April 2021
Quick Calendar WEEKLY Sun
10am Sunday Worship Online
pg 23
Spring Kids discipleship after the Children's Blessing
11:30 Virtual Coffee Time - Online
Tue 10am-12pm Pastoral Team Meeting Wed 10am Refresh, Women's Group Thur 8:30pm Evening Prayers - Online
pg 23 pg 23 pg 23 pg 23
UPCOMING Apr 1
Maundy Thursday Communion and Prayer
pg 11
Apr 2
Good Friday
pg 11
Apr 4
Easter Sunrise Liturgy with Communion
pg 11
Apr 4
Easter Sunday
pg 12
Apr 7 & 9 YOUTH life groups
pg 15
Apr 16
YOUTH: Mafia/Werewolf Night
pg 15
Apr 17
SGC Craft Night
pg 12
Apr 30
Youth Movie Night
pg 15
See more on the last pages or on our Events page at www.springgardenchurch.ca/events.
Delve submissions are due April 21st. Delve submissions are due on the MONDAY before the LAST Sunday of each month. To submit for the next issue of Delve, e-mail: delve@springgardenchurch.ca
Features Forget Me Not 3 Seeking God's Heart 7
Community Corner Colouring Page 6 | Art Pieces 10,13, 20 EASTER AT SPRING GARDEN CHURCH Maundy Thursday Communion and Prayer 11 Good Friday 11 Easter Sunrise Liturgy with Communion 11 Easter Sunday 11 New Series Preview 12 | Craft Night 12 Community Garden 12 | Faith's Change of Address 12
Discipleship Ministries
Spring Kids: Online Worship Gathering 15 Spring Kids 15 | Spring Youth 17 | Youth Events 17
More Info How to Give 21 Leadership Directory 21-22 Weekly Calendar 23 Upcoming Calendar 24
Design, Cover & Editor: Dale Forder Contributors: ARTICLES : Sam Lee Abby Davidson ART: Gene Tempelmeyer Caroline Lee Peggy Moore Copy Editors: Greg Kay Karen Cassel
remem
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Forget Me Not by Sam Lee
One of the most memorable movies of Jackie Chan for me is a movie called “Who am I?” The movie has some great fighting scenes. I would not consider the movie to be a masterpiece in any stretch of the imagination but the movie has left a mark on me. In the movie, there’s a very funny scene (not because it’s funny but because of the awkward, horrible acting) where the character played by Jackie Chan is injured and cannot remember who he is. He has lost his memory and screams out “WHO... AM...I?!!!” Throughout the movie, his memory starts to come back but because he can’t remember who he is, he has a hard time knowing who his friends and enemies are. He doesn’t know who to trust or how to be because he can’t remember. This is why this movie is so memorable for me. It reminds me of the importance of memory. Our memories shape who we are. This is not only true of ourselves as individuals but also as communities and nations. Our history, is our collective memory of who we are. Bruce Walkte, an OT scholar puts it this way, “Old Testament recounts the history of the people of God. These are the narratives that constitute the memories of he Christian 1 community. These memories inform our identity as Christians.” He argues this is why we need to know our Old Testament stories 3
because they are part of who we are and so it was for the people of Israel. One of the reasons why I think this is so very important for me is in understanding how I live. In the past, I’ve looked at sin as something that I needed to stop or to get over. Over the course of my Christian journey, I have come to realize that my Christian life isn’t about managing sin or overcoming sin but rather in being the beloved son of God. This means that instead of focusing on my sins, I can focus on remembering who I am. When I sin, I act out of character and have spiritual amnesia. I have forgotten who I am and am acting out of my old self. When I act in character of who I am, that is when I am being my true, authentic self. One of these fancy theological words I have learned recently is the word Anamnesis. It is an act of remembering that goes beyond just remembering to that of bringing the very memory of Jesus to the present. This idea is seen in Communion as Jesus calls us to “do this in remembrance of me.” By enacting the last supper, we as a community bring to memory the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and thus we remind ourselves who we are and whose we are. This is why the church has practiced the Lord’s Supper for that past two thousand years as a way to remember and identify ourselves with not just the memory of Jesus but rather in the act of remembering, the very presence of Jesus. And this act of holy remembering leads us to be a community that remind one another of who we are, the beloved children of God. This is why Henri Nouwen says that we “have to keep looking for people and places where your truth is spoken and where you are reminded of 2 your deepest identity as the chosen one.” This is why we do this Christian life in community. We need one another to remind each other of who we really are. There are times in my Christian journey when I wonder if this God thing is real. Do I really believe in this stuff? Then I start looking back at my own life. I remember who I was before Jesus and who I have become in Christ. Whenever I look back, I realize that God has been with me from the beginning and has been walking with me even when I didn’t know it. I remember the ways in which He helped me along my life, giving me hope, giving me purpose, giving me Himself. I see how my life has changed and how the fruit of the Spirit has been produced in me, which helps me embrace 4
that I am His beloved child. In remembering my past and seeing God in it, I not only remember who I am but even in the act of remembering, Jesus is with me now. Reflection Questions: What are the memories that come to mind as you reflect back on your life? How is God present or not present in those memories? What would that moment look like if God was present? What does it mean for you to be part of a community that can remind each other of their core identity? How can you remind others of their belovedness? How does the idea of seeing sin as acting of character help you in your Christian journey? Waltke, Bruce K. An Old Testament Theology: An Exegetical, Canonical, and Thematic Approach. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2007), 14. 1
Nouwen, Henri J. M. Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World. (New York: Crossroad Pub. Co., 2002), 59 2
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Colouring Page
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Seeking God’s Heart by Abby Davidson
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:17. I’ve been here at Spring Garden for almost a month now. It’s been a joy to get to know some of you over the past few weeks. I’ve loved hearing about your families, your unique faith journeys and learning about what God has placed on your hearts – particularly a desire to serve those who are marginalized in the city. God has placed this same desire on my heart, although it took me awhile to realize it. When I was seminary I was considering overseas missions. I had the opportunity to participate in short-term trips to Japan, Zambia and the Philippines and I had seen God move in each of these places. Japan was a place with deep spiritual poverty and the effects were evident. Many young people were struggling with depression and there are growing numbers of young men who shut themselves in their rooms and never come out. In Zambia the poverty was physical; malnutrition and disease left children without parents to care for them and protect them and it seemed like there were funerals every other day in the small village we were visiting. In the Philippines, I saw spiritual poverty and physical poverty side by side and it was heartbreaking. As I was thinking about overseas ministry, God started to open my eyes to the poverty that exists here in Toronto and I realized that my calling was not overseas but to the city I was born in and 7
called home. Through my work with the Pregnancy Care Centre, I met women who could barely afford to feed themselves let alone buy diapers. They were often without any family support and struggled to make ends meet. My eyes were opened even further when I became a pastor and started serving at a program called Out of the Cold*. I was able to sit down and eat with people who are experiencing homelessness and those who are underhoused. I was able to hear their stories and get glimpses of their lives. Some struggled with addiction and mental health issues. Others were transitioning out of foster care or prison. And then there were those who had something bad happen to them and were not able to recover. People like the artist who brought in his watercolour paintings to show me every week. He was well employed and then had an accident that caused a brain injury. He slowly recovered but would get tired and struggled to keep up at work. He was laid off and couldn’t get another job. Thankfully, he was able to find affordable housing and didn’t end up in and out shelters but he still struggled to pay for food and other necessities. These are only a couple of examples of the multi-faceted poverty that exists in the city of Toronto. As I started to learn more about my city, I also started to learn more about God’s heart for poverty. There are so many imperatives in Scripture to care for the poor and to defend the oppressed. This is something that was written into Israel’s history and it continues to be the calling of the Church today. I admit that at times I am overwhelmed by all the need I see. But I am also encouraged to hear about God’s people working together to strengthen and empower our neighbours. The pandemic has made life much more difficult for those who are living on the margins. The many cracks that existed in the shelter system have been torn wide open and in order to address this problem, the City of Toronto is working to increase the supply of affordable housing. There is 64 unit housing project planned for 175 Cummer Ave. These will be small studio apartments designated for women and men who are transitioning out of homelessness. I was able to attend a community information session on this build and there was a lot of opposition from the community. Please be praying for this housing project. Pray for peace in the community and for the residents who will be moving in once the project is complete. 8
The above verse in Isaiah reminds me that doing what is right isn’t always intuitive. Seeking God requires learning and listening to the leading of the Spirit. My own journey of learning about poverty and justice took me around the world but ended right in my own backyard. Let’s be praying for our neighbours – current and future – as we seek God’s heart for the community of Willowdale together. *Out of the Cold was started over 30 years ago as a means of relieving the strain on the city shelter system. Every night during the winter months, different faith organizations open their doors to provide food and shelter for those living on the streets. It was supposed to be temporary measure. Instead, the city came to rely on these faith-based pop-up shelters as an integral part of the shelter system.
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By Gene Tempelmeyer
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Life in and around Spring Garden
Community Corner
EASTER AT SGC
Maundy Thursday Communion and Prayer April 1st, 8:30pm
Join us the Thursday before Good Friday at 8:30 pm April 1st for a time of communion and prayer centred around Jesus' Last Supper before his arrest. Email office@ springgardenchurch.ca for the zoom link (the same as our regular Thursday evening prayer).
Good Friday April 2nd at 10am Join us this Holy Friday online at www.springgardenchurch. ca as we remember the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross. We will be partaking in Communion. If you would like to join us in Communion, please prepare yourselves something to eat and drink.
Easter Sunrise Liturgy
with Communion April 4th, 2021at 6:15am As the sun rises, join us as we celebrate the rising of the Son through liturgy and communion. Email office@ springgardenchurch.ca to join our Zoom event. We will be partaking in Communion. If you would like to join us in Communion, please prepare yourselves something to eat and drink.
Easter Sunday April 4th, 2021 at 10am Join us this Easter Sunday at 10am online at www. springgardenchurch.ca as we celebrate together Jesus' resurrection from the dead! We will be partaking in Communion. If you would like to join us in Communion, please prepare yourselves something to eat and drink.
SGC CRAFT NIGHT 11 11
April 17th, 7pm Come and join us on April 17, 7pm for a night of crafting. This will be led by our very own Esther
Penner who will lead us in this time. See more info at www.springgardenchurch. ca/events or sign up at: https://forms.gle/ NGNwCpCqTuf4fUrP7
The Community Garden
Now that it’s Spring, preparations for the community garden have started. Similar to last year, the harvest will be donated to Eva’s Satellite. The garden team is looking for volunteers to help with the garden (planting seeds and vegetables, watering and weeding, harvesting, and driving produce to Eva’s). If you’re interested, please email Abby at abbydavidson@springgardenchurch.ca.
Join us for a new series starting Easter Sunday called:
Change of Address Thank you for your prayers and support as we walk the painful journey of grieving for Laura. God's promises have been my strength and tears - although hard have been healing as well. Faith Holwyn and family 804-120 Torresdale Avenue, North York, ON M2R 3N7 416-805-7529 (Cell and only phone number) 12
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by Caroline Lee
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Partnering with Families
Discipleship Ministries 15 15
Spring Kids: Online Worship Gathering April 4th - On the first Sunday of each month we’re encouraging children to join their families to participate in our morning livestream and worship together. We also have an activity page for kids available on our website which can be printed out or used digitally on a tablet. April 11th, 18th, 25th - Our kids worship gathering will meet on zoom these Sundays following the children’s blessing. Here is the overall flow: **Children’s Blessing Ends** • Kids Log in to Zoom (Contact Jeremy if you don’t have this information) • Big Group Teaching (Led by one of our big group leaders) • Split into small groups (Our Zoom Moderator will sort people into their groups) • Small-Group Time (Small Group Leaders talk with kids about what was said during Big Group time) • Finished - Kids and leaders sign off and enjoy the rest of their Sunday In order to ensure online safety, we previously emailed the information needed to join our online meetings. If you received the email, please do not share it with others. If you know of any families who would like this information to join us on Sundays, please direct them to contact Jeremy (jeremy@springgardenchurch.ca).
Spring Kids (Online) Here is an overview of what we will be talking about on Sundays for Spring Kids. Lesson
Ponder Point
Bible Passage
April 11
Jesus Is King (Triumphal Entry)
Matt. 21:1–11 John 12:12–19
April 18
Jesus Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (Jesus Rises) Remember & Celebrate Weekend
John 14:6; 18:1—20:18
April 25
Remember Verse Galatians 2:20
Galatians 2:20
Feast: Trumpets
Family Care Packs: Each month we will be putting together some fun things for your family. If you’d like to receive April’s care pack, you can register with this link: https://forms.gle/mKCBhoCDCYAYnUro9 Care packs will be available for pick up from our building (112 Spring Garden Ave, North York, Ontario, M2M3G3) by April 21st 2021. To arrange a time to pick these up, please contact Jeremy (Jeremy@springgardenchurch.ca)
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Spring Youth Sunday Morning Worship Gatherings
April, 11th, 18th, 25th, - We will have worship gatherings for youth in grades 6-12 following the Children’s Blessing during our Sunday Morning Gathering/Livestream. Youth will be able to connect online and have their our own time of worship and teaching similar to how we did before the pandemic. Youth who want to join us for worship on Sunday's can do so through this link http://tiny.cc/SGCYouth **Please be aware that our gatherings will not begin until after the children’s blessing during the Sunday Morning Livestream**
Life Groups
Life Groups this month will happen on April 7th for Jr High Girls (Gr 6-8) and April 9th, for the Guy’s Life Group (gr 6-12).
Youth Events April 16th: Mafia/Werewolf Night - We will be meeting online to eat dinner together and play some of our favourite games. Youth wanting to participate can join following this link http://tiny.cc/ SGCYouth. Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm Cost: $15 - Includes food April 30th: Movie Night - We are having dinner and a movie at home! Youth wanting to participate in our online watch party can join following this link http://tiny.cc/SGCYouth. Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm Cost: $15 - Includes food
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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://tiny.cc/YouthCal If there is anything you’d like more clarification on, please email me (jeremy@springgardenchurch.ca)
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by Peggy Moore 20
Directories and What's Happening
More Info
Leadership Directory PASTORAL TEAM
416.223.4593 Ext. 224
Greg Kay Co-Lead Pastor
gregkay@ springgardenchurch.ca Ext. 227
Sam Lee (On Sabbatical April 12 - August) Co-Lead Pastor
samlee@ springgardenchurch.ca Ext. 223
Jeremy Ranasinghe Children and Youth Pastor
jeremy@ springgardenchurch.ca Ext. 226
Abby Davidson Pastor of Missional Discipleship
abby.davidson@ springgardenchurch.ca Ext. 221
Dale Forder Office & Communications Administrator
daleforder@ springgardenchurch.ca
Spring Garden Church
112 Spring Garden Avenue, Toronto ON M2N 3G3 www.springgardenchurch.ca office@springgardenchurch.ca Prayer Line
Tel 416.223.4593 Fax 416.223.6126 416.223.4038
Giving is one of the ways in which we can
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respond to a generous God. We give because it is a part of our discipleship and an act of worship. Please give as you feel led. For more information please go to our website at: https://www.springgardenchurch.ca/giving.
DEACONS Krysten Cameron Chair
416.399.0493 krystencameron@hotmail.com
Ben Reynolds
Children and Youth Discipleship
Martin Dewar
Missions and Membership
Monica Kim
Vice Chair& Adult Discipleship
Joanne Laing
Secretary & Property
Shannon Loewen
Community Life/Refreshments
Jeff McGee Finance
bereynolds@gmail.com 416.229.2695 martin.dewar@sgbc.ca 604.710.3224 monicakim2000@gmail.com 416.617.6582 joannelaing@gmail.com 647.202.0701 shannon.loewen1@gmail.com 416.493.2102 jeff.mcgee@sympatico.ca
Cheryl Chapman Worship
cheryl.chapman@live.ca
ELDERS Anne Barron Gonzalo Librado
416.724.9329 anne.barron020@sympatico.ca 416.435.9691 gonzlibrado@gmail.com
Margaret Sutton margaretsutton242@gmail.com Koon Wah Leung Clem Lee
416.225.7092 koonwleung@gmail.com 416.508.7355 crazymonkeyfamily@gmail.com
Myrna Frost
416.225.4986 mfrost2254986@rogers.com 22
What’s Happening Weekly
Life in Spring Garden
LIFE GROUPS - Connect for Community
ALL WEEK LONG
Together through bible study, prayer and sharing. Meet online and possible in-person, please email abbydavidson@ springardenchurch.ca for more information or to join one.
y
Sunda
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP
10am
Join us Sunday mornings as we go through a new series called 'I AM...'. After the children's blessing, the children can login our Spring Kids Online. Streamed at: www.springgardenchurch.ca
VIRTUAL COFFEE TIME
11:30am
Join us for our virtual coffee time after our online Worship Gathering. Get some coffee and snacks and log on to our Zoom meeting where you can talk with other Spring Gardeners. We will be breaking into smaller groups. Prayer room is available. Email office@springgardenchurch.ca for the log in info.
ay Tuesd
PASTORAL TEAM MEETING
10am - 12pm
We Tuesdays and sometimes Monday. Please pray for us for wisdom and inspiration.
ay d s e n
REFRESH 10am - 11:30am
y a d s r
EVENING PRAYER
Wed
Thu
Friendship, care & spiritual growth for women. Please see page 9. You are invited to a virtual time of liturgical prayer. Please see here.
SGC COMMUNITY - Facebook
8:30pm
A group to encourage each other, share resources, connect, etc. Find us through groups in Facebook.
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What’s Happening Upcoming Apr
1 Apr
2 Apr
4 Apr
4 Apr
7 Apr
9 Apr
17 Apr
16 Apr
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Life in Spring Garden
Maundy Thursday Communion and Prayer Join us at 8:30pm via Zoom. See more on page 11.
Good Friday
Join us at 10am at springgardenchurch.ca. See more on page 11.
Easter Sunrise Liturgy with Communion Join us at 6:15am via Zoom. See more at page 11.
Easter Sunday
Join us at 10am at springgardenchurch.ca. See more on page 12.
YOUTH: Jr. High Girl's Life Group See more on page 15.
YOUTH: Boy' Life Group See more on page 15.
SGC Craft Night
7pm. See more on page 12.
YOUTH: Mafia/Werewolf Night See more on page 15.
YOUTH: Movie Night See more on page 15.
SEE OUR EVENTS PAGE FOR MORE INFO ON ANY OF THESE EVENTS. springgardenchurch.ca/events
If you would like to receive a weekly e-mail 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 e-mail. Also keep your eye on our Events page at: www.springgardenchurch.ca/events.
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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 centre. 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.