Grace Communion Edmonton
We've been a fellowship in Edmonton since 1964
Super Time this Pentecost Sunday!!
We had a great time celebrating all our diverse cultures, languages and countries. We had 9 participants for scripture reading, reading from Acts 2 in 9 different languages. Similar to what the apostles and the early church would have experienced. We are so blessed to have the gift of the Holy Spirit that unites us all. Many languages and tongues, but unity in the Spirit.
We had a great time celebrating all our diverse cultures, languages and countries. We had 9 participants for scripture reading, reading from Acts 2 in 9 different languages. Similar to what the apostles and the early church would have experienced. We are so blessed to have the gift of the Holy Spirit that unites us all. Many languages and tongues, but unity in the Spirit.
Word From the Pastor
This week we celebrate Pentecost. When the Holy Spirit came to the church!
I can just imagine how wonderful it must have been for the disciples when they were gathered together as mentioned in Acts 2, and the Holy Spirit came with power, love, and direction. This is a pivotal moment in Church History. The Holy Spirit, “The Paraclete”, “the Helper” had come to help Christians. That same Holy Spirit is also with us, and in us, how amazing!
We are going to do things a bit differently on Sunday. We will have many flags of the world representing our unique heritage and background, and we will have a special scripture reading read by 9 of us to represent all the unique languages we have in our Edmonton Fellowship. Everyone is also invited to wear clothing from their background. I hope to see the bright and beautiful African clothing, German clothing, Swedish, Ukrainian, Filipino, ect. (Please feel free to show off your colours and traditional clothes this Sunday!)
As we celebrate our uniqueness, and variety that God has bless our fellowship with, we also look to our incredible unity. The Spirit came down and all languages were spoken, but the Holy Spirit unified the church. They all understood the message in their own language. This is the power and miracle workings of the Spirit. We are invited into the God-head unity and invited to the Table of the Host of heaven. It’s truly remarkable and a day of celebration. Looking forward to seeing all of you on Sunday to celebrate Pentecost Sunday.
Lunch follows our Worship Service
This week we celebrate Pentecost. When the Holy Spirit came to the church!
I can just imagine how wonderful it must have been for the disciples when they were gathered together as mentioned in Acts 2, and the Holy Spirit came with power, love, and direction. This is a pivotal moment in Church History. The Holy Spirit, “The Paraclete”, “the Helper” had come to help Christians. That same Holy Spirit is also with us, and in us, how amazing!
We are going to do things a bit differently on Sunday. We will have many flags of the world representing our unique heritage and background, and we will have a special scripture reading read by 9 of us to represent all the unique languages we have in our Edmonton Fellowship. Everyone is also invited to wear clothing from their background. I hope to see the bright and beautiful African clothing, German clothing, Swedish, Ukrainian, Filipino, ect. (Please feel free to show off your colours and traditional clothes this Sunday!)
As we celebrate our uniqueness, and variety that God has bless our fellowship with, we also look to our incredible unity. The Spirit came down and all languages were spoken, but the Holy Spirit unified the church. They all understood the message in their own language. This is the power and miracle workings of the Spirit. We are invited into the God-head unity and invited to the Table of the Host of heaven. It’s truly remarkable and a day of celebration. Looking forward to seeing all of you on Sunday to celebrate Pentecost Sunday.
Lunch follows our Worship Service
Word from the Pastor
This week is our last look at the Book of Revelation before Pentecost. I’m going to borrow from an excerpt that was shared by Bill Hall to all Canadian churches. I feel the author resounded with my thoughts I had as a kid when I pondered Jesus return.
"Among the most prominent themes of these select verses from Revelation 22 is that of “coming.”
As I was growing up, the concept of Christ’s coming haunted me — but not because I doubted that God had saved me by God’s grace that I’d received with my faith. No, the concept of praising God for not just ten thousand years, but also an infinite number of years after that spooked me. What, I sometimes asked myself, especially in bed at night, would I do for an infinite number of years?
As I reflect on that anxiety now, I still sometimes wonder what we’ll do for ten thousand ten thousand years. But I’ve come to realize that the depth of our longing for (or anxiety about) Christ’s coming is strongly related to our current circumstances. When I stayed awake nights as a child wondering how I’d spend eternity, I had virtually everything I needed: a loving family, good health, Christian friends, and material security. I, frankly, couldn’t imagine needing anything more than that with which God had already graced me."
I would not use the word “haunt me”. But could easily use "perplex me”. Like I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, in the concept of imagining God when I was a child. “I hope I’m not disappointed to see God, as I have a real BIG imagination”. But the more I’ve grown to know Him the more I see it’s going be great! And no mind, no brain, no one however creative can fathom what God has in store for us. Amazing! So to that we say “Maranatha, Lord Come!"
See you this Sunday at 10:30am for Worship followed by lunch.
This week is our last look at the Book of Revelation before Pentecost. I’m going to borrow from an excerpt that was shared by Bill Hall to all Canadian churches. I feel the author resounded with my thoughts I had as a kid when I pondered Jesus return.
"Among the most prominent themes of these select verses from Revelation 22 is that of “coming.”
As I was growing up, the concept of Christ’s coming haunted me — but not because I doubted that God had saved me by God’s grace that I’d received with my faith. No, the concept of praising God for not just ten thousand years, but also an infinite number of years after that spooked me. What, I sometimes asked myself, especially in bed at night, would I do for an infinite number of years?
As I reflect on that anxiety now, I still sometimes wonder what we’ll do for ten thousand ten thousand years. But I’ve come to realize that the depth of our longing for (or anxiety about) Christ’s coming is strongly related to our current circumstances. When I stayed awake nights as a child wondering how I’d spend eternity, I had virtually everything I needed: a loving family, good health, Christian friends, and material security. I, frankly, couldn’t imagine needing anything more than that with which God had already graced me."
I would not use the word “haunt me”. But could easily use "perplex me”. Like I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, in the concept of imagining God when I was a child. “I hope I’m not disappointed to see God, as I have a real BIG imagination”. But the more I’ve grown to know Him the more I see it’s going be great! And no mind, no brain, no one however creative can fathom what God has in store for us. Amazing! So to that we say “Maranatha, Lord Come!"
See you this Sunday at 10:30am for Worship followed by lunch.
We had a great time with GCI Teens having Pizza from Cosmic Pizza after worship services. Joins us next time (within a month). For another Pizza with the Teens!
Word from the Pastor
This week as we continue our look at Revelations.
And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. (Revelations 22:2-5)
The imagery of the New Heavens and the New Earth and our firm foundation with God being our God and we being his people is all about God intents restoration for us. It’s not based on us, it’s based on the faithfulness of God. His commitment to restoration. There is a lot of the Old Testament in these verses in Revelations. Especially in Genesis. In Revelations we get an urban garden, like Garden of Eden that we find in Genesis. We also get reference to a tree that heals, vs the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. No longer will there be any curse. The opposite of the Fall that happened in Genesis. And we finally get to see God “face-to-face” which was taken away with Adam’s fall. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow for worship followed by great fellowship after.
This week as we continue our look at Revelations.
And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. (Revelations 22:2-5)
The imagery of the New Heavens and the New Earth and our firm foundation with God being our God and we being his people is all about God intents restoration for us. It’s not based on us, it’s based on the faithfulness of God. His commitment to restoration. There is a lot of the Old Testament in these verses in Revelations. Especially in Genesis. In Revelations we get an urban garden, like Garden of Eden that we find in Genesis. We also get reference to a tree that heals, vs the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. No longer will there be any curse. The opposite of the Fall that happened in Genesis. And we finally get to see God “face-to-face” which was taken away with Adam’s fall. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow for worship followed by great fellowship after.
