Church Family - October 11th, 2026

Offering Prayers

 Continue to pray for those who grieve; those who have experienced losses of any kind. Also lift up those who are dealing with illness, chronic health concerns, new diagnoses and treatments. Holidays and family gatherings are often times that highlight loss and the things that inhibit us. Pray for peace, that God’s presence will comfort and strengthen and that God’s wisdom with guide all of us as we gather together to give thanks. May people experience connection and contentment.

A lack of affordable housing impacts many across our nation, along with cost-of-living struggles. People currently unhoused are facing the cold weather without adequate shelter or resources. Food banks are more actively used than ever before. We pray for awareness, solutions (justice-seeking), and relief. We pray for generous Food and Trick or Canning drives over the next month. We pray for the ongoing work of GBF, Start Me Up Niagara, Out of the Cold, Coldest Night of the Year and Community Living who work towards providing: housing, shelter, food, resources, support/counseling, opportunities for development, compassion, kindness, connection, dignity, some comfort, and basic necessities for daily life.

While still recovering from her last fall Shirley Bergshoeff had another one :( She is currently admitted in WLMH. Shirley is ready to go to her heavenly home, please join her and her family in praying for that.

Please join us in holding up in prayer those who manage daily burdens of one kind or another (chronic or acute illness, grief, mental health, loneliness, loss of abilities). We think specifically this week of:  Nell Wielhouwer, Henk Heersink, Gert & Hinke Draaistra, Anna De Bruyne (Jr), Agnes Bennink, Anne Fisher, Roland Vangameren, and Cobie Nywening. May God give them each what they stand in need of. May God give wisdom and strength to those who walk alongside them. We also pray for those who are dealing with issues of which we are not aware.

Giving Thanks

Ann Boekestyn thanks everyone for the cards and prayers sent up on her behalf. Please continue to pray for her as she continues to grieve David’s loss and, just this week, lost her sister Riet in Holland with whom she was very close. May God hold Ann in his loving embrace as she processes so much life, love and loss. 

We give thanks for GAiN’s work around the world, sharing God’s love and care in the midst of war and disasters. We pray for Tyler’s role in that work. We pray for him as he has recently transitioned to the US, gotten married, become the father of two young girls, and is sorting out his paths at work and home.  We pray for a blessing on GAiN, Tyler, his family, and his ministry as he discerns next steps.

What an awesome God we serve who gives so abundantly! It is good to give thanks to our gracious God. We give thanks for the many good things we have and experience: God’s love, God’s grace, the Holy Spirit, food, family, friends, faith, jobs, schools, land, justice, Canada, health, health care, heritage, homes, clothes, safety, creation (glorious fall colours), seasons, growth, art, music, technology, science, education, caring, community, purpose, connection, peace (add your own). At the same time, we recognize, remember, and pray for the places and people that are not experiencing these same gifts and ask for curiosity to understand why this might be different for others and compassion to respond. May we remember all people and continue to seek connection and solutions to foster God's Shalom in all situations.

We need to highlight a soon to be new Centenarian among us…Louise (Anna) Boele…who has been living in Ina Grafton Gage Village in St Catharines for some time now and has not been able to worship with us.  It’s no small feat to reach 100 years and it is not all easy either. We pray that Louise will be blessed by community, connection, family and faith as she marks this amazing and significant milestone. We celebrate with her and give thanks to God for her life. We’ll have a box for her in the library for a few weeks in case you would like to share congratulations, blessings, birthday wishes etc.

We Celebrate The Coming Week’s Birthdays!

(Milestone Bdays listed by request) - On BRIDGE APP in the DIRECTORY see “UPCOMING BIRTHDAYS”

Sunday Oct 11 – Wendy Short, Tyce Van Geest, Jolene Veenstra
Tuesday Oct 13 – Jenny Feng, Gary Voordenhout
Wednesday Oct 14 – Liz Van Leeuwen
Friday Oct 16 – Anna (Louise) Boele (100!), Alyssa Short, Pauline Smit
Saturday Oct 17 – Dianne Wiersma

REMINDER: The most up-to-date information for members, at any given time,  can be found in the Bridge App Directory.