How we live out what we believe.
GATHERING TOGETHER
A pillar of the church community is realized when we gather for worship. In Hebrews 6, there is a warning against ceasing to do this, but we choose to approach this from the positive. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote;
A pillar of the church community is realized when we gather for worship. In Hebrews 6, there is a warning against ceasing to do this, but we choose to approach this from the positive. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote;
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"God has willed that we should seek and find God’s living Word in the testimony of other Christians, in the mouths of human beings. Therefore, Christians need other Christians who speak God’s Word to them. They need them again and again when they become uncertain and disheartened because, living by their own resources, they cannot help themselves without cheating themselves out of the truth. They need other Christians as bearers and proclaimers of the divine word of salvation. They need them solely for the sake of Jesus Christ. The Christ in their own hearts is weaker than the Christ in the word of other Christians. Their own hearts are uncertain; those of their brothers and sisters are sure."
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So we gather together; to worship, to encourage, to build into, and to be the hands and feet of Christ to each other. If you are feeling plagued by doubt, or weak of faith, maybe that is a call to you this week to join us so we can engage in life together. We've been there too, and many of us still are, but it is in doing life together that we are the full body of Christ.
BAPTISTM
Romans 5:20-6:4:
“God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. “
Baptism portrays what happened to us when we became Christians. This is what happened to us: we were united to Christ. His death became our death. We died with him. And in the same instant, his life became our life. We are now living out the life of Christ in us. And all this is experienced through faith.
This is what it means to be a Christian - to live in the reality of what our baptism portrays: day by day we look away from ourselves to God and say, "Because of Christ, your Son, I come to you. In him I belong to you. I am at home with you. He is my only hope of acceptance with you. I receive that acceptance anew every day. My hope is based on his death for me and my death in him. My life in him is a life of faith in you, Father. Because of him I trust your working in me and for me. The same power and glory that you used to raise him from the dead you will use to help me. In that promise of future grace I believe, and in that I hope. That is what makes my life new. O Christ, how I glory in what my baptism portrays! Thank you for dying my death for me and giving new life to me.
CHILD DEDICATION
Children are a gift from God. Psalm 127:3 proclaims that "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children are a reward from Him." As believers we are called to recognize that children belong first and foremost to God. God in his goodness gives children as gifts to parents. They not only have the awesome responsibility of caring for this gift, but also the wonderful privilege of enjoying the gift. Because children belong to God and are given by grace as gifts to parents, it is only proper and appropriate that children be dedicated back to God.
Dedicating a child acknowledges God's sovereignty not only over the child, but also the parents. Parents present their child before God and His people asking for grace and wisdom in carrying out their responsibilities. Parents also come praying that their child might one day trust Jesus Christ as Savior for the forgiveness of sin.
Child dedication is part of a Sunday morning service, as the church family stands with the parents and commits to help teach and train the child in the ways of the Lord so that he might one day trust Him as Saviour and Lord.
If you are interested in child dedication please contact Pastor Jeremy.
Children are a gift from God. Psalm 127:3 proclaims that "Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children are a reward from Him." As believers we are called to recognize that children belong first and foremost to God. God in his goodness gives children as gifts to parents. They not only have the awesome responsibility of caring for this gift, but also the wonderful privilege of enjoying the gift. Because children belong to God and are given by grace as gifts to parents, it is only proper and appropriate that children be dedicated back to God.
Dedicating a child acknowledges God's sovereignty not only over the child, but also the parents. Parents present their child before God and His people asking for grace and wisdom in carrying out their responsibilities. Parents also come praying that their child might one day trust Jesus Christ as Savior for the forgiveness of sin.
Child dedication is part of a Sunday morning service, as the church family stands with the parents and commits to help teach and train the child in the ways of the Lord so that he might one day trust Him as Saviour and Lord.
If you are interested in child dedication please contact Pastor Jeremy.
SERVING
We believe serving in the church is both a privilege and an act of worship. Through volunteering, we are able to fellowship with our church family, grow spiritually and help others connect to Jesus and one another. There are many ways to get involved at Ness. The following is a list of our ministries and their leaders and ways that you can serve.
Where will you serve?
We believe serving in the church is both a privilege and an act of worship. Through volunteering, we are able to fellowship with our church family, grow spiritually and help others connect to Jesus and one another. There are many ways to get involved at Ness. The following is a list of our ministries and their leaders and ways that you can serve.
Where will you serve?