Happy and Blessed New Year! Trusting you have spent memorable time with family and friends to celebrate the birth of our Lord during this Christmas season. Apart from all the Christmas festivities, I treasure the last few days of each year as it has become my tradition to spend it in quite reflection. As I reflect upon the events of the past year, this often leads to spontaneous prayer. Whether it be thanksgiving for the blessings that God has bestowed or supplication for others and self, it is a blessed time with God and a perfect way to wrap up the year. Over the years, I have learned to discern burdens that I should leave in the past and burdens that I must carry forward. This quiet time with the Lord also inspires me to commit myself anew and entrust my plans for the upcoming year to Him.
As we usher in 2018, may the Lord renew our minds and refresh our spirit. May we seek Him with renewed hope and serve Him with renewed strength. May we look forward with great anticipation of His glorious work in our midst. May He work mightily in and through us, both individually and corporately, for His glory!
Please be in prayer for the following:
- SCBC –
- It is with warm affection that I give thanks to God for our SCBC family. God has showered His blessings upon us and has given us a heritage of faith and hope to share with all peoples, to proclaim His mighty name among the nations. May He enable us to fulfill this mission by the power of His Holy Spirit as we wait upon Him. We will uphold and commit to the Lord our brothers and sisters in Christ serving in various capacities at SCBC.
- Pastors –
- We commit to the Lord all our Pastors. Pray the Lord would refresh their spirit and renew their strength to preach, teach, and minister to us through God’s Word. Pray for wisdom in balancing ministry and home life. Pray they would covet their alone time with the Lord. Pray they would draw strength from the well of living water when ministry seems too heavy a burden. We also pray for the Interim Senior Pastor who will be joining us this year.
- Deacon Board –
- We give thanks and commit all our deacons to the Lord. Pray for renewed strength and perseverance in their faithful service to the Lord. Pray for continued harmony and unity in vision and direction. Pray for wisdom and cooperation as they tackle the urgent task of improving operational and governance structure by eliminating unnecessary hurdles which undermines ministry effectiveness and efficiency. Pray the Lord would guide and bless each member of the deacon board as they strive to cultivate a healthy spiritual leadership culture.
- Ministry Teams –
- We commit our ministry teams (EMT, Mandarin, Cantonese, Worship, Hospitality, Communication etc.) to the Lord. May the Lord renew their strength for the coming year. May they find joy in serving and blessed in knowing they have the opportunity to positively impact those around them. May the Lord bless the work of their hands and increase their joy.
- Sunday School Teachers –
- May the Lord bless all our Sunday School teachers! May God inspire them with creative ways to effectively teach the gospel of Christ. May their enthusiasm for the Word of God and the gospel narrative spill over to their students. May the Holy Spirit enliven every classroom so that children will hunger and thirst for more of God. May the Lord open the minds and hearts of our children and youth to receive Him in all His splendor! Pray all our Sunday School teachers will be blessed with joy as they teach.
- Office Staff and Custodians –
- We give thanks to those who serve behind the scene to keep SCBC clean and running smoothly. Pray we would make a concerted effort to show our appreciation for their contribution. Pray the Lord would bless and deepen their faith journey as a result of working at SCBC.
- Congregation –
- We commit all three congregations to the Lord. May the presence of the Lord rest upon His people. May the Lord draw each individual to Himself and meet them where they are along their faith journey. May they taste the goodness of the Lord as they grow to trust in Him. May the Lord bless them and keep them always.
- 2018 Youth Retreats –
- Pray for our Junior and Senior High students as they prepare for Avalanche and High School Winter Retreat. Pray for safety in commutes and during the retreat. Pray the Lord would open the minds and hearts of our students to perceive and understand the message. Pray they would be encouraged in their faith journey and motivated to trust God in all circumstances. Pray for an awesome and fun time of connecting with other young Canadian Baptist as well as deepening existing friendships.
- Out Of The Cold Ministry –
- We give thanks for this partnership with Blythwood Road Baptist Church to serve the homeless community in Toronto. Pray the Lord would continue to resource and bless this vital ministry. Pray each SCBC team member will be blessed with joy by serving. Pray for discernment and sensitivity in conversation with patrons. Pray the love of God, the grace of the Lord Jesus and the hope of the gospel would emanate from the people of God.
- Partners in Missions –
- We uphold and commit to the Lord our partners in missions at home and abroad. We pray the Lord would refresh and renew them in body, mind, and spirit. We pray they would usher in 2018 with renewed hope in anticipation of what God would do in the field. We pray they would learn to rest in the Lord and take respite when needed. Pray they would not become so entangled in mission that they minister in their own efforts rather than depending on the Holy Spirit. Pray they would trust the Lord to supply all their needs – physical, emotional, spiritual. May they know with certainty that Christ is all sufficient for them. Pray the Lord would keep faithful those under persecution.
With thanksgiving, we look forward to a time of fellowship and prayer together this Sunday at 8:30 am in the Community Room.