Feb. 12, 2025
1 Corinthians 15:12-27 is a powerful passage where Paul forcefully argues the centrality of Jesus’ resurrection to the Christian faith, emphasizing that without the resurrection, the Christian message loses its meaning and hope, essentially rendering the whole gospel “in vain.”.
Key points to reflect on:
The foundation of Christian hope:
The resurrection is presented as the cornerstone of Christian belief, offering assurance of eternal life beyond death and providing believers with a reason to persevere through hardship.
- The reality of Jesus’ physical resurrection:
Paul insists on the physical nature of Jesus’ resurrection, not just a spiritual experience, signifying the future bodily resurrection of believers.
- The implications of denial:
If Jesus did not rise, then the whole Christian message is false, including the atonement for sin and the promise of new life.
- The order of resurrection:
Paul outlines the sequence of resurrection, with Christ rising first, then believers at his return, and finally the final defeat of death.
- Christ’s ultimate authority:
The passage highlights Christ’s dominion over all creation, with everything ultimately being subjected to him, including death.
Overall, this passage serves as a strong reminder of the transformative power of the resurrection, offering believers a firm foundation of hope and purpose in their lives.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:20
Worship Calendar
Feb. 16 The Resurrection of the Dead 1 Corinthians 15:12-27
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Pancake Supper hosted by your Outreach Committee
Tuesday, March 4th, at 6 PM
Everyone is welcome to join us for our famous Down East pancakes, homemade by our in-house chefs! Fellowship time to follow.
Free Will Offering is gratefully accepted
A sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board in the foyer
A Message from St. James Food Basket:
Thank you for so diligently collecting egg cartons. We have reached storage capacity at this time. We will let you know when we will need more egg cartons.
TAX RECEIPTS
Due to the Canada Post strike in December, the Canada Revenue Agency has issued legislation that extends the deadline for making donations for the 2024 tax year until February 28, 2025. We will be issuing tax receipts up to December 31, 2024 as usual and then issuing receipts again from January 1 to February 28, 2025.
If you wish to take advantage of this one time change and claim January and February 2025 donations on your 2024 tax return please contact Jackie Taylor, otherwise we will hold the tax receipts for those two months until the end of 2025 and you will receive two receipts then.
Thank you
Jackie
North of Nowhere: Conversation with TRC Commissioner Marie Wilson
Date: Monday, February 24
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Friends House, 60 Lowther Avenue
Free tickets (please register): https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/1223563624739
Join us on Monday, February 24 for an in-person conversation with Marie Wilson about her new book North of Nowhere: Song of a Truth and Reconciliation Commissioner. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was critical to establishing a public record of the experiences of Survivors of residential schools and generated 94 Calls to Action for all areas of society to work towards reconciliation. Marie Wilson will speak about her time with the Commission, the ongoing need for truth, healing and justice for Indigenous people in Canada, and where we are today.
Journalist and author Cynthia Reyes will moderate. Marie Wilson will be available to sign books afterward. Her book will be available for purchase on site. Organized by the Anglican Church of Canada, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, and the United Church of Canada.
More information may be obtained by contacting:
Katharine Sisk
Senior Program Coordinator,
Justice Ministries, Life and Mission Agency
The Presbyterian Church in Canada
1-800-619-7301 ext. 25
Readers Wanted!!
We are looking for 7 readers to read the Lenten Candle Liturgy this year. If you are able to help us out, please let Susan C. know.
Bedroom for Rent
Furnished bedroom for rent, shared common areas in privately owned townhouse at Rathburn & West Mall. $800 inclusive. Personal and financial references will be required. Preference will be given to a FEMALE roommate, as the house is occupied by a long-term lady occupant. Contact Margretta @ 416.788.6742.
From the Guatemalan Mission Team
The Guatemala mission team will be serving around 1000 children across 4 schools and an orphanage in mid-March.
We’re looking for donations of the following items:
1. Summer clothing for orphan babies/toddlers (0-3 years), young children (3-12 years) and young moms (11-15 years)
2. Baby shoes, regular shoes, tennis shoes, socks and towels for children (1-10 years)
3. Diapers, blankets, bottles for newborns
4. Medicine and first aid items, such as Tylenol, Advil, Polysporin, bandages, alcohol swabs
5. Soft cover lightweight notebooks, crayons, watercolor paints, pencils, pens and calculators
6. Laptops and portable projectors in good condition
7. Deflated soccer balls, volleyball nets, ping-pong paddles, tennis balls
8. Uniforms for sports teams
9. Lightweight non-bulky toys such as stuffed animals
The weather in the region (Antigua) ranges from 12-30 degrees Celsius, so the clothing items should be lightweight.
If you have any of these items in good condition, please make sure they are clean, sorted into clean bags by category, and you can place them in the clothing bin previously used for the Canadian/Ukrainian parachute donations. Thank you for your generosity! The babies and school children will be very blessed by your donations.
The deadline is March 2nd.
World Day of Prayer 2025
Graceview is the host church for this year’s WDP which will take place on Saturday March 8th at 10:00 AM.
The subject this year is the Cook Islands in the south Pacific and the program was written by Christian women who live there. The program title is “I made you wonderful”, based on Psalm 139.
We hope we can count on your support. Please mark the date and invite your friends.
Maureen Screen
NEW A Winter Devotional Update:
A new edition of These Days (January/February/March), as well as the current edition of Our Daily Bread (December/January/February) are available on the table in the church vestibule and in the devotional box on the church porch.