October Delve 2018 by SGC_Church

October 2018 1

Features Musings: Thank you, Margaret! The Gift of Time Ron and Dalia Fairbanks Serving with Greater Europe Mission Marriage Encounter with Christ (MEC) Sir Can You Help Me? Garden Update Thanksgiving Pies for the Marginalized Foodbank collection for October Be the Light of the World on Halloween When you can find our Pastors here We're Hiring

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Departments SGC Discipleship Ministries Resource Centre

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Information Contact Inormation Calendar

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Cover & Design: Dale Forder Michelle Li Contributors: Richard Burgess Ron Fairbanks Greg Kay Cliff Shipmaker Sam Lee Karen Cassel Jeremy Ranasinghe 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

Copy Editors: Greg Kay Karen Cassel Jeremy Ranasinghe Gene Tempelmeyer

Musings: Thank you, Margaret! by Gene Tempelmeyer

argaret Sutton has been one of our pastors for more than two decades. Her most recent job title has been “Seniors and Pastoral Care Pastor.” I have often thought a more accurate title might be ”Parties Pastor.” Whether it is birthday parties for seniors or her annual Garden Party, Margaret seems to have the spiritual gift of cake and balloons. Please don’t think that I am trivializing Margaret’s long and valued ministry. When I am feeling down or like I’ve got the world on my shoulders, Margaret is one of the first people I turn to for prayer. I have come to rely on her spiritual perception and faith-filled prayer life.

It was a happy relief to hear Margaret say that after “retirement” she plans to remain part of Spring Garden Church. She will need to disappear for a brief time so we can adjust to our life together without her on the pastoral team. When she does make it back on Sunday mornings, it will be important for us to respect and enjoy her new place among us as a valued and spiritual member who used to have an office here. Active pastor or not, Margaret will always have a place of honour in our community as one who has served us faithfully and well. And she will always have another very special place in our hearts as one who shared and celebrated life with us, always seeing more of the potential for God to love, heal, and use us even more. Thank you, Margaret!

Margaret has been a tireless voice for the needs and interest of seniors at Spring Garden. She has pursued a vision of bringing young people and older people together in shared community, praying for and listening to one another. More recently Margaret was challenged to think about the hurt of Canada’s indigenous community and how Christians, in particular, could respond to this hurt. Through the Red Dress Campaign to remember missing and murdered indigenous women and through blanket exercises that help us understand the marginalization of Canada’s First Nations, Margaret has brought concern for education and reconciliation to our church community. Yes, “Parties Pastor” fits her well. Because Margaret likes to have fun. A chef and an amazing baker, when Margaret hosts a meal, you don’t want to miss it. I often suspect she is on a first name basis with clerks in dollar stores all across the city. So you can expect fun decorations and a little surprise gift before you go home. It seems to me that Margaret’s ministry has largely been a ministry of celebration. Celebrating people: the work of God in each of us. Celebrating a good earth, measured out with four seasons and lots of holidays. Celebrating friendship, laughter, and love. Such celebration unlocks faith and hope for the future. As Margaret transitions into the next phase of her life she does not anticipate being idle. Her world is full of opportunities to serve God by serving people. 4

something is out there ahead of us, but simply not being able to see it yet. For myself, not being able to see with clarity what lies ahead, not having a clear vision of where God may direct me and Spring Garden has been very challenging and at times discouraging—I just want God to clear away the clouds and make all things known! But yet, the cloud remains and, as frustrating and hard as that can be, there is a blessing in the mist—I have had to learn to trust, and learn to choose to trust when trust doesn’t come naturally. I still have a lot of growing to do in my trusting God, but I feel like this daily looking into the cloud of the unknown and choosing to trust that God is there, that the future is before me, has strengthened my faith and given me the hope I need to take the next step into the fog.

The Gift of Time by Greg Kay

he picture accompanying this article is a photo Monica took during our trip to Japan during our sabbaticals this summer. It is a photo of Mount Fuji, one of the most majestic and iconic landmarks in Japan. As you can see (or not see), our trip to the small town Yamanashi near the base of the volcano was, well, a little disappointing, considering Mt. Fuji remained shrouded in clouds the entire time we were there. While it was a cause for some dismay and paradoxically some good laughs, it has also become a symbol of one of the two biggest areas of growth over my sabbatical this past mid-April to mid-August. While we were in Yamanashi Monica pointed out that, while we couldn’t see Mt Fuji hidden in the mist, you could still sense its presence in some indefinable way. And while our hearts longed for the clouds to dissipate giving us clarity of vision to behold the majesty that is Mt Fuji, there was still some awe in the sense of its nearness. As a secondary objective for my sabbatical was to discern some direction for what lies ahead leading up to and following Gene’s retirement, the unseen Mt Fuji became a symbol to us for knowing and trusting 6

The second area of growth I feel I had during my sabbatical has been in my relation to time. The ancient Greeks had two words for “time”— chronos and kairos. In Greek mythology, chronos is as a menacing and conquering God who devours his own children. Not dissimilarly, the word chronos is about chronological time—the ticking of the clock, the constant approaching of deadlines and end dates—never ceasing and unrelenting. Living under the pressures of chronos time has killed the life and joy in many a good soul. Kairos time on the other hand is about the right or opportune moment—it is not about seconds or minutes but about depth and presence, the rightness of time for action. Where chronos speaks of a specific amount of time, kairos speaks of the fullness or rightness of time. Often when these distinctions are made in Christian teaching we are encouraged as Kingdom people to not worship the god of time that devours, conquers and kills, but to live in Kingdom time, present to God and the world without worry and fear. During my sabbatical I tried to live in Kairos Kingdom time, not being driven by the passing of time but by being present in the moment to those around me. I found these times most wonderfully encouraging and life giving…until I realized I used up the spare seconds and minutes I had and now needed to rush to get the kids from school, or be on time for making dinner, etc. etc. There are things that need to get done in a timely way—for example, the kids being late for school every day ‘cause I was “in the moment” isn’t a bragging point as a Christian, it is letting my kids down as a parent. 7

That’s when I realized that living the “right” kind of time isn’t about ignoring of killing off chronos to live only in Kairos, but actually requires some kind of redeeming of chronos time. Living with the absence of seconds isn’t an option if there are people who depend on you. But perhaps redeeming those seconds and minutes is. Is there perhaps a way for the beast of chronos to be redeemed so that one can dwell in the Kingdom time of Kairos while still flowing in redeemed chronos time? I wish I had the answer for you, but I don’t. However, over the past few months I have found that there is freedom in not seeing myself for being a failure because I’m not able to live 100% in Kingdom time, and a hope that perhaps God is working to redeem the passing of seconds, hours and days as I seek His presence in the present. So, Spring Garden, thank you again for the gift of time this past spring and summer. I had the most wonderful time connecting with Monica and my daughters, adventuring in Japan, and learning more about myself and God. I look forward to taking steps of faith with you into the cloud before us, discerning God’s leading and direction in hope and peace together.

Serving with Greater Europe Mission Marriage Encounter with Christ (MEC) by Ron and Dalia Fairbanks

ay back in 1998 Dalia and I were invited to participate in the first MEC in Portugal. At the time we were stressed, having some conflicts in our own relationship, as you can imagine with 3 little ones. We really didn’t want to go because it was in the Algarve, a 5-6 hour drive from Lisbon. We did go and it impacted our own lives so much so that we have dedicated considerable time, money and energy to this vital ministry ever since. Fast forward……….. In 2017, Noémia and Luciano asked us to consider putting on the MEC in Terceira at the request of the local Church. We prayed about it and God said go for it. We didn’t initiate this, God did. We went in obedience to His call. You may not know this but pioneering a new work is often very difficult. There are frequently numerous obstacles, as the enemy of our souls doesn’t want Christ’s Kingdom to advance but if God is in it then He will accomplish His purposes. We were told that there would be 7 couples but in the end we only had 3. Not knowing the Island, where to buy materials, not having a phone, nor Internet, made things and especially communication very difficult. Five days before the Encounter we learned that Paul and Billy Jo from Canada would not be coming because her mother had passed away. Paul was to be our cook so we had to find a solution at the last minute. God worked everything out including how to abide by the Christian Camp’s strict rules but we complied completely and everything went well. Praise God that the only Pre-Christian gave his life to Christ and all 3 couples asked to join the team. This small local group began to meet regularly to pray, prepare, save money and plan for this year.

This year, 3 weeks before the Encounter we learned that we could not do any decorations etc. at the Camp so we had to find another venue. The local team searched everywhere but at the end of the summer the whole Island is celebrating one thing or another and we couldn’t find anything available. On Tuesday Aug. 28 we found a lovely house with a gorgeous pool. Unfortunately, the house was empty so we had to 9

supply everything; fridge, stove, tables, chairs, dishes, pots pans etc. Another group was renting it for the day before us, so we were only allowed in to set up Sat Sept.1 at around 12:30am. It was a long night of diligent work but our small team managed. God answered your prayers in multiple ways: 3 of the 5 Pre-Christians gave their lives to our Saviour. (What a party there was in heaven). António and Kseniia were a unique Pre - Christian couple who God wanted in His Kingdom. António is a Portuguese / Brazilian living in Germany for 16 years. Kseniia is Russian but met António in Germany and they got married in Russia. How crazy can you get? Everything at the MEC was in Portuguese which António translated into German but Kseniia also spoke English. In our small group, everyone understood English so we explained God’s principles in English, all this to say that God worked miracles so that this couple would surrender to Him and be transformed. All the couples, including the remaining 2 PreChristians have asked to join the team, to put the MEC on for others next year. Obviously there were numerous obstacles that sought to discourage, divide or destroy us but our God is Omnipotent and He gave the victory over these schemes of our enemy. Noémia had to go to the hospital Sat. afternoon with Luciano and D. Noémia because she had a bladder infection but thank God the medications worked and they all returned Sunday. By the grace of God everyone pitched in and we all worked tirelessly to fulfill God’s will. The logistics of moving everyone at night to the camp to sleep was tiresome but everything worked out in the end. We heeded God’s command to go and He faithfully provided everything that was necessary to do what He asked. Thanks for your partnership over many years in this effective ministry. This picture is of the best ending ever in our 20 years of this ministry. We almost had baptisms for the new believers but they wanted to do picture that in the This is of the best ending ever in our 20 years of this ministry. local Church. We almost had baptisms for the new believers but they wanted to do that in the local Church. 10

Sir Can You Help Me? by Richard Burgess

It happened about 2 years ago on a warm sunny August afternoon, I was on my way to pick up a few items at the store, when I approached by a young woman. She said, “Sir, can you help me?” She explained that she been walking for about 4 hours and had no money and she had not eaten for about a day and a half. She had long brunette hair and a sad drawn tired look on her face, streams of mascara lined her cheeks from crying. She wore a baggy worn out red t-shirt with faded letters that faintly made out the logo of Chanel No. 5. She had on tore tattered blue jeans and white dusty sandals, one of which had a broken heel. She never told me her name or what happened, But… I was glad to help her. I said. “I’ll be glad to help you the best way I can.” Here’s $20 dollars and lunch is on me.” We walked to local burger place we purchased a meal and a coffee, then she went to the ladies room to freshen up. After we had eaten I said, “There’s a shoe store up the street, would you like to buy some new sandals?” We enter the shoe store and about 30 minutes of looking at sandals, she selected a pair she liked. I paid for them, we walked and chatted a bit, I took out my cell phone to call the Go Bus station to enquire about the price of a bus ticket from Toronto to Brantford, Ontario. The attendant at the Go Bus terminal quoted about $40.00 - $45.00. I paid for the ticket with my credit card and gave her the ticket. She said to me, “Why, Why? Are you being so kind to me?” “What do you want from me?” My reply was “Absolutely nothing, you asked me to help you so that’s what I’m doing. We are all brothers and sisters in the world and sometimes we need help.” She smiled at me, hugged me gave me a peck on the cheek and boarded the bus and waved goodbye and she was gone. I stood there in the bus terminal for a few minutes as the bus pulled out of the terminal. In a silent prayer, I said “Thank you God for letting me help that young woman. Amen!”

Garden Update

Thanksgiving Pies for the Marginalized

by Cliff Shipmaker

his year we once again embarked on planting a vegetable garden to grow some produce to be provided to the Drop Inn at Cummer United church. The drop in occurs every Wednesday and the people attending there have an opportunity to have a meal while there. The produce was used in the meals. In the spring a small team of Spring Gardeners, pardon the pun, prepared the garden and planted tomatoes, beans, peppers, carrots, kale and lettuce. The picture shows the latest harvest from the garden picked on Sunday the 23rd of September. As we come to the end of the growing season we are thankful that God has provided conditions that help the produce to thrive, lots of sun and rain.

lanning on baking a pie for Thanksgiving? How about baking an extra one for those who have no home to celebrate Thanksgiving? If you would like to donate, please drop off your pie(s) on or before Sunday Oct 7th (Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend). If you have any questions please contact Greg Kay (gregkay@ springgardenchurch.ca) and for more information on The Gateway go to thegateway.ca

There is still chocolate mint and lemon balm available in the planter beside the bench for anyone to gather. They are a nice touch for iced tea. We will be sharing the final harvest at refreshment time on Sunday. Thank you to the team, Eva, Martin, Alice, Cherryl, Suzanna, Vicki, Cliff, Garry and Michael 12

Halloween Oct 31st

nce a year our neighbours spill out into the street, opening their doors to one another on Halloween. As people who take loving our neighbours seriously, Halloween provides a wonderful opportunity to develop relationships with those who live around us. Here are some opportunities for individual and communal engagement: Hand Out Candy @Spring Garden: Join other Spring Gardenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ers from 6-8pm (rain or shine) on the front lawn to give out candy and hot chocolate to Willowdale kids and their families! If you live in a condo or non-trick-or-treating neighbourhood please come and join us.

Foodbank Collection for October

Donate nut-free Candy to be handed out @Spring Garden. Donations can be left at the church office. Be present in your neighbourhood and get to know your neighbours.

his October we will be collecting food bank items for our local foodbank. We will have bins at the two main entrances (parking lot door and doors facing Spring Garden Avenue). To assist you in what is most needed (and in remembering!) we have included a list of most needed below. On Thanksgiving Sunday (Oct 7) we are hoping to have some food items already collected to use as part of our worship, so if youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve already bought some items please bring them Sunday Oct 7th. If you have any questions please contact Greg Kay (gregkay@ springgardenchurch.ca, 416-223-4593 x224). For more information on North York Harvest foodbank go to https://northyorkharvest.com/ Guidelines for health regulations: Any items in "packaged containers" such as cereals, pasta, "kraft diner", rice, tea, coffee, dry soups, baking powders, cake mixes, jello mixes, other baking goods, etc. must be sealed and not opened in any way All donated food must not exceed the expiry date nor be beyond the "best before" date. Packages cannot be opened. Fresh meat and fish products cannot be accepted. 14

When you can find our Pastors here:

We’re Hiring!

ffice hours at Spring Garden are 9:00 – 5:30 Monday to Thursday. Much of our pastors’ work is done outside the office and some of our team work part-time. This makes it hard to know when you might be able to find pastors in their office, available for a conversation. You’re always welcome to drop in to our offices without an appointment, but if you want to be certain one of the pastors is in the office and free to talk with you it is best to make an appointment. To make it a little easier to know when the pastors are on site, these are the weekly hours they are regularly here: Greg Kay, noon – 5:30 Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 3:00 – 5:30 Tuesday.

or a little more than a year Michelle Li has been responsible to manage our office and communications. We are very grateful for all she has brought to our church family. Michelle has decided it is time for her to move in a new direction, so this job is becoming open at the end of October. Please pray for Michelle as she begins a new chapter and pray for us as we search for someone to take that place in the office. If you or someone you know would like to apply, please send a cover letter and resume to Greg Kay (gregkay@springgardenchurch.ca). We will begin reviewing resumes on October 10, 2018. You can find the job posting at SpringGardenChurch.ca.

Sam Lee, 9:00 – noon, Monday – Thursday. Michelle Li, Monday – Thursday, 9:30 - 3:00. Jeremy Ranasinghe, 10:00 – 1:00 Tuesday, noon - 4:00 Thursday. Margaret Sutton, 9 – noon Tuesday and Thursday. Gene Tempelmeyer, 9:00 am – noon Monday – Thursday. 16

Partnering with Families

SGC Discipleship Ministries 18

Spring Kids Nursery (0-18 months) - Purple Room Toddler/Pre-K (2 & 3 Year Olds) - Orange Room JK/SK (4 - 5 Year Olds) - Yellow Room Grades 1 & 2 - Blue Room for drop off and pick up Grade 3 - Blue Room for drop off, Green Room for pick up Grade 4 & 5 - Blue Room for drop off, and Red Room for pick up Grade 6-12 - Youth Lounge Here is an overview of what we will be talking about on Sundays for Spring Kids.

Toddlers/Pre-K – JK/SK: Alive This month, children will be learning about many of God’s promises: God’s promise to Noah, God’s promise to Abraham and Sarah, and God’s promise to Jacob. The big idea is that God keeps his promises, and this statement is as true now as it was then. “God has made a great many promises.” - 2 Corinthians 1:20a

Grades 1-5 • • • •

God Blesses God is Good Remember and Celebrate God is Enough

SGC Youth

Here is what's happening this October!

Sunday Morning Worship Gatherings: October 7th and 14th - 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. October 28th: Serve Sunday (Youth are either upstairs in the large worship gathering, or serving in other areas) **Please be aware there is no youth worship on October 21st due to the youth retreat. Any youth not on the retreat are encouraged to join the upstairs worship time**

Youth Life Groups: Life Groups will start back up on October 5th, 2018. For more information email Sam or Jeremy.

Youth Events: October 19-21 - Youth Retreat:

Our annual retreat is coming up very quickly. As space is limited please reserve your youth’s spot asap. Money is due by October 10th, and can be paid by cash, cheque or E-transfer. More details to come. Cost: $85

October 26th - Ultimate Frisbee We will be meeting at the church to learn and play ultimate frisbee. Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm Cost: $5 (Includes food)

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 19

Wednesday Refresh Women's Group

Community Corner

Friendship, care, and spiritual growth and for women; child care provided. We meet on Wednesdays, 10:00-11:30 a.m. Feel free to contact Tanya Salituro at 416-222-4662 for more details. Groups of Hope LEADERS TRAINING WORKSHOP The Groups of Hope Program offers a setting where God can bring healing and wellbeing through spiritual awakening • Through the Groups of Hope Program, in eight simple hour long sessions, people come together with two leaders to listen to a bible story, look at how it relates to their life situations, in a place where they can be accepted and be themselves • It offers the opportunity to find renewed hope and enable them to know that God walks with them in difficult times • This workshop will be co- lead by Faith Holwyn the founder and author of the Groups of Hope • Is God calling you to be a leader of a group that can renew people's hope? Thursday October 4, 2018 9:00am - 3pm Renforth Baptist Church, 627 Burnamthorpe Road, Etobicoke M9C2Y9 Cost for the day $35.00 Includes lunch and a leader's handbook. ANY QUESTIONS? RESERVE YOUR SPOT! Brenda Halk bhalk@cbmin.org 905-8213533 ex 125

CBM facilitates the Groups of Hope program in Canadian Baptist Churches and Partners. For resource materials, workshops, trainings or more information please contact: Brenda Halk bhalk@cbmin.org 21

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

Recomendations

The Resource Centre 22

Forgiving God, a story of faith, by Stephen Arterburn

Understanding and Loving a Person with, by Stephen Arterburn If you have a loved one with mental health struggles, you will find encouragement and practical help in this new series from bestselling author Stephen Arterburn. Drawing on brain research, personal stories, and proven treatments, this compassionate look at different mental illnesses empowers readers to support their loved ones without feeling overwhelmed themselves. Covering topics such as sexual addiction, PTSD, and alcohol or drug addiction, the Arterburn Wellness Series will give you practical help to better understand and interact with your loved ones who deal with mental illness.

When Hilary Yancey learned her son would be born with disabilities, she cried out to God--but he was silent. As she nursed Jack through ER trips and surgeries, the God she thought she knew became a stranger. Journey with her as she fights her way back from doubt to faith---and experience anew Christ's presence in your life.

The sin of certainty: why God desires our trust more than our “correct” beliefs, by Peter Enns

With compelling and often humorous stories from his own life, Bible scholar Peter Enns offers a fresh look at how Christian life truly works, answering questions that cannot be addressed by the idealized traditional doctrine of “once for all delivered to the saints.” Enns offers a model of vibrant faith that views skepticism not as a loss of belief, but as an opportunity to deepen religious conviction with courage and confidence. This is not just an intellectual conviction, he contends, but a more profound kind of knowing that only true faith can provide.

Also new in the Resource Centre is a collection of books and pamphlets regarding Indigenous Peoples. This includes: • The Journey Together: Ontario’s commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples • The Inconvenient Indian: a curious account of native people in North America, by Thomas King • Seven fallen feathers: racism, death and hard truths in a northern city, by Tanya Talaga

Leadership at Spring Garden

Elders

Pastoral Team Gene Tempelmeyer, Pastor 416-223-4593 genetemp@springgardenchurch.ca Greg Kay, Worship and Mission Pastor gregkay@springgardenchurch.ca Margaret Sutton, Pastoral Care/Seniors margaretsutton@springgardenchurch.ca Sam Lee, Pastor of Discipleship, samlee@springgardenchurch.ca Michelle Li, Church Office and Communications Manager michelleli@springgardenchurch.ca Jeremy Ranasinghe, Discipleship Ministries Assistant jeremy@springgardenchurch.ca

Ext. 222 Ext. 224 Ext. 226 Ext. 227 Ext. 221 Ext. 223

Deacons Sam Chaise 647-968-5065 sam_chaise@yahoo.com Adora Chui 905.962.3897 adora.chui@sgbc.ca Lesley Daniels 416.806.5373 dr.ldaniels@gmail.com Joanne Laing 416-617-6582 joannelaing@gmail.com MartinDewar 416.229.2695 martin.dewar@sgbc.ca 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 24

Garth Barron garthbarron@sympatico.ca Darlene Boyd darlene.boyd@gmail.com Cindie Chaise cchaise@yahoo.ca Cheryl Chapman cheryl.chapman@live.ca Joanna James jo.april.james@gmail.com Brad Sider bradsider@yahoo.ca

416-724-9329 416.385.2483 416.738.0530 416.222.6963 647.928.0862 647.200.6853

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

What’s Happening Life in Spring Garden

Weekly Tuesdays 1:00 pm - Pastoral Team Meeting (in Meeting Room) Wednesdays 10:00 am -11:30 am - Refresh Women's Group - in West Lounge 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm - ESL cafe - Wednesday Thursdays 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm - The Thursday Bunch Contact Margaret Sutton 416-223-4593 ext. 226 for more info Sundays 9:00 am - 10:00 am - ESL Bible Class - Sunday (at southwest corner, lower level) 9:00 am -10:00 am - Sunday Morning Bible Study (in Meeting Room) 10:00 am - 11:30 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 address on our home page to subscribe to our weekly email.

This Month Oct 1-31 - Food bank collection (pg 14) Oct 5

- Youth Life Group begins

Oct 19-21 - Fall Youth Retreat (pg 17) Oct 26 - Youth Ultimate Frisbee (pg 17) Oct 28 - Youth Serve Sunday (pg 17) Oct 28 - Margaret Sutton's Retirement party Oct 31 - Halloween Canday and Hot Chocolate Handout at SGC (pg 15) 26

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.