TRINITY TRIBUNE

October 2017

FORT MACLEOD GRANUM PASTORAL CHARGE

We glorify God by living a Christian life.

This Edition: Coming soon!

From the Ministers Study October 9

Church Council Notes:

Finance
Christian Development October 26-28
and Outreach
Rummage Sale and Bake
Tablet
Kenow Fire & Canyon Church
Camp

Member Profile

Right Now Media

 From Eras Study

Dear Members and Friends

Fall has arrived and winter is around the corner. Malachi 4: 1-6 reminds us that we live our lives in the
sunlight of Gods love, assured of his grace and mercy, and governed by his righteousness.
The implication is that, even when the drabness of winter and a hostile climate surrounds us, we have
the certain promise of sunshine ahead. Sunlight will brighten the lives of those who live with
confidence in Gods promise of life in the sunbelt.

The people to whom Malachi spoke had learned that life can be bruising and discouraging. They had
been kicked around in the jungle of a society where brutishness and selfishness seemed to reign
supreme. They had been exposed, unprotected, and defined as weaklings in their own eyes as well as
in the eyes of others. Not surprisingly, these troubled ones were being tempted to conclude that their
faith and disciplined way of life were not worthwhile.

They were saying, "It is vain to serve God. What is the good of our keeping his charge or of walking as
in mourning before the Lord of hosts? Henceforth, we deem the arrogant blessed; evil doers not only
prosper but when they put God to the test they escape." People still say this today. To the darkness of
this mood the Lord spoke through his prophet to them, "Hang in there, stay faithful to the law of
Moses, and dont give in to your discouragement." "But for you who fear my name," said the Lord,
"the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings. You shall go forth leaping like calves
from the stall."

What vivid and delightful imagery! There is a wide, wide sunbelt in the plans of Gods mercy. His
people must never forget the promise of it. Indeed, to remember it is to live always in the sunshine.
Jesus does the same in the New Testament. Clearly, Jesus is calling upon his followers to be realistic
about life. In a sense he is instructing them as to what life is all about. They are to expect trials and
tribulations, but they must live responsibly in the midst of them, testifying always to their confidence
in God and his love. And through that testimony the light in their lives will shed light in the world.
Malachi and Jesus urge us to look beyond the darkness to the sunbelt - indeed, to tap the sunshine in
Gods love and funnel it into the darkness around us.

Jesus specifically told his followers that they were the light of the world. Thus, he implied that the
sunshine was in them and that they could take it wherever they went. Can we doubt that this is our
calling: to live in the sunshine ourselves, and help spread light in the worlds darkness? In the words of
the childrens song, that "This little light of mine, Im gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine"?
A point to remember is that Jesus did not promise us a rose garden, a beautiful, easy, or painless
existence. Ours is not an escapist religion, but a triumphant one. What Jesus did promise us was
abundantly meaningful lives.
So, the question is not whether we will experience the darkness, but how we will conduct ourselves in
it - what kind of light will be lit for us as we go through it. Let us thank God, however, that, no matter how
dark the pit of depression into which we fall, faith can open the windows of heaven and let the sun of
righteousness shine in.

This past Sunday Bobby Yeske visited us with his family. Eight years ago, he came to Trinity and the week
following he gave up his drug and alcohol addiction. Every year at this time Bobby comes to share his birth
day with us here at Trinity. He is now 8 years old in his new life. Jesus did say that he makes all things new
(Revelation 21). Bobby looked beyond the darkness to the sunbelt of God.

Bobbys story is testimony that a dreadfully painful ordeal can end in an abundantly meaningful life which
can empower others not to give up on God but to power forward in the strength of God and in
self-determination.

Gods challenging message to us, then, through Malachi and Jesus, is a double-barrelled one. It is a
challenge to maintain faith and hope, no matter how trying or desperate the circumstances of our lives.
But it is more. It is a challenge to put our faith to work positively and creatively, whatever the circum-
stances in which we may find ourselves. The trying time is the time of our opportunity to bear testimony.

Our Christian witness can bring light into these dark corners of our own and our common life. Let us look
beyond them to the sunrise that can bring the healing power of Gods love to bear upon the conditions
that produce them. No matter how trying or desperate the circumstances of our lives may be, we can
resolve to live by faith in the sunlight of Gods unfailing love. We can open our hearts and let God help us
live so creatively and triumphantly that even "the valley of the shadow of death" will hold no terror.
Have a wonderful and blessed October.

Many thanks to Pam as editor of the Tribune and for producing such an enjoyable and readable magazine.

Regards.
Eras.
 Sharing Our Wealth

The Trinity Food Bank box will be delivered to the Salvation Army during the first week of
October. You still have time to contribute! Bring your donation to church on
Sunday October 1 to have included.

Division of Finance

Budgeted Budgeted Surplus/ Grocery Card

Capital expense
revenue Expense Deficit sales
July 2017 $4,475.49 $6,197.58 -$1,722.09 $0 $2,850
2017 YTD $49,358.33 $59,603.35 -$10,245.02 $6,084.58 $22,650.00
Reserved for Family Foods
General Capital Memorial
GIC Grocery cards on
Balances Fund (included in General Account
fund balance)
hand
$66,217.91 $36,064.31 $11,888.11 $10,000.00 $8,855.00

The stained glass window has ben repaired and is scheduled to be replaced soon
 Granum United Church Board

We are a happy friendly bunch that is welcoming to all at our

Little White Church in Granum.
Sunday Service at 9:30 AM
Fellowship and snacks following the service on the last Sunday of
each month.
We might be a small congregation but we are good cooks, so stop
on by for coffee, snacks and conversation!!

RUMMAGE SALE AND BAKE TABLE

Coming October 26-28
Gently used clothing and housewares grate-

Division of Christian Development and Outreach

Empty Bottle Fund

Helma would like to THANK EVERYONE who brought their empty bottles to MnM Bottle De-
pot, here in Fort Macleod and donated their proceeds which go to the Sunday School fund.
We received $42.60 for the summer months.
 Kenow Fire / Canyon Church Camp Update

We finally have an update! A Parks Canada worker has been able to go through the camp and
take note of what buildings are left standing. These buildings include the lodge, 3 cabins, the
boys bathrooms, and the custodian building. We are excited to have so much untouched, but
sad to know we lost so much. We are told a few board members will be escorted into camp
next week to do a full evaluation. We are going to need all of your support as we gather our
resources and make a plan to move forward. We are blessed to have all of you.

God bless the Fire Fighters

 Member Profile

Seems readers enjoy getting to know each other better!

Ive had a request for more Member Profiles.
Unfortunately, Ive run out of contributions for this feature.

Every knows me.

No one is Interested in
MY story

WRONG!
You?

Please consider telling your story to us. As a starting point you may want to use these questions.
1. Where were you born and raised?
2. Tell us about your birth family (siblings etc. Were you the first/middle/last born?)
3. What is something remarkable that happened in your childhood?
4. Tell us about your current family (spouse, children, pets etc.)
5. What do/did you do for a living?
6. What do you like to do in your spare time? Do you have any causes that you support?
7. Tell us about something remarkable that you did, or that happened to you.
8. What brought you to Fort Macleod and to Trinity United Church OR to Granum and Granum
United Church?
9. Can you comment on your experience at Trinity or Granum? Is there anything you would
change? How? What is it that you like about our church?
10. Please add any other comments that you wish.

Send me an e-mail or drop me a note we would ALL like to hear from you.
Pam.young@telus.net
 Right Now Media

We watched this video with the children last Sunday check it out!

(enter the following web address in your browser)

www.rightnowmedia.org/Content/KidsSeries/870#1

And.
Women In Fellowship (WIF) will be using Right Now Media to study the Book of Ruth.
Please join us on Monday October 16 at 7:30 p.m. in the meeting room for the first session.

Contact:

Minister: Eras Van Zyl (W) 403-553-3072 (H) 403-553-4967

(Cell) 403-894-0275
Secretary: Celest Heatlie 403-553-3072
Chair Fort Macleod/
Granum Pastoral Charge: Cecilie Fleming 403-687-2288
Chair Trinity United Church: Bill Hart 403-553-4920
Chair Granum United Church: Cecilie Fleming 403-687-2288
Website: www.fortmacleodgranumuc2.com
Facebook: TrinityGranumFortMacleod