February 14, 2025
Hello Glenbrook,
Dear friends in consultation with session members Pastor Ian has decided to cancel Sunday morning worship services due to the impending snowstorm. Please join us online instead.
Happy Valentines Day to you all. I hope you all managed to keep warm and safe after that big snowstorm last weekend and the one on Wednesday night. It reminded me of those great winter storms when you were a kid and wanted to run outside and play. I guess as we get older, we learn to enjoy things from a different perspective and now I enjoy the snowfall from the warmth of my home and a nice cup of hot chocolate! Enjoy today with a loved one, friends, family or just spend the day with yourself doing the things YOU love to do! More snow is headed this way so keep warm and keep safe.
Devotional
Love Greater Than A Valentine
Each year leading up to February 14, there is a rush, fueled by the chocolate and floral industries, to purchase candy and flowers for the ones we love the most. No flowers declare love more than the roses! But they are also the quickest to fade. The sentiments of Valentine's Day fade pretty quickly, too! The next day, the heart-shaped chocolates are marked down by 50%. To me, the Valentine experience says everything about the frailty and "best before date" of human love.
I am so glad that God's perfect love has no shelf life to worry about!
The apostle John says it best:
1 John 4:17-21 – By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us. If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also. (NASB 1995)
As followers of Christ, we will survive judgment, but God wants so much more for us than confidence; He wants us to shine forth His truth in love! As we abide in Jesus and He in us, we take on His identity in our lives. Spiritually, we have His standing before God, not fully mature yet, but shining out that agreement with His truth and our love for each other.
The love of God is so different from what is promoted on Valentine's Day! "We love, because He first loved us" (v.19) is a powerful statement. Before the world existed, He loved each of us. Love comes from Him, and our love flows as a response to Him. We are saved by trusting in Jesus for sin's pardon by faith, and love is the fruit.
Buying a Valentine's Day gift for our loved ones is thoughtful and kind, but we are commanded to love our brothers and sisters in Christ much more. We are His disciples, and we are to love others as He did. Can you learn to love God, Whom you can't see, by loving His children, whom you can see?
Oh, how He loves you and me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.
He gave His life — what more could He give?
Oh, how He loves you,
Oh, how He loves me,
Oh, how He loves you and me.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, that we love because You first loved us. Amen.
Annual General Meeting
Please note the Annual General Meeting is approaching quickly. Please mark your calendars for Sunday March 2nd after the service. There are a few pending reports so please get them to us asap. Thank you!
Winter 2025 Bible Study
Bible studies continue Tuesdays. Let us know if you are interested in attending 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 myself or Pastor Ian know. We will be running a Membership Seminar in several weeks and would love to have you join.
Black History Month
February is Black History Month and we are planning a service on February 23rd to recognize and thank God for the contributions of people from the Black community in faith and service. Our special guest will be Rev. Julia Moses who is the pastor of British Methodist Episcopal Church and members of her congregation.
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday is fast approaching and once again, Glenbrook will be hosting a Pancake Supper on March 4th between 5:30 - 7:00 pm. You will be able to purchase your tickets from Geraldine McCauley at church CASH payment preferred.
Adult tickets are $8, children (6-12) are $5.00 and children under 5 years old are free.
(You can also email Geraldine at rushtonbreeze@gmail.com if you are unable to be at church to purchase your ticket.)
We are also looking for volunteers to help set up/cook/serve & clean up. A sign-up sheet listing chores will be available this Sunday.
World Day Of Prayer
Glenbrook will be holding World Day of Prayer on Friday March 7th. In the front lobby you’ll see a beautiful display set up by Karen for this event. The service will begin at 2pm with refreshments to follow. The WDP is an international and Interdenominational Day of Prayer and intercession. This year the liturgy and prayers come from the women of the Cook Islands as they pray for world healing and peace. For more information, please contact Karen Barnaby our WDP team leader.
Raw Carrot March 23rd
Raw Carrot Soup Order Deadline is THIS SUNDAY.
Please notify Cynthia at themtroom@yahoo.com or sign up at church for this 3rd Soup Order of the year. All flavours available and there is currently 5 packages of the Specialty Flavours Asian Fusion and 2 packages of the White Onion. First come first serve. :)
The packages will be at church next Sunday February 23rd for pick up. If you have not paid already, you can do so through etransfer to Glenbrookpcevents@gmail.com OR bring cash at pick up time.
Men’s Lunch
On Wednesday February 19th at 12pm the Men’s lunch group will be meeting at Taps Pub. Located at 6570 Meadowvale Town Centre Circle. Please sign up at the lobby.
Caribbean Luncheon
In honour of Black History Month on February 23rd we will be having 2 special guests from BME. Reverend Julia Moses and Glenda Lewis. After the service we are invited to be a part of the Caribbean Luncheon hosted by St. Thomas. Please sign up in the lobby so we know how many are interested in attending.
Open Door Lunch
When - Wednesday February 26th
Needed - See the sign up to donate food items. On the menu this time are English Muffin Pizzas, squares, cookies, Tossed and Caesar Salad.
Volunteer Servers are also requested, thank you for your support.
There is a sign-up sheet in the lobby
Update to CRA Donations
On January 23rd, the Canada Revenue Agency confirmed that it will proceed with administering the 2024 deadline extension for charitable donations. This means that donors will have the option to deduct certain charitable donations made up to February 28, 2025, on their 2024 income tax return.
We can now proceed with our plan to provide GPC congregants with the January and February 2025 giving statements in the first week of March 2025, so they can deduct these donations on their 2024 income tax return.
February/ March Schedule of Volunteers
Please let me know if there are any dates which I need to change or move for you 😊 If you would like to join the volunteer team even once every few months, let me know!
February 16, 2025 – Worship online today
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.
Enjoy the service!
https://www.youtube.com/c/GlenbrookPresbyterian/live
Scripture Reading:
1 Samuel 25: 2-14; 18-19; 23-25; 32-35 (NRSVA), Luke 12: 13-21 (NRSVA)
Message: “The Fool, The Wise and The Beloved” Pastor Ian McWhinnie
Have a great week,
Andrea
