This Sabbath

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It is almost unreal everything that is happening, but also so good to see how most people have “adapted” to the new normal, and always looking forward and striving for the best outcome. The best example is seeing how everyone is up to date in technology and engaging in so many activities with their loved ones in order to keep connected. We are thankful that our online church service is also growing every week, and besides inviting you to join us during this week’s activities, we would like you to share the information with as many as you see fit. God’s willing, His message will reach everyone one way or another, and what a pleasure to be part of that!

*** Our brother Deevin has put together some Words of Encouragement. Please see the attached document.

*** The Family Life Ministry would like to give church members a weekly challenge to be completed throughout the following week:

Did you know that you can be kind to others without ever stepping out of your house??

Choose one(or more) of these activities to complete this week:

  1. When you pray for a person, write out a short prayer for them, and email it to them. This can be more encouraging than just hearing ” I’m praying for you”.
  2. Sort out things that you no longer need, and donate them to a charity store.
  3. If you are not alone in your home, do something kind for each person in the house this week.

*** This week we will be having Zoom Meeting as follows:

Friday, April 3, 2020, @ 8:00 pm – Young Adults Gathering 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/569251685
Meeting ID: 569 251 685

One tap mobile

+14388097799,,569251685# Canada

+15873281099,,569251685# Canada

Sabbath, April 4, 2020, @10: 00 am – Adults Sabbath School Lesson

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/473858060

Meeting ID: 473 858 060

One tap mobile

+14388097799,,473858060# Canada

+15873281099,,473858060# Canada

Sabbath, April 4, 2020, @11: 00 am – Worship Service

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/690215807
Meeting ID: 690 215 807
One tap mobile
+16475580588,,690215807# Canada
+17789072071,,690215807# Canada

Sabbath, April 4, 2020, @12: 00 pm – Young Adult Sabbath School Lesson

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/977263716

Meeting ID: 977 263 716

One tap mobile

+17789072071,,977263716# Canada

+14388097799,,977263716# Canada

*** We also remind you that Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting is also happening as a Zoom event. Please connect with Ken, Pam or Richard to join next week’s meeting at 7:00 pm.

We pray that you continue to be well, safe and healthy.

The communications Team @ Bronte SDA

Sabbath School program

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Starting this Sabbath, April 4th, 2020, we are going to have our Sabbath School program as a Zoom Meeting. It is scheduled for 10:00 am. and will be followed by our Divine Service Devotion at 11:00 am. We are also hosting Zoom Meetings for Prayer Meeting on Wednesday and we will be sending out the links and information to join all these Zoom Events on Wednesday, but we wanted to let you know the good news so you can prepare your Sabbath School Lesson and discussion points for the next time we meet.

We pray that you continue to be healthy and well, and we look forward to seeing and hearing from you all on Wednesday and Sabbath.

Communication for the Prayer Ministry and Sabbath School Department.

Friday, March 27, 2020, at 8:00 pm

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We are thankful for coming to almost the end of another week, as challenging as it is, God is and will continue to be with us.

Our sister Laura has written some words of encouragement for us this week. Please see attached and read through it as we approach the end of another week.

This weekend the Bronte membership will have the opportunity once again to have an online fellowship:

On Friday, March 27, 2020, at 8:00 pm Len will be hosting a Zoom Meeting for Young Adults. Here is the info so everyone in the age group can join in:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/670236203?pwd=YjFsK05OclVpY2dIdGdONUY2OTF3UT09

Meeting ID: 670 236 203

On Sabbath, March 28, 2020, at 11:00 am we will have our Zoom Meeting for Worship Service. Here is the info so everyone can join in:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/847312282

Meeting ID: 847 312 282

You can solo dial into the meeting:
+16475580588, and
+17789072071,

Meeting ID: 847 312 282

Please note that Prayer Meeting is also happening every Wednesday night as a Zoom Event, and you can join us as we continue to dedicate some special time for prayer. Please reach out to Ken or Richard for information on the next prayer meeting Zoom event.

We hope that everyone can join us and worship together as we continue to go through this season.

May the Lord continue to be with us all!

The Communications team.

[ATTACHMENT]

Sabbath School Lessons for the new quarter

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Dear Bronte members and friends,

Please see attached a letter from our Head Elder regarding the upcoming quarter and the Sabbath School Lessons. You will find the link in the letter, but also, for easy access, here is the link for the lessons that he makes reference to:

https://absg.adventist.org/Teachers.htm

May the Lord be with each of you and your families.

[Please See attached letter]

Words of Encouragement

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Dear Bronte family,

Please see attached some Words of Encouragement from our Head Elder, Allan H., as we approach the Sabbath.

May we remind you, that the church will continue to be closed this week (and will be until further notice) as we continue to go through the COVID-19 health crisis.

We pray and continue to be connected to each other, and pray that we all remain healthy according to God’s will!

[PDF DOC]

What Are We to Do?

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A look at life during the COVID-19 pandemic

Self-preservation is a human instinct. We are wired to take whatever steps seem necessary to ensure our own survival. This is why store shelves have very little toilet paper, non-perishable food, and medicine in stock.

Disaster preparation is a good thing, however, we must not confuse responsible preparation with fear-based selfishness. Hoarding many months of supplies or price-gouging others, especially those in need, is not resourcefulness — it is sin.

In Luke 3, John the Baptist is traveling around the Jordan area, calling people to ask forgiveness of their sins and to leave their wickedness behind. Verses 7 and 8 say: “When the crowds came to John for baptism, he said, ‘You brood of snakes! Who warned you to flee the coming wrath? Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God’” (NLT). This is the Baptist’s call to faith and godly living.

John’s listeners are so far from God that they’re not even sure what godly living looks like, so he clarifies for them. “The crowds asked, ‘What should we do?’ John replied, ‘If you have two shirts, give one to the poor. If you have food, share it with those who are hungry.’ Even corrupt tax collectors came to be baptized and asked, ‘Teacher, what should we do?’ He replied, ‘Collect no more taxes than the government requires’” (verses 10–13).

This current worldwide coronavirus disease pandemic is not the time for Christians to haughtily spout (often misapplied or incorrect interpretations of) Bible prophecy that builds fear in unbelievers. Instead, it is the time to quietly give our shirts to the poor and our food to the hungry. We must live out Romans 13 by abiding by the regulations of governing authorities (verses 1–7) and by loving our neighbors (verses 8–10).

What does this look like during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond? With care to their health and yours, reach out to elderly and disabled friends and neighbors and offer to share toilet paper or to grocery shop for them. Encourage local grocery stores to implement seniors-only shopping hours. Bake bread or cook a pot of beans for those who find the store shelves empty or their livelihoods disrupted. Sew baby wipes and diapers for overwhelmed moms. Facetime or Skype with those who may be lonely. Provide childcare for those whose schools have closed but the parents still have to work.

You can also volunteer with organizations such as Meals on Wheels, donate money to charities that are providing resources during the crisis, deliver extra food to the local food bank, give blood, and so on. If your church doesn’t already have one, consider spearheading an initiative to collect funds and supplies to help members directly affected by the virus via job loss, illness, etc.

Above all, be kind. Smile. Share. Hold the door (with your foot, of course). God is still in control.

— Alicia J. Adams is director of marketing for Pacific Press Publishing Association

Please see attached:

URGENT UPDATE – BRONTE SDA Service Cancelled on Sabbath, March 14, 2020

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Dear Bronte members and friends,

After prayer and careful consideration of the current situation regarding the spread of COVID-19, we will abide by the guidelines from the Ontario Conference and health authorities, specifically the advice to avoid large gatherings. That being said, all services and programs tomorrow, Sabbath, March 14, 2020, will be postponed until further notice. This will also include all weekly services, including Wednesday night prayer meeting.

We will provide updates as we move forward during the week, but in the meantime, we encourage you to remain calm and trust that the Lord has everything in control; let us continue to pray intensely for this world-wide health crisis.

We also invite you to connect with one of the many online streaming services available for worship. Some options are:

3ABN: https://3abn.org/
Live Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/user/3ABNVideos

Amazing facts: https://www.amazingfacts.org/
live Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzNZahpY9Qw

Pioneer Memorial: https://www.pmchurch.org/

Right now media: https://www.rightnowmedia.org

We will continue to pray and hope to see you all soon.
Communications @Bronte SDA

Jesus is in the midst of the storm

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As another week passed, we want to pause and remember to give God thanks and praise for His mercies throughout this week. Let us rejoice with the Psalmist declaring: “How precious to me are your thoughts oh God! How vast is the sum of them? Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand!” Psalm 139:18.

This week we saw how the world reacted to the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, there is a sense of fear and uncertainty in the air, but we must remember that Jesus is in the midst of the storm. We are reminded that His perfect love casts out all fear, we are reminded that God will never leave us not forsake us, and that He is in the midst of whatever challenges we face. Let us continue to pray for our safety and our community so that Bronte will continue to be a shining beacon of hope. You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3

How long is the wait?

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How long is a “long” wait? 4 minutes on the drive-thru lane or 10 minutes until the next customer service representative is available? 12 seconds for the YouTube video to play, or 15 minutes until the pizza delivery finally arrives? In today’s society where we’re used to getting notifications in real-time, accustomed to instant gratification, and can find the answers to any question by just invoking Alexa or our friend Google, what could help us to learn how to wait? It’s interesting to remember that even in the same society that we live in, a mother still patiently and happily waits 9 months to meet her new baby; and a farmer still waits 100 days to harvest the corn. Could it be that it’s more about what we’re waiting for than how long the wait is? Just ask the bridegroom who waited two years to have everything ready for the wedding day, or the new professional who just graduated after four years of intensive studies. It is our prayer today that we keep our focus on the “promise” more than the wait. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” Titus 2:13 (KJV). Let’s sing with Bill and Gloria Gaither:

Teach me Lord to wait down on my knees, till in Your own good time You answer my pleas;

Teach me not to rely on what others do; But to wait in prayer for an answer from You;
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;

They shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Teach me Lord, teach me Lord to wait.

Waiting Patiently

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As we go through our daily lives may we always take time to reflect on Jesus’ second coming. We know that waiting can be difficult and at times discouraging so we were taught how to be encouraged as we keep the faith and hold on to His promises that have been fulfilled and to those that are soon to take place. We have to wait patiently. We must diligently seek Him and His word, and urgently receive the messages He sends to us through His word and through His response to our prayers. May we continue to watch as end time prophecies are unfolding and believe that it is not the timing of His arrival that matters, but it is His coming that does. May the light of God’s love revive us and bring hope, joy, and peace into each of our lives, bringing us even closer to Him. May the power of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and minds strengthen our lives so that we can continue to feel the need for revival and to feel the weight of the needs of others. Let us cling to Jesus only. It is His power that will help us to overcome daily struggles that threaten to pull us away from Him. He will keep us safe and nothing will ever separate us from Him and His love for us. As we journey together as a church family, may we be restored, refreshed and reawakened as we look toward history’s most anticipated event. May we encourage, support and love each other along the way.
John 14:3 tells of Jesus’ promise to us; “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” Let us hold on to this promise as we continue on with Jesus’ strength to this wonderful day.