SonForce

"Son" meaning Jesus and "Force" for the unique energy that children have--put them together and what does that mean? A fun-filled Sunday school time in our church gym!

Last Sunday (March 7) was our first SonForce, which is one of the many new initiatives of this year's Education Committee (Glenda, Allen, Lenora, and yours truly since we're still in need of an Education Committee chair - so please consider volunteering and/or put that on your prayer list if you haven't already!).  For this first time, SonForce was mainly a fun, high energy time with lots of different games.  Next time we hope to plan it around the Exodus from Egypt.  So watch for SonForce - coming soon on May 30!

If you're interested, here are a few more details:

- this is a great opportunity to bring kids of different ages together - they learn to cooperate and help one another in a different way than remaining in their own separate age groupings

- this adds variety for all the children and is especially helpful for those who find it difficult to be in a classroom setting

- character formation and Christian nurture can happen not only in the classroom but also through active learning in the gym

- this relieves some of the pressure on individual Sunday school teachers, most of whom are parents with many demands on their time and energy 

- we hope SonForce would encourage our kids to love coming to Sunday school and invite their friends

- so far, we're planning SonForce whenever there's a 5th Sunday in a Sunday school month, so for the rest of 2010, that means May 30 and Oct. 31

Questions? Comments?  We'd love to hear from you!

Mar 11, 2010 at 1:51 PM

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Hyacinths to feed the soul

One of the joys of springtime and living in our new-to-us townhouse is discovering new plants growing in our garden.  A few weeks ago, I noticed some new growth just outside our front door that I thought were hyacinths.  Seeing them reminded me of a poem I came across years ago, that I wrote in my journal at the time and have remembered ever since:

If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft,
And from thy slender store two loaves alone to thee are left,
Sell one, and with the dole
Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.

Today I see that what I thought were hyacinths have turned out to be bluebells--not quite the same as hyacinths, but close enough that they remind me all the same to nourish both body and soul, more than that even to risk one's "slender store" to "feed thy soul."  There are things more important than bread, more important than physical safety.  What an appropriate reminder for Lent.      
 

Mar 5, 2010 at 5:33 PM

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Prayer for Lent

As I was praying today at our Prayer Wall in the foyer, I thought of sharing one of the prayers that was posted there anonymously.  It seems especially suitable for this season of Lent as we remember all that Jesus sacrificed:  

Lord, help me to give up those things that I depend on more than you.  Free me from things that are not good for me and stand in the way of my relationship with you. 

Mar 3, 2010 at 12:06 PM

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Name Dropping

Someone told me that you just can't go to the Olympics without seeing somebody famous, and that proved to be true in my experience.

The day I was downtown I saw Maelle Ricker (gold medalist in women's snowboard) and Jamie Sale and David Pelletier (Canadian pairs skaters now working with CTV), and actually bumped into someone I knew in the midst of all the crowds--Diedre Sportack who interned at Emmanuel a few years ago and is now working with youth in Vancouver.  She was enjoying the sights along with her husband Aaron, and her brother and sister-in-law from Toronto.

This week I also received some news from Elena Toews who's studying in Montreal, see the following for a news story and picture.  Way to go, Elena!   http://www.vancouversun.com/life/Black+Montreal+residents+claim+racial+profiling+transit/2594810/story.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3a+canwest%2fF229+(Vancouver+Sun+-+News)

Feb 26, 2010 at 7:59 PM

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An Evening with M2

No, I don't mean M2W2 prison ministry, but one of our newest fellowship groups in the church that has chosen the name M2.

"Messy and Magnificent"? (as in my sermon before Christmas) "March Madness"? (for college basketball fans) "M&M?" (like the candy)  No, in their case, M2 actually comes from the story of Jesus at the home of Mary and Martha--with Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus and Martha busy doing many things.  As a group (men and women, some single, some married, mainly in their 20s-30s), they hope to combine both discussion and service, both sitting and doing.  So far they've had some great discussions on faith and service, played pictionary, made and delivered Christmas baking to others, and have supper together once a month.  Dreams of things they'd like to do include being hosts for the youth progressive supper, hiking, and a community garden. 

I was glad they were interested in a discussion of Anabaptism as a follow up to one of my core values sermons.  And they actually suggested that "Demystifying Anabaptism" be our worship theme for next year, where we could further explore and define what it means.  "We should also advertise" was one comment--"before I came to Abbotsford and the church, I didn't really know Anabaptism.  It's like a best-kept secret."  I'm glad for that encouragement, and also noted that he took some of the pamphlets I had brought about Anabaptism to share with friends. 

Feb 12, 2010 at 12:40 PM

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Following Jesus Changes People's Priorities

I loved this title for Shigali's sermon last week, because it was really a sermon in a title--following Jesus changes people's priorities!

Sometimes we're like the child who wanted to take too many toys and clothes and other things on the trip into outer space--we want to take many things with us as we follow Jesus.  But just like that child, we need to consider our priorities.

I guess that's why I blog, and why I don't blog every day--I make it a priority to communicate and to have an on-line presence, and to be present and communicate off-line too.  hope to see you soon!

Feb 11, 2010 at 10:20 AM

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What does suffering for Christ look like today?

Last night I was glad to meet with our K2 fellowship group to lead a discussion on "Jesus Calls: Believe in Me and Follow," which is the chapter I had written for the book, Jesus Matters.

It's been a long time since I wrote my first draft, but it was good to think through the subject once again, and to see it through new eyes--with a different perspective than me and my co-writer, Peter; a different perspective from the two editors, a different perspective from our young adult readers, a different perspective from the other groups and people I've talked to.

Our group discussion included the Matthew 4:18-25 account of Jesus calling his first disciples; the latest issue of the Canadian Mennonite; evangelism and peace and justice concerns in the Mennonite church; dealing with difficult people and other practical issues of daily life--all very much related to the central concern of God's call in our lives and following Jesus.

In response to the discussion question "what does suffering for Christ look like for us today?", there were a number of comments and stories--some comment on the reality of persecution and violence faced by some Christians; other comments on the cost of forgiveness and the challenge to follow Jesus in spite of criticism from others.  One commented, is suffering for Christ not so much physical for us, but more psychological and spiritual?  I'm still mulling that one over--what do you think?   

Feb 4, 2010 at 2:12 PM

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A Full Plate

One of our church members made an important observation in response to my sermon last Sunday. "What you said applies to our personal lives too," she said. "There are so many opportunities, we need to have focus and make decisions, or our plate gets too full."

How do you make those decisions? I asked, and I was glad for the chance to talk about this on a very practical level.  I also told her that I'm looking forward to Shigali's sermon this coming Sunday, because I think he may touch on some of this too--as we seek to follow Jesus, what do we need to drop?  what do we need to pick up? what do we bypass?  What does Jesus give us to carry?

I love having a full plate of ministry with people to see and things to do and places to go--but it needs to be the plateful that Jesus gives me to carry.  I pray for good discernment for myself and for all of us.

Feb 2, 2010 at 4:01 PM

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Scrapbooking Our Prayers?

As I was praying at the Prayer Wall this morning, I thought again of how we might gather up all of the prayers/requests/praise items that have been posted.

I wonder if there might be someone(s) who enjoy scrapbooking that might be interested in making them into a prayer album?  That could be another way to pray over the requests that have been made, another way to encourage our continued prayers--especially if we continue with the prayer wall in some form throughout this year.  For now, we'll leave the Prayer Wall as is, with more items being added over the next few Sundays.  But if anyone might want to volunteer to scrapbook our prayers, I'd love to hear from you!

Jan 28, 2010 at 11:00 AM

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Who's Who at Seminary

In the January AMBS eNews (a newsletter e-mailed by Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary), I was pleased to find a link that profiles two of our church members--Joon Park and Tim Froese, who are both studying at seminary this year, and both supported by our congregation through our Seminary and Continuing Education Fund.

Check out their profiles (listed on the left side of the window along with other student stories) at http://www.ambs.edu/admissions/why-choose-ambs/student-stories

Maybe someone else will be inspired by their stories--and consider whether God might be calling you or someone else from our congregation to seminary.

Jan 28, 2010 at 10:51 AM

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