An
Intersection
Of
Faith
And Life
October 2016
Delve
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Features Communal Worship, Part 2: Rooted (and growing) 3 Musings: Where God Shows Up 10 Update from the Syrian Refugee Action Group 19 Naming Jesus: The Messiah 24
Communal Worship, Part 2: Rooted (and growing)
Departments Resource Centre 16 Discipleship Ministries 20 Financial Update 23
Information Contact Information 32 Community Corner 34 Calendar 39 Cover & Design: Clement Lee Contributors: Marion Cameron Karen Cassel Greg Kay Suzanna Lai Sam Lee 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
Many of us are familiar with the organic metaphor of comparing our spiritual lives with being well rooted—a tree with a strong root system planted by streams enduring storms and droughts, while a tree with a weak root system can easily be uprooted (cf. Psalm 1:3, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Matthew 13:5-6, Matthew 15:13)—and of bearing fruit—the health of a tree can be seem in the fruit it produces (cf. Isaiah 5:7, Jeremiah 17:7-8, Matthew 3:10, 7:15-20, 12:33, John 15:1-17). These metaphors are beautiful pictures for our spirituality of what it looks when we are rooted in and abide in God. I think these images are also healthy metaphors for our communal spirituality, particularly in regards to how we approach worship as a gathered community. In last month’s Delve we discussed what it means that our gathered worship is COMMUNAL. A definition of gathered worship that I gave was: Communal worship is when God’s people gather together as a particular community for ENGAGEMENT in ROOTED and COMMUNAL worship, giving glory to God and witnessing to His Kingdom. This month we’re looking at the ROOTED nature of our communal worship. 3
In Spring Garden we believe that communal worship should be rooted in Christ, Scripture and the history and traditions of the Church, and so the movements and elements of our gathered worship draw on and stem from these. We also believe that our rooted expression of communal worship, like the community and its mission, should also be abiding, growing, pruning and bearing fruit in Christ. Our communal worship is rooted: In Christ • Ultimately, all of our worship, both personally and communally, has God at its centre as He has revealed Himself through Christ by the Holy Spirit. This is an abstract spiritual reality in the sense that God is the one who calls us, enables us, and mediates for us our worship through Christ. “In Christ” is the very being of who we are. It is also a concrete practical aspiration as we at Spring Garden seek that everything we do together during communal worship is intentionally rooted in Christ to glorify God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). This is a primary “test” of if something has a place during our worship. In Scripture • Scripture and its interpretation in the community is one of God’s primary means by which He has revealed, and continues to reveal, Himself, His actions, and His desire for the cosmos through the Holy Spirit. Scripture also gives expression of our own hearts to God, most obviously in but not limited to the Psalms. The Scriptures also help root our worship as a means by which we are able to discern if something (a song, a prayer, etc.) has place in our worship of the true God. In history and Christian tradition • God has continued revealing Himself by the Spirit in the centuries since the Scriptures were formed and so we seek to ground ourselves in and continue the story of God’s work and revelation through the Church, its traditions and spirituality. Every ring of a living tree’s trunk tells the story of season it has gone through, but with healthy pruning, as the tree continues to grow, each ring can add to the maturing and strengthening of the tree. 4
Whether we like it or not, we are rooted to our past. And so we choose not to ignore or attempt to cut off our past (which ultimately leads to weakening or even worse, the death of the tree), but to celebrate and discerningly grow on the healthy parts of our past. One thing that I love about the metaphor of being rooted is that, like all organic metaphors, it is not a picture of being stagnant, which as far as I know always leads to putrefaction—foul smelling decomposition! Quite oppositely, being rooted means growing. It means abiding in (i.e. not moving from) your roots which give you nutrients and strength; it means growing and maturing; it means bearing fruit and lush green leaves in season; it also means dropping our dead leaves and fruit in winter, and it means pruning off branches that don’t bear fruit so that more fruit (and healthier fruit) can grow. It is a constant joy and challenge to celebrate our rootedness in Christ, Scripture and history and Christian tradition, in a way that isn’t stagnant but is discerning the movement of the Spirit, growing and reshaping, bearing fruit as our branches reach out towards the sun (or more apropos, the Son) from which (and whom) we get our life. Movements and Elements of Communal Worship Every Sunday the journey of our communal worship flows through four main movements and is made up of many different elements that weave together as one. These movements are deeply rooted in Christian history and tradition, stemming from Scripture and the early Church’s flow of worship, though the titles and wording come from our own expression of our rooted worship. Elements that can be found in any of the movements of worship • Music • Scripture (particularly from the Psalms and Gospels) • Prayer (leader led, spontaneous, unison or responsive written liturgies, etc.) • Silence • Spiritual exercises (practices and disciplines, many ancient, of 5
listening to God) 1st Movement: Gathering Together • Welcome and Invitation to gather Often through music, prayer and spoken word we are gathered together, coming as we are and turning our selves towards God. • Praise Expressing our admiration and love of God for who He is, what He has done and what He is doing. • Confession of Sin and Assurance of Forgiveness When we confess through Jesus our sin, rebellion and ways we have lived out our brokenness, He is faithful to forgive us, and so we proclaim that forgiveness through Christ over God’s people. • Passing the Peace Having received the Peace of Christ through forgiveness, we pass the Peace of Christ to those around us. • Baptism Jesus’s disciples are called to proclaim their participation in His death and resurrection through the sacrament of Baptism 2nd Movement: Uniting at the Table • Communion (aka the Lord’s Table, the Eucharist—a word which means “thanksgiving”) Receiving and participating in the body and blood of our Lord as a family gathered around the table • Caring and Sharing Offering Caring for those in financial need as a thankful response to God’s care for us. 3rd Movement: The Story We Share • Child dedications Dedicating a child to God and the commitment of the family and the whole community to support them, raising them in the love, knowledge and community of God. • Blessing the Children and Youth Blessing them as they go to their areas of discipleship. 6
• Our Stories Testimonies of what God is doing in and through us. • Prayers of the People Lifting our community, city, country and the world to God in prayer. • Creeds and Confessions Ancient and modern statements and proclamations of our united faith. • Scripture Reading Hearing the passage that is preached on read aloud. • Teaching Interpreting the scriptures in the community. • Responding to God Responding to how God by His Spirit has challenged and/or encouraged us. • Offering Offering ourselves and our resources to God as a thankful response. 4th Movement: Scattering into the World • Committing ourselves to live out God’s character, in His strength, by His Spirit, for His Glory This is often done through music and/or prayer • Announcements information and opportunities for loving God, loving each other, sharing God’s story and showing God’s care. • Benediction a blessing over the community as we go into the world living for God and proclaiming His Kingdom in word and deed. • Time of Fellowship in the Lounge a continuation of what it means to be a worshipping community—“breaking bread” together—enjoying getting to know one another, meeting new friends, deepening relationships with one another, networking with others in ministry, etc. Greg Kay 7
Foodbank Collection for October This October we will be collecting food bank items for our local North York Harvest foodbank run out of Lansing United. To assist you in what is most needed (and in remembering!) we have grocery bags and a list of items available in the church building to bring with you shopping. You will also find the list below.
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.
On Thanksgiving Sunday (Oct 9) we are hoping to have some food items already collected to use as part of our worship, so if you’ve already bought some items please bring them Sunday Oct 9th. 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/
Foodbank Shopping List Items that are always needed: • canned vegetables (kernel corn, peas, green beans - 398 ml or 14 oz size) • canned fish (especially pink salmon, and tuna) • canned protein beans (red kidney beans, chickpeas) • canned soups (Mushroom is the most popular, chicken noodle, vegetable, meat soups) • canned tomatoes • canned fruits (medium sized) • cereals (460 gram size) • large jars of instant coffee • large bags of white rice (8 kg or larger) • large family sized items such as canned meats, cereal, cooking oils, laundry detergents, canned fruits, or other items that a family of 4-6 people may need • baby (1-3 years) foods, especially vegetables (not peas); meats and deserts • baby diapers, especially sizes 3-6 8
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Musings: Where God Shows Up
I have a lot of sympathy for “Doubting Thomas.” He is the disciple who was out getting groceries or just taking a walk shortly after the resurrection when Jesus appeared to the disciples and, much to their amazement, demonstrated his victory over death. Thomas missed it. And when the excited disciples told him about it, he had a hard time believing. “Doubting Thomas” has been his moniker ever since. I can’t fault Thomas. The other disciples had a direct experience of Jesus. But all Thomas had was the witness of the church. I’m afraid it is also true of me that I have found it much easier to believe Jesus than to believe the church. Jesus was a full incarnation of God. “Incarnation” means “in a body” or “in the flesh.” Jesus asserted, “To see me is to see God; to hear me is to hear God.” The Being of God was perfectly contained in the human body of Jesus of Nazareth. We know that the Church, in turn, became the Body of Christ. As the human Body of Jesus became a container for the fullness of God, the Church became a container of the Holy Spirit of God. But, sadly, we fall short of being an incarnation of God in the way Jesus was an incarnation of God. I suspect that I have previously said or written words to the effect that the church is a present day incarnation, but, upon reflection, I’ve come to think that statement requires a great deal of qualification. As the author of Hebrews observes, Jesus “has been tempted in 10
every way, just as we are, yet, without sin.” Without losing any degree of his humanity Jesus remained a consistent expression of God’s perfection in the world. Sadly, this is not a claim the church could honestly make. The best we can say is that the church bears witness as best we can to the full incarnation of Jesus and the church is a container God designed to carry Himself into the world. But our perfection is broken as the humanness of our community so often belies the glory of God. The last decade has seen a significant increase of people who consider themselves to be “spiritual, but not religious.” Many identify themselves as people who believe in Jesus, but as one person recently described himself to me: “I’m a Christian, but I’m not a church person.” He could see no need for a connection between Jesus and the Church in his spirituality. Quite often people drift into the “spiritual, but not religious” category because the broken and flawed humanity of the church covers and veils the living Holy Spirit who resides within her. It is hard to think, for example, that the glory of God is contained in the organization that operated so many Residential Schools for Aboriginal children in Canada. But sin is not the only human veneer that covers the glory of God in the church. In an effort to do the best job possible for God we easily slip into the temptation of finding the best human strategy to accomplish goals we believe belong to God. But when we do this out of our own wisdom we can function quite effectively and “successfully” without the discernment of the Holy Spirit. The good news is that God, nevertheless, shows up. Let’s pause for a moment and think about the meaning of “church.” The word that appears in the New Testament is ecclesia: “called out to gather.” It is used to describe a town hall meeting for which people are urged to lay aside whatever they were doing, to come out of their places of work and living so they might gather in a public place for discourse that would affect them all. In recent decades we have seen a growing awareness that the church is more than what happens Sunday morning (let alone 11
more than the building in which we gather). Like salt shaken out of the salt shaker, God gives the church a little shake and we are scattered out of the saltshaker into the world. In postChristendom this is an important realization. In a culture that no longer expects Sunday morning to be used as a time for worship, if we are going to make an impact on the world around us we have to do so outside the building and programs. We have to learn to be the church in the world. But there is a baby in that bathwater we can’t afford to lose. There is no church without gathering. Resurrected Jesus appears to the gathering. Fifty days after Easter, it is to the gathering that the Holy Spirit comes with sound like that of a mighty rushing wind and the gathered disciples glowed with the presence of God. Only then did God give the saltshaker a shake and the disciples landed in the streets of the city proclaiming the marvelous things God had done. Jesus had earlier insisted that they wait for the Holy Spirit because they weren’t ready to be scattered until they had been informed by the resurrection and enthused (“enthused” = “God” “in” them) by the Holy Spirit. When I was young I complained about how boring church was. I didn’t want to go. My good Roman Catholic mother consistently replied that Christ was present in the bread and cup of communion and that we are nourished by that meal even if we did not know it. I believe that, when we eat and drink with faith, Christ mysteriously comes to us in the act of the Lord’s Supper in way unique to that act. What makes a collection of Christians “a Church” is gathering to observe baptism and the Lord’s Supper and to hear God speak His Word into the community. Scripture is enlivened and we are informed. At the table we are literally enthused – we invite God to come into us. We may see this. We may not. We may be distracted by the humanness and foolishness of people around us. The idiosyncrasies of the pastor may, quite literally, drive us to distraction. Either the imperfection of what happens on the platform or the clearly human production values in what happens on the platform might draw our attention away from the presence of God. Distracted or not, God is in the gathering in a way we do not experience Him elsewhere. We 12
are really not ready to be scattered to the city until we have been informed by the Word and enthused by the worship and sacraments/ ordinances. In the Christendom era many of us did not need to reflect on why we gather as a church. It’s just what people did, especially if they were religious. PostChristendom allows us to be culturally comfortable neglecting to meet together. Some of the inappropriate motivations for gathering during Christendom might even encourage us to prove that we do not have an obligation to gather together, as, indeed, we do not. But the need to gather is no less than ever. In fact, if we are to reclaim the world as the arena of God’s Kingdom it is more important than ever than we gather, allowing God’s Word to inform our mission while worship and sacrament enthuse our life in the world. The salt that is shaken out was always first in the saltshaker. Gene Tempelmeyer
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NEIGHBOURlINK NORTH YORK Spring Garden Church has supported NeighbourLink for the past 20 years as we strive to help those in the Willowdale Community who are elderly, disabled or who do not have the sufficient financial resources to provide basic necessities for themselves and their families. We have 2 critical needs at the moment. In order to help as many people as possible we need volunteers to drive people to medical appointments or to food banks. Our finances are very low preventing us from beginning some new initiatives that would help to service those in need in our community. If you can help by volunteering or sending us a donation we would be deeply grateful. We will be having another Fund-raising Concert in November.
Please put this date on your calendar:
NeigbourLink Fund-raising Concert Saturday, November 26th at 2:00 P.M. Featuring the Salvation Army Band Soprano Susan Reiman Bass David Graham Refreshments and Silent Auction to follow
For more information please visit our web-site. Donations may be sent to:
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NeighbourLink North York, P.O. Box 69507. 5845 Yonge Street Toronto, Ontario M2M4K3
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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 Mind Snugglers, by Christy Robertson, Illustrated by Caroline Lee (from our congregation) A Mind Snuggler is a good thought. Give it a try... Close your eyes and think of something happy, encouraging, thankful, peaceful, energizing or kind. For example eating a yummy meal, special time with family or feeling the warm sunshine on your face. Let that thought wrap around the inside of your mind like a cozy blanket. Notice how that makes you feel. Does it make you smile? Do you feel calm and relaxed? If so, then your mind has just been snuggled by a good thought. Wanna do another? You care for your body by feeding it good food and daily exercise, it’s just as important to keep your mind healthy with daily good thoughts. 16
If you would like to own a copy you can buy it directly from Caroline Lee. Bring $18.95 cash or cheque payable to Caroline Lee and look for her near the library after Sunday worship. Online orders are also possible at www.mindsnugglers.com Please note if you would like your book signed.
More than miracles: Elaine Zeidman Markovic And The Story Of Scott Mission, by Ben Volman and Marina Hofman-Willard With Holy chutzpah and a bold trust in miracles led Morris and Annie Zeidman to found The Scott Mission in 1941. With the help of their children, they built one of Toronto’s best-loved inner city ministries: “the Miracle on Spadina.” Through the eyes of their daughter Elaine Zeidman Markovic, a remarkable story unfolds of blessings, heartbreak and personal triumph—and the presence of God who never failed, even in the darkest hours, to renew hope and restore their faith. “What Ben Volman {formerly a member 17
of our congregation} has achieved with this inspiring new book, goes beyond an historic overview. It is a celebration of the achievement of the remarkable Zeidman family, a testimony of service and generosity of supporters, and moreover, the unique story of Elaine Zeidman Markovic. What emerges is a tapestry of overcoming adversity, of faith and love, and a clear message that one woman, through long-term ministry, has made a difference in the Scott Mission and in Toronto itself” quoted from the Foreward by David Onley
The current DVD Concerned for his family's safety, Mark Larson decides to leave Chicago behind and move back to rural Minnesota. Despite his son Jake's angry protest, the family moves to Providence River Campground to live and work as the site's caretakers. Bitter at the move and his new manual labor responsibilities, Jake soon meets Brian and Peter Owens, a father and son who live on a farm across the river. Jake and Peter form a quick bond that God uses to transform Jake's life in unimaginable ways the Farmer is good and kind, children will also learn to trust God. 18
Update from the Syrian Refugee Action Group • In early 2016, Spring Garden partnered with Blythwood Road Baptist Church to sponsor a Syrian Refugee family to come to Toronto. • Through the generous donations from the two congregations we have jointly raised more than $50,000, exceeding our target of $40,000 .. Praise The Lord • In early 2016, the Canadian Government screened and welcomed many Syrian Refugees, but has not processed Syrian refugee applications for several months. • We are waiting for the Canadian Government to screen Syrian refugees. They are expected to restart screening in October. • Once the government starts providing lists of screened refugees, we will begin the process of selecting a family and the formal refugee sponsorship application process. • Once a family is selected, we will have a better idea of timeframes and exact needs and will be reaching out for volunteers. • Please continue to pray for the people still in Syria and that God will send us His chosen family. 19
Discipleship Ministries - Partnering with Families One Faith Question to Ask Your Kids Often by Kara Powell I tend to feel closest to God when I’m reading my Bible, or writing in my prayer journal. Or both. But the older I get, the more I am coming to terms with the reality that not everyone is the same as me. So every once in a while, I ask my kids this question: When do you feel closest to God? Nathan’s answer: “During worship.” He has felt close to God through worship music since fourth grade. He now plays guitar and regularly leads worship at our high school ministry. Wednesday night worship practices are a priority in his schedule. Krista tells me she feels closest to God when she’s at church. With her friends. She’s always been social and she comes alive when she’s with people who get her. For Jessica, our most introverted child, it’s in our backyard. By herself. She loves nature and experiencing God’s creation. As much as she loves her friends, she cherishes time on her own outside to read, swing on a swing, ride her scooter, or just lie in the grass and look at the sky. God’s wired each of my kids differently. As much as my default is to assume my kids are like me (or at least should be like me), I’m coming to appreciate the unique ways they connect with God. If you want to try to do the same with your kids, consider: 1. Asking your kids when they feel closest to God. If I really thought about it, I could probably guess my kids’ answers based on what I observe about them. But even having the conversation provides one more snippet of family dialogue about God. 20
2. Carving out time in your family schedule so your kid gets that type of time. I have a confession to make. Sometimes I don’t want Nathan to go to Wednesday night worship practice because I treasure time with him at home. But as tempting as it is to try to talk him out of going, I try to discipline my tongue. If that’s when he feels closest to God, then how can I put any other activity (even my own preference for a night at home) ahead of that? 3. Exposing your kids to other ways to connect with God. Please hear me: I do want my kids to read the Bible and pray. Not just because that’s what I like, but because those are important spiritual practices. But in the same way, I want to lean into the practices that my kids enjoy. Plus, just because a person is extroverted doesn’t mean they should neglect time alone, and introverts shouldn’t forsake the power of community. We may have certain defaults, but we’ll likely be better off if we strengthen new spiritual muscles. No matter how our kids are wired, we can learn so much about them from their preferences and grow our own faith in this process. How do you think your kids would respond to this question?
Spring Kids October 9th - Intergenerational Gathering (Children & Youth) During our intergenerational worship gathering, we will be dedicating the food that have been donated as part of our time together. If you are able and willing, please bring the food for that Sunday. We have a list of items with a bag provided for you to take with you. This could be a great discipleship opportunity for your family.
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Spring Youth Sunday Morning Worship Gatherings: Youth Worship Gatherings: October 2, 16, 23, 30 After the Children’s Blessing, the youth will continue in worship in the youth lounge. Photo Scavenger Hunt: October 7, 6-9pm Youth will travel in teams throughout the city (with leaders) to win a special prize! Please speak with Sam or Jeremy for more info. Youth Retreat: October 21-23, $70 Our annual fall retreat is happening at the New Life Camp. This is a great way for youth to grow in their relationship with Jesus and with their youth group. Please speak with Sam or Jeremy for registration info. Subsidy is also available.
Spring Garden Baptist Church Monthly Financial Update For: August 31st, 2016
/Week 2016 Budget
$530,000
Year To Date
Actual
$10,192 Budget
For 8 Months - August 31st, 2016 Donations & Other Income $269,028 $353,333 Expenses (321,051) (353,333) Cash Shortfall to Actual (52,025) Expenses Cash Shortfall to Budget (84,306) Please give prayerful consideration as to how you can financially support Spring Garden's ministries.
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Naming Jesus: The Messiah
term means. First, I should probably clarify that the terms “Messiah” and “Christ” are essentially interchangeable. Both words mean “anointed one.” “Messiah” derives from the Hebrew language (meshiach), and “Christ” derives from the Greek (christos). Since the New Testament was written in Greek, the Greek word christos is the term used in the Four Gospels and the rest of the New Testament. So both terms “Messiah” and “Christ” are synonymous and refer to someone who is anointed. Most English Bibles translate christos as “Christ”; however, some translations like the Bible in our pews, the Holman Christian Standard Bible, and the New International Version 2011 translate christos as “Messiah.”
In all four Gospels, Jesus is designated as the Messiah or Christ. Both Matthew and Mark refer to Jesus as Messiah in their opening verses.
Matthew 1:1 – “The book of the beginning of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham.” Mark 1:1 – “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Son of God.”
The Gospel of Luke does not use the term “Messiah” until the angels proclaim to the shepherds that “Today, in the city of David, a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (2:11). Although this is the first use of the word in Luke, there are previous hints about Jesus being the Messiah without him being explicitly named as such (see 1:32–33, 68–70). The Gospel of John notes the importance of the term “Messiah” when it names Jesus as the Messiah in its concluding purpose statement: “These things have been written so that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you might have life in his name” (20:30–31). Jesus’ Messiahship is central to the Gospels’ proclamation about Jesus, but what does “Messiah” mean? For many of us, “Christ” may merely seem like Jesus’ last name, and we may not give it much thought. But, since the statement “Jesus is the Messiah” is a central claim of the New Testament, it is important and valuable to consider what the 24
Second, it is worthwhile to consider how the term “anointed” is used in the Old Testament and also to consider how it was used in the Judaism of the Second Temple period (roughly 516 BC–AD 100), since Jesus’ earthly life and the writing of the New Testament took place during the latter part of the Second Temple period. What bearing might these meanings and understandings have on the term “Christ” in relation to Jesus? In the Old Testament, numerous characters are anointed with oil and thus thought of as anointed ones. Anointing with oil indicated that God set these individuals apart for a specific purpose. One of the more well-known instances of an anointing is the prophet Samuel’s anointing of David for the purpose of kingship (1 Samuel 16:6). Saul, who was king before David, was anointed (1 Samuel 24:7–11). Solomon, David’s son, was anointed (1 Kings 1:39), as well as many of the other kings of Judah (see Psalms 2:2, 6–7; 89:38–39). The anointing of the kings indicated that God had chosen them to be king, and they could be referred to as God’s Anointed. Although kingship is closely associated with anointing, priests (Lev. 4:3) and prophets (1 Chronicles 16:22) were sometimes anointed as well. Thus, anointing did not mean that an individual was king, but rather, it seems to have reflected that God chose the anointed individual to a specific task. Even though many figures could be anointed and set apart for a task, the concept of anointing did become closely associated with 25
Davidic kingship as the golden age of David and Solomon receded further into the past. In what must have seemed a fulfillment of God’s promise to David through the prophet Nathan (1 Samuel 7:12–14; cf. 2 Chronicles 13), a descendant of David remained on the throne of Judah for centuries. The line of Davidic kings only ended when the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and the temple and exiled the people to Babylon (585 BC; see 2 Kings 25). In the aftermath of the Jewish people’s return from exile, there was no longer a king, let alone a descendant of David as ruler. It was during this period that hope began to grow for a future, single individual who would fulfill God’s promise to David. Numerous Old Testament texts, such as Genesis 49:10; Numbers 24:17; Isaiah 9; 11; 42; 49; Psalms 45; 89; 110, were understood as promises about the king from David’s line whose throne would last forever. Although similar texts were appealed to, there was not one unified perspective on what this “Anointed One” would look like or what he would do when he appeared. One of the Dead Sea Scrolls speaks of the coming of “the prophet,” the Messiah of Aaron (a priestly messiah), and the Messiah of David (a royal messiah) (see 1QS 9.9– 10). The Parables of Enoch speak of one Messiah who acts as judge of the wicked, yet the Parables of Enoch primarily refer to this figure as the “Chosen One,” drawing on the Servant and Chosen One language from Isaiah 42–53 (50BC–AD25). The Psalms of Solomon, which were written shortly after the conquest of Jerusalem by Rome in 64 B.C., hopes for an explicitly Davidic Messiah who will rule with a rod of iron (Psalm 2) and judge (Isaiah 11:1–4) and is called the Lord Messiah (cf. Luke 2:11). In these three examples, we can briefly see that Jewish messianic expectation had some breadth. By the time of Jesus, we can easily speak of Jewish messianic expectations in the plural. There were some similarities and similar Old Testament texts appealed to, but there were different nuances. The Gospels’ portrayals of Jesus as the Messiah fit within the breadth of these Jewish messianic expectations in the first century. Much could be said about each Gospel, but a few highlights will have to suffice. The Gospel of Matthew begins with a genealogy of Jesus that specifies that Jesus is the Son of David and the son of 26
Abraham. In other words, he is part of Abraham’s chosen family and from the line of David, and within the genealogy, he is named Messiah four times (1:1, 16, 17, 18). The three part genealogy with fourteen generations in each part may also be intended to reflect Jesus as Son of David, since the number fourteen in Hebrew also spells “David.” In Mark’s Gospel, when Jesus asked the disciples who people think he is, the answers included John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the prophets. When he asked who they think he is, Peter answered that Jesus is the Christ (Mark 8:29). The Gospel of John depicts people questioning Jesus’ identity. Some like the Samaritan woman stumbled into a realization that he is the Messiah (John 4:25–26), and others wonder about various messianic expectations, such as whether the Messiah will do signs, be David’s son, and come from Bethlehem (John 7:25–44). The Gospel of Luke concludes with the two disciples walking to Emmaus from Jerusalem. Jesus meets them along the way and teaches them from the Scriptures that it was necessary for the Messiah to suffer (Luke 24:25–27). Later that same day, Jesus speaks to the rest of the disciples and tells them the same thing (24:44–47). All Four Gospels connect the triumphal entry of Jesus to Davidic kingship with the citation of Psalm 118: “Hosanna to the Son of David,” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” “Blessed is the king of Israel” (Matthew 21:9; Mark 11:9–10; Luke 19:38; John 12:13). Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record that Jesus made a claim to be the Messiah during his trial before the Jewish Council (Matthew 26:63–64; Mark 14:61–62; Luke 22:67–69). In the Gospel of John, part of Jesus’ conversation with Pilate concerns whether Jesus is a king (John 18:33–40). And most significantly of all, Jesus’ is crucified with a sign nailed to the cross that declares “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” in three languages. This sign indicates that Jesu was executed as a messianic claimant. The suffering and crucifixion of the Messiah was not part of Jewish messianic expectations in the first century. Jesus’ teaching from Scripture about the necessity of the Messiah’s suffering, therefore, became quite important in the early church. An example of its importance can be seen in Paul’s words to the Corinthians: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that 27
Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). Although crucifixion and resurrection were not part of popular messianic expectations in Jesus’ day, many other expectations of the Messiah, such as his role as Davidic king, judge, and servant – to name a few – were met in the person of Jesus. But Jesus did not merely meet these expectations, the Gospel proclamation of Jesus as Messiah is central to Christian belief, a belief grounded in Jewish promises, the Jewish kingship, and Old Testament texts. “Christ” is not Jesus’ last name. The term is much deeper and richer. “Messiah” speaks to God’s choosing of Jesus for a specific purpose. God chose Jesus to fulfill the promises that he made to David and to Israel that a Davidic king would reign forever, but it was necessary for the Messiah to first suffer and die before entering his glory.
Spring Garden Pastoral team, Elders and Deacons
Pastoral Team Greg Kay, Worship and Mission Pastor
Suzanna Lai, Church Office and Communications Manager
Ben Reynolds
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Sam Lee, Pastor of Discipleship
Jeremy Ranasinghe, Discipleship Ministries Assistant
Samantha Steeles Discipleship Ministries Intern
Gene Tempelmeyer, Pastor
Margaret Sutton, Pastoral Care/Seniors
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Deacons
Elders Marion Cameron, Membership and Board Secretary
Lesley Daniels, Mission and Worship
Peggy Moore, Membership, Property
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Adora Chui, Discipleship Ministries
Mary Ellen Hopkins, Gonzalo Librado, Adult Chair Ministries
Esther Penner, Community Life
Doug Willson, Pastoral Care, Board Secretary
Cheryl Chapman
Darlene Boyd
Cindie Chaise
Joanna James
Barrie Porter
Corinne Sutton-Smith
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Leadership at Spring Garden Pastoral Team
Elders
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, Discipleship Ministries Intern samantha.steeles@springgardenchurch.ca
Deacons Marion Cameron - Finance marion.cameron@sympatico.ca Adora Chui - Discipleship Ministries adora.chui@sgbc.ca Lesley Daniels - Mission and Worship lesley.daniels@sgbc.ca Mary Ellen Hopkins - Chair mehopkins@sympatico.ca Gonzalo Librado - Adult Ministries gonzalo.librado@sgbc.ca Peggy Moore - Membership, Property peggylouisemoore@gmail.com Esther Penner - Community Life esther.penner@sgbc.ca Doug Willson - Pastoral Care, Board Secretary 32 doug.willson191@gmail.com
416.491.8542 905.962.3897
Darlene Boyd darlene.boyd@gmail.com Cindie Chaise cchaise@yahoo.ca Cheryl Chapman cheryl.chapman@live.ca Joanna James jo.april.james@gmail.com Barrie Porter barriep91@gmail.com Corinne Sutton-Smith blestfoods@aol.com
416.385.2483 416.738.0530 416.222.6963 647.928.0862 416.829.4210 647.704.7710
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
416.806.5373 905.731.0492 416.229.2695 416.225.2406 416.227.1840 416.221.0450 33
Community Corner
Life around Spring Garden
2016 Community Directory Corrections Please update your 2016 Community Directory with the following corrections: Phone number for Cindie Chaise: 416-738-0530 Phone number for Gene Tempelmeyer: 905-795-7918
David C. Cook, Canada now “Parasource” Many of us at Spring Garden know Debbie Tempelmeyer as “Gene’s wife”, but Gene reports that most places he goes in the Christian community he is known as “Debbie’s husband” as she has been a senior executive with David C. Cook, Canada, for many years. Debbie’s company has gone through a major transformation in last few months. What was previously David C. Cook, Canada, has been purchased by Canadian owners along with Augsburg Fortress, Canada. Debbie will continue as Director of Marketing and Sales in the new company. The new company, Parasource, serves Canada’s Christian community including evangelical and mainline churches and denominations. Later this fall, a wide variety of Christian resources including books and music will be available at parasource.com.
Spring Health | Get Well Clinic I am opening a new medical clinic at Sheppard and Bathurst this fall. I am envisioning a multidisciplinary team of health professionals to address the wholistic needs of the community. We will offer comprehensive family medicine, chiropractic medicine, counseling & psychotherapy for mental health, and weight loss management. I'm looking for other allied health professionals with shared values and vision to join our team. We would like to provide a turnkey managed office solution for people who want to start their own private practice but don't have the resources and support to do so. We also welcome seasoned professionals who would like to simplify their life and have their business efficiently managed. We have full electronic medical record system. If you are interested in knowing more, please contact "office@springhealth.org". Dr. Kevin Lai
Wednesday Refresh 10-11:30am, main upstairs lounge The weekly "Refresh" started back Wed., Sept. 14, 2016 with a great turn out. Praise the Lord. Sept. 21- Oct. 12 Faith Holwyn will lead us in 4 Groups of Hope sessions, with a pot luck on Oct. 12. Refresh is a small gathering of women, reflecting on Scripture and simple prayer for each other. Finding God together. For more information contact Tanya at 416-222-4662. Childcare available
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Thanksgiving Intergenerational Worship Sunday Oct 9 We will be having an intergenerational worship on Sunday Oct 9 with stations about Thanksgiving. Children from Prek-K to grade 5 will help lead us in learning a new song. Please be sure to join us! To get a preview of the new song or help your children practice at home, please visit https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdoWyIiPKcQ or look up "Impossible Possible" from the Shout Praises Kids: We Belong To Jesus album on youtube. On Sunday Oct 9, please bring your Pre-K to Grade 5 children to church at 9:30am for a brief rehearsal. Thank you!
Thelma Bampton Update Hi there Just letting you know that Rick and I are here visiting Mom for a week. The family is coming for a celebration of Mom's 94th bday next Saturday. So she will get to see some of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. There are a few surprises in store. She is weary and tired. Struggling with memory and mobility is limited. I'm still waiting for her to be accepted into the Lodge where it is government assisted. I was hoping she would be there by now. Until then she is very comfortable in her room. She loves her view.
Ministry Budget report for 2017 due on Monday Oct 31 It's budget report submission time again! All ministry leaders with a budget line please submit your report for 2017 by Monday Oct 31 to Marion Cameron(marion.cameron@ sympatico.ca). Thank you!
Sophia Mentoring Community Youth Unlimited GTA, in collaboration with SGC, is starting a youth mentoring program called "Sophia Mentoring Community". All youths, parents/ guardians of a youth, and anyone who is interested in mentoring a youth, are invited to come to one of the following interest info sessions in the youth lounge: Oct 6 - 7:30 - 8:30pm Oct 27- 7:30 - 8:30pm Oct 30 - 11:30am - 12:30pm For more info, please contact Sam Lee (samlee@springgardenchurch. ca) or Jesse James (jjames@yugta.ca)
Hope you are well. Blessings Janyce 36
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What’s Happening Halloween
Life in Spring Garden
Weekly
Join other Spring Garden'ers on October 31st to give out candy and hot chocolate to kids and their families!
Tuesdays 2:00 pm - Pastoral Team Meeting in Meeting Room
We will be out on the front lawn near to Spring Garden's sign from 6pm-8pm, RAIN OR SHINE! - Come help hand out candy and hot chocolate to 100+ kids from our Willowdale Neighbourhood!
Thursdays 12:00pm - 2:00pm - Adult Bible Class in the East Lounge Sundays 9:00am - 10:00am - Morning Bible Study in Meeting Room 9:00am - 10:am - ESL Bible Study in Basement Hallway 10:00am - 11:30am - Sunday Morning Worship (communion on the first Sunday of the month)
The Bridge Music Program starting Oct 13 The Bridge Music Program, facilitated by Youth Unlimited, will be available again this year at SGC. The classes are Thursdays and Fridays from 4-6pm. It includes a music lesson on drums and guitar and practice time. The fall semester will run from Oct 13 to Dec 16. For more detailed info, please contact James Lee (jlee@yugta.ca).
Wednesdays 10:00 - 11:30am - Refresh Women’s Group in West Lounge (childcare provided) 7:00 - 9:00pm - Groove Dance Group in Basement Multipurpose Room
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 Food Bank Collection- all month (pg. 8) Friday Oct 7 - 6-9 pm Youth Photo Scavenger Hunt (pg. 22) Sun Oct 9 - 10-11:30 am Intergenerational Thanksgiving Worship (if you have some, please bring food bank items and leave at entrance to worship area Fri-Sun Oct 21-23 Youth Retreat (pg 22) Mon Oct 31 - 6-8 pm Halloween - handing out candy and hot chocolate to our neighbours (pg 38)
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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. 40