Dear Knox / St Giles,
In Matthew 15, the disciples went to Caesarea Philippi with Jesus – often called ‘the rock in the north’ – to hear Jesus declare the truth of the church: the gates of Hades will not prevail against the church being built by Jesus. This is God’s truth from Holy Scripture, from the Living Word, from the mouth of Jesus.
This week we hear about the journey to the foot of Mount Herman, where Caesarea Philippi was located. It was a place of false idols and lies and pagan shrines, including a grotto to Pan. The rocks all around made Christ’s teaching imagery of ‘the rock’ vivid when he declared that the church will not die.
When we gather ‘for church’ on Sunday, we come together to worship our Lord and Saviour. But it is neither the building nor the worship service that is the church. The people are the church. The disciples of Christ are the church. We gather to be the church. We will not die, Knox / St Giles. We gather on Sundays to continue to be transformed as disciples of Christ, to learn, to speak truth, to sing glory to God, and to truly be alive. Come hear the truth of Jesus preached in this modern ‘rock of the north’.
Everyone is warmly invited to gather to be the church this Sunday at 10:00AM, and welcome to stay afterwards for conversation and fellowship. We will also give gratitude to Wayne Gallant after our service this week. Wayne is our building officer, and we are grateful for the many ways that he continues to care for both this building and for the people of God who gather here.
The regular opportunities for learning continue this week on Tuesday with a book study at 1:30PM and again at 6:30PM, and on Wednesday with a Bible study at 10:15AM. Please pray and ask God if it is now time to accept these invitations to learn and discern in community.
I personally look forward to all of us coming together this week to be the church, because “just as each of us has one body with many members, …so in Christ, we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.” We are only complete when each of us steps in to belong to one another in Christ.
People of Knox and St Giles, know you are loved. You are welcome. And you are needed. Come make the journey and be the church with your fellow disciples in Christ.
Blessings,
Rev. Chandra Mannix
587-893-0355
PS – The attached bulletin contains the week’s announcements and additional information about the life of our congregation. Please be reminded especially about the upcoming congregational vote for both Knox and St Giles taking place on August 30 immediately following the Sunday service.