Year: 2021

hope: “Here Comes The Sun” – “Sunny Days”

Yesterday I heard two songs on the radio (actually more than two but two that struck me): “Sunny Days” by Lighthouse and “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles.

Both songs are songs that express a desire and a hope for better days.

here comes the sun

sunny days

Winter is often a symbol of discontent and we have been through quite the winter. Summer is where we would rather be. We need songs of hope. We all need hope. Many have been discouraged and disappointed with being in Ontario’s Red zone and then back to Grey and then to Red again. Many have been feeling the blues because of all this.

“Here Comes The Sun” – “Sunny Days” this March resonates more than ever.

  • There is hope in the air that is more than about flowers in spring.
  • We are looking at our world opening up again.
  • The COVID-19 numbers are slowly dropping.
  • The pressure on our hospitals is easing.
  • People are starting to get vaccinated.
  • Hope is springing forth indeed.

Hope is a major word in the Christian faith. There is hope from the early chapters of Genesis when everything seemed to have been broken and was seemingly irredeemable. And yet there was a hint of better days down the road.

The Old Testament is the long story of a hoped-for Messiah who would bring hope to the whole world. And then Jesus connects us to that hope and links us into being part of God’s story full of liberation, redemption and purpose. Faith in Jesus is not just some “pie in the sky when we die” hope, but a belief in God’s presence that brings strength, grace and wisdom to change what is into what could be.

We all need the “Here Comes The Sun” – “Sunny Days”  moments. We all need hope. Perhaps one of the things we have learned in this year of COVID-19 has been that we have been stripped of our arrogance and had to learn to lean back on God. In our western world, we can easily put our confidence in our wealth, our comforts, our medical knowledge, and human intelligence.

COVID threw us off our feet, many were left struggling to find an anchor, a hope, a new orientation in this uncomfortable time.

The word that resonates at Christmas is Emmanuel – “God with us”. That became our hope.

  • As we enter this hopeful moment of sun and spring.
  • As we begin to move out of isolation and stay at home orders and back to a more open COVID-19 free life maybe we need to commit to actually learn what we have learned and not just leave the lesson behind.

This most recent season of restrictions started as we approached Christmas. It is ending as we approach Easter.

  • As we approach Easter, we remember that Jesus came – Emmanuel – “God with us“.
  • Jesus came and died on the cross for us, was raised from the dead.
  • The vaccine is not the saviour of the world. Jesus is.
  • Scientific research is not our best hope. Jesus is our hope.

Praying for our City – March 10

This month we are going to be praying for our city.

When [Jesus] approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes” (Luke 19:41-42 NASB).

Pray that younger Christians in our city will be clothed with humility and will respect and honour their elders.

In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders.
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud but shows favour to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5).

Pray | Bill C7 & C6

Wednesday, 10 March 2021 is an important day to be praying for our government. Bill C7 and Bill C6 are high on the government’s agenda

Rushing through changes to Bill C-7 would allow euthanasia for those struggling with depression and other forms of mental illness. The bill has quickly expanded from addressed those with terminal conditions, to targeting the disabled, to now, including those with mental health challenges. If the latest version passes, a person facing suicidal thoughts who goes to see a family doctor or psychiatrist could be offered suicide facilitation instead of suicide prevention. This is a very dark turn for an already deeply flawed piece of legislation.

Here are some specific ways to prayer:

C-7 (MAiD)

  • Pray for more delays. The government hopes to pass Bill C7 this week. Prior to Parliamentary debates, all parties will meet in their party caucus meetings where we are praying that individual MPs will oppose C7 from being made available to those with mental illnesses.
  • Pray that it will become evident just how discriminatory this legislation is to people with disabilities and mental illness.
  • Pray that the stories being released on Wednesday will get out to the general public and will resonate in the hearts of the Canadian people.

C-6 (Conversion Therapy)

It is expected that Bill C6 will be voted on sometime between March 22nd and early April.

  • Pray that MPs will propose and vote for amendments to protect LGBTQ people without taking away the rights of others, including people of faith.
  • Continue to pray that the government amends Bill C6 to fix the definition of conversion therapy without banning voluntary counselling or criminalizing conversations.
  • Remember to pray for individual staffers of the MPs who are working tirelessly on this Bill behind the scenes. Pray that they will become impacted and open to the evidence.
  • Pray for the Senate as they prepare for this debate. Pray for witnesses who will be able to speak the truth on this Bill.

 

Praying for our City – March 9

This month we are praying for our city.

When [Jesus] approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes” (Luke 19:41-42 NASB).

Pray that the Christian husbands and wives of Orillia will walk humbly before each other in order for their prayers not to be hindered

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. (1 Peter 3:7).

Jan – February 2021 Financial update

Jan-Feb 2021 Jan-Feb 2020 Difference
Income 25,911.42 36,567.21 -10,655.79
Rental 1,400.00 -1,400.00
CEWS 3,953.46 3,953.46
TOTAL INCOME 29,864.88 37,967.21 -8,102.33
Expenses 37,876.10 42,042.01 -4,165.91
Income (over) Expenses (8,011.22) (4,074.80) (3,936.42)

CNOY – Thank you

THANK YOU for supporting CNOY and those experiencing homelessness, hurt and hunger in our community.

You can still donate until the end of March [click on the image].

Praying for our City – March 8

This month we are praying for our city.

When [Jesus] approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes” (Luke 19:41-42 NASB).

Some people place a lot of self-exalting pride in their neighbourhoods and city. Pray that a spirit of godly humility will sweep over your city and that people will walk humbly before God and each other

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)

March 7 – Philippians 4:4-9 – Anxiety

welcome

We live in a world that is full

  • of hurt
  • of pain
  • of disappointment
  • of things that cause stress and worry and anxiety.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be and live differently in this world.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to be salt and light in this world.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to live lives that are empowered by God’s Spirit and so show what the Jesus life is like.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to grow in Christ, individually and together, in koinōnia – that shared life in the Spirit that includes:

  • reading and thinking through Scripture,
  • prayer – both praying for and praying with,
  • serving the community – both the OCC community and those around us, and,
  • caring for each other in love.

If you don’t really know Jesus, we trust and pray that as you connect, read, watch, you will be drawn into a relationship with Jesus.

If you are not yet a follower of Jesus, we pray that you will honestly seek and ask questions… watch for and sign up for online ALPHA after Easter.

We encourage you to take a few moments as you prepare to watch the video

  • settle in, be still,
  • take 2 or 3 deep breaths… in and out breathe,
  • invite the Lord to make himself present with you as you watch – he is with you – it’s just that often we are not aware that he is,
  • prepare your heart to listen and receive.
  • Read Philippians 4 as you enter into our time together.

teaching

Here is the service for Sunday 7 March.
Judy & Stan Coates, Elaine & Alan Jarvis, & Aaron Gallea are leading us in worship today.
Pastor Mike’s message is from Philippians 4:6-7 – Anxiety


The study notes and all the other messages in this series can be found on our sermon page.

OCCkids is meeting online at @9:30am

There is also an OCCYouth zoom class lead by Neil & Barb Fox @9:30am

prayer

Sunday nights @ 6:30pm
zoom prayer https://zoom.us/j/99544541247?pwd=cU9idG1RNzB3bjdZS3RUdThOalQydz09
Meeting ID: 995 4454 1247
Passcode: 4LKzLR

LIFEGroup

Get connected to a LIFEGroup – it’s one of the best ways to grow in Christ.
The details are here.

Lent Sessions

In order to help us connect and to help lead us into Lent and toward Easter,
we will be offering a short connecting time on Wednesday’s @ 1:30pm and 6:45pm.
You can find all the details here.

 

 

 

 

giving

In this new way of being the church, we don’t practice giving by placing our offering in a basket as it is passed. OCCers are generous people. Thank you for your gifts.

  • Some of you give when you attend a service (there is an offering box)
  • Many give online – etransfer or paypal
  • Others mail or drop off cheques

You can find all the ways you can give here.

 

Praying for our City – March 7

This month we are going to be praying for our city.

Since God gives grace to the humble, pray that as followers of Jesus in Orillia, we will bow before the Lord daily and receive the grace needed to live victoriously through Him (James 4:6).

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble.” (Proverbs 3:24) 

Praying for our City – March 6

This month we are going to be praying for our city.

When [Jesus] approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, “If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes” (Luke 19:41-42 NASB).

In Acts 19, the followers of Christ living in Ephesus came together publicly to confess as wrong their involvement in the occult and to burn the books related to this topic. Pray that the believers in your city will be just as bold in turning away from sin and turning back to Christ.