Southpoint News – Week of November 4, 2018

A Better Way

This fall, we’ve been exploring the fine line where the rubber meets the road – that point where the movement of the kingdom comes into contact with the surface of of our lives.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus showed that this point of contact happens in those moments when we are most prone towards ugliness: When we are angry, when we are unfaithful, when we are looking at people as objects for our pleasure, when we break our promises, when we disregard the needs of others, when we want vengeance, when we are faced with an enemy, when we are judgmental and filled with moral indignation, when we are using God to draw attention to ourselves, when we are hoarding and stockpiling out of fear.

In these moments, the kingdom comes near. Jesus comes alongside of us, makes a bid for connection, and offers us a new way of being and responding. He offers us a better way. Jesus’ WAY is different from what is normalized but very much NOT OK in our world.  A normal Not OK for ourselves.  A normal Not OK for our relationships and communities. A normal NOT OK for this beautiful earth.

He comes close and offers us this better way and then lets us choose. These moments of choosing are micro-moments – they are very small. Will we hate, or love? Will we exact revenge, or will we forgive?  Will we honor, or will we use? But they are also very critical. We are choosing between participating in the heaven God is creating or the hell humans are making on this earth.

Sometimes, as we watch ourselves choose, we become aware that we are NOT QUITE as free to choose as we thought we were. We long for the better way, but we just can’t let go of NORMAL. We aren’t quite ready to let Jesus overturn that table, just can’t say YES. Yet.

There’s often this feeling of wrestling and risk when it comes to the better way of Jesus. The better way of Jesus isn’t necessarily more comfortable or secure. It is more compelling.

When the word YES sticks in our throat, we realize that our desire for homeostasis, for NORMAL, is stronger than our hunger for newness and change. Yet these moments are also gifts of grace. The Holy Spirit has brought us into an awareness of  our own bondage. Now the Spirit can begin to deliver us into the better WAY of Jesus where true freedom lies.

So many people these days are looking around thinking to themselves, “There must be a better way than this craziness I’m seeing around me.”

When we find the courage and say yes to this better way and begin to travel down this road, we are changed.  We become light. We become salt.  We offer up this better way to the world.

Then the metaphor morphs like some weird dream.  The rubber and the road disappear. In their place, there is now this rushing tidewater, first flowing into us, then flowing out of us into the world.

Rubber, road, salt, light, tide… with these metaphors we try and capture something of the breathtaking nature of the coming kingdom.

Christmas Hampers

This Christmas UGM is creating a hamper store where parents in the Downtown Eastside can shop for gifts and food for their families, at no cost.

If you, your family or small group would like to donate a Christmas hamper, details can be found at ugm.ca/gifts-of-hope. Register by Nov 26.

ROOTS

A Gathering Place for older youth/young adults.

“Roots” is the new name given to an evolving space for youth and young adults at Southpoint. What began 3 years ago as an internship morphed last year into mentorship.  This year, we have christened the gatherings “ROOTS”. ROOTS is an authentic space for deeper conversation and connection, a space where questions are welcomed and tools for growth are shared.  The topics and style of conversation are particularly relevant for youth transitioning out of high school and young adults.  If you are interested in ROOTS, please contact Anne: aksmith64@gmail.com

Himalayan Life Screening

Join us on November 22nd at the Kay Meek Arts Centre in West Vancouver, from 7:00-9:00 (doors open at 6:45) for a screening of the film “The Forgotten Ones” featuring the work of Himalayan Life in Nepal. Markku Kostamo is currently in Nepal with Himalayan Life which is one of our mission partners – can’t wait to hear his stories. Check out this opportunity to learn more about this wonderful organization!

As a supporting church, Himalayan Life would like to provide  10 free tickets to the Film screening.  Contact Markku (markku.kostamo@gmail.com) if you are interested in a ticket.

Fall 2018 Ordinary Time

The Flow of Love: Where the Rubber Meets the Road

Friday, Nov. 16th:
ARTIST GUILD

November 18th:
“Blessed are the Peacemakers”
Mt. 7:13-27
“Which is the way of peace?”

Friday, Nov. 23:
ARTIST GUILD

November 25th:
Christ the King Sunday: ALL IN + POT LUCK – Advent Preparation
(please bring plenty of food to share at our Pot Luck!)

Tuesday, Nov. 27th:
ROOTS, 6:15-7:15,
Kostamo’s, Kingfisher Farm
Focus: Love in Action

Saturday, Jan. 5:
Skating at Centennial Arena, 3:00-5:00

Have an Announcement?

If you have an addition you would like included in this newsletter, please send a prepared announcement as you would like it to appear to: office@southpoint.ca by Tuesday and we will get back to you.

Prayer Needs

There are many prayer needs in our community right now. If you would like to join the prayer chain to be in more intentional prayer for our community, or if you have a need for prayer that you would like to pass on to the prayer chain, please contact John Hardy.
johnandwendyhardy@gmail.com