November
2018
Features Musings: Remembrance Day and the Kingdom of God Make Remembrance Day More Meaningful Morale Mail - Showing Care over There "Healing the Whole Person... for Living the Whole Life" Proverbs by Henry Allen Ironside (H.A.) Save the date: Light of the World
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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: Kevin Lai Geoff Moore Greg Kay Victoria Shipmaker Sam Lee Karen Cassel Jeremy Ranasinghe Gene Tempelmeyer
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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: Remembrance Day and the Kingdom of God
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Hopefully, Remembrance Day is a reminder to our nation of the debt we owe to military personnel and their families. Hopefully, Remembrance Day will be a reminder to us and to our government that money spent on Veterans’ needs and care is money already committed long ago when we decided to disrupt those peoples’ lives, sending them, on our behalf, into situations of great danger and harm. It would be hypocritical to honour the military dead while begrudging the cost of caring for those who survived.
Of course, teaching this to our kids assumes we have figured out the connection between Remembrance Day and the Kingdom!
Even more, Remembrance Day, from its origin, is set aside as an incentive to seek peaceful resolutions to conflict because we remember the terrible costs of war. This day of gratitude does not glorify war – it depicts war in all its horror. Nothing should motivate us to work for peace more urgently than watching a bereaved, Silver Cross Mother placing a wreath at the National War Memorial.
As Christians “in the world but not of the world”, we constantly live between an ideal toward which we aspire and a reality to which we adjust. Many things which would be simple in a perfect world become much more complex and nuanced in the actual world.
Remembrance Day can and should be a powerful reminder of the urgency of living out the values of the Kingdom of God in our world and time. Peace, mercy, justice … these are all qualities we should be asking of our nation.
by Gene Tempelmeyer
s it happens, November 11, the annual day on which we remember lives lost in war, falls on a Sunday. We decided it would be good to observe this day with our children in an intergenerational worship gathering. We want our kids to have a perspective on the sacrifices others have made for them and how this act of remembrance fits into the Kingdom of God in our world.
Our Lord said, “Blessed are the peacemakers because they will be called children of God.” In a perfect world, there would be no war and no need for a military. In this imperfect world, sometimes military ability provides a means of protecting peace. Canada has played a significant peace making role by providing soldiers and equipment for just such a task in the last century. Sometimes the oppressive action of empire builders requires a military response. Canada has also played a role in these kinds of situations. Often a society appreciates the role of soldiers on the field of battle without recognising the cost that requires to the soldier and their family. If we deem it necessary to send troops into danger and sacrifice, it is only reasonable that we will take care of those people and their families during and after conflict. What does war do to people? Military life costs the family frequent moves and upheaval. Armed conflict creates deep anxiety and all the mental health issues that go along with living in prolonged anxiety for both military personnel and those who love them. Men and women come home from war wounded and maimed. Some of this can be seen: missing limbs and scar tissue. PTSD, grief, survivor guilt, shame, and other more invisible wounds that may require decades of support. 3
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Things you can do to make Remembrance Day more meaningful to you
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n Sunday, Nov. 11, we will be keeping our generations together for worship. The morning will include a number of personal stories about how war and military life affect ordinary people. There will be other expressions of worship and prayer that will help collect our gratitude for those who serve our national defence forces alongside our deep desire for peace. Our concern is not limited to Canada, however. We remember the people of every nation who have suffered the consequence of war. • Think through your family tree. Who has served in the military? What branch of the military? For what nation? Did they experience combat? What was life like for the rest of the family who stayed home and worried about them? Dig out some old photos. If you have children, be sure to share these photos and stories with your kids. • Get involved in our new Christmas Care Project: “Morale Mail: Showing Care over There” (see pg. 6). Shop for treats on the list. If you were away from Canada for a prolonged time in some isolated spot in the world – what would you most enjoy receiving from a stranger? If you have children, get them to draw a picture or write a “Thank You!” story book to go into the box. • Google “armed conflict”. Pray for whatever nation the 6th entry is focused on. Google “Canadian military”, pray whatever is appropriate from the third entry. Google “Canadian Forces base”. Pray for the families in the first base mentioned in the 4th entry.
• When you buy a poppy for yourself, buy a second and give it to the first person you see who doesn’t have one. 5
Morale Mail - Showing Care Over There by Victoria Shipmaker
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id you know that there are Canadian soldiers serving all over the world in different missions, many without any expectation of being involved in armed conflict? Some are stationed to help teach, some to maintain boundaries in sea and air and others to monitor situations that are brewing. The one common thing with the soldiers of today with those in the past is the boredom, homesickness and uncomfortable living conditions. This year we are offering a new activity that shares our care and helps us find points of discussion about war and peace and the cost of both. How do our Kingdom values operate in a world of Empires? Through the charity (Toronto) Military Families Resource Centre - TMFRC in Downsview, we are able to send boxes of needed items and treats to soldiers serving overseas. You may be surprised by the types of items that soldiers enjoy receiving - unscented baby wipes for a quick bath out in the field, powdered mixes to improve the flavour of water, beef jerky and granola bars for hunger pangs, cards and crossword puzzles for boredom and of course Canadian treats like ketchup chips and hickory sticks. Did you know that one of the most needed items are socks - no matter the weather a pair of fresh socks is important for morale. Of course letters, pictures or drawings are 6
appreciated as well. The TMFRC will take our boxes and connect them to a soldier who does not have family. If you are interested please pick up a box with a list of items that are suggested and instructions from Victoria or Cliff at the table in the main (west) lounge. The boxes will be sent from Toronto to Trenton by the military and then sent to stations via military aircraft so we do not need to arrange for shipping. A box can come in as low as 25 dollars depending on what you choose - it truly is the thoughts and wishes that come with the gifts that boost morale! Signed - SGBIT (Spring Garden Based Initiatives Team)
"Healing the Whole Person... for Living the Whole Life"
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oming to Spring Garden, has been very helpful for me in growing a vision of vocation and calling in the community and one that aligns with kingdom values. In my youth, I found myself counseling peers in their spiritual journey. I reflected on how I was limited in my ability to minister, when it was confined to only one area of life, and yet Jesus' healing in physical, social, psychological and spiritual realms was comprehensive. I went on to study the craft of medicine, particularly family medicine, as it is taught within an evidenced-based bio-psycho-social framework of health. I worked in the emergency departments in India and Toronto, often saving people from the brink of death; and some would argue, even resuscitating people back from the physical dead (as defined by the cessation of breathing or heartbeat). In my family practice, I treated people from many walks of life through their conditions from birth to death. My attention turned to the understanding that a patient's health is impacted not only their genetics and physical body, but also their life experiences, lifestyle, social and economic environment. It is also affected by the systems and structures in place of our world. For example, in my integrated approach to weight management, we address the underlying psychological process, biological urges, and lifestyle practices to 7
help people reach their Best Weight, in spite of the many nonmodifiable factors that contribute to the growing obesity epidemic. In expanding my treatment of medical illness from the medical model to psychotherapeutic modalities, I have observed that the suffering experience dwells within the interface of mental health and spirituality. Two years ago, we embarked on an exercise of faith to start a clinic that endeavors to provide health and wellness services with a wholistic perspective, with family doctors being the central coordinator. We have a growing team of medical doctors, chiropractor, physiotherapist, chiropodist, dietitian, psychotherapist, child & youth behaviour analyst, and administrative staff that co-locate and coordinate with a shared system. Many thanks to members of Spring Garden who have offered support along the way. We also meet regularly with a group of psychiatrist and family doctors, who happen to be Christians, to discuss difficult cases, for professional consultation and learning. I have wondered how amazing it would be if we could add providers to our clinic who have a background in ministry and also have training in evidence-based psychotherapy. This would round out the framework to be a biopsycho-social-spiritual model. The social determinants of health tell us that the conditions which one lives under directly affects the quality of health. For example: poverty is the single largest determinant of health (WHO, 2011). We also know that some people cannot afford to pay for the excellent health services that are available even in our own first world country. The value of health to relationships, academics, work, economy and ministry are clear to us, however, it is often not recognized by many. This is particularly true in the area of mental health. We may live with an idealized concept of public health insurance, however, many services have been de-listed, removed from funding, and continually cut back in an effort to reign in health care costs. This shifts the burden to the private sector; and those in the lower rungs of the socio-economic ladder bear the brunt of the externalized costs. 8
The next phase we hope to eventually see, is to establish a charitable arm, such as a "Get Well" Foundation, to support the vision of providing wholistic care to our community (such as students, young families, seniors, newcomers or other at-risk populations). This would enable us to access funds not available to a medical clinic. We would be able to hire professionals to carry out this wholistic vision. It could foster more collaboration for becoming an incubator of innovation in service provision with kingdom values. We could also conduct research and add to the ever growing body of evidence for spirituality or religion and health (Koenig et al.) However, this is a monumental endeavor, that we do not have the bandwidth to proceed alone. We would need experienced individuals who would be willing to volunteer for direction, operations, finances, and service provision.
At the cottage this summer, I came across a book called “Notes on the Book of Proverbs� by Henry Ironside. This book had been a gift in 1934 to my uncle Frank from his sister. I found this book really encourages us to study the Bible! You can find this book online at https://www.amazon.com/Notes-Book-Proverbs-Ironside-Commentary/ dp/197315061
Save the Date!
I recall a conversation from long ago, where a friend's non-believing father was driving us teenagers to church. He was disillusioned with how doctors and medicine were treating people, since people only get momentarily better and then relapse to chronic illness and eventually die. "It's futile, doctors don't actually save anyone," he would critically lament while driving. Ironically, his believing wife would eventually develop cancer and died young. I remember making a typical adolescent quip from the back of the car, "I guess only Jesus Saves." The redemptive story for the whole world, is so much larger. We'd like to be part of it. Will you join us in one small part of it? ~ Kevin (along with Suzanna)
Henry Allen Ironside (H.A.) by Geoff Moore
Henry Allen was a Canadian American Bible Teacher, preacher, theologian, pastor and author who pastored Moody Church in Chicago from 1929 to 1948. He died in 1951. 9
Light of the World this year will be on Dec 16, 2018 at 6:30pm Light of the World is a festive evening of funky Christmas fun. Join us @Spring Garden as we sing favorite Christmas songs with an upbeat band and eat lots of great desserts. If you are able to donate nut free desserts, please contact Cheryl Chapman cheryl.chapman@ live.ca. If you feel like getting into the Christmas spirit, check out our previous LOTW Band recordings on YouTube . A new track coming to you soon! 10
Partnering with Families
SGC Discipleship Ministries 11
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: Promises This month, children will be learning about Joseph, Moses and David. The big idea is that God wants us to know him. As each of these characters grew, they got to know God more and more, and God wants us to know him too! “Come near to God, and he will come near to you.” - James 4:8
Grades 1-5
• God is in Control • God is Faithful • God Delivers
Spring Youth Youth Retreat Recap! We recently went on our annual youth retreat and are thankful for all of the prayers and thoughts as we drove to and from the camp. This year we had 20 youth join our retreat, and we saw God move in different ways through them. A special thanks to Clem Lee, Koon Leung, and Kristen Adams who helped with driving.
Here is what's happening this November!
Sunday Morning Worship Gatherings:
November 4th, 18th - 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. November 25th: Serve Sunday (Youth are either upstairs in the large worship gathering, or serving in other areas) November 11th: Intergenerational Gathering (youth will take part in worship upstairs with the whole of the church)
Youth Life Groups:
Life Groups will happen on November 2nd, and November 23rd. For more information email Sam or Jeremy
Youth Events: November 9th: Service Project - More Information to come! Time: TBD November 30th: Escape Room/Board Games: We will be heading out to an escape room for an evening of mystery and fun Time: 5:00pm-9:00pm Cost: TBD
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 12
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)
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Not the boss of us: putting overwhelmed in its place in a do-all, be-all world
we are afraid that if we were to take a moment of rest, we might discover that all our busyness is covering up an essential lack in our lives. But God never meant for us to be so busy. God desires for us to have rest and peace. Brady Boyd shows you how to live a life that embraces stillness and solitude, so you can find the peace that God wants for you.
by Kay Wills Wyma Too much to manage and not enough time or energy to do it? Being overwhelmed has become the new normal. In Not the Boss of Us: Putting Overwhelmed in its Place, Kay Wills Wyma shares how to confront the pressures we face and replace them with the liberating truth that we were made for more. Using personal stories and a dash of humor, she gives us permission to step back and find fulfillment and freedom anchored in Truth. Each chapter concludes with a "Water Station" section where you can take a break and find practical ideas for reducing the clutter in your life.
Addicted to busy: recovery for the rushed soul
Welcome to adulting: navigating faith, friendship, finances, and the future by Jonathan Pokluda
Adulting is hard. But sometimes we make it harder than it has to be. Combining entertaining stories from his own experience, insights from the Bible, and compelling evidence from research, Jonathan "JP" Pokluda lays out a roadmap for how to navigate your life as an adult, addressing topics such as: • • • • • •
friendships and dating career and money management interpersonal conflict controlling anxiety recovering from addiction and discovering your purpose on this earth
If you're struggling to find a footing in the world of adult life, this witty, non-patronizing guide is for you.
by Brady Boyd We are all spread too thin, taking on more than we can handle, trying to do so much—almost as if
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Leadership at Spring Garden Pastoral Team Gene Tempelmeyer, Pastor 416-223-4593 genetemp@springgardenchurch.ca Greg Kay, Worship and Mission Pastor gregkay@springgardenchurch.ca Sam Lee, Pastor of Discipleship, samlee@springgardenchurch.ca Jeremy Ranasinghe, Discipleship Ministries Assistant jeremy@springgardenchurch.ca
Ext. 222 Ext. 224 Ext. 227 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
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
416.385.2483 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
Elders Garth Barron 15
416-724-9329
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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 Gene Tempelmeyer 416-223-4593 ext. 222 for more info. Gene will be teaching a Bible Study for the month of Nov
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.
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)
This Month All Month - Moral Mail Care Project (pg 6) Nov 9 Nov 11 Nov 25 Nov 30
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- Youth Service Project (More info to come) - Intergenerational Gathering (pg 17) - Youth Serve Sunday (pg 17) - Youth Escape Room/Board Games
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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.