01 2020
Quick Calendar WEEKLY Sun
9am-10am Bible Study 10am-11:30am Sunday Worship 11:30 Refreshments
pg 21 pg 21
Tues 10am-12pm Pastoral Team Meeting Wed 10am-12:00am Refresh, Women's Group
pg 21
Thur 12pm-1pm Lunch Together
pg 21 pg 21
Jan. 10
Youth Event: Sledding + Hot Chocolate
pg 15
Jan. 12 Jan. 17
Potluck Lunch
pg 11
Youth Event: Avalanche 2020
pg 15
Jan. 24
Youth Life Groups
pg 14
Jan. 26
SGC Newcomer's Lunch
pg 11
7pm-8:30pm ESL Café
1pm - 2pm Bible Discussion
pg 21 pg 21
See more on page 21-22 or on our Events page at www.springgardenchurch.ca/events.
Delve submissions are due Jan. 20th. Delve submissions are due on the MONDAY before the LAST Sunday of each month. To submit for the next issue of Delve, e-mail: delve@springgardenchurch.ca
For 2020 I thought I would
Features The 10,000 Little Moments 3
Suspending Disbelief 5 Generous Faithfulness 7
Community Corner Christmas Care Packages - Thank You 9 Are you good with numbers? Do you like to count? 10 New Year, New Parking Passes 10 Potluck Sunday 11 | SGC Newcomer's Lunch 11 Family Art Activity 12
Discipleship Ministries
Spring Kids 13 | Spring Youth 14, 15
Resource Centre
Resource Recommendations 17
More Info How to Give 19 Leadership Directory 19-20 Weekly Calendar 21 Upcoming Calendar 22 Images from Last December 14
Our Values
(back page)
Design, Cover & Editor: Dale Forder Contributors: Sam Lee Greg Kay Jeremy Ranasinghe Kaitlyn Ranasinghe Karen Cassel Darlene Boyd Copy Editors: Greg Kay Karen Cassel
Digging a little deeper into Spring Garden
Features
The 10,000 Little Moments by Sam Lee
As I was looking through the web, I came across this blog post by Paul Tripp that I found to be very helpful in this season. This season is that time of the year again when we are aware of resolutions. Whether you make resolutions or purposely don’t make resolutions, we know how this season can get us to start thinking about what we want to do differently. The whole article is worth a read but I clipped the part of the article that I found most helpful. You see, the character of a life is not set in two or three dramatic moments, but in 10,000 little moments. The character that was formed in those little moments is what shapes how you respond to the big moments of life. What leads to significant personal change?
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• 10,000 moments conviction • 10,000 moments • 10,000 moments wisdom gained • 10,000 moments • 10,000 moments
of personal insight and of humble submission of foolishness exposed and of sin confessed and sin forsaken of courageous faith
• 10,000 choice points of obedience • 10,000 times of forsaking the kingdom of self and running toward the kingdom of God • 10,000 moments where we abandon worship of the creation and give ourselves to worship of the Creator. And what makes all of this possible? Relentless, transforming, little-moment grace. You see, Jesus is Immanuel, not just because he came to earth, but because he makes you the place where he dwells. This means he is present and active in all the mundane moments of your daily life. Jesus is active not only in the big moments of our lives but is also in “all the mundane moments of your daily life.” This means that Jesus is with us when we take out the garbage and when we show patience to another person on the road. He is with us in times of suffering, times of joy, and in our regular daily life. This article reminded me that it’s not up to us to change who we are. It is being in relationship with Jesus that we are shaped into who we are. I know that I would not be who I am today if I was not married to my wife. My life would look very different. I would be a very different person. In the same way, it is being in an intimate relationship with the son of God, that we are shaped into his image. This is why Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate a the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
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Since Jesus is in the mundane and is also in us, we can be tranformed into his image as we grow in our relationship with Him. So what does this mean for us in this new season where we are faced with this pressure of making resolutions? I would start with my relationship with Jesus. How do I live so that I am growing in my intimacy with Jesus? Just as I take steps and have shaped my life around my wife and my family, if Jesus is someone I want to get to know more, I need to take steps (however small) in getting to know him. What are the 10,000 little moments that we need to pay attention to? How can those moments help shape my relationship with Christ? 4
Suspending Disbelief By Greg Kay
Ok, let’s be honest. The Christmas story is pretty bizarre, to say the least. Angelic messengers doing one-on-one as well as large group broadcasts. Celestial objects aligning with the planet to direct astrologers to a small town in 1st century Palestine. And a young women is impregnated by a Holy Spirit—which means a physical egg is fertilized by a non-physical, um...breath of God? The eternally existing outside-of-physical-creation being of God is implanted into the world of particles and waves. In some senses it’s completely ludicrous, almost laughable in its absurd nonsensicality and impossibility to fathom. Yet somehow simultaneously it is the greatest place of hope, rootedness, and sobering seriousness the world has ever known. The Creator of all that exists looks upon all that has been created, looks upon humanity in all its messiness and brokenness, looks upon you and me and all the people around us, and says, “I love them so much, my creation is so beautiful and beloved to me, that I am going to enter into it and heal it, enter into them and heal them, from the inside out”. And when that truth hits home within us, really sinks into the core of who we are, with a knowledge that we are so beloved by 5
God, the sobering depth of God’s love for us returns us to joy. One of the writers of the Bible, Malachi, tells us that God said, “see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing” (Malachi 3:10b). Is it not beautifully hopeful to consider that this is what God has done, beginning with the birth of Jesus, followed by his life, death, resurrection and ascension? As you read this, I don’t know where you are in your belief or disbelief in the possibility of the eternal taking on matter in human form. For myself, while I wrestle with it from time to time on a cognitive level, I do come back to belief and place my hope that the story of Jesus is not simply a metaphor, but something that God did in real time. The world is filled with wonders, good and not so good, that are hard to fathom, many of which we need accept and live with, whether we want to or not (the terrible things humans do to one another comes to mind). So when we come face to face with something as bizarre yet hope-filled, life changing, and awe inspiring as what God began in the birth of Jesus, is it really a huge leap to suspend our disbelief of the seemingly impossible with the hopeful promise that you, we, are so deeply beloved by the creator of the universe that God would enter into our very matter to heal us, to be with us? In the beginning weeks of this New Year, I encourage you to join me in praying a prayer made by the father of a son whom Jesus healed—“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). I pray that in 2020 you may experience the seemingly ludicrous but ever hopeful presence of Immanuel, God with us.
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Generous Faithfulness: Holistic Stewardship as Discipleship By Greg Kay
Through January and February we will be reflecting on the type of generous living that we are called to live out as followers of Jesus. Stewardship is being faithful and generous in how we care for and share what has been entrusted to us. Too often when we use the term “stewardship”, we think solely of money, yet we are called to steward much more than simply our finances. Everything we have and are is been entrusted to us by God: yes, our finances, but also our other physical resources (the places we live and share life together, material goods, etc.), bodies, gifts and skills, passions and interests, time and presence, prayer, relationships, creation, and on and on. As we spend time together considering how to live as generously faithful followers of Jesus, here is a simple tool that some may find helpful in prayerfully discerning what God has entrusted and how to generously care for and share it for the sake of God’s Kingdom. Steps: 1. Prayerful Posture: Invite God to bring to mind what He has entrusted to you and to show you where he is calling you towards generosity. This may occur in a dedicated time of prayer, but also be open to God showing you at unexpected times. 2. a) Identify Resources: when things come to mind, write them down, keeping in mind the variety of different resources God has entrusted to you (you can use the chart provided if helpful). Pause to reflect and be thankful! b) Responsible Caring, Gracious Sharing: Some things we are called to be responsible in our care for, some things we are called to be gracious in sharing, and many things we are called to both care for and share! It may be worth identifying so that you don’t hold onto something God is calling you to give away, and so that you don’t give away something perhaps God has given you for this time. 7
3. Identify Possible Places of Resources Needs Action Plan Need: The world (Responsible Caring, (How to Care for Gracious Sharing) and/or Share) is a never-ending Finances void of need, and God is not calling you to address Physical Resources (place you live, material goods) every need around you. Prayerfully consider what Prayer/Faith specific places God is calling you to. It may be helpful to Gifts/ Skills make a list of many possibilities that comes to mind, Passion & Interest then narrow the list down to where you feel specifically Relationships called. 4. Create an Action Plan: If Time/ Presence you’re anything like me, good intentions will not lead to action unless there’s a concrete next step for how you will care for and/or share. If it’s overwhelming, don’t worry about planning far into the future, simply start with a first step or two. Consider inviting others to join you for support and companionship. 5. Give thanks to God, not only for all that has been entrusted to you, but for the ways God will use your generosity to reveal God’s kingdom! Generous Faithfulness: Holistic Stewardship as Discipleship Worksheet
**Download Worksheet at: https://www.springgardenchurch.ca/s/Generous-FaithfulnessWorksheet.pdf
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Life in and around Spring Garden
Community Corner
Christmas Care for Survivors of Human Trafficking
This Christmas, we came together to share the joy of Christmas with survivors of human trafficking. In partnership with Fight4Freedom, we were able to collect and distribute gifts to more than 15 individuals and families. We were able to share some needed items, fun gifts, day trips, and really meaningful presents. The people that we shared these gifts with were so thankful and felt truly honoured. Thank you to each person who put together a gift bag, donated money, and prayed for the folks supported at Fight4Freedom. Your love brought hope and joy to people’s Christmases; things that are so meaningful to those who sometimes struggle to feel it for themselves. Thank You! Kaitlyn Ranasinghe and the Fight4Freedom Team
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Are you good with numbers? Do you like to count? The counting team is in need of a couple more people to count the Sunday offering. The team consists of 2 people that count each week. There are four teams so the commitment is for one Sunday each month. You would count the same Sunday every month either the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th week. If this is a way you could serve please contact Darlene Boyd (darlene.boyd@gmail.com).
New Year, New Parking Passes
To park at Spring Garden Church, you need a parking pass that is issued by us, unless you are here for a brief moment (please let one of our staff know you are parked in our lot). For those who have a pass from last year, please print your email and full name on it and trade it in to Dale for your new pass (Same Number). If you want a pass, please email office@springgardenchurch.ca and see Dale our Office Admin. 10
Potluck Sunday
Sunday, January 12, 2020 Come join us for a time of food, fellowship, and fun! Bring food that you enjoy. We will be gathering downstairs after our morning worship.
SGC Newcomer's Lunch Sunday, January 26, 2020
We are inviting everyone who is new to our congregation in the last year or so, to come to a light lunch for newcomers. Please let Sam Lee know if you have any questions. 11
Family Art Activity
Sunday, February 2, 2020 Colossians 3:20-21 (ISV) says: "Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not make your children resentful. Otherwise, they’ll become discouraged." Communicating with family can be hard, but Scripture challenges us to lead our children with compassion. Creativity can help to open up new ways of understanding each other. Come with the whole family to doodle, brainstorm, and learn to solve problems together with kindness and cooperation. No art experience is required. Practice flexible thinking and bring home an encouraging reminder. Sunday, February 2nd, 11:45pm Join us in the Youth Lounge - a light lunch will be served Parents and children aged 3 to 12 years old. Led by Amelia Bowler, artist and behaviour therapist. If you have questions, feel free to contact Amelia at ameliabowler@gmail.com. Please sign up at: https://www.springgardenchurch.ca/upcomingevents/2020/2/2/family-art-activity 12
Partnering with Families and Singles
Discipleship Ministries
Spring Kids ROOMS IN OUR BASEMENT DROP OFF
Nursery (0 - 18 months) Purple Toddler/Pre-K (19 months - 3 years) Orange JK / SK Yellow Grade 1 Blue Green Grade 2 & 3 Blue Grade 4 & 5 Blue Red Grade 6-12 Youth Lounge Here is an overview of what we will be talking about on Sundays for Spring Kids.
Jr Curriculum: God's Love
In this series, children will learn that Jesus shows us God’s love. Children will discover that we best know how to love others by discovering the love of God through Jesus. “Let’s love each other because love is from God.” 1 John 4:7
Elementary Curriculum:
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PICK UP
• • • •
Jesus is Immanuel God is Hope Jesus is the Promised Saviour Jesus is King
Spring Youth December Recap: In December we had our Christmas party and it was a lot of fun. This event is something we look forward to each year, and I think it's because we get to take a step back from all the craziness that happens in December and just have fun. We had a nice warm fire, played some games, ate a lot of food and had a Christmas gift exchange. All in all, it was a good time! Here is what's happening this January!
Sunday Morning Worship Gatherings: January 5th, 12th - We will have our worship gathering for youth in grades 6-12. Following the children’s blessing, youth will move to the youth lounge to continue in worship. January 19th, 26th Sunday Upstairs - Youth are either in the large worship gathering, or serving in other areas in the discipleship ministry. To serve in the discipleship ministry area, please contact Jeremy (jeremy@springgardenchurch.ca) for placement.
Youth Life Groups: Life Groups will be held January 24th for the girls and January 26th for the boys. For more information for “Boys Life Group” email Jeremy (jeremy@springgardenchurch.ca).For more information on “Girls Life Group” email Kaitlyn (Kaitlynrenaa@gmail.com)
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Youth Events: January 10th - Sledding + Hot Chocolate: We will be meeting at Spring Garden, and then make our way to a park to go sledding. **Please be aware this event is weather and snow dependent. More info to come** Cost: $5 - Includes food Time: TBD January 17th-18th: Avalanche 2020 **Registration Has Ended** Youth in Grades 6-8 who have already registered for the retreat will leave on the Friday and return on the Sunday. More info will be sent out closer to the event. Youth who are not participating in the retreat are encouraged to join the upstairs gathering on the Sunday. Youth desiring to serve must connect with Jeremy before January 2nd 2019.
Staying Updated: To stay up to date on what is happening for your youth, please visit our google calendar which has all our planned events http://tinyurl.com/SGCYouth
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Images from December 2019
Congregational Meeting
Light of the World
Christmas Eve Worship Gathering
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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)
Vulnerable communion: a theology of disability and hospitality by Thomas Reynolds, 261.8 REY
As parents of a son with disabilities, Thomas E. Reynolds and his wife know what it's like to be misunderstood by a church community. In Vulnerable Communion, Reynolds draws upon that personal experience and a diverse body of literature to empower churches and individuals to foster deeper hospitality toward persons with disabilities. Reynolds argues that the Christian story is one of strength coming from weakness, of wholeness emerging from brokenness, and of power in vulnerability. He offers valuable biblical, theological, and pastoral tools to understand and welcome those with disabilities. Vulnerable Communion will be a useful resource for any student, theologian, church leader, or lay person seeking to discover the power of God revealed through weakness.
More or less: choosing a lifestyle of excessive generosity by Jeff Shinabarger, 248.4 SHI
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It all started with one idea: What would happen if we created a culture in which we gave away whatever was more than enough for us? How would our habits change if we shed the excess of money, clutter, and food in our lives? In More or Less,
readers will learn how to draw a line of “enough” in their consumer choices, how to see generosity as a chance to experience freedom in a greedy world, and how to make small changes now that will help others forever. As Shinabarger reminds them, defining “enough” is more than a responsibility—it is an opportunity to give hope.
Further Readings for January For the beauty of the earth: a Christian vision for creation care, Steven Bouma-Prediger, 261.8362 BO Harvest of hope : stories of life changing gifts, Marshall Strom, 261.8 STR
Kay
Becoming a first fruits congregation : a stewardship guide for church leaders, Robert Heerspink, 248.6 HEE
When helping hurts: how to alleviate poverty without hurting the poor and yourself, by Steve
Corbett and Brian Fikkert, 261.8 COR
Our Father’s world: mobilizing the church to care for creation, Edward Brown, 261.8 BRO Can we help? : Kids volunteering to help their community (on display in the library) The cost of community: Jesus, St. Francis and life in the kingdom, Jamie Arpin-Ricci. 226.9 ARP
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Directories and What's Happening
More Info
Leadership Directory PASTORAL TEAM
416.223.4593
Greg Kay Co-Lead Pastor
Ext. 224 gregkay@ springgardenchurch.ca
Sam Lee Co-Lead Pastor
Ext. 227 samlee@ springgardenchurch.ca
Jeremy Ranasinghe Children and Youth Pastor
Ext. 223 jeremy@ springgardenchurch.ca
Dale Forder Office & Communications Administrator
Ext. 221 daleforder@ springgardenchurch.ca
Spring Garden Church
112 Spring Garden Avenue, Toronto ON M2N 3G3 www.springgardenchurch.ca office@springgardenchurch.ca Prayer Line
Tel 416.223.4593 Fax 416.223.6126 416.223.4038
Giving is one of the ways in which we can
respond to a generous God. We give because it is a part of our discipleship and an act of worship. Please give as you feel led. For more information please go to our website at: https://www.springgardenchurch.ca/giving.
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DEACONS Krysten Cameron Vice Chair, Worship
Sam Chaise Finance
Martin Dewar Community Life, Refreshment
Monica Kim Pastoral Care, Membership
Joanne Laing Missions
Shannon Loewen Chair, Children & Youth
Jeff McGee Adult Discipleship
Peggy Moore Property
416.399.0493 krystencameron@hotmail.com 437.925.2813 sam_chaise@yahoo.com 416.229.2695 martin.dewar@sgbc.ca 604.710.3224 monicakim2000@gmail.com 416.617.6582 joannelaing@gmail.com 647.202.0701 shannon.loewen1@gmail.com 416.493.2102 jeff.mcgee@sympatico.ca 416.225.2406 peggylouisemoore@gmail.com
ELDERS Anne Barron Garth Barron Darlene Boyd
416.724.9329 anne.barron020@sympatico.ca 416.724.9329 garthbarron@sympatico.ca 416.385.2483 darlene.boyd@gmail.com
Koon Wah Leung Clem Lee
416.225.7092 koonwleung@gmail.com 416.508.7355 crazymonkeyfamily@gmail.com
Brad Sider
647.200.6853 ​ radsider@yahoo.ca b
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What’s Happening Weekly SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP
Sundays 10am - 11:30am The SermonSee page 7 for the next series. Children and Youth go downstairs. Communion will be held on the 1st Sunday of the month.
REFRESH
Wednesdays 10am - 11:30am Friendship, care & spiritual growth for women; child care provided. Please see more on our Events page. Contact Beverly Holtzman @ holtzb@rogers.com
Life in Spring Garden
SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY Sundays 9am - 10am
Held in the meeting room. Everyone is welcome, bring your Bible if you have one.
PASTORAL TEAM MEETING Tuesdays 10am - Noon
We meet in the meeting room every Tuesday. Please pray for us for wisdom and inspiration.
LUNCH TOGETHER Thursday 12pm - 1pm
Eat and Share some laughs and conversation with others and words of prayer. West Lounge.
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.
Text or call Victoria @ 647 444 9320
BIBLE DISCUSSION Thursday 1pm - 2pm
Bible Study that is open to the church and our neighbours. victoriashipmaker@ gmail.com Text or call Victoria @
647 444 9320
You may find more info at springgardenchurch.ca, in the 21 welcome brochure or call us at 416-223-4593.
What’s Happening Upcoming Jan
10 JAN
12 JAN
17 JAN
24 JAN
26 FEB
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Life in Spring Garden
Youth Event: Sledding + Hot Chocolate Male and Female life groups. See page 15.
Potluck Lunch
Come join us for a time of food, fellowship, and fun! We will be gathering downstairs after our morning worship. See page 11.
Youth Event: Avalanche 2020 See page 15.
Youth Life Groups
Male and Female life groups. See page 14.
SGC Newcomer's Lunch See page 11.
Family Art Activity See page 12.
If you would like to receive a weekly e-mail 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 e-mail. Also keep you eye on our Events page at: www.springgardenchurch.ca/events.
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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.