Family Camp Sunday & Baptism

Just a reminder that there is NO service this Sunday at the Malmo Church building.  HOWEVER, we will be meeting together at Covenant Bay Bible Camp at 10:30am for Family Camp Sunday Service.

We will also be celebrating a baptism at camp!  Stef Kemerink will be baptized at camp at 2:00pm.  Please come down and join us, as we witness this exciting step of faith that Stef is declaring.

Schedule of Events for the day:

10:30am   Worship
12:00pm   Lunch (please call 780-586-3738 to let them know that you'll be there for lunch)
  2:00pm   Baptism of Stef at the lake

Here's a map of Covenant Bay Bible Camp.  If you would like more information, please go to the camp's website at www.covenantbay.ca.

Sunday Worship Service & N.O.W.

Come to our Sunday service for a time of worship; music, sharing our prayers together & hearing from God's word.  We will also be hearing an update from 'Neighbour Outreach Wetaskiwin'.  If you'd like to support this organization financially, please make your cheques payable to 'N.O.W.'.  And don't forget to come downstairs after the service for a time of visiting & fellowship over coffee & treats.

See you Sunday!

Summer Sunday in July

It's Summer (& the weather agrees)!!  :-)

Remember that we're on our Summer worship schedule now! Service begins at 10:00am, so we'll have lots of time to fellowship afterwards over coffee & treats. Make sure you come on out, because you're missed when you're not here!

Canada Conference Sunday

Hey folks!  This Sunday is 'Canada Conference Giving Sunday' here at Malmo.  There's some great stuff happening at the conference, and we'll be seeing a bit about what's going on at our church plant in Chestermere Alberta, Lake Ridge Community Church.  If you'd like to financially support our Conference, make your cheques out to 'E.C.C.C.', and we'll make sure to pass those along for you.

See you Sunday!

Pancakes at Church

Who doesn't love pancakes?  And who doesn't love 'not' making breakfast?  Well you get to have both if you come out to church on Sunday morning at 9:00am.  We're making the pancakes & serving them hot to you!  So come & join us as we gather together for food & fellowship & a chance to discuss around the breakfast table, our opinions & thoughts about our future space options.

Bring your whole family!  Everyone is welcome!

Psalm Two

Psalm 2
1 Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the LORD and against his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 “I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”
7 I will proclaim the LORD’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.
8 Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with a rod of iron;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry
and you and your ways will be destroyed,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
I am reminded this morning that the Lord sit’s enthroned above all earthly kings and kingdoms, and though we may conspire and make great and mighty plans, it is the Lord who has the final say. He will choose whom he will choose and bless and curse those he chooses to bless and curse.

There is comfort in this as we face the magistrates of this world with our ways that may be different than the ways of this world. They may expect things from us that our faith will not allow us to give them, and so we stand with our understanding of scripture and our obedience to our king. Even though we may suffer for our belief, our God stands above all earthly kings and rulers. There is our hope.

“Kiss his son, or he will be angry
and you and your ways will be destroyed,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

He seems a quick tempered God here, but perhaps where it involves his son he is very sensitive. His wrath can flare up quickly for those who refuse to love His son. I realize that in this passage it refers to Gods man in place for that time, but perhaps it translates down through history and time to be applicable to his son, Jesus Christ as well. Indeed blessed are those who take and find refuge in him, rather than mock him or hate him.

Blessed indeed are we.
“Father I see that your love for the Son is great and you have very little patience for those who mock your son. That manner of love is swift and jealous and passionate. I lift up to you those of my friends who still prefer to mock you and hate you because of their own hurts and failures to choose love over pain and hate.
I desire to take refuge in you and in your provision for me for this day. Lead me in the ways I need to go today, and help me to be brave and fearless as you lead me, in spite of those who may think differently than I do about these things.
Lead, provide, and bless me as I draw near to you this day, and provide the same gifts for those who follow after me I pray.
Amen”

R.F.

Mother's Day

This Sunday is Mother's Day.  It always seems to sneak up on me.  Maybe because I'm a farmer and 'May' is just synonymous with 'busy'.  Or maybe it's because we haven't had much spring weather yet to remind us that Mother's Day is coming?  Whatever the reason, it really doesn't matter because the day is almost here!

I've been thinking a lot about my mom lately.  How much she means to me and how I just don't tell her as much as I should.  You know that verse in Proverbs 31 (a chapter that we as women sometimes make fun of?).  Well verse 28 says, "Her children arise and call her blessed;  her husband also, and he praises her."  Well I can truly say this verse of my Mom.  She is a living example of the grace & love of God, lived out daily in her life.  And I am so blessed because she is...AND I should tell her that!

I don't usually enjoy poetry much - I often think it's quirky & corny...but I found this verse about Moms, and thought that it was worth sharing.

A mother who always cares,
A mother who's always there.
A mother who always prays,
A mother who always stays.
When things get rough,
When life gets tough,
When all is just too much to bear,
God's Word she shares.
God's light she shines.
So blessed God made this mother mine.

~ Author unknown

 This Sunday, bring your Mom & come out & worship with us!  We'll have a special treat, just for the ladies, to remind them how beautiful & special they are!

Prayer for Planting Season

Pastor Randall wrote this prayer for our church, as we're entering this Springtime & the many different demands that are on us.  Whether you farm in the field or work in an office or are busy in your home - this prayer acknowledges and redirects our thoughts and attitudes toward our God who is in control of ALL things.  Take some time to read this prayer & make it your own today.


Prayer for Planting Season

Father, we are a church planted in a field.
And though our own fields may be in different places
we are still, in many ways, people connected to the land.

For our food and sustenance, for our daily bread, we give you thanks.
For the strength to work in our fields of service, we give you thanks.
For this place, a gathering place in a field with roots that go down over a hundred years,
we thank you Lord for those who have worked here, before us.

Now oh Lord, we ask that you would again, bless the land.
Bless the seeds and the earth.
Bless the skies and the sun and the rain.
Bless the workers with safety and the
wisdom to know,
when enough is enough.
Oh Lord, bless this season.

It is good for us to stop and to remember and to say it out loud,
that our life comes from you Lord, and not from our fields.

So thank you Father, for whatever you’ll do with the work that we’ve done.
We know that without your blessing, we will struggle.
And without seasons of drought, we forget to pray.

So we’ll take what you give, just as you give it,
for you are our Father and you only give good gifts.
Though we tremble a bit, because we want what we want,
We choose to entrust this year to you, because of your great love for us.
And so we ask for the Blessing.

Father, Bless this year.
Amen.
R.F.

...where does my help come from?

Good morning! How y'all doing today? I know it's cloudy & life is busy...but it is still a day to "rejoice & be glad, because we're not alone...

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth." - Psalm 121:1&2

This Sunday we'll continue rejoicing together with a family, as they bring their sweet baby boy to the Lord in dedication. We'll also be hearing an update from the Gideons.

Looking forward to worshipping with you all on Sunday! See you then!

Here's a quick link to your Sunday bulletin.

Adventures in Leadership

Adventures in Leadership is a leadership program for high school kids going into grades 10-12, organized and led by our denomination. It involves Christian leadership training in a wilderness setting (partially at Covenant Bay Bible Camp, but mostly the rocky mountains west of there). It runs from August 5-12.

Up to two young people from our church can go. Weston Vickery went last year and it was a great experience for him. If you have any questions about the Adventures in Leadership experience, you could ask him.

The deadline for applications is May 13th. Malmo Covenant Church will cover a portion of the costs involved. If you are interested (or you are interested on behalf of your child) please talk to Pastor Marc.

For more information on Adventures in Leadership, please follow this link: Adventures in Leadership

HE is RISEN!

He is RISEN...he is risen INDEED!

Matthew 28:5 & 6

"The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. "

A day for celebration!  A day for gratitude & rejoicing of all our Saviour has done for us!  Come celebrate with us at our Easter Sunday Morning service!  Sunday School at 9:45am & Worship Service at 11:00am

Good Friday Services

We hope you'll have a chance to take part in a Good Friday service this year.  We have a couple of options for you to choose from:
    - Malmo will be participating in a joint service with New Sweden Mission Church, at New Sweden at 10:00am
    - Or if you prefer to go to a service in Wetaskiwin, the ministerial is having a joint service at Calvary Baptist Church at 10:00am

Maundy Thursday Service

Come join us for a time of gathering & reflection on Jesus' last supper with his disciples, at our Maundy Thursday evening service, here at Malmo at 7:00pm

Palm Sunday

This is a picture taken by Pastor Randall of the actual palms that are located near where Jesus gave the 'Sermon on the Mount'.

Now imagine, if you will with me...the people spreading these palms on the road & waving them in celebration, as Jesus came into town riding on a donkey. Can you see it...the crowds of people? Can you hear the excitement & the people celebrating?

We'll be doing the same thing this Sunday (with smaller palms of course). Remembering & celebrating this day together...with palms & music & worship. So come on out and join us, as we're entering into the most significant week of our Christian faith.

Here's a quick link to your Sunday's bulletin.

Sunday News

We've got a full & exciting Sunday planned for you! We'll be celebrating Holy Communion together & hearing from the Ecuador team about their trip from this past February.

We'll also be celebrating with a special young couple, as we shower them with some 'Malmo Love' in a Wedding Shower Potluck, right after the service.

AND the cherry on the top of all of this, is that our projector has arrived! No more song sheets! (Can I hear a hallelujah??)

So, you're not going to want to miss any of this! I'll see you on Sunday!!

Here's a quick link to your bulletin!  April 6, 2014

Our Lead Pastor's back from the Holy Land

Pastor Randall is back from his trip to Israel...with stories & pictures & experiences that he won't quickly forget!  If you'd like to read more about his trip, go to his blog at http://randallfriesen.blogspot.ca/ . He'll also be sharing a bit about his trip at church this Sunday.

This Sunday is also 'Covenant Bay Bible Camp Giving Sunday'.  The camp Chairman will be sharing news with us about this important ministry.  We'll also be giving you an opportunity to support the camp financially during the offering time.  If you're able to help the camp, please make your cheques out to CBBC, and bring them to church this Sunday.

Looking forward to seeing you all on this first Sunday in Spring!  It's going to be a great day!

Words for when you're tired...

It's been 'one of those weeks'...if you know what I mean.  The kind where you just can't wait until the week is done, so you can start 'afresh & new' the next week...with new energy & new hope.  That's honestly where I'm at right now as I'm sitting here writing to you.  Tired and emotionally spent...

I began looking through scripture, and these are the verses that I found.  As I read them, it brought me tears & hope & comfort.  Our God does know what's happening & He does care...and He brings strength to the tired.  And for that, I am so thankful!

Isaiah 40:27-31 (The Message)

Why would you ever complain, O Jacob,
    or, whine, Israel, saying,
“God has lost track of me.
    He doesn’t care what happens to me”?
Don’t you know anything? Haven’t you been listening?
God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
    He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
    And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
    gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
    young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
    They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
    they walk and don’t lag behind.

Spring is Coming! Clocks 'spring forward' one hour

This is the weekend we change to 'Daylight Savings Time'. So on Saturday night, spring all your clocks forward by one hour.  (AND it's also a great time to change the batteries on all your smoke detectors in your home!)

See you bright & shining at Church on Sunday! :)

How many languages can you say 'cold' ???

Koud, frio, kalt, zima, malamig, froid, freddo, kall...no matter what language you say it in...it's crazy COLD out there!! It makes me very thankful for the warm home that I have!

Even though the temperatures are dipping down, it's warm and welcoming here at Church. We're not only going to be sharing together in Holy Communion, but in a potluck fellowship as well, to say good bye to some dear friends who are moving away. So I'll see you on Sunday, right? I don't want you to miss out!

Daily Devotional during the Season of Lent

The Canadian Covenant 'Lenten Reader' is now available as a daily devotional delivered straight to your inbox.  Click on the link here to sign up today.