Pray for one another
as we celebrate and share Christ’s love
to our communities
in this prolonged season of COVID
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matt 5:16).
As I meet with pastors and leaders of district churches, each one is proclaiming the Good News in ways appropriate to their communities and church facilities. Please pray for one another, and for the message of Christmas to be proclaimed clearly, and to receptive hearts.
I am so thankful for the various outreaches and expressions of care for others being made by district churches in the Name of Jesus. Last Sunday evening, Karen and I were able to visit Vancouver Gospel Home Church, where Pastor Daeho (Daniel) Cho and team were assembling gift bags of food for the Liloeet First Nations.
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Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas and God’s blessings in the New Year from Karen and me.
Please see the attached Christmas letter from Karen and me:
Stewart_Christmas_Letter_2021_
Please see the video Christmas greeting from me with a look to 2022
Merry Christmas from Rob and Karen Stewart
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It was great to meet with Pastors from Valley Churches on Thursday, December 16. All are safe and have been engaged in ministering through the time of flooding. Left to right: Pastor Noel Macasaet of New Living Assembly; Pastor Randy Lemke of Mill Lake Church; Pastor Darryn Botha of Mountain View Church; Pastor Gilmo Hwang of Abbotsford Vision Church; LPD D.S. Rob Stewart, LPD Director of Church Support, Josephine Papp; Darren Charleton, Mill Lake Church Chair; Pastor Charlz and Ruth Sebastian of Jesus Is Our Salvation Church, Agassiz.
Assistance for Fraser Valley Flood Victims
We are thankful for the ministry of Samaritan’s Purse in the Valley, and how they are coordinating churches in relief efforts. We encourage you and your church to both donate towards them, and if you are able, to also volunteer your time! Here is the link to their website: https://www.samaritanspurse.ca/#
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COVID UPDATE
Please note: We anticipate an announcement from our Provincial Health Officer this afternoon (Friday), and this may have further restrictions in response to the Omnicron Variant. We will update you as soon as we learn more.
Here is what we do know regarding Worship Service Policies:
Mask Mandate: Masks are required for all indoor settings including faith services. The mask is required for everyone 5 years of age and older, and includes choirs. Masks can be removed to speak or pray up front if social distancing is maintained, or for communion.
Gathering and Events: Faith Services must now limit capacity to 50% of seating capacity unless the church decides to require everyone in attendance to provide proof of vaccine. In calculating seating capacity it would be wise to use the load occupancy of the facility in which the service will be held. (This number is the seating capacity, as determined by the Fire Marshal, and posted in your church). This number will in most cases be higher than the number of seats you have set up in your church.
Here is the information from the BC Centre for Disease Control: bccdc.ca/health-info/faith-based-spiritual-and-worship-practices
Here is a link to the Provincial Health Orders on Masks, as updated on Monday, December 6: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/covid-19/info/restrictions#masks
Please check our LPD Website to keep up to date with the latest regulations and protocols: https://www.lpd-efcc.ca/covid-19/
For personal assistance regarding COVID Policy and the Canadian Recovery Hiring Program (CHRP) and COVID Protocols, please contact Josephine at our district office.
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Upcoming LPD Events:
LPD Annual Conference
March 4,5 2022
please mark your calendars – details will follow–
