Midweek Scripture (1 Corinthians 8:1)

Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

One thing we do not like to see is people who are totally puffed up with knowledge telling, instructing and showing off to everyone how superior they are. Paul is talking about the very people with knowledge who help no one but themselves with what they know. In a way Paul is popping their balloons. Knowledge like all other things is misused more than we think by those who have them. Of course, many people try to make a distinction between wisdom and knowledge, but if the end result is all about one’s self interest over others who have less knowledge, then, it is all the same. 

What we lack is not knowledge, but as Paul mentions here love. Love is what builds up a community of people. Love is what gives a person a reason for being. Love is the very thing that sustains those who are searching for the meaning of life as they trudged through life.

The very reason Paul uttered this sentence had to do with the fact that those who knew whether to eat certain food or not as Christians began judging, mocking and berating  those who did not know. Instead of helping , they diminished those who were ignorant. Instead of building up each other as Christians, they divided themselves as good and bad Christians. This was the reason Paul took pains to address in order to bring harmony in a broken community of Christians in Corinth.

Today, our world sells and buys knowledge packaged as degrees and certificates from colleges and universities. More we have, the more we demand better pay for the knowledge we carry. All our wealth is based on the amount of knowledge we can offer in exchange for money. We take it for granted that people with doctorate degrees ought to be paid more than people with no degrees. Let me be very clear. Degrees and certificates are not evil in themselves. Indeed, degrees and certificates show how hard people worked in particular fields of study and work.  What is troubling is that those with higher degrees assume higher positions, mistreating, abusing and depriving those who have lesser qualifications. 

Demonstrating their vast knowledge in order to dominate and oppress those with lesser knowledge does not build up those who are being humiliated. Yet, we see this happening over and over again. The only way to overcome this imbalance of knowledge is found when love is shared, offered and received. Love can temper knowledge as a tool to improve those who are ignorant. Love by the knowledgeable, when shared freely and without condition, establishes the ignorant as human beings as deserving of God’s attention.

For a long time, Christians with the knowledge of salvation proclaimed the Gospel and built up large churches all over the world. Somehow, these colonial churches, though successful in numbers, were hollow because they failed to build communities where everyone shared love. Instead, these churches produced toxic Christians who saw themselves as better and more deserving of entry to heaven. This is not the way, Paul told the Corinthians. Love is the way where the strongest and most powerful lay down all they have for the weak and poor.

2024 January & February

Annual Meeting: Sunday, January 28 following the service of worship

Once again, as we prepare for this meeting we ask for your prayers. Our budget is our prayer to God so that by blessing us with this financial blessings, we may carry out Christ’s ministry here.

Valentine Dinner on Saturday, February 10 at 5 pm

Please help us promote our annual Valentine Soiree. The purpose of this dinner is to raise funds to carry out God’s work. It will be taking place on Saturday, February 10 at 5 pm. The cost is $25. This is a fundraiser to do Christ’s ministry. Please mark the date. Invite your neighbours and friends. Tickets are on sale.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on Tue. Feb. 13, 4 pm-6 pm

This all you can eat Pancake Supper is back on Tuesday, Feb. 13. The cost is $5. 

This tradition goes back many centuries. To be ready for Lent Christians confessed their sins and used to fast. Fasting took many different forms. The word shrove comes from an old English word scrifan which means “hear confession.” Preparing for fasting in Lent, a tradition was developed to use up animal fats used for cooking. Since Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, many Europeans developed this yearly ritual of using up all fats in the house since most Christians refrained from eating meat except fish during Lent. Today, we do more as a time of fellowship and reminding ourselves to be ready for Lent.

Prayers for Jobs

Every Wednesday afternoon, we are gathering to pray so that all those who are seeking jobs will be successful. So many people require jobs to contribute and be productive. Do not hesitate to come and help everyone pray together.

Ash Wednesday Service

On Ash Wednesday, February 14 as we begin our forty days of Lent, we will begin the Lent with worship. Please come at 10 am for worship to journey with Christ.

Lent Devotions, every Wednesday on Wed. Feb. 21-Wed. Mar. 14

As part of being the body of Christ, we join with Christians around the world in devotion and prayer as we remember Jesus’ ministry and our faith in him. It is also an opportunity to refresh ourselves spiritually as we prepare for Easter.

Volunteers Needed

With so many people desiring to volunteer, we have decided to have a day of volunteers at the church doing many things. Every Friday afternoon will be the time for volunteering. Those who are unable to come on Friday afternoons, we will set up another time to do volunteer work.

Starting on Friday, February 2, we will begin a volunteering day at the church.

We will form a group who will prepare for Sunday worship by preparing the power point slides, form a pastoral care group who can pray for and care for newcomers as well as the people in Niagara Falls by making cards, a group that will compile news and information, figuring out how to serve on Sunday mornings, doing setups and cleanups for refreshments. There will be many other volunteer activities. 

All volunteers will come to the church on Fridays starting at 1:30 pm.

News and information group

We are trying to set up a group of individuals who like to gather helpful information as well as relevant news and information for people who are attending Drummond Hill. If you enjoy gathering information that is helpful or good at writing articles, please let us know.

Time for Music

Some of you expressed interest in learning to play guitar and songs. If you let us know, we will set up the time to learn how to play guitar and learn some North American hymns and choruses. 

Learning about Canada

As newcomers it would be great to know how things work in Canada. For example, how to build up good credit scores, why good credit scores are important, what rights workers have to be treated with respect, what happens when we get laid off, etc. We will add these sessions to the current weekly activities of exercise and devotion.