Dear Friends, 

The second Sunday of Advent has a focus on John the Baptist as the messenger announcing the coming of Christ. John the Baptist is the bridge between the Old Testament and the New. Luke 3:1-6 introduces John in exactly the same way as the Old Testament prophets “in this time and this place, under this ruler, the word of the Lord came to John” (compare this with the first few verses of any of the prophetic books: Jeremiah 1:1-3, Ezekiel 1:2-3, Micah 1:1, etc.). The word from God to John is the last verbal word before Jesus as the Living Incarnate Word begins his ministry.  John’s message is one of preparation. Are God’s people ready for Jesus' coming? Are we ready for his coming? John’s message was one of repentance: crooked paths straightening and mountains and ravines being levelled out. John’s baptismal ministry is one of repentance, turning away from evil in order to stand at the ready to receive the sudden coming of the Lord (cf. Malachi 3:1-4). Hardly a one-time thing, repentance is something believers must constantly practice as sin can clutter and creep into our daily rhythms. So am I prepared ? Are you prepared? Are our hearts once again ready to receive Christ not only at Christmas but daily throughout the year? Because the Lord comes suddenly, there is no time like the present! So please join me on Sunday as we take a look at the message “Advent: a Time of Promise and Preparation”. 

My thanks goes to the volunteers who made food and helped serve a meal at the Open Door this past Thursday. I will be there this Saturday as the Open Door serves its annual Christmas Dinner. Gwenna and I will be helping to serve and also bringing and singing some Christmas music and carols with the clients and families who come. 

My thanks also to the congregation and to friends of GPC concerning your stewardship for our congregation. For the months of January through October we have a surplus of approximately $14,000.00. There are some expenses that will come due over the month of December. One of the blessings of serving GPC is the generosity that you have shown not only to our GPC family but also to those with who we partner with in mission. So thank you. May God be praised! Over the next several weeks you will receive a pledge letter asking you to consider making a pledge to GPC for 2025. This will help the Session and the Board draft a proposed budget for 2025 to be presented at the AGM on February 9th. Thank you once again for your generous stewardship.   

Have a good weekend

Pastor Ian