Delve An
Of
Intersection
September 2017
Faith
And Life
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Features Our Story: Woven In and Breaking Through Is there a future for ESL CafĂŠ?
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Departments SGC Discipleship Ministries Resource Centre Financial Update
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Information Contact Information Community Corner Calendar
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Cover & Design: Clement Lee Contributors: Garth Barron Erin Bonney Marion Cameron Karen Cassel Jeremy Ranasinghe
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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: Karen Cassel Michelle Li Gene Tempelmeyer 3
Our Story: Woven In and Breaking Through I have always been one to best express myself creatively. As a child and in high school, art and music were what I was drawn to. Obviously music was taught as an acceptable form of creative worship, but the rest was seen as a way to edify myself. In college, I learned how in the Image of God the Creator, I am also a creator and in that creating I am glorifying God. I learned that ordinary and extraordinary acts of creativity can all be forms of worship because they reflect our creator God. At Spring Garden I first saw a community of faith that not only encouraged creativity but worked hard to incorporate it into our services and community life. I have been so encouraged to be able to be actively involved in our community through something I am passionate about. To work with a team of other creatives to bring our family at Spring together and worship in less traditional ways has been such a blessing to me. Thank you Greg for encouraging me, for involving me and for teaching me so much during my time here. The creative team has been invaluable to me. Truly a blessing. Erin Bonney
“Woven In and Breaking Through”, Fibre Art: I tried to make an image of how creativity breaks through monotony and uniformity (just as God broke through the darkness in creation) to bring forth beauty and chaos and truly show the diversity of humanity and God’s own creation. I think this weaving also shows how, when embraced, creativity breaks through
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the “expected” in our church life and exposes something beautiful—the Imago Dei
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God of wisdom and might, we thank you for the wonder of our being, for mind, body and spirit. Be with our children as they begin a new school year. Bless them and their teachers and staff. Give them strength and grace as their bodies grow; wisdom and knowledge to their minds as they search for understanding; and peace to their hearts. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for Students Lord our God, in your wisdom and love you surround us with the mysteries of life. Send your spirit upon these students and fill them with your wisdom and blessings. Grant that they may devote themselves to their studies and draw ever closer to you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Prayer for Educators Lord God, your spirit of wisdom fills the earth and teaches us your ways. Look upon the teachers, principals and staff. Let them strive to share their knowledge with gentle patience and endeavor always to bring the truth to eager minds. Grant that we may follow Jesus Christ, the way, the truth and the life, forever and ever. Amen. 6
Jeremy Ranasinghe
SGC Discipleship Ministries
Prayers to Begin a School Year
Volunteer Orientation The new ministry year is coming up very fast, and we are very excited to be partnering with you in helping our kids to understand the love of God in a deeper and more intentional way. Here are some things you need to know! All volunteers serving with the Discipleship Ministries in the new school year are required to attend an orientation session. Please email Jeremy (Jeremy. Ranasinghe@springgardenchurch.ca) about which date you can make. We have 3 times available: September 3rd • 8:30am - 10:00am • 12:00pm - 1:30pm September 10th • 8:30am-10:00am Morning refreshments and coffee will be served for the morning times and lunch will be provided for the afternoon time. If none of these times are convenient for you please email Sam (samlee@springgardenchurch.ca) to schedule a 1 on 1
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Sunday Kids and Youth Worship
Youth Events:
We will be starting our regular Sunday Kids and Youth worship on September 10th. Here is the list to help you find out what room to take your child to!
Our first youth event of the year will be laser tag. More information to come. Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm Cost: $TBD
Purple Room - Nursery(0-18 Months) Orange Room - Toddlers (18 Months - 2 Years Old) Green Room - Pre-K: (3 Years Old) Yellow Room - JK/SK Blue Room - Grade 1-5 Dropoff - Grade 1-2 Pick Up Red Room - Grade 3-5 Pick Up Youth Lounge - Youth Grades 6-12 For more information please speak to either Sam or Jeremy
Fall Launch BBQ Our fall ministry year will begin on September 10th. To celebrate we will be hosting our annual fall launch BBQ. Please join us after worship for some food and fun as we get ready for another great year!
SGC Youth:
Summer Mission Experience Even though Summer 2018 is really far away, our discipleship team is already looking at some things which might be good to do. We are currently looking for youth who may be interested in serving with us on a mission experience. We have been looking at different places and think it would be great to help out in areas that need it. If you are a youth (grade 6- 12), or know one that might be interested in this, talk to Sam or Jeremy for more information.
Staying Updated: To stay up to date on what is happening for your youth, please visit our google calendar which has all of our planned events. http://tinyurl.com/SGCYouth
September 10th, 17th, 24th - We will be having regular worship gatherings for youth in grades 6-12. Children and youth will continue their programs and worship gathering in their classrooms following the children’s blessing. Youth will meet in the youth lounge.
Life Groups: We will be starting both the girls and guys Life Groups on September 29th. For more information please speak to Sam or Jeremy 8
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Is there a future for ESL Café? About 9 years ago, a couple of Spring Garden members began a ministry they called The ESL Café. During the school year, on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 they provided an opportunity for students who wanted to improve their English skills to practice speaking, listening, and reading aloud in English. (Last year we switched to Wednesday evenings.) Most of the students have been recent immigrants, primarily from mainland China, South Korea, and Iran, but from numerous other countries as well. They are eager to improve their English skills and to integrate more fully into Canadian society. Typically, they’ve been well educated, and in many cases had worked as doctors, nurses, teachers, accountants, etc. in their home countries. However, many have found that their limited level of English skills was holding them back from employment and other opportunities in Canada. As a result, they appreciate the help that the ESL Café provided, and were quick to express their gratitude. Many of them particularly valued the social interaction with others outside of their own ethnic group. Unfortunately, over the last few years it’s been difficult to find volunteers willing to help facilitate this ministry. The viability of ESL Café for the immediate future will depend on 2 or 3 people being willing to commit to coming out on a fairly regular basis to help facilitate. These facilitators don’t necessarily need a background in ESL, although that would be a help. Anyone who is a native English speaker could fill this role. The big question is: Are there 2 or 3 people in our faith community who would be willing to rise to this challenge? I’m hoping there are, and I pray that the Holy Spirit will nudge those people to come forward. The ESL Café is a practical way to show God’s love and care for others, so it’s a great way for us to express our values as a faith community. But if the interest in supporting it isn’t there, then perhaps it’s not meant to continue. If you are interested in exploring this ministry, or would like to know more about it, I’d love to talk to you. Garth Barron garthbarron@sympatico.ca 10
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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
Recomendations From The Resource Centre Praying for girls: asking God for the things they need most, by Teri Lynne Underwood
Instead of feeling overwhelmed by concerns for your daughter, enjoy the peace that comes when you pray targeted prayers for her straight from the Bible. No matter your girl's age, pray confidently about struggles she may be facing now and in the years to come. Covering five vital areas of a girl's life--her identity, heart, mind, relationships, and purpose--this easy-to-use book is ideal for anyone who feels intimidated or uncertain about what to pray for the girl they love. Rounding out the book are conversation starters and fun activities to help you guide your daughter into becoming a godly woman.
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Have a new kid by Friday, by Dr. Kevin Leman, DVD and Study book Have a New Kid by Friday shows parents how to reverse negative behavior in their children--fast! With his signature wit and encouragement, Dr. Leman offers hope and real, practical, doable strategies for regaining control and becoming the parents they always wanted to be. Focusing on changing a child's attitude, behavior, and character, it contains chapters for each day of the week and a special section with advice on everything from rolling eyes to sibling rivalry to talking back to punching walls and much, much more. This large section of more than 100 specific topics is indexed, allowing parents to flip immediately to any areas of concern for witty, straightforward, and gutsy plans of action.
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Every piece of me: shattering toxic beliefs and discovering the real you, by Jerusha Clark Throughout Scripture, God reveals himself as the great I Am. He does not define himself with reference to any thing, person, or trait. He is, and that is enough. Women find themselves in a far different situation. When we introduce ourselves, we typically describe ourselves in terms of our relationships (the wife, mother, daughter, sister, or friend of someone else) or in terms of our accomplishments (our title, position, education, or accolades). When our identity is wrapped up in these external things, we inevitably (and exhaustingly!) strive to prove ourselves worthy of love, attention, or affirmation.
words, relishing the freedom of an identity fixed on Christ alone while leaving behind fear, bitterness, busyness, and toxic thoughts that steal our joy and limit our power.
The name of God is Mercy, by Pope Francis Pope Francis here invites all humanity to an intimate and personal dialogue on the subject closest to his heart—mercy—which has long been the cornerstone of his faith and is now the central teaching of his papacy.
God never meant for us to focus on whether we are "enough," whether we measure up. He made us--every piece of us--to be just as he is. Jerusha Clark invites women to join her in embracing the life and truth of these 14
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Spring Garden Baptist Church Monthly Financial Update For: July 31, 2017
/Week 2016 Budget
$560,600
Year To Date
Actual
Budget
$273,793
$327,017
(312,141) (38,348)
(327,017)
For 7 Months - July 31, 2017 Donations & Other Income Expenses Cash Shortfall to Actual Expenses Cash Shortfall to Budget
$10,780
(53,224)
PLEASE GIVE PRAYERFUL CONSIDERATION AS TO HOW YOU CAN FINANCIALLY SUPPORT SPRING GARDEN’S MINISTRIES.
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Leadership at Spring Garden
Elders
Pastoral Team Gene Tempelmeyer, Pastor 416-223-4593 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 Michelle Li, Church Office and Communications Manager Ext. 221 michelleli@springgardenchurch.ca Jeremy Ranasinghe, Discipleship Ministries Assistant jeremy.ranasinghe@springgardenchurch.ca
Deacons Sam Chaise sam_chaise@yahoo.com Adora Chui adora.chui@sgbc.ca Lesley Daniels lesley.daniels@sgbc.ca Joanne Laing joannelaing@gmail.com Gonzalo Librado gonzalo.librado@sgbc.ca Shannon Loewen shannon.loewen1@gmail.com Peggy Moore peggylouisemoore@gmail.com Esther Penner esther.penner@sgbc.ca Doug Willson doug.willson191@gmail.com 18
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 Barrie Porter barriep91@gmail.com Brad Sider bradsider@yahoo.ca Corinne Sutton-Smith blestfoods@aol.com
416-724-9329 416.385.2483 416.738.0530 416.222.6963 647.928.0862 416.829.4210 647.200.6853 647.704.7710
647-968-5065
905.962.3897 416.806.5373 416-617-6582 416.229.2695 647-202-0701 416.225.2406 416.227.1840 416.221.0450
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 19
Community Corner
Welcome Michelle Li
Life around Spring Garden
Michelle Li has completed her training and has begun her work as our new office and communications manager. SGC welcomes her and her husband Garry, son John, daughter Tiffany, to the Spring Garden family. She can be reached at michelleli@springgardenchurch. ca or church telephone extension 221.
Fall Ministry Launch The Ministry Launch will be held on Sunday, September 10th, 11:30 am at Spring Garden Church. Please join us with your family, friends and the community for a fun-filled afternoon featuring a BBQ, ice-cream truck, bouncy castles and face painting!
Taste of Willowdale NeighourLink North York is organizing the “Taste of Willowdale� event on Friday, August 25th at Spring Garden Church from 5:30pm-8 pm! If you are interested in bringing an ethnic dish of food to celebrate with the community, please contact Myrna Frost at mfrost2254986@rogers.com.
Looking for an Apartment Marcella and her daughter Andrea from Sarnia are urgently looking for an apartment in Toronto. They are able to pay $1200-$1600 per month including utilities and would prefer a 2 bedroom. Andrea will be attending Seneca at the York University campus, starting in September so they need to move in very soon. If you or someone you know is interested in renting out their space, please contact Val Virgin at douglas. virgin@gmail.com or call 416-465-5671 or 416-831-2224 (cell). Marcela and Andrea can also be reached at: 1-226-784-4276.
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Thursday Bunch The "Thursday Bunch" begins again on September 14, 2017. We meet in the East Lounge at 12 noon for lunch [BYOL] , Bible Study from 1-2 p.m. All are welcome.
The Richardsons are looking for a place to stay Kevin and Joyce Richardson (Spring Garden Vocational Missionaries) are looking for a place to stay in Toronto from Sunday September 10 to Thursday September 21. They will be in Toronto for medical appointments and meetings during this time. If you have a room, a basement, a house to sit and can help them out please contact Joyce.Richardson@sim.org or anne.barron020@sympatico.ca to arrange this. 21
What’s Happening
Life in Spring Garden
Weekly Tuesdays 2:00 pm - Pastoral Team Meeting in Meeting Room Thursdays 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm The Thursday Bunch - in East lounge - starting Sept 14 Wednesday 10:00 am -11:30 am - Refresh Women's Group - in West Lounge (childcare provided) - starting Sept 13 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm ESL cafe - Wednesday in East Lounge - starting date: TBA Sundays 9:00 am - 10:00 am - ESL Bible Class - Sunday in Basement Hallway - starting Sept 17 9:00 am -10:00 am - Sunday Morning Bible Study - in Meeting Room- starting Sept 10 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 at the bottom of our home page to subscribe to our weekly update
This Month Sunday September 10: Fall Ministry Launch and BBQ. Commissioning of the pastoral team, deacons and elders Sunday September 17: Commissioning of volunteers and lay leaders, congregants to their school and workplace 22
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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. 24