Providence of Loss
“It came to pass … that the brook dried up”. 1 Kings 17:7
The education of our faith is incomplete if we have not learned that there is a providence of loss, a ministry of failing and of fading things, a gift of emptiness. The material insecurities of life make for its spiritual establishment. The dwindling stream by which Elijah sat and mused is a true picture of the life of each of us. “It came to pass … that the brook dried up”—that is the history of our yesterday and a prophecy of our morrows.
In some way or another, we will have to learn the difference between trusting in the gift and trusting in the Giver. The gift may be good for a while, but the Giver is the Eternal Love.
Cherith was a difficult problem for Elijah until he got to Zarephath, and then it was all as clear as daylight. God’s hard words are never His last words. The woe and the waste and the tears of life belong to the interlude and not to the finale.
Had Elijah been led straight to Zarephath he would have missed something that helped to make him a wiser prophet and a better man. He lived by faith at Cherith. And whensoever in your life and mine, some spring of earthly and outward resource has dried up, it has been that we might learn that our hope and help are in God who made Heaven and earth. —F. B. Meyer
The Lord's Day Services
Sunday, November 1, 2020
11:00 a.m. Morning Worship – Dr. Larry Saunders (SermonAudio link)
Communion Service
5:50 p.m. Pre-service Prayer – held in the church basement and on Zoom
6:30 p.m. Evening Worship – Dr. Larry Saunders (SermonAudio link)
Weekly Announcements
Wednesday, November 4th
7:30 p.m. Bible Study & Prayer – via Zoom
Advanced Announcements
Sunday, November 8th
11:00 a.m. Morning Worship – Dr. Larry Saunders
5:50 p.m. Pre-service Prayer – held in the church basement and on Zoom
6:30 p.m. Evening Worship – Dr. Larry Saunders
Wednesday, November 11th
7:30 p.m. Bible Study & Prayer – Dr. Saunders – via Zoom
Deepest Sympathy
We extend our sincere condolences to Mr. Wilfred Brown in the loss of his wife, Georgina. We pray also for their children, Mrs. Nicola Sterritt and Mr. Stephen Brown and their families. Georgina suffered a stroke this past Tuesday and was taken home to Glory on Wednesday evening. We pray the Lord will continue to give much grace at this time of sorrow.
Visitation will be at Chapel Ridge (8911 Woodbine Avenue Markham, ON L3R 5G1) on Wednesday, November 4th, from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m.
There will be a private family funeral on Thursday, November 5th.
The Shorter Catechism
Q26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself1, in ruling and defending us2, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies3.
1. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power. (Psalms 110:3).
2. The LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us. (Isaiah 33:22).
3. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. (1Corinthians 15:25).
The Children's Catechism - Doctrine
Q26. What does the first table command?
A. Our duty to God.
