Come as you are.

Are you a worrywart? Do you find yourself waking in the middle of the night fretting over regrets from your past, anxiety about your present or overwhelm about the future? All of us worry at some point. We worry about the bite inflation is taking out of our finances, we worry about our kids and their future, we worry about our appearance…just to name a few!

But consider this statistic: 91% of what we worry about never happens. And worry never changes the outcome. Worry cannot make you “unpregnant.” Worry won’t get rid of the cancer, or help you pay the bills.

That’s why Jesus tells us — no, commands us, not to worry. Easier said than done? Join us Sunday as we consider the source of our worries and how we can reframe our thinking and attitudes in ways that help us break free from the cage worry puts us in.

How’s your self-confidence?  Are you plagued by insecurities…maybe a feeling that you’re not smart enough, beautiful enough, rich enough….(you get the idea) to achieve something worthwhile?  Often these insecurities begin at home or school.  They can be tough to shake and limit our potential.

It doesn’t have to be this way.  God created each of us with a purpose and our lives have greater meaning than we could imagine for ourselves. Join us this Sunday as we consider the story of Gideon.  Gideon was the youngest in a poor family.  He saw himself as weak and his future as limited.  But God tapped him on the shoulder and said he could use him as a partner in a military campaign. Gideon’s story reminders us that we don’t need more self-confidence…we need God-confidence!

This Sunday St. Paul’s marks its 190th anniversary.  On anniversaries we look back and celebrate our achievements. But what is the benchmark we use? With businesses, a company measures success in profitability. At school we measure students’ performance in terms of grades. We may “win” trophies and plaques that proclaim to the world how fast we are, how many sales we’ve made, or how smart we are. When it’s all said and done, are these the accomplishments that last?  Do they have any enduring value beyond our earthly lifetime? What is the benchmark we are to use in evaluating our Christian life and witness? 

The Apostle Paul used to brag about himself.  He had some impeccable credentials: he came from the right family, had a stellar education, and followed the letter of the Jewish law.  But in the end, he abandoned all his wealth and prestige…to follow Jesus.  Seem odd?  Paul discovered that real success, joy, and fulfillment is found in serving the son of God, who offers us an eternal reward that never fades away.

Eric Prugh returns to the pulpit in Debora’s absence with the message “Who’s a Good Shepherd?”

Brenda Roxburgh returns to the pulpit  in Debora’s absence with the message Better Together.

Thomas was absent when Jesus first appeared to the rest of the disciples on the first Sunday after Passover. When the disciples told him about the encounter with a risen Christ, Thomas angrily rebuffed them and said he needed to see for himself, thus earning the nickname throughout history as “Doubting Thomas”. A week later, Jesus appeared again, and Thomas was there and got his chance to see for himself; and he exclaimed, ” My Lord, and my God!” What would we have done if we were confronted with the same situation today?

Thomas received many benefits…in spite of his doubt! Jesus is Big enough to handle our doubts and bless us in spite of them! 

On Easter Sunday morning, we shout Hallejuah!  Love Wins!  Jesus has overcome death itself, humanity’s greatest enemy.

As we remember the events of the empty tomb on that first Easter morning we will consider how this Good News of death’s demise is lived out in our lives.  Do we live as people for whom “Love Wins” always at all times?  Or are we still entombed by insecurities, worries, hatred, unforgiveness.  Jesus has bought our freedom, but often our lives betray our true belief.  We may feel Jesus’ forgiveness is “too good to be true”,  that somehow we must earn God’s favour, or that our failures are too terrible to be forgiven.  If you want to know God’s loving reassurance of your worth and value, please join us Easter morning worship celebration. A day when we all get a “do-over.”