The Christmas Story
The story of Jesus’ birth is so familiar, and yet so strange. A pregnant woman walks for miles, gives birth in a barn, while angels serenade shepherds. It’s not our life experience. Yet, because Mary and Joseph lived it—because ordinary people were brave—we have this expansive new vision of God’s love. Because of this story, we are reminded to be brave, to trust, and to take risks with God.
In this story God communicates, not through holy books, podcasts and sermons, but through stars, dreams, angels and babies. Because of this story, we are reminded to look up, and hope, and wonder.
In this story, strangers become kin. Wisemen, shepherds, an innkeeper, a young woman, a kind man, a new baby, sheep, cows, goats and chickens become a holy family.
Because of this story, we know that there is room for all of us in God’s family. We all get to take our place around this manger.
In this story, hope is bundled up in swaddling clothes, peace is lying in a manger, love is in the gaze of this newborn.
We gather and pass this story around as if it were a newborn baby. We ooh and ahh. We bask in his existence, in the powerful life force contained in his beating heart.
Deep peace and blessing,
— Anne
Rev. Anne Baxter Smith
Pastor, Church at Southpoint
Everywhere and Always
Right here.
That’s where God is.
In the sun that turns our bedroom gold,
in the creaks of this old house, and in birthday candles on the cake;
in clean sheets, sock feet, and porch-sitting;
in pancakes for breakfast and pancakes for dinner;
in the swell of a lit candle, in fireplace conversations;
in your grandmother’s carrot cake, and the smell of evergreen. God is in the seed-starters on the porch,
and the space between my bones;
in garlic butter, early mornings, and twinkle lights.
Certainly in dancing and laughing, in cups of coffee,
in the art hung on the fridge, snail mail, long phone calls,
and oh how I love yous. God is right here.
God pulled up a seat. God has traveled all the way to the heart.
Tell the next generation.
Poem by Rev. Sarah Speed
A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org
Worship Calendar
Location & Zoom. We meet on Sundays at 15639 24 Avenue, Surrey. Zoom is offered if you cannot attend in person. Zoom link. Meeting ID: 831 1690 9977 password: 753319
Listen to Sermons
Follow “Meditations from the Church at Southpoint” on Spotify, Apple and Google
Blogs
Catch up on Anne’s recent blogs under “News” on our website, southpoint.ca
Sun Apr 7
(2) Opening to Love
Rev Anne Baxter Smith
John 21:1-19
Sun Apr 14
(3) Receiving Clarity
Rev Anne Baxter Smith
Acts 3:12-19
Sun Apr 21
Rev Scott Swanson
Acts 4:5-12
New to Southpoint?
At Southpoint, it all begins with God’s love. Just as a plant grows, it receives sunshine, so we grow as we receive God’s love. At Southpoint, we are growing in our capacity to love God, ourselves, one another, and creation.
We seek to be a community of grace that is intentional yet organic, spacious yet authentic, grace-filled yet accountable. * We are fully welcoming. *
We encourage relationships rather than run programs, yet we recognize the importance of intentionality and structure as we nurture life together.
As a community, we seek to put our love in action. We value helping out on Sunday mornings, sharing food, and showing up in hard times. We keep our church life simple so folk have time to build relationships with family, friends, and neighbours. We encourage folk to serve in tangible ways within the wider community. We rent space rather than own a building, allowing us to do more with less, supporting missions at home and abroad.
Curious to know more?
These six slides express what motivates our ministry (best viewed on a monitor). Here’s the bio of our Pastor, Rev. Anne Baxter Smith.
If you’d like to really peek inside, sign up for our weekly Southpoint News (scroll to brown footer at bottom of page). The Southpoint News is a MailChimp distributed email—you can unsubscribe anytime and will not be added to our contacts list. Email us at office@southpoint.ca. Website: southpoint.ca.
Sun Jan 1, 10:00 am
“Taste and see that the Lord is Good”
Anne Baxter Smith
Sun Jan 8 ** Temporary change in time TBA**
Under the Sweet Stars: Expanding our image of God Anne Baxter Smith
New to Southpoint?
At Southpoint, it all begins with God’s love. Just as a plant grows, it receives sunshine, so we grow as we receive God’s love. At Southpoint, we are growing in our capacity to love God, ourselves, one another, and creation.
We seek to be a community of grace that is intentional yet organic, spacious yet authentic, grace-filled yet accountable. * We are fully welcoming. *
We encourage relationships rather than run programs, yet we recognize the importance of intentionality and structure as we nurture life together.
As a community, we seek to put our love in action. We value helping out on Sunday mornings, sharing food, and showing up in hard times. We keep our church life simple so folk have time to build relationships with family, friends, and neighbours. We encourage folk to serve in tangible ways within the wider community. We rent space rather than own a building, allowing us to do more with less, supporting missions at home and abroad.
Curious to know more?
These six slides express what motivates our ministry (best viewed on a monitor). Here’s the bio of our Pastor, Rev. Anne Baxter Smith.
If you’d like to really peek inside, sign up for our weekly Southpoint News (scroll to brown footer at bottom of page). The Southpoint News is a MailChimp distributed email—you can unsubscribe anytime and will not be added to our contacts list. Email us at office@southpoint.ca. Website: southpoint.ca.
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