Saturday 31 May 2014

Happy Anniversary

As we gather tomorrow during worship, we will be celebrating the 169th anniversary of Knox Burlington. This is a remarkable achievement and we praise God for the blessings that He has lavished upon this congregation!  Many faithful people have given their time, talent, and treasures to this congregation over its history and God will continue to guide us by the presence of the Holy Spirit in our midst. 

Our guest speaker, the Rev. Dr. Stuart Macdonald, will be preaching on Luke 24 and Acts 1, and this will mark the beginning a 5 week sermon series on the Book of Acts.  In the month of June, we will be looking at how the early Church and how they gathered together as a group and then scattered to spread the gospel throughout the world.  Although I am not preaching tomorrow, I have been reminded of what the author of Hebrews tells us.  In chapter 11, he tells us about the faith of the people of God from the beginning of time until today and in chapter 12, reminds us that we are called to continue the race and keep our eyes focused on Jesus.

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through.  
That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
Hebrews 12:1-3 (The Message)

Happy Anniversary!  Yours in Christ, Emma.