New people finding a church to call ‘home’
LA CRETE, Alta.—Spring is a beautiful time of year. The sun shines, the snow melts, and flowers grow to greet the sun. It’s a reminder to us that God is in the business of renewing hearts and lives for the beauty of his kingdom.
At LCCF, we have seen growth. Our congregation size has steadily increased in the past year. It’s exciting to see our sanctuary nearly at capacity every Sunday, and the new expansion of our building filled with young and old alike attending Sunday school. Bible studies are offered every day of the week. It is equally exciting to see, and slowly get to know, new people who have started attending on a regular basis and are calling LCCF their home church.
Three of the 187 blankets lovingly created by the LCCF Missions Aid group for donation to MCC. (Facebook photo)
Part of getting to know our growing church family is holding social events again. In February, our social committee organized our Annual Sweetheart Supper. We had record attendance. The couples were treated to a delicious, catered dinner of country style food that went along with the western theme. It was fun getting dressed up, playing interactive games, and hearing the love story shared by one of the couples there.
In March and April, we had a Who’s Coming for Faspa? event. Whoever wanted to participate signed up as either a host or a guest. The social committee assigned guests to the hosts and, at four o’clock on the two designated Sundays, they’d find out who was coming for a late afternoon meal. It was a wonderful way to get to know people in our congregation we may not normally connect with.
Good Friday and Easter Services were incredible times of reflection and rejoicing! We shared in communion during our Good Friday service. We were also blessed by special music and a dramatic reading and inspiring message on just how good that Friday really was. On Easter Sunday the music worship team included a 20-person choir. To hear the sanctuary filled with so many voices praising our risen Saviour was truly powerful.
On Sunday, April 24, we at LCCF added 14 people to our church family through baptism and membership. It was joyous to hear the testimonies of these believers of how their faith journey has transformed their lives. Some individuals are very new believers in the faith. Some transferred their membership. All of them want to establish LCCF as their home church.
Every year, from January to the end of April, our Missions Aid group diligently works on sewing blankets for MCC. This year, they were able to ship out 187 blankets! It is a wonderful feeling, knowing that someone in the world will receive the warmth of a beautiful blanket lovingly made by our group.
There’s a lot going on here in northern Alberta; we invite you to come up for a visit. “So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others” (Romans 12:5).
