Westminster Loving God & Neighbour

(Here is our location via Google Maps.) You’re invited to join us on Sunday, April 7 at 10:01 am. It is the fifth Sunday in Lent and we will honour and praise God together. Lent is the 40 day period (excluding Sundays) that lead up to Easter. It is a time of spiritual preparation. We will enjoy the fifth message in our "Vote for Pedro" series with a message entitled "I Choose Us".  Rev. Patrick will share various passages that help to illustrate that God would rather save the world with us than without us.  Peter, of course, will play a part. We will sing songs and hymns to God, pray, learn, and encourage one another. That's a significant part of what we do. There will be nursery care, and our full Sunday School will be in operation: pre-school to high school. We will also have a Food Drive for the Barrie Food Bank. This is something we do every Easter as the food bank starts to experience heavier use in the period leading up to Easter weekend. This is a very real and practical way we can help those who are struggling. Let’s worship and be a part of something bigger together.

Our LEADING WITH CARE WORKSHOP is coming up on Sunday April 7th.  Please save the date and about an hour after the service & fellowship this day if you are a leader, teacher or volunteer in the church and have not yet attended this training. Leading with Care is an initiative of our denomination, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, which seeks to ensure the safety and health all all people involved with the life of the church. At Westminster we want to ensure the safety of our environment, especially those who are vunerable–the young and the elderly. The policy is not reactive, but proactive. Volunteers are required to adhere to a care policy and submit police record checks. God loves all his children. In the church we also strive to share this love and protection with others. If you have any questions, or need more information please contact Darlene Munro at ggcloon@hotmail.com.

All are most welcome to join us and to bring their friends.  This will be our last dinner until October. Please be sure to visit the website to see the menus for Urban Dish Grill & Wine Bar 367 Yonge St, 705-797-8909. Click here for a the full menu and more information. The reservation is in the name of 'Westminster'.  Please contact Gayle Atkinson 705 627 9790 (vmail or text),  David or Linda Holloway 705 739 8597  no later than Wednesday April 10th  at noon, if you would like to participate.  Please call the restaurant after this deadline to make any changes.  Thanks!

(Here is our location via Google Maps.) You’re invited to join us on Sunday, April 14 at 10:01 am as we worship God as his people together. It is Palm Sunday -- the day when we acknowledge and celebrate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem in the week before his crucifixion and resurrection. Rev. Patrick will share the next message in the "Vote for Pedro" series about the Apostle Peter titled "Look Again" - God's gift of abundant life changes our world from the inside out. Everyone will be given a palm branch on their way into the service. We will sing songs and hymns to God, pray, learn, and encourage one another. There will be nursery care, and our full Sunday School will be in operation: pre-school to high school. Let’s worship and be a part of something bigger together.

April 18 is Maundy Thursday. The word “Maundy” comes from the Latin phrase “mandatum novum.” It means “new commandment” and refers to what Jesus said in John 13:34: “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another.” So that is the main Bible passage for the service. This year our service is “candlelit.” In 2016 there was an ice storm. The lights when out so we had to hold the service by candlelight. We liked the experience so much that we decided to do it again every year since — but this time on purpose! So as you come in you’ll be given a small candle, just like on Christmas Eve. We’ll celebrate the Lord’s Supper, and sing and pray together. At the end of the service we’ll turn low all the candles and leave in silence as we prepare for the cross and Good Friday. Since it is an evening service there will be no nursery care. Join in. This is a moving, meaningful service during Holy Week.

April 19 is Good Friday. It is the day when we gather at the foot of the cross to remember the sacrifice and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Our service is at 10am. It is a special time of singing, of prayer, and of remembering God’s love made known on the cross. Please note that there is also a 1-hour children’s program. It is for children aged 4 and up and will be downstairs. Good Friday is a very important day for younger ages as well, and they will learn that it is not all about chocolate eggs and a break from school — but something so much more wonderful and meaningful. Let us praise God together on this very special day.

Easter Sunday is when we celebrate the resurrection of Christ! At 10:01am we’ll gather together to joyfully sing, pray and marvel at God’s power and goodness. The service itself is an hour long. No matter who you are, you’ll feel welcome and uplifted. There will be nursery and Sunday School. The Sunday School children start the service with the wider group, and then leave for Sunday School classes (divided by age) about 20 minutes into the service. Ages are from preschool to high school. (And after the service there may be a few surprises too!) During the service we’ll be uplifted by special music, and will be encouraged to think about how the resurrection transforms our perspective on life. Pastor Ruttan will use is as an opportunity to launch a new series: "Apprenticeship 2.0." Easter is the main event of the Christian faith. Join in. It will be a morning of hope and celebration. You’ll be glad you did.

(Here is our location via Google Maps.) You’re invited to join us on Sunday, April 28th at 10:01 am as we worship God as his people together. We will joyfully sing, pray and marvel at God’s power and goodness. Pastor Ruttan will continue with the new teaching series: "Apprenticeship 2.0 - Working more closely with the Master to learn the Master's craft more clearly.  In it, he will explore Acts 2 and how we respond to that new found faith. After all, anything less than what Jesus wants for us is an unworthy focus for our lives. There will be nursery care, and our full Sunday School will be in operation: pre-school to high school. Let’s worship and be a part of something bigger together.  Hope to see you there!

(Here is our location via Google Maps.) You’re invited to join us on Sunday, May 5th at 10:01 am as we worship God as his people together. "Apprenticeship 2.0: Working more closely with the Master to learn the Master's craft more clearly." That's the name of Pastor Ruttan's current teaching series. In Part 1 we explored the resurrection of Christ as the foundation of our faith. In Part 2 we looked at the call to repent, be baptized, and the gift of being filled with the Holy Spirit. On Sunday, May 5, we'll explore how we are called to ethically live in the world. Sure, we all know about the great command to love God and neighbour. But since the word 'love' can be over-used and abused (and therefore misunderstood), we'll explore what it really means in the New Testament. We'll also explore the cardinal Christian virtue which is a kind of prerequisite to love if we are to be effective as Christ's apprentices. One thing is for sure: Apprenticing under Jesus is a worthy focus for our lives. We will also sing songs and hymns to God, pray, learn, and encourage one another. That's a significant part of what we do. There will be nursery care, and our full Sunday School will be in operation: pre-school to high school. Let’s worship and be a part of something bigger together.