Evil is still in the world today, and Jesus has given us the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures to guide us away from evil, to provide comfort and strength when evil enters our lives, and hope in knowing that evil will be overcome by Jesus.

Today for the third Sunday of Lent, our children are leading us through their Christmas play. We will reflect on 1 Kings 3:4-15; Matthew 2:9-12; and Philippians 2:6-11, The Way of Wisdom. Solomon is king and God comes to him in a dream and tells him to ask him for anything he wants God to give him. Solomon chooses wisdom! Wisdom is found in recognizing who Jesus is and in imitating Jesus in his humility and obedience to God.

Today we will reflect on Genesis 37:1-11; Matthew 2:9-12; and Philippians 2:6-11, Every Knew Shall Bow. Joseph has 2 dreams where his brothers will bow down to him. This is not received well by his brothers or his father. Joseph ends up in a pit, then a prison, but is exalted to a throne in Egypt where he is able to save his family. Joseph foreshadows Jesus, and we will explore the lordship of Jesus.

Today we will reflect on Genesis 28:10-22, Stairway to Heaven. Jacob has left home after tricking his brother Esau out of the family blessing. Jacob knows that it is not safe for him to remain at home, so he heads out to family in Haran; the reason given is to find a proper wife who is not Canaanite. While on his way, Jacob rests for a night and has a dream of a stairway resting on the earth, with God at its head and angels traveling up and down. The distance between heaven and earth is not as great as we think.

Today we welcome Pastor Gary Bomhof to lead us in worship. We will focus our reflection on Daniel 1, Food and Wine From the King’s Table. Daniel and his friends, as an act of defiance and as a commitment to the God of their fathers, refused the "food and wine from the table of the King". Today we partake of "the food and wine from the King's table" (the Lord's Supper), but it too is an act of defiance to what the world is offering and an ongoing commitment to our Triune God

Today we welcome the Cadets from Central Alberta churches for our regional Cadet Sunday. The focus of our reflection will be on Mark 10:35-45, Servant Leadership. The cadet theme this year is focused on leadership and how even cadets can be leaders, no matter their young ages. We will be reflecting on how Jesus reminds the disciples that leaders serve, they don’t lead for power or authority. We will look at what a leader’s character looks like.

Today we will reflect on Psalm 146, A God of Justice. Psalm 146 is one of the Psalms of Ascent, which the people of Israel would sing as they come up the road to Jerusalem. As they came close to the city they would see the temple, and near the temple, they would see the palace of the king. Psalm 146 reminds the people to place their trust in the eternal God over the kings who came and went. Kings were not always kings of justice, so the temple gave the people hope because our God is a God of justice, a God who hears the cries of his people.

Today we will reflect on Words of Life, Psalm 119. Psalm 119 is unique among all of the Psalms.  It is not only the longest of the psalms but also the longest chapter in the entire Bible!  In addition, this longest of all Psalms has one central focus: the Scriptures.  What insight did the psalmist have that compelled him to lovingly compose 176 verses on this one topic?  How can we share in his zeal in our own reading of God's Word?

Today we will reflect on Psalm 143, Teach Me. In Psalm 143, the psalmist asks God for his mercy as his spirit is faint and his heart is dismayed. He meditates on all God’s works, he hides himself in the Lord, putting his trust in God. He asks the Lord to show him the way and to teach him how to do the Lord’s will. This Reformation Sunday, we will reflect on the importance of sitting at the feet of God to learn, walk in the way of Jesus, and be shaped by God. We will also have the opportunity to celebrate the Lord’s Supper together.

Today we will reflect on Genesis 2:7-9, 15-17, God: the Best, the Greatest, the Perfect Gardener! God gave us the mandate to rule over everything he had made on Earth. This morning we will reflect on what it looks like to rule over what God has made. What does it look like to be a steward of God’s creation and what part of God’s creation may He be calling you to take care of ?

Today we will give thanks to God for all his blessing through the year, and for the blessing of his presence during the difficult times. We will be reflecting on Psalm 66, Praise the Lord! In Psalm 66 we join the psalmist and all the earth in shouting for joy to the Lord for all the Lord has done for us, his people. As part of our service, we will be giving you opportunities to share some of what the Lord has done for you or who the Lord is to you. We will give thanks for God who hears our prayers and never withholds his love from us.

Today we will reflect on Psalm 91, Our Rescuer. This is another of those powerful psalms in which the psalmist is in awe of God and how God is always there for him as his rescuer and refuge. Psalm 8 gave us a “Wow!” look at God through creation. Psalm 91 gives us a “Wow!” look at God through how he is always there for us as our protector and saviour !

Today we will reflect on Psalm 73, Losing Our Foothold. The psalmist is looking at the world around him and he’s puzzled. Why do the bad people succeed more than the good people, why do God’s people suffer while the evil people do really well? These are still important questions that followers of God still wrestle with today. The psalmist decides to go into the sanctuary of God to find answers.

Today we will reflect on Psalm 46, Fortress and Refuge. Most of us, when we think of Psalm 46, think of the words, “Be still, and know that I am God.” It’s the context that makes these words so important. The psalmist amid uproar and chaos, and in spite, or even because of the chaos, he hears the Lord invite him to “Be still, and know that I am God ."

Today we will reflect on Psalm 27, Seeking the Lord’s Face. Psalm 27 is a psalm in 2 parts. The first part of the psalm is a hymn of confidence in the Lord, while the second part is a moving prayer for help. In this psalm, we see how the need for confidence and trust in the Lord helps us come to the Lord in times of need. Our prayers are important to God, and he calls us to reach out to him in all circumstances, especially in times of need.

Today we will reflect on Psalm 8, The Work of Your Fingers. In the middle of a group of psalms that focus on those experiencing oppression and powerlessness, comes this psalm of wonder and awe celebrating the majesty of God. We will also commission those involved in our children’s, youth, and teaching ministries in the upcoming church year.

Today we will be looking at Psalm 81, God’s Lavish Tough Love.  This psalm begins with praise to God for who He is.  It then moves into God talking about how He brought Israel out of Egypt and freed them from bondage and the burden of slavery.  Sadly, Israel didn't obey God, but God still longs to fill their mouths and feed them with the finest wheat and honey.  We will reflect on how all the way through, the Bible tells us what is good, who God is, and points us to the Gospel .

Today we are beginning a new series: A Journey Through the Psalms. Over the next few months, we will reflect on various psalms and their themes. The psalms are written for worship and to give us words and ways to talk to God in almost any situation. We will begin our journey by reflecting on one of the most well-known psalms, Psalm 23, also known as the Shepherd Psalm. In Psalm 23 we are given a look at our shepherd through the eyes and experiences of the sheep. It is a psalm that looks for the Shepherd’s presence, providence, and guidance through both the good and the difficult times of life. It is a psalm of trust and hope.