Pastor's Message - Pastor Bob Bahr
As most of you know Pastor Chris and his wife Gail along with Debra Ames are part of a team of Canadians participating in a guided tour of Israel through Chose Peoples Ministries. We would encourage you to pray that their time away will be educational and spiritually enriching. During their absence Pastor Chris asked me to fill in for him. As always this is something I look forward to doing as it allows me the opportunity to reconnect with many whom I know and care for very much.
For the next two weeks, I will be available on Tuesday afternoon and all day Thursday. If you would like to set up an appointment please contact the office and set up an appointment with our new Church Administrator Tracey Miller. Tracey is originally from South Africa and has been in Canada since 2008 and in Vancouver since 2013. She and her family (Gordon, Granny, Uncle Bob, Catherine, and Hannah) have been attending WVBC since April this year. She is excited to join the WVBC team and looking forward to getting to know everyone. Tracey loves people, is passionate about community, and sharing the Good News of Jesus. She enjoys chocolate, maybe a little too much, going for walks, and getting to know new people.
But, this morning I also want to thank Toni Pankratz who has been such a valuable part of our Pastoral team for over 11 years. She loves our church and has gone far beyond her job description to care for so many of us. Toni is a reliable, wise, and deeply caring follower of Jesus. Her servant's heart and attention to detail have made such a difference in the smooth operation of our church over the years. Personally, I will miss her presence on the pastoral team. I would encourage each of you to take the time to personally convey your own personal appreciation and love for her and her family.
On November 11 our nation will pause to remember the courageous men and women who sacrificed their lives to defend and protect the freedoms we enjoy today. But we need to continue to be vigilant. We live in perilous times. In many places in our world autocratic regimes continue to repress peaceful protest while others aggressively seek to expand their influence and national border through war and intimidation.
Personally, I’m deeply concerned about the suffering which so many innocent civilians are experiencing throughout the world today. As followers of the Prince of Peace, we need to continue to pray that the nations of our world will lay aside their weapons of war and work together to make our world a more just and safe place in which to live. Violence is never an appropriate way to solve political issues. It just perpetuates violence.
- This Sunday our guest speaker is Liz Burnette. Liz and I go back so many years. I knew her as a teen and remember vividly the day when some of her teenage friends opened my office door at Broadmoor Baptist and said: “She needs Jesus!” And I had the privilege of leading her to a commitment of her life to Christ. Liz is a charismatic personality and you will not want to miss what she has to say. If you are unable to join us in person on Sunday, click the link at the bottom of this email to join the Sunday Morning Livestream Service on our website.
- Our Casual Choir will not meet again until December 4 as Leanne Roy is on holiday. The church has hired John Yu as our part-time Mandarin Pastor. From 2011 until 2020 John served in Japan as a missionary to a Chinese congregation in Tokyo. John and his wife Karen live locally. We are delighted to have him a part of our Pastoral team.
- We have extended the opportunity for you to participate in our Christmas Child Outreach ministry for another week. Please return your shoeboxes to the church no later than this Sunday.
- Michael Wei has kindly donated a painting that may be seen in the foyer of the church. The money from this project will be given to the Canadian Red Cross’ Ukraine initiative. There is a box in the foyer for your bid.
- Those who donate during the service and don’t have numbered envelopes please contact the office.