We've Finally Landed!

Greetings everyone from the beautiful land of Oville!

We are finally here and are so excited to be part of what God is going to do through us all. The recent events in our city show that there is a huge need for people to have hope. People look for hope, or, at the least, they want to find hope. So in their search they try out money, sex, drinking, drugs, anything looking like it offers an answer and an escape from their present situation. From the outset, the answer of, "all you need is Jesus" sounds pretty lame. Let's be honest, while the core of the answer is correct, the reality is that they need more than a verbal answer. They need to see Jesus and experience him. They need to see that he has offered hope to you and gives you strength and new life! A tall order I know, but we are called to continue his ministry here on earth through his strength. People can find hope when they experience that they are truly cared for, when others words of caring are matched by their actions of caring done with joy and love.

I know this takes time out of busy schedules for the day. Wouldn't you like someone to stop and actually "see" you? It doesn't take much to let people know you care: an encouraging word at the check out, helping someone load their vehicle, buying a stranger a coffee, picking up the phone to let someone know you are thinking about them, firing off a text or email with words of encouragement. It means a lot when we experience this - let's pay it forward to be the light of our community or, as our web address states, let's be the heart of Orangeville with Jesus being the core of our strength. When we do this, we'll gain currency with others so that we can share how Jesus is what they need for new life.

In His grip of grace,

PJ

Finally ~ A New Pastor

Well it's official! Covenant Alliance Church now has a Pastor! Horray.........

We've been without a pastor for almost 9 months now and our church is definitely in need of some new and exciting changes. Our church board members have been working steady at keeping things going within the church and they certainly deserve a lot of credit for ALL they've done in keeping things going, looking after the business of running the church, finding speakers, or filling in when there wasn't any, and being available to help when there was a need. Most of them work full time, several have young families, and they've all gone way and beyond their duties in working OVERTIME at this and in looking after all of the many things required to keep a church functioning. Next time you talk to one of them, let them know how much you appreciate what they've done.

Please come out Sunday Sept. 26th, 2010 in order to meet our NEW Pastor. Pastor Joe's sermon topic for that day will be "Waiting to Exhale ~ Excited to Inhale"

In life we can find ourselves either holding our breath to see what will happen or wanting to catch our breath because too much is happening. Those moments of exhalation can either be from finally seeing some conclusion through accomplishment or disappointment. In both scenarios, there is a next step that is needed - inhaling. Without it we aren't breathing and we die but we can determine what that inhalation means for our next step. For some it means getting a little more strength to put the head down and shoulder through a tough time. For others it means being excited and anticipating the future. Jesus breathed just like we do. He lived as we do. He struggled and celebrated like we do. He exhaled and inhaled. Be sure to come out next Sunday to hear how this means HOPE for our lives. 'Hope' that we can rest in and celebrate!

If you'd like to read something written by our new Pastor, Joe Fenton check out his blog. If you'd like to chat with him, check him out on Facebook and ask to be his friend. If you keep looking you can also find his lovely wife Tanya on Facebook as well.

We are certainly excited and looking forward to seeing what changes and blessings Joe & Tanya are going to bring to our church along with our great community and area surrounding Orangeville.

Why not come out and check us out!!

Finding a Pastor

Our pastoral search committee has done an amazing job in going thro' all the many applications they received. Recently we had the 'chosen' pastor come out to speak, and attend a potluck luncheon with us all, along with his lovely wife. Now we just wait for the various steps and stages that must be done in order to determine if this is the person God wants to be here, if its what our head office wants, if it's the right move for the 'chosen' person....
All we can do is to pray that God provides the right person for the job, and try to wait patiently. Not always an easy thing to do.

Pastoral Position Available

We are presently in the process of searching for a new 'pastor/minister' for our church, "Covenant Alliance" Church. If you know someone who might be interested, or who is searching for a position in a smaller community then please have them submit resume's or inquiries to the following email address.

CACsearchcommittee@gmail.com

Orangeville is a growing community in the middle of farming country, and is located north/west of Toronto, just off of #10 Highway. It's in a great location for people who also need to communte to the larger centers.
Covenant Alliance is a Christian Church, growing in the heart of Orangeville. Come check us out!

If you're interested in learning more about the area, check out the following websites.

http://www.orangeville.ca/page.php?id=286

http://www.thehillsofheadwaters.com/section.php?sid=397

http://www.thehillsofheadwaters.com/region-list.php?id=32

Thanks!!

Updates & Announcements

David Lewis is our visiting interim speaker until the end of June, although there will also be some different speakers at various times.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?
Tues. afternoons from 1-3 pm at the church Ladies Bible Study for all ages of women.
Wed. Quilting and Craft day in the Library from approx. 9:30 am to 3:00 pm Bring along your knitting or needlework and join some other women.

LADIES - "Potluck Breakfasts" are the 2nd Sat. of the month. Next one is Sat. May 8th, 2010
when we will be having a speaker come in from one of our local Funeral homes to speak to us about planning a Funeral and what one needs to do when a loved one passes on. 9:00 am downstairs in the church.

Saturday, June 12, 2010 for 10:00 am. We will be having a Potluck Luncheon this day.

Have you ever tried to do any scrapbooking? Come and learn how to design a scrapbooking page with our 'mystery guest'.
Materials will all be provided. Ladies, please bring in a few pictures….approx. 2-6 pictures depending on how long you’d like to stay around and how many pages you’d like to do.

Costs will be minimal, and based on a love offering/donations to cover the guest speaker's time & materials. We will be having a pot-luck luncheon (make it finger foods or things that don’t require much preparation) and working on the scrapbooking pages before and after it. Even if you’d rather not do this, please come out to the luncheon, and if you’d like to sit and watch you are more than welcome to do so. Bring along a friend or neighbour, or even your (10+ aged) daughter who might enjoy this.

If you have a scrapbook that you’d like to bring along and start setting up, then please feel free to do so. You can even use a normal binder to display your pictures, along with some clear pages.

Come on out and have some ‘Hand’s On” fun and make something you can treasure for many years, as well as enjoy some great food and fellowship with the other ladies.


Ladies Retreat at Redeemers College in Ancaster May 14-15, 2010 with deadline for registration on April 15. Cost is $40 for the night and $130 for the retreat which runs from Friday evening thro' Sat. evening. Dessert night on Friday evening.... Lunch & supper included Sat. Ugliest Sweater Contest, and Speaker Joanne Goodwin who is known to be a hilarious speaker to hear.

Small Group Studies

The Tues. Small Group is moving to Friday nights as of April 23rd, and will be starting at 8 pm so keep that in mind. It will continue to be held at the home of Steve & Andrea Johnson, 60 Orange St Orangeville 519-307-0820 For more info you call. There will no longer be a study on Tues. & Thurs. evenings.

For Urgent Prayer Needs: Please call Rosalind Thomas 941-0617

If you wish to put anything in the Bulletin, please contact Donna at 941-9037