Delve An
Of
Intersection
Faith
And Life
May 2016
1
Features
Is Blessing the Bikes in the Bible?
Is Blessing Bikes in the Bible 3 Our Story - Esther Penner 6 Between the Testaments: Final Pieces 20
On May 22, we will hold our Annual Bike Blessing Sunday. Isn’t that kind of flakey? Could there be any sort of biblical justification for blessing bicycles?
Departments Resource Centre 10 Discipleship Ministries 14 Financial Update 27 Syrian Refugee Care Fundraiser 31
Information Contact Information 28 Community Corner 30 Calendar 35 Cover & Design: Clement Lee Contributors: Karen Cassel Suzanna Lai Sam Lee Geoff Moore Esther Penner Ben Reynolds Gene Tempelmeyer Copy Editors: Greg Kay Suzanna Lai Gene Tempelmeyer
Delve submissions are due on the LAST MONDAY of each month. To submit for the next issue of Delve, please email: delve@springgardenchurch.ca 2
Maybe. The first job God gave humans is to care for creation. We might imagine Him looking upon our smog, the disappearing ozone layer, and mid-ocean islands of floating plastic and saying to us, “I only gave you one job!” We might regard our care for the planet as a geo-political issue that belongs to scientists and politicians, not to the church. But environmental care is first and foremost a spiritual issue. It is a matter of holiness. Anything we can do to encourage and celebrate behaviour that is healthier for the planet becomes a way of taking our belief in creation seriously. The first job Jesus gave us is to share his story and be his witnesses in the world. Each year the proportion of our neighbours who see no connection between biblical faith and their life is greater than the year before. Surveys consistently show that most North Americans not only don’t know God’s story – they don’t see any reason why 3
they should be interested. Every opportunity to connect the story of God to people’s daily lives is an opportunity to do the job Jesus left with us. So maybe there isn’t a verse that says, “Thou shalt bless the bicycles every spring, remembering to keep them holy and safe.” But we bless the bicycles as one way of doing what God has given us to do. And there is no sin in having some fun at the same time. We are planning a BBQ lunch. Everyone is welcome whether you ride a bike or not! If you would like to help please speak with Jesse James (jesse.d.james86@gmail.com), or Gene Tempelmeyer (genetemp@springgardenchurch.ca). Then we will pray a blessing of safety over our bicycles. Jesse James and the Youth Unlimited Willowdale Outreach Team will be leading a group ride after the blessing for those able to keep up. This is the one day a year we actively encourage you to wear spandex shorts to church! If you live close enough, have your family bike ride in. If not, throw your bikes in the trunk and join us anyway. This is a “safe invite” for friends who aren’t into church. There is no pressure, just a chance to integrate spirituality into a practical slice of daily life. Gene Tempelmeyer
Register your child or children today for Willowdale’s premiere cycling day camp: Learn-2-Ride Day Camp! For more information and to register go to: http://goo.gl/forms/CmSVruWiOw Contact: Jesse James, jjames@yugta.ca or call 647-835-8062
4
5
Our Story - Esther Penner Sitting in the pew and staring up at the platform at Spring Garden, I couldn’t believe what God was telling me to do. “Uh…no. I don’t think so, God. Not now,” I prayed, glancing furtively around to make sure no one noticed what I was thinking. My adrenaline had suddenly shot up, my heart was pounding, and I felt a strange buzzing sensation all over. God kept nudging me, but I kept ignoring Him and tried to focus on the service. This was back in the late 1990s when I was in my mid-twenties and still didn’t know many people at this church. It would have been completely contrary to my personality for me, a young immature Christian, to stand up in the middle of a service and announce to a room full of strangers that God asked me to share His thoughts with them. And yet, I couldn’t escape the feeling that this was exactly what was expected of me. Well, my dilemma didn’t last long. In the middle of my inner struggle, an older woman approached the stage and confidently announced that she had received a word from the Lord that she wanted to share with the congregation (something that I’d never seen happen before). And, drum roll please…her message was the same one that had waltzed into my mind, uninvited. Wow. My jaw dropped. To top it all off, I was talking to a friend after the service, who happened to mention that both she and another member she knew had felt the same push from God to do the exact same thing that morning. I can’t describe what I was feeling when I realized the depth of this “close encounter” with God. I wondered if this was a type of prophecy and why I was involved. I was glad that although I hadn’t gone along with His promptings, God had provided plenty of back up and solid confirmation that I wasn’t simply going nuts. 6
Now please note that I was no stranger to the more “outward” or “supernatural” expressions of the Holy Spirit. You see, I have a mother who’s a Pentecostal at heart. From a young age, my mom has always been completely dependent on the Spirit to lead her in very tangible ways. Growing up, it was completely normal for me to hear about her visions or dreams that would always come true. I was aware that she spoke in tongues. God even occasionally used an audible voice to tell her information that she had no way of knowing otherwise. She had been involved in relational and physical healings. Don’t even ask me how many spiritual beings she had seen. So when this incident happened to me so many years ago, it was certainly not expected, but I accepted it as just part of reality. The reality of engaging in a relationship with a real living God. Now when I feel Him pushing me, I’m less likely to decline. I’ve enjoyed the spirit-centred discussions we’ve had recently in our common curriculum (The Grave Robber study) and our spring sermon topic (a series on the Holy Spirit). I love learning about other people’s experiences because Christians should be aware of how God’s Spirit works in a variety of ways, from subtle convictions and occurrences, to unbelievable miracles, and everything in between. In the past few weeks, I’ve delighted in reading and hearing real life stories where I get to witness God in action in the lives of His people. Although it’s hard to ignore the “wow” factor of these Spirit-filled happenings, we shouldn’t be blinded by that. Instead, I see these events as deeper insights into God’s heart, will, and focus. I see them as methods through which He is bringing His kingdom to us and inviting us to work along with Him. I see them as ways to increase our faith and expose our doubt. I see them as chances to foster a closer relationship with Him and become more like Him in our character. 7
You know how at the end of John’s gospel he says there were so many other things Jesus did, there wouldn’t be enough space in the world to write them all down (love that use of hyperbole, John!)? Well, in a way this list of Jesus’ accomplishments is nowhere near finished. Through his Spirit, he’s been working and moving and shaping the world since the beginning of time. And the story is still continuing, through us. Esther Penner
8
9
Recomendations From 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
Books Take this cup, by Bodie and Brock Thoene When Nehemiah, the child of Jewish exiles, begins hearing whispers and experiencing portentous visions, it quickly becomes clear to his father and his rabbi that the young cupbearer is meant for a higher purpose . . . but what? Certain that the Messiah is alive at that very moment, the family waits for the boy’s destiny to be revealed. From the ancient site of the Garden of Eden, Nehemiah undertakes a perilous journey. The caravan route is full of danger, hardship, and mystery—all of it linked to what Nehemiah has in his keeping. In due time, his path becomes clear. It leads to Jerusalem, to a wealthy Pharisee named Joseph of Arimathea . . . and to Jesus of Nazareth.
10
Brazen: the courage to find the you that’s been hiding, by Leeana Tankersley There are so many moments in life when we choose to silence our intuition, abandon our own voice, and play small, because of that accusing voice inside that whispers, “Who do you think you are, anyway?” Who you are is a human--loved, worthy, and becoming. Who you are is a woman created by God to be and to do something unique. Who you are, deep down, is brazen. Brazen means “without shame.” Leeana Tankersley wants you to own that--to unapologetically claim who and whose you are and to know that you are enough. With moving personal stories and spot-on observations of the longings we all experience--to know we are loved, to feel comfortable in our own skin, to be heard-Tankersley invites you to receive your identity, to reclaim your voice, and to recover your soul.
11
Curious faith: rediscovering hope in the God of possibility, by Logan Wolfram We are born with an innate curiosity to explore, marvel, and believe there is more to life. But, laundry piles up. Bills pile up. Ultimately, life piles up. We can doubt God’s goodness and the everyday becomes marked by restraint, limits, and settling for the routine. Hardship extinguishes our hope and we exchange curiosity for control. Curious faith is about rescuing the now. It’s about exploring possibility with a God who is unlimited, unpredictable, and every loving. In these pages, Logan Wolfram invites you to overcome feelings and outside circumstances that inhibit growth and rob you of hope. Pursue curiosity to enjoy the wonder of an openhanded life.
where you are. His unforgettable stories of loss and healing will usher you into a life where gratitude overpowers anger, hope overcomes despair, and hunger for God replaces indifference to God. With a fresh and original writing style, Bays demonstrates that true redemption is far more powerful than the temporary fixes of sanitized Christianity.
Finding God in the ruins: how God reclaims pain, by Matt Bays When the reality of your pain doesn’t line up with what you’ve been taught in church, then what? While many abandon their faith or embrace hopelessness, it is possible to discover the God who heals your heart in the midst of the pain. Matt Bays has been 12
13
Discipleship Ministries - Partnering with Families Holistic Parenting Workshop: Part 1 Tyndale Family Life Centre April 20 2016 I attended the Holistic Parenting Workshop hosted by Tyndale Family Life Centre on Wednesday April 20. The presenter was Bassma Younan. The workshop was based on the book “The Whole-Brain Child” by Dr. Daniel J. Siegal and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson. Here are the take home messages I got from the workshop and my personal reflection. Some of the content are excerpts extracted directly from the PowerPoint presentation given by Ms.Younan. • One of the goals of parenting is to raise emotionally balanced children. • We need to keep in mind that our brains have a left side, which governs our logic and reasoning; and a right side, which controls our emotions and feelings. • The more integrated the two sides are, the more well balanced a person/child is. • The brain is moldable and goes through physical changes throughout the course of our lives. It is cultivated by the experiences and activities that we are exposed to. Therefore, parents/caregivers can shape their children’s brains according to what experiences they offer them. • When a child comes to you with emotionally charged statements or accusations, the child’s right brain is in high gear. At this 14
time, do not try to defend yourself or argue about the child’s faulty logic. Connect with the child using your right brain. Utilize nonverbal communication such as a gentle touch and/or a calm facial expression. Verbal communication should be done with words of compassion in a soothing tone of voice. Both methods of communication are to demonstrate that you understand what the child is going through. A simple statement such as “some days are hard, isn’t it” often helps. After the child felt understood and settles down, you can then re-direct the child to access his/ her left brain to think logically. • When a child comes to you demanding something that’s missing from his/her daily routine, the child’s left brain is actively trying to follow a fixed structure. The example given was a mother ran out of cereal in the morning and therefore could not offer cereal as a part of the breakfast. At this time, do not tell the child off. Explain calmly the reason why cereal is not available and offer other choices. Describe other food items with praising words to entice an emotional fondness to the alternative foods. If the child continues to demand cereal, then try engaging his/her right brain by giving the child’s wish in fantasy. • For a more right brained child, you will need to explain the logic in a certain situation as many times as needed for the child to understand. For a more left brained child, you will need to explore and discuss the child’s emotion as often as needed for the child to integrate that part of his/her brain. • 1. 2. 3. 4.
Tips for day-to-day interactions Connect using the same side of the brain Once you are connected, then you can redirect Naming the emotions helps Telling and retelling the story helps
• Tips on telling the story 1. The facts: Cover the left brain information so that what actually happened can be understood 2. The child’s feeling: explore the child’s internal experience, whatever it is – not just the positive and joyful version. 3. A message of empowerment: Give the child something he/she 15
can do to feel better and attain mastery by offering some sort of tool to help regulate emotions. • Some more important points to keep in mind 1. In a child’s first 3 years, he/she will use the right brain most of the time 2. There are no right or wrong feelings. Therefore, you should validate and accept feelings without having to agree 3. Children’s feelings are real and important to them 4. Feelings are indications that something needs your attention 5. Parents/caregivers need to stay calm without letting your boundaries slide 6. Distraction is sometimes a good strategy to use to calm down a child’s emotion. 7. Respect a child’s desire on how and when to talk 8. Children are more likely to share or talk while building something, riding in the car, or playing cards than when you ask them to open up. 9. You can ask the child to draw a picture or write if he/she refuses to talk. 10. You should not avoid talking about upsetting experiences, thinking that it will re-enforce the child’s pain or make things worse. Negative feelings and experiences that are not discussed will likely grow with the child’s imagination and cling to the child even more. • Be mindful of the following barriers that may get in your way of carrying out a constructive and loving interaction: 1. Lack of sleep 2. Fear of reinforcing bad behavior 3. Expect too much of your child at his/her age 4. Discomfort with being judged by other family members or strangers 5. Feeling overwhelmed by other commitments (eg. to be on time, to follow a plan, to care for your other children…) 6. Feeling unsupported by the other spouse or caregiver.
tools for me to use when I interact with my children and the children I teach in discipleship classes. It reminded me to engage with children through their lens and perspective instead of my expectation of what they should do or how they should behave. I particularly appreciate the reminder to be mindful of the barriers that may hinder me from having supportive and constructive interactions with children. And make conscientious efforts to prevent such barriers from getting in the way. To be understood and given respect is a universal desire. If I say I love my (or any) children, I ought to try to exhibit this love with the fruit of the Spirit. “Love is patient, love is kind…it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:4a,7). I was wonderfully reminded to ALWAYS and PERSERVERINGLY love my and all God’s children with patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, compassion, self control, and willingness to engage, no matter which side of the brain they are coming from. There will be a second part to the workshop focused on temper tantrums led by the same presenter. It will be advertised in Delve once the date is announced. Here are some additional resources for your reference: 1. How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber & Elaine Mazlish 2. Parenting from the Inside Out: How a deeper self-understanding can help you raise children who thrive by Daniel J.Siegel & Mary Hartzell Suzanna Lai
The workshop provided some alternative frame of thoughts and 16
17
Spring Kids
Spring Youth Sunday Morning Worship Gatherings: May 1st, 8th, 15th, 29th - As usual we have our regular worship gathering at 10am in the main sanctuary, followed by our Sunday program for the grades 5/6 group and a gathering for youth in grades 7-12 in the youth room after the Children’s Blessing. May 22 - Youth will stay in the main worship gathering as we believe it is important for our youth to worship with the adult congregation.
Youth Events: May 7th - Youth Unlimited - Bike Park Clean Up: We will be meeting at the Bayview Arena bike park and joining Youth Unlimited as we serve the community by cleaning up the bike park Time: TBA
Lego Spring City & Learn 2 Ride Day Camp - Registration Now Open! July 18-22, 2016 Event Timing: 9:00am-12:00pm for Half Day 9:00am-3:30pm for Full Day
Archery Tag - May 27th: Archery Tag is a high energy activity, comprised of 3 games (dodgeball, Archery, Paintball). We will be playing a couple rounds of this on May 27th Cost: - $15 (includes rides, food, and game) Time:6:00pm-9:30pm (tentatively) Girl’s Life Group - May 6 & 20: Contact Sam Lee if interested
We are still looking for more volunteers and lego donations. Please speak with Sam or Jeremy if you can help! To register, visit our website at www.springgardenchurch.ca
18
19
Between the Testaments: Final Pieces
In this last look at the history of the Jewish people between Malachi and Matthew, there are a few final pieces that are worth addressing. First, I will mention some aspects of the religious beliefs particular to the Pharisees and Sadducees. Then, I will discuss some final historical events of the Second Temple period in relation to the New Testament. Regarding the Pharisees and Sadducees, it appears that these two groups rose to prominence during the later Hasmonean dynasty. As their favor with the ruler waxed and waned, so did their power. The Pharisees seem to have been liked or respected by the common people more so than were the Sadducees. All we really know about both groups comes from Josephus and the New Testament. In the case of Josephus, he wrote about each group briefly on a number of occasions, which leads to some discrepancies. In the case of the New Testament, both groups are the bad guys, and the majority of what is said about them is negative. Here is an extended quote from Josephus, Jewish War 2.162–166: “Of the first two named schools, the Pharisees, who are considered the most accurate interpreters of the laws, and hold the position of the leading sect, attribute everything to Fate and to God; they hold that to act rightly or otherwise rests, indeed, for the most part with men, but that in each action Fate co-operates. Every soul, they maintain, is perishable, but the soul of the good alone passes into another body, while the souls of the wicked suffer eternal punishment. “The Sadducees, the second of the orders, do away with 20
Fate altogether, and remove God beyond, not merely the commission, but the very sight, of evil. They maintain that man has the free choice of good or evil, and that it rests with each man’s will whether he follows the one or the other. As for the persistence of the soul after death, penalties in the underworld, and rewards, they will have none of them. “The Pharisees are affectionate to each other and cultivate harmonious relations with the community. The Sadducees, on the contrary, are, even among themselves, rather boorish in their behavior, and in their intercourse with their peers are as rude as to aliens. Such is what I have to say on the Jewish philosophical schools.” In this account, Josephus speaks of these Jewish beliefs in terms of Greek philosophy and not so much with Old Testament wording. He is attempting to communicate differing Jewish beliefs to a GrecoRoman audience. Thus, the Pharisees and Sadducees’ understanding of God’s role in the world is spoken of as “Fate” and life after death or the resurrection as “the persistence of the soul after death.” The rabbinic literature notes that the Pharisees had a “strong interest in tithing, ritual purity, and Sabbath observance and not much of an interest in civil laws and regulations for the Temple worship,” which obviously is quite similar to Jesus’ critiques of the Pharisees in the Gospels (Saldarini, ABD 5.302). These purity laws may be the reason why they were called Pharisees, since the word means “one who is separate.” The Pharisees may be likened to the religious conservatives of the day who attempted to combat the allure of popular Hellenistic culture. The name Sadducees may come from Zadok, the high priest under David and Solomon. The Sadducees apparently only accepted the written law, as opposed to the Pharisees who followed the teaching of the elders. The Sadducees are well known for not believing in the resurrection of the dead, and as in the quote above, Josephus implies that they believed in free will as a way to avoid implicating God of evil. The Sadducees included some high ranking individuals and some of them were priests. Josephus mentions that Ananus the high priest was a Sadducee: he “was rash in his temper and unusually daring. He followed the school of the Sadducees, who are indeed more heartless than any of the other Jews…when they sit in judgment” 21
(Antiquities, 20.199). Also, in Acts 5:17, we read, “The high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees)…” A third religious group that is mentioned by Josephus but not in the New Testament is the Essenes. They were a more ascetic group who possibly thought the Pharisees were a bit loose with the Jewish purity regulations. The Essenes were likely the group behind the Dead Sea Scrolls which were found in eleven caves in the area west of the Dead Sea. The discovery of the scrolls in 1947 and subsequent years has been a treasure trove of information about Jewish belief in the Second Temple Period. The site at Qumran seems to has ceased as a dwelling at or by the time of the Roman suppression of the first Jewish revolt (AD 66–73), but now, I have jumped ahead. In our chronological tale, we left off with Herod Antipas and Pilate, who were both Roman appointed rulers of Galilee and Judea, respectively. The Gospels tell us that both of them interacted with Jesus on the day of his crucifixion, but Herod Antipas and Pilate are not the last Roman appointed rulers who find their way into the pages of the New Testament. Two Roman procurators of Judea and one last Herodian ruler are mentioned in the book of Acts. The first is the procurator Felix (AD 52-60). He is mentioned by Josephus as trying to rid Judea and Samaria from bandits, or in other words Jewish revolutionaries (the Sicarii) (Jewish Antiquities 20.160–172, 208–210; Jewish War 2.253– 257). Felix’s rule is described as corrupt, and he attempted to bribe these same Sicarii to assassinate the high priest because the high priest kept pushing Felix to be a good ruler. In Acts 23:23–32, we read of Paul’s transfer to the procurator Felix in Caesarea Maritima from the Roman garrison in Jerusalem (most likely the Antonia Fortress). Felix kept Paul in custody at Caesarea Maritima for two years. Acts 24:22 states that Felix had “a rather accurate knowledge of the Way” (ESV); in other words, Felix knew a bit about belief in Jesus as Messiah. Felix’s successor Festus (60-62; Acts 24:27) also continued Paul’s imprisonment, and it is before Festus that Paul made his appeal to Caesar (Acts 25:8–12). Festus also had Paul speak before Agrippa II (Acts 25:13–26:32). King Agrippa II was a great-grandson of Herod the Great and the son of Agrippa I who had ruled Judea 41–44 between 22
the prefects (6–41) and then the procurators (44–66). Agrippa II was not given the kingship of his father, but he did rule some lands north of Galilee. By the year 66, political tensions in Jerusalem and Judea had reached a breaking point, and a revolt broke out. The procurator Florus took a significant amount of money from the temple treasury which led to outbreaks of violence in Jerusalem against Roman soldiers by the Sicarii and other zealot groups. This brought reinforcements from the Roman garrison in Syria under Cestius Gallus. The future Roman emperor Vespasian laid siege to Jerusalem, but the actual siege was left to his son Titus as Vespasian left for Rome to vie for the emperorship. With four legions, Titus broke through Jerusalem’s walls, the city was taken, and the temple was destroyed in AD 70. The destruction of the temple that was completed in 516 BC under Ezra and beautified by Herod the Great was no more, ending the Second Temple Period. The time of the Second Temple was a significant period for the Jewish people. They returned to the land following the Babylonian exile and attempted to rebuild their nation and religious life. During this time, the high priest often assumed the leadership responsibilities of the people. Only during the Maccabean period did the Jewish people have any sort of political autonomy, and even then there was no Davidic king. The later Hasmonean rulers may have claimed kingship, but that did not stop a growing expectation for a Davidic ruler. By the first century AD, a Jewish nationalism had blossomed, even if specific expectations of what that would look like varied. From a Christian perspective, the time was clearly ripe for God to send his Son as the Davidic, prophet-like-Moses, priestly Messiah to redeem his people from their sins. In the midst of the political upheaval of the time, Roman oppression, and the various Jewish religious and political factions, God became a human being, a member of this bedraggled people living in the land God had promised to their ancestor Abraham centuries before. To this people, in that time, God came and dwelt with his people again. Ben Reynolds
23
24
25
Spring Garden Baptist Church Monthly Financial Update
For: March 31st, 2016 (3 months)
/Week 2016 Budget
$530,000
Year To Date
Actual
$10,192 Budget
For 3 Months - March 31st, 2016 Donations & Other Income $98,660 $132,501 Expenses (121,046) (132,501) Cash Shortfall to Budget (22,386) 0 Cash Position at March 31st, 2016 was $57,240. Note: Donations are $98,660 compared to the budget of $132,501 for a donation shortfall of $33,841.
“If you are caring for someone this “Free” show will offer valuable ideas, resources and suggestions.” from the desk of Pastoral Care & Seniors ministry 26
27
Leadership at Spring Garden Pastoral Team Gene Tempelmeyer, Pastor Ext. 222 genetemp@springgardenchurch.ca Greg Kay, Worship and Mission Pastor Ext. 224 gregkay@springgardenchurch.ca Margaret Sutton, Pastoral Care/Seniors Ext. 226 margaretsutton@springgardenchurch.ca Sam Lee, Pastor of Discipleship, Ext. 227 samlee@springgardenchurch.ca Suzanna Lai, Church Office and Communications Manager Ext. 221 suzanna@springgardenchurch.ca Jeremy Ranasinghe, Discpleship Ministries Assistant jeremy.ranasinghe@springgardenchurch.ca Samantha Steeles, Children’s intern samantha.steeles@springgardenchurch.ca Alyssa Oliver, youth intern alyssa.oliver@springgardenchurch.ca
Deacons Anne Barron - Missions and Worship (Acting Chair until June) 416.724.9329 anne.barron020@sympatico.ca Marion Cameron - Membership and Board Secretary 416.491.8542 marion.cameron@sympatico.ca Mary Ellen Hopkins - Finance 905.731.0492 mehopkins@sympatico.ca Koon Wah Leung - Discipleship Ministries 416.225.7092 koonwah@lycos.com Gonzalo Librado - Adult Ministries 416.229.2695 gonzalo.librado@sgbc.ca Darren Moore - Community Life 416.786.8727 darren.moore@utoronto.ca
28
Derek Prinsloo - Chair derek.prinsloo@sgbc.ca Judy Tranter - Pastoral Care judytranterassociates@gmail.com Jim Turner - Property jim.turner@sgbc.ca
647.349.4610 416.229.0494 416.512.1360
Elders Garth Barron garthbarron@sympatico.ca Darlene Boyd darlene.boyd@gmail.com Jennifer Moore jmofromto@gmail.com Barrie Porter barriep91@gmail.com Corinne Sutton-Smith blestfoods@aol.com
416.724.9329 416.385.2483 416.786.8727 416.829.4210 416.615.1763
Spring Garden Church 112 Spring Garden Ave. Toronto ON M2N3G3
T 416.223.4593 F 416.223.6126 www.springgardenchurch.ca office@springgardenchurch.ca
Prayer Line 416.223.4038
29
Community Corner
Life around Spring Garden Annual Meeting Sunday June 19, 2016 @ 12:00pm
There will be a brief Annual Meeting after worship gathering on Sunday June 19. The purpose of this meeting is to receive our annual reports and vote to fill the positions of various lay leaders including Elders and Deacons. Nominations to these positions will be posted around the building. We hope to see you there!
2016 Annual Report submission due May 15 All ministry leaders please submit your 2016 annual report with photos (covering from April 2015 to April 2016) by May 15. Please email to office@springgardenchurch.ca. Thank you.
30
Syrian Refugee Care Joint Fundraising Event Making Ends Meet: Raising funds to bring a new a family from the Syrian Crisis to Toronto Date: Thursday, May 26th, 7:00 PM Location: Blythwood Road Baptist Church (80 Blythwood Rd, Toronto, ON, M4N 1A4) Open invitation to the public. Live and Silent Auction for items and services. Meet your neighbours with live music and Middle Eastern refreshments! Please come out to join us and invite your friends, families and neighbours. For this fundraising event we are looking for people to offer their services, talents and/or items for bidding in the Live and Silent Auction. Services and talents can be anything from providing car washes, lawn mowing, to offering painting or music classes. Items can be anything from baked goods, movie tickets, gifts cards, a weekend stay at your cottage to a vacation package. Let your imagination guide you. Feel free to approach corporations, companies, and stores if you think they’d be interested in donating goods and services to this fundraiser. Please contact Jeff McGee at rag@sgbc.ca if you have services/talents or items to offer. 31
We will also need volunteers to help with setting up the event, serving refreshments, manning the tables, and cleanup. Email rag@ sgbc.ca if you are willing to help. Thank you for your generosity and compassion for the Syrian refugees. Let’s work together to reach our fundraising goal so we can move on to the next step of the process.
The word “networking” is talked about frequently but for many it can be a daunting process. This interactive workshop will not only look at why networking is so important but it will help you learn how to engage in conversation and create your own successful relationships.
Syrian Refugee Care Online donation is now available: Please visit our church website at www.springgardenchurch.ca/src to donate online through Canada Helps. Feel free to spread the word by emailing family and friends this link or post it on your social network pages. For Spring Gardeners, cash and cheque donations are still preferred as online contribution is subject to a 4% admin fee. Simply write Syrian Refugee Care on your offering envelope or on the memo line of your cheque and put it in the offering plate. If you prefer, you can also do monthly donations instead of a one time lump sum. Thank you for your generosity.
Please RSVP to events@springgardenchurch.ca with the subject title “Networking” by Sunday May 22.
CAREER GUIDANCE WORKSHOP: Networking with Confidence Date: Saturday May 28, 10:00 - 11:30am Location: SGC Youth Lounge (in basement) Presenter: Derek Smith - Derek is a Senior Career Coach with 2BDetermined Inc. He has been in the career consulting and coaching field for more than 12 years and has worked in the corporate, not for profit and post secondary industries. 32
2016 CBOQ Assembly: Looking for delegates Date: June 9-11, 2016 Location: Hilton Meadowvale, Missassauga Ontario Early Bird Deadline: May 8 More info: http://baptist.ca/assembly/ If you are interested in attending or being a SGC appointed voting delegate, please contact Gene: genetemp@springgardenchurch.ca by May 3rd.
2016 SGC Directory Update We will be doing a 2016 SGC Community Directory update in the month of May. Current 2015 directory will be posted in the lounge. Please visit the lounge to check if the your name, home address, and contact info are correct. If your information need to be updated or added to the 2016 directory, please fill out one of the paper directory forms beside the posting or by visiting our church website at www.springgardenchurch.ca to enter online. The last day to enter will be Sunday 29th. The new 2016 directory will be printed and made available in June. 33
What’s Happening
Pregnancy Care Centre First Response Relay 2016 May 7 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Spring Garden Church 112 Spring Garden Avenue, Toronto, Ontario Let’s walk together and show them we care More info and register online: http://pccfriends.ca/event/relay2016/
Life in Spring Garden
Weekly Tuesdays 2:00 pm - Pastoral Team meeting Wednesdays 10:00 am - Refresh Women’s Bible Study 7:00 pm - Groove Dance Group Thursdays 12:00 pm - Adult Bible Class Sundays 9:00 am - Morning Bible Study: meeting room - ESL Bible study: basement at the southwest entrance 10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship (communion on the first Sunday of the month) 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 at the bottom of our home page to subscribe to our weekly update
This Month
Sunday May 22nd - 11:30am: BBQ and Bike Blessing (pg. 3) Thursday May 26 - 7:00pm: Syrian Refugee Care Fundraiser, Blythwood Rdoad Baptist church (pg. 31) Saturday May 28 - 9:00 - noon : Pastors/Deacons/Elders Discernment Meeting
34
35
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. 36