February 2019
Quick Calendar WEEKLY Sun
9am-10am Bible Study 10am-11:30am Sunday Worship & Refreshments
Mon Tues 1:30pm Pastoral Team Meeting Wed 10am-11:30am Refresh Women's Group 7pm-8:30pm ESL Café
Thur 12pm-2pm Thursday Bunch Fri Sat
pg 19 pg 19 pg 19 pg 10 pg 19 pg 19
UPCOMING Feb 2
Youth Event - Pizza Night
Feb 8-10 Blizzard - Youth Retreat Baptismal Sunday Celebration Feb 17 Feb 22,24 Youth Life Group - Girls, Boys Intergenerational Sunday Gathering Feb 24 *For more listings, see page 20
March's Delve submissions are due February 18. Delve submissions are due on the MONDAY before the LAST Sunday of each month. To submit for the next issue of Delve, please email: delve@springgardenchurch.ca 1
pg 13 pg 13 pg 12
Features
3-8
Musings: Are We Playing Soccer or Basketball? 3 A Little History of SGC 7
Community Corner
9-10, 14
A Night Out 9 Christian Books Needed 9 Refresh 10 Gary Chapman (relationship expert) 10 Gene's Retirement Celebrations 14
Discipleship Ministries
11-13
Spring Kids 11 Spring Youth 12 Youth Events 13
Resource Centre
15-16
Resource Recommendations 15
More Info
17-22
Leadership Directory 17 Weekly Calendar 19 Upcoming Calendar 20 Fun Page 21 Cover, Design & Editor: Colouring Page 22 Dale Forder
OUR VALUES
23 (Back cover)
Contributors: Gene Tempelmeyer Dale Forder Karen Cassel Copy Editors: Greg Kay Karen Cassel Gene Tempelmeyer Illustrations by: Dale Forder Esther Penner
Digging a little deeper into Spring Garden
Features 3
Musings: Are We Playing Soccer or Basketball? by Gene Tempelmeyer
C
hris Anderson and David Sally are professors of economics. They also share a passion for professional soccer, known as “football” everywhere in the world that is not North America. Anderson and Sally decided it would be fun and helpful to combine their expertise with numbers and their love of soccer to produce the kind of data baseball managers and fans have enjoyed for many years. They tracked over 8,000 matches between professional soccer teams around the world to compile data that would help identify factors that characterize winning teams. The results are available in their book, “The Numbers Game: Why Everything You Know about Soccer [Football] Is Wrong.” One outcome of their study is the relative value of superstar players in soccer and basketball. Basketball scores are high and come quickly. Consequently, the greatest predictor of success for a basketball team is the number of points scored by the team’s marque player. If the star player has
a good game, the team is likely to win. If the star player does not produce a large number of points, the team is likely to lose. If a team has a truly great player, that team can still win the championship with a couple of mediocre players on the court. By contrast, soccer games usually finish with both teams scoring a combined total of five or fewer goals. The number of times the ball must be successfully passed between players to accomplish the score of a single goal is much higher in soccer than in basketball. The greatest predictor of success in a soccer match is the quality of play of the worst four players on the field. The presence of a superstar has much less impact on the team’s win-loss record. But poor players losing the ball to the other team have a great impact on that record. When the professional soccer world became aware of Anderson and Sally’s study, team owners started contacting them for advice. One unwelcome piece of advice was to spend less money acquiring superstars and more money to acquire competent players at the lower end of ability and pay. Improving the quality of the four poorest players would have a greater impact on the team’s win/lose record than spending a lot of money on a marquee player. When they heard this advice, however, billionaire team owners were almost universally inclined to reject it. They liked their superstars. Superstars are easy to market. When pushed, team owners decided, fans are more likely to fill the stadium to see a popular player than to see a winning team. Despite data to the contrary, teams continue to invest in that star player. What endeavors are more like a basketball team? Which more resemble a soccer team? For example, would you rather send your child to a school with several mediocre to good teachers and one nationally known, highly effective teacher, or to a school with a staff consisting of all good to pretty good teachers? If you were the sales manager at a car dealership would you rather invest in increasing the sales of your best salesperson or incrementally increasing the sales of your four poorest performing salespeople? Should a recording label focus available advertising dollars on their bestselling band or on the middle of their catalogue? If you were the HR person as a hospital responsible to hire nurses… 4
Is the church more like a soccer team or a basketball team? That might be determined by how we measure a win. For the owners of professional soccer teams, apparently the more important win is measured by the number at the box office than by the number on the scoreboard. How do churches measure a win? I know that some of you are concerned how my retirement will affect the ongoing quality and style of Spring Garden Church’s ministry. I’m not. One reason I am not worried about this is I think a good church is more like a soccer team than a basketball team. And I know I’m not a superstar. This is not, by the way, false modesty or self-denigration. I have made a conscious choice that I would far rather be part of an effective team than have the responsibility for the whole franchise resting on my shoulders. The pastoral superstar is a lonely job. And, at least in ministry, a very unhealthy job that more often than not results in leaders who gain the world at the cost of losing their souls. A superstar might fill the stadium, but a win for the Kingdom in the community takes a team. If we look at making disciples of Jesus who are equipped to love and serve God and one another, the greatest predictor of success is not the quality of a personable, charismatic superstar in the pulpit, but a team of people working together toward a vision of carrying Christ into the city, individually and together. I suspect some of you will miss my personal quirks and eccentricities for a short time. A few others may be quite happy to have someone on the platform wearing more reasonable and less colourful shirts. I truly hope and believe that what good I have done at Spring Garden is rooted in a deep love for God and people, a love that is shared across our Leadership Team. I have been honoured to share leadership here with a very talented team of pastors, elders and deacons. That team remains solid. Pray for our congregational leaders. Especially pray for Greg Kay, Sam Lee, and Jeremy Ranasinghe as they each experience new responsibilities in coming months. Pray for the Interim Management Team as they evaluate and fine tune this collaborative model of leadership. 5
Always know the Church is not about a Pastor. It is about God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is about a community of people who follow Him and share life together making a difference in the city. Understand that a pastor’s job is not to carry the entire franchise, but to equip, empower, and coach other team players improving the Kingdom connection between church and its world. Understand that a win for the church is not measured by the number of fans pouring into the stadium but by the flow of God’s Presence pouring out into the city, nation, and world.
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A Little History of SGC by Dale Forder We are now going into our 70th year, but what does that mean? The building here is not 70 years old, how can we be? Well, when I say we, I mean us, the body, the people who is the church of Spring Garden Church. I would like to share an excerpt from a report put together many years ago by Margaret Alexander, circa 1979 from our history.
CORNERSTONE MEMORIES Chapter I
Mr. C. M. Staines, field worker for the Baptist Brotherhood, canvassed the area known as Lansing,(Willowdale) in 1949. He dedicated many hours and on foot, visited over 800 homes to get the work started. The area was building up rapidly and others too were interested and concerned that a Baptist Church of the Ontario and Quebec Convention be established. Mr. Percy Ward, on one occasion said to Mr. E. Gill, or "Ted" as we called him, - "there should be a Church started in this area, you should get one started." "How do you go about it?" Ted replied, and received a one word answer, "canvass." Mr. Gill was a well-known insurance man in the area and in his daily contacts he did indeed canvass and turned thirty-eight names over to Mr. Staines.
In the meantime, prayer meetings were held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Baldock on Florence Avenue. Mr. Staines made the Baldock home his focal point and eventually at a meeting there, it was decided to call a business meeting at the home of Margaret and Ted Gill, Poyntz Avenue, early in January 1949. The first meeting of The Lansing Baptist Mission was held on Sunday, January 16, 1949 in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Baldock. Mr. C. M. Staines brought greetings and gave the prayer. The first Lesson was from Malachi 3:7, 8, the first Hymn was number 67 in
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the old Hymn Book, "Like a River Glorious" and the second Hymn, "0 For a Heart to Praise My God." Nine people were present.
Meetings in the homes continued until the end of Lansing Legion Hall February. One day Mr. Gill mentioned to Mr. Reg. Hewitt, President of the Legion, that we needed a place to worship and Reg. said, "Ed, you've got the Hall." The news spread rapidly.
February 11, 1949 there was a short meeting after the Prayer Meeting and Una Baldock was appointed Secretary and our first envelopes were obtained. The following note should emphasize the small beginning. "On Sunday, February 13, 1949, after service, there was a short business meeting to authorize the spending of $6.50 for Hymn Books." It does not say how many we purchased for that amount. Stay tuned for more in the next edition of Delve.
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Life in and around Spring Garden
Community Corner
Need a break from parenting? We’re hosting a night where you can have the night off from your parental duties. We will watch your kids, feed them, and entertain them. Here are the details When? - February 23rd 5:00pm-9:00pm How Much? - $10 per child (includes pizza and Mad Science) Where? - Spring Garden Church Basement Registration? - https://www.springgardenchurch. ca/gallery/ For more information email Sam Lee (samlee@springgardenchurch.ca)
Do you have Christian books that you need to find a new home for? St. John's Convent at 233 Cummer Avenue, is collecting books to send a large shipment to Jamaica. They welcome children's books, Christian novels as well as theological books and biographies etc. In short, the church in Jamaica is happy to receive books to distribute so why not thin out those book shelves? 9
For more information you can contact Faith Holwyn at faith.holwyn@gmail.com
Refresh is a small gathering of women finding God together, reading and reflecting on scripture, sharing life stories and simple praying and supporting one another. We meet every Wednesday in the main church lounge from 10:00 - 11:30am.
Join us if and when you can. Child care available, please call to reserve. Questions? Contact: Tanya Salituro | tanya@canprev.ca | 416-222-4662
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Partnering with Families and Singles
Discipleship Ministries 11
Spring Kids ROOMS IN OUR BASEMENT DROP OFF
Nursery (0-18 months) Toddler/Pre-K (19 months - 3yrs) JK/SK Grade 1 & 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 &5 Grade 6-12
PICK UP
Purple Orange Yellow Blue Blue Green Blue Red Youth Lounge
Here is an overview of what we will be talking about on Sundays for Spring Kids.
Toddlers – SK: Miracles
This month, children will read stories about the miracles Jesus performed, and learn that Jesus showed he is God through these miracles. They will interact with the idea that Jesus is God and that nothing is impossible for God! “All things are possible with God.” - Mark 10:27
Grades 1-5
• God Looks at the Heart • God Protects • Yahweh: The Most High God
Spring Youth
January Recap! As January began, so did our retreat season. We were able to take our Jr High youth to CBOQ’s Avalanche 2019 retreat. Our group had a great time together, and our team (The Rockies) won the weekend candy competition! Overall the weekend was fun. Here is what's happening this February!
Sunday Morning Worship Gatherings: February 3rd, 10th, 17th - We will be having regular worship gatherings for youth in grades 6-12. Following the children’s blessing, youth will move to the youth lounge to continue in worship. February 24th: Sunday Upstairs/Intergenerational Gathering (Youth are either in the large worship gathering, or serving in other areas in the discipleship ministry). **Due to the Sr High Youth retreat (Feb 8th-10th), there will be no worship gathering for youth in the youth lounge. Youth are encouraged to stay in the large worship gathering upstairs**
Youth Life Groups:
Life Groups will happen on February 22nd for the girls and 24th for the boys. For more information email Sam or Jeremy. 12
Youth Events: February 2nd: Pizza Night: - We will be meeting at the church to make homemade personal pizzas. We will also be playing some games around the church building. Time: 6:00PM - 9:00PM Cost: $5
2019 Winter Retreats
Something we want to put on your radar are the winter retreats (Avalanche and Blizzard) coming up in the new year. Avalanche and Blizzard are often a life changing experience for many students. It is a chance for junior and senior high students to join with 500 other people their age and see that they are not alone in their life journey towards Jesus. Through small group experiences, musical worship and engaging teaching, the retreats aim to inspire students, whether Christians or not, to begin taking steps in their young faith journeys. Beyond that there are so many great games, activities and a lifetime of memories made on these weekends Blizzard 2019 (Gr 9-12) - February 8th-10th Cost: $140
Staying Updated: To stay up to date on what is happening for your youth, please visit our google calendar which has all of our planned events. http://tinyurl.com/SGCYouth
Want a break parents? We'll watch and feed your kids for the evening of Feb. 23. See page 13 for more details. 13
COME CELEBRATE WITH US!! Gene Tempelmeyer is Retiring! Celebration #1
Saturday March 2, 2019 1pm to 4pm Spring Garden Baptist Church What to Bring…. Memories, you can write them down and place them in the memory box OR you can share them on video when you arrive. There will also be a box there for cards and donations for a special gift and blessing envelope that will be given to Gene. We are planning a luncheon and if you are able please bring either sandwiches, fruit, veggies, cheese crackers or a desert. If you are coming from out of town please don’t feel you need to contribute to this. The event on Saturday is really for adults as there will be speeches and presentations after lunch at 3pm and we are a bit concerned about numbers. If you are not able to arrange childcare please let us know in advance.
Event #2
Sunday March 3, 2019 Gene’s last Sunday (for now) 10am Sunday Gathering Spring Garden Baptist Church Refreshments and more celebrating at coffee time after the Sunday Gathering. This is for everyone of all ages and we hope you can join us. 14
Recommendations
The Resource Centre
Spring Garden’s online library catalog can be accessed at springgardenchurch.ca/library. If you know of books or DVDs that you’d like to recommend to the Resource Centre, please contact Karen Cassel (karen.cassel@bell.net)
Letters to the church, by Francis Chan If God had it His way, what would our churches look like? In his most powerful book yet, Pastor Francis Chan digs deeply into biblical truths, reflections on his own failures and dreams, and stories of ordinary people God is using to change the world. As Chan says, "We've strayed so far from what God calls Church. We all know it. We know that what we're experiencing is radically different from the Church in Scripture. For decades, church leaders like myself have lost sight of the inherent mystery of the Church. We have trained people sitting in the pews to become addicted to lesser things. It's time for that to change." When Jesus returns, will He find us caring for His Bride-even more than for our own lives? Letters to the Church reminds us of how powerful, how glorious the Church once was … and calls us to once again be the Church God intended us to be.
Sensible Shoes series by Sharon Garlough Brown
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Author Sharon Garlough Brown invites you to join in the journeys of Hannah, Meg, Mara and Charissa as they gain a new understanding of friendship, spiritual truths, and a deeper life with God. In Sensible Shoes, you will meet these four women as they reluctantly arrive at a retreat center and embark together on a journey of spiritual formation. They find themselves drawn out of their separate stories of isolation and struggle and into a collective journey of spiritual practice, mutual support and personal revelation: Hannah, a pastor who doesn't realize how exhausted she is. Meg, a widow and recent empty-nester who is haunted by her past. Mara, a woman who has experienced a lifetime of rejection and is now trying to navigate a difficult marriage. Charissa, a hard-working graduate student who wants to get things right. The journey is continued as the women face roadblocks in the second book, Two Steps Forward, and in the third book, Barefoot, they are challenged to embrace the joy of complete surrender. In the final book, An Extra Mile, the women are navigating both deep joy and devastating loss. Read how they find equilibrium in the midst of all that has changed.
Hardest peace: expecting grace in the midst of life’s hard by Kara Tippetts
Kara Tippetts knows the ordinary days of mothering four kids, the joy of watching her children grow. In The Hardest Peace, Kara doesn't offer answers for when living is hard, but she asks us to join her in moving away from fear and control and toward peace and grace. Most of all, she draws us back to the God who is with us, in the mundane and the suffering, and who shapes even our pain into beauty.
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Directories and What's Happening
More Info 17
Leadership Directory Pastoral Team
416-223-4593
Gene Tempelmeyer, Pastor Ext. 222 genetemp@springgardenchurch.ca Ext. 224 Greg Kay, Worship and Mission Pastor gregkay@springgardenchurch.ca Sam Lee, Pastor of Discipleship, Ext. 227 samlee@springgardenchurch.ca Jeremy Ranasinghe, Discipleship Ministries Assistant Ext. 223 jeremy@springgardenchurch.ca Dale Forder, Office & Communications Administrator Ext. 221 daleforder@springgardenchurch.ca
Deacons Sam Chaise 647-968-5065 sam_chaise@yahoo.com Adora Chui 905.962.3897 adora.chui@sgbc.ca Martin Dewar 416.229.2695 martin.dewar@sgbc.ca Lesley Daniels 416.806.5373 dr.ldaniels@gmail.com Joanne Laing 416-617-6582 ​joannelaing@gmail.com Shannon Loewen 647-202-0701 shannon.loewen1@gmail.com Peggy Moore 416.225.2406 peggylouisemoore@gmail.com Esther Penner 416.227.1840 esther.penner@sgbc.ca Doug Willson 416.221.0450 doug.willson191@gmail.com
Elders
Garth Barron
garthbarron@sympatico.ca
Darlene Boyd
416.222.6963 cheryl.chapman@live.ca
Joanna James
416.385.2483 darlene.boyd@gmail.com
Cheryl Chapman
Brad Sider
416-724-9329
647.928.0862 jo.april.james@gmail.com
647.200.6853 ​bradsider@yahoo.ca
Spring Garden Church T 416.223.4593 112 Spring Garden Ave. F 416.223.6126 Toronto ON M2N3G3 www.springgardenchurch.ca office@springgardenchurch.ca Prayer Line 416.223.4038
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What’s Happening Weekly SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP Sundays 10am - 11:30am
Life in Spring Garden
SUNDAY MORN- PASTORAL TEAM ING BIBLE STUDY MEETING Sundays 9am - 10am
The themes for Jan Held in the meeting - Feb is 'Our Valroom. ues'. We are continuing Children and Youth our study of go downstairs. Matthew's gospel. Communion will be held on the 1st Sunday of the month.
REFRESH
Wednesdays 10am - 11:30am Friendship, care and spirtual growth for women; child care may be provided if necessary. (see page 10) Contact Tanya Salituro @ 416-222-4662
Tuesdays 1:30pm - 3:30pm
We meet in the meeting room every Tuesday. Please pray for us for wisdom and inspiration.
Everyone is welcome, bring your Bible if you have one.
ESL CAFE
Wednesdays 7pm - 8:30pm We meet at Spring Garden Church in the East Lounge. A place to practice your English and meet new friends.
THURSDAY BUNCH
12pm - 2:15pm If you would like to study Scripture, share fellowship and are free during the daytime, join us in the east lounge while eating lunch. Contact Victoria @ victoriashipmaker@ gmail.com
You may find more info at springgardenchurch.ca, in the 19 welcome brochure or call us at 416-223-4593.
Upcoming Youth Pizza Night
Blizzard
Feb. 8 - 10 Youth (Gr 9-12) Feb. 2 More info see pg 13 More info see pg 13
Youth Life Group
Girls Feb. 22 More info see pg 12
Sunday Worship Feb. 24 Intergenerational Sunday Gathering
A Night Out
Feb. 23 5pm-9pm A Parenting Break More info see pg 9
Gene's Retirement Celebration #1 March 2 1pm-4pm pg 14
Baptism
Let the Pastors know if you would like to be baptised. Feb. 17
Youth Life Group
Boys Feb. 24 More info see pg 12
Gene's Retirement Celebration #2 March 3 10am pg 14
If you would like to receive a weekly email update on what’s happening in Spring Garden, please visit the SGC website (www. springgardenchurch.ca) and add your email address on our home page to subscribe to our weekly email.
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Complete the crossword below Fun Page Note from Editor:
If you would like to help with fun things to put in Delve, please let me know at daleforder@springgardenchurch.ca. The answers to the crossword will be in the next Delve.
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Across Created using TheTeachersCo 2. February's Youth retreat is called? Down 3. Spring Kids, Toddlers - SK:________. alled? 6. What day of the week is, 'A Night 1. Out' ESL CafĂŠ meets on? taking place? _______ 4. A day with relationship expert Gary 8. How old is Spring Garden Church? Night Out' takingbooks place?cost us $6.50 in 1949? 5. Sensible Shoes series was written 9. What hurch? 10. Always know the Church is not 7. This group meetsIt at about a ______. is Spring about Garde 1949?God: the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 10am. not about a ______. It is about God:
Down 1. ESL CafĂŠ meets on? 4. A day with relationship expert Gary _______. 5. Sensible Shoes series was written by Sharon ________ Brown. 7. This group meets at Spring Garden Church on Wednesday at 10am. 21
Colouring Page
Tri-Blob, by Dale Forder Dove, by Esther Penner
Did you do a good job colouring in the picture? Show it to Dale and it may be included in the next Delve issue. 22
Our Values We believe in a humble God who came not to be served, but to serve. Therefore we engage in sacrificial and active service to those around us. We strive to be good stewards of God’s gifts and talents by serving one another in humility. We aspire to regard others as higher than ourselves, which liberates us to creatively take risks in serving others for God’s glory. We believe in a God of grace who came to save the world, not to condemn it. Therefore, as we are continuously receiving the gift of God’s grace, we seek to grow in that grace and extend it to others. We strive to define ourselves by what we are for, not what we are against. We believe in a God who knows us, and who desires to be known. Therefore we embrace a journey of faith that requires us to constantly strive for a personal, intimate and transformative knowledge of God. We strive to be led by God’s Spirit in supporting and encouraging one another in working out our faith. We believe in a creative God. Therefore we are open to expressing our faith in new and creative ways that reflect the beauty and complexity of our creator. We are called to use our creative gifts in worship and service as we engage with our world. We take joy in the diversity of gifts that allow us to delight God and participate in His ongoing story. We believe in a triune, relational God who calls us to come together as a diverse community of believers. Therefore, we want to walk together, supporting one another physically, emotionally and spiritually. We strive to be a welcoming, inclusive family that goes through the joys and the trials of life together, acknowledging that God uses this community to deepen and mature our faith. We believe in a God who loves this broken world and wants to reconcile us to Himself. Therefore we are commissioned by Christ to go out into the world, meeting the holistic needs of the local and global community. God calls us to participate in a redemptive work that he has already initiated; in humility, we will partner with others to work alongside and chase after Him. We believe in a God who is our center. Therefore where we are on the journey is less important than that we are moving towards a deeper relationship with Christ. We believe and participate in God’s redemptive work in all people, which gives us the freedom to come as we are, and to accept others as they are. We each are on a unique journey to become who God has created us to be.