January 24, 2025

Hello Glenbrook,

I hope you have all braved the Polar Vortex with lots of hot chocolate!  Some interesting events listed below,  keep warm and have a lovely weekend.

Devotional

Here is a devotional that you may enjoy, have a lovely weekend.

The New Norm

Romans 5:3 – And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance. (NKJV)

He stood and talked to his brother, never realizing that in a few moments his life would change forever.

When I became his pastor, he was a vibrant man and a diligent church worker. Some years before, his life had been changed when he was diagnosed with a type of cancer most don't survive. But he had.

Then, it happened. Not the return of cancer, but something more permanent. Neither he nor his brother knew what was happening but that something was evident. A stroke slithered into his life. Although he incurred no permanent paralysis, he did suffer life-changing brain damage. For months  he couldn't stay alone. His short-term memory, for all practical purposes, disappeared. He blurted out things he wouldn't have dreamed of saying before in public. Time dragged along, but he learned he must adapt to his new normal.

Paul says what we don't enjoy hearing: troubling times produce perseverance — and perseverance ushers in new norms. More than once, God has sent troubling times my way that tested my faith. I haven't enjoyed any of them, but I have learned to find peace in the new norms.

When God sends faith-testing trials, He doesn't design them to destroy but to hone our faith. God rarely gives us the inside scoop on why He's testing our faith, but we can know it's for a good reason. He may need to stretch our faith or prepare us for a new assignment. Either way, when we endure the stretch with the right attitude, we enter into the new normal with a right spirit instead of a bitter spirit.

Rather than resist the new normal, God wants us to adapt, learn, and enjoy the new place He has brought. Typically, the new norm will give us opportunities we've never experienced previously. Using what God has taught us during the stretching period allows us to make good use of the new opportunities.

Rather than resisting your new norm, enjoy it and use it for God's glory.

Prayer: Father, give us faith and courage to live in the new normals You bring. Amen.

Annual General Meeting

From Samantha: Please note there will be a new date for the Annual General Meeting. Please mark it in your calendars - Sunday, March 2nd after the service. While the meeting is pushed to March, I do ask that reports are still sent to me by today.  As I am exiting the role of Admin Assistant, I will need to have these reports by today so I can train Andrea on how to assemble the reports and prepare for the meeting. Thank you for your understanding!

Winter 2025 Bible Study

Just a reminder that Bible studies continue on Tuesdays.  Again, let us know and we will make sure you have the study material! Looking forward to seeing you!

New Members

If you have been coming to Glenbrook for a bit and are considering joining as a member, please let me or Pastor Ian know! We will be running a Membership Seminar in several weeks and would love to have you join.

Muffins For Missions

Please note we will be having Muffins for Missions on Sunday February 2nd! There will be a sign-up sheet for bakers in the front lobby this Sunday. All donations will be going to Eden Food for Change and their Coldest Night of the Year Walk Team.

The Raw Carrot mentioned Glenbrook in their newsletter!

Also, look out for an announcement coming this Sunday regarding Raw Carrot soup orders as they will be due soon.  Order forms are in the front lobby.

A Catalyst for Christian unity in Canada’s largest city.

This year’s Toronto Prayer Breakfast will be held on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in a new venue - Parkview Manor in Don Mills! This new midtown location will allow attendees from across the city to better access the event by car or public transit.

The TPB Organizing Committee has invited Richard Long, Lead for Pastoral Engagement with Ottawa-based One Way Ministries, to be the Keynote Speaker. Richard is also the author of the recent book ‘The City-Wide Church: Unity that God Blesses.’ Leading worship this year will be Canadian recording artist and songwriter Martine Kelsey.

This year the Church commemorates the 1,700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed! We’re excited to gather our city’s Christian community leaders for a time of prayer, fellowship and recognition of community service. Attendees will share a hot plated breakfast and a time of worship, and then join in prayer for those in positions of authority, as well as for the felt needs of those in our community.

The 2025 Toronto Prayer Breakfast will be held Tuesday, March 4, from 7:00-9:00 a.m. at the Parkview Manor, 55 Barber Greene Rd, Don Mills.

Tickets are now available for $50. each, or you can order a table of 10 for $450. Church tables booked by February 14 will be recognized in the Event Program. The Breakfast is a great opportunity for your whole ministry team to attend together, or perhaps to share a table with another ministry or neighbourhood congregation you want to build a relationship with. For more information, or to purchase your tickets or table, visit the Toronto Prayer Breakfast website

The Coldest Night of the Year Walk

The Coldest Night of the Year is a family-friendly walk that raises money for charities serving hungry, homeless, and hurting people in our community.  There’s something special about the Coldest Night of the Year: it's a national event, but the money you raise stays in your community. Across the country, everyone’s walking and fundraising for an amazing local charity that is dedicated to helping people. So, let’s gather for good and support EFFC! Bring together your friends, family, workplace, church, club, or community, and start a team, walk, fundraise, donate, volunteer, and share. Our walk will begin and end at Erin Meadows Community Centre.

Check out the Mississauga Erin Mills event site to learn more about the event and register your team for the February 22nd walkathon. You can also make a one-time donation

Service for January 26th, 2025

Please note that all services will be available on the SAME link each time.

So click on the link below to watch all services live with us.

https://www.youtube.com/c/GlenbrookPresbyterian/live

Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 18:1-9; 20:35-42, Matthew 20: 20 -28

Message:  “ The True Friend ” Pastor Ian McWhinnie

Have a great week.

Andrea

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