Week of April 25-May 1, 2021.
Onion seedlings.
In Praise of the Earth
Let us bless
The imagination of the Earth,
That knew early the patience
To harness the mind of time,
Waited for the seas to warm,
Ready to welcome the emergence
Of things dreaming of voyaging
Among the stillness of land.
And how light knew to nurse
The growth until the face of the Earth
Brightened beneath a vision of color.
When the ages of ice came
And sealed the Earth inside
An endless coma of cold,
The heart of the Earth held hope,
Storing fragments of memory,
Ready for the return of the sun.
Let us thank the Earth
That offers ground for home
And holds our feet firm
To walk in space open
To infinite galaxies.
Let us salute the silence
And certainty of mountains:
Their sublime stillness,
Their dream-filled hearts.
The wonder of a garden
Trusting the first warmth of spring
Until its black infinity of cells
Becomes charged with dream;
Then the silent, slow nurture
Of the seed’s self, coaxing it
To trust the act of death.
The humility of the Earth
That transfigures all
That has fallen
Of outlived growth.
The kindness of the Earth,
Opening to receive
Our worn forms
Into the final stillness.
Let us ask forgiveness of the Earth
For all our sins against her:
For our violence and poisonings
Of her beauty.
Let us remember within us
The ancient clay,
Holding the memory of seasons,
The passion of the wind,
The fluency of water,
The warmth of fire,
The quiver-touch of the sun
And shadowed sureness of the moon.
That we may awaken,
To live to the full
The dream of the Earth
Who chose us to emerge
And incarnate its hidden night
In mind, spirit, and light.
________________________
Thanks from Southpoint to:
Carly Richardson, farmer at A Rocha’s Brooksdale Environmental Centre (bio), and
Paul & Angela Neufeld, farmers at Kingfisher Farm (bio),
for receiving us on Good Seed Sunday and giving us the chance to sink our hands into the soil.
TOGETHER @SOUTHPOINT
EASTER SEASON WORSHIP
Zoom Sunday service at 10:00 am.
You may like to have a candle at hand to light during the service, and the elements of Communion ready for that portion of our worship.
This Easter season we are exploring our relationship to the Creator and Creation through our hands, feet and senses, and also through our minds as we consider Scripture passages in sermons given by Rick Faw and Leah Kostamo. Time to play in the rich soil of creation and the rich soil of Scripture!
May 2 Zoom Church
Speaker: Rick Faw
The Story of God’s Creation, Part 2
Col. 1:15-20
May 9 Wonder Walks
Meet by Gathering Groups at 10:00 am
and bring this Guide, prepared by Leah Kostamo
Kingfisher: Hubbard & Smith groups, hosted by Leah.
Surrey Urban Forest: Neufeld & McDougall-Lade groups, hosted by Ruth.
Redwood Park: Oger & BJ/Unrau, hosted by Alain & Karin.
P.S. The Small Group zoom is an option for those unable to attend an outdoor gathering: This is a time of fellowship and not designed as an alternative service. This document has the zoom link, a liturgy if the group chooses to use it, and a question Anne prepared for discussion.
May 16 Zoom Church
Speaker: Leah Kostamo
Jesus the Outdoorsman
Matt 6:25-33
May 23 Outdoor Church begins!
Playfully Engaging the Spirit in our Imaginations
Pentecost special liturgy
Click (TBA) for Gathering group assignations
Alerts Regarding Outdoor Church
Please be assured that the Southpoint Leadership Team is monitoring BC’s current province-wide restrictions (here) so that our ‘Outdoor Religious and Worship Services’ follow the guidelines properly.
In the event that Good Seed Sunday or Outdoor Church needs to be cancelled (for Covid reasons, or due to inclement weather!) you will receive an email on Sunday morning by 8:30 am fromKarin (office@southpoint.ca) to alert you! Thanks for glancing at your emails and the Southpoint News to keep us all facing the same way!
CALENDAR ITEMS
Youth, In May
Got a question? Contact Katie (email)
Instagram: thechurchatSouthpoint
Order of the Phoenix
Zooms 6:00-7:00 pm
Tuesdays, May 4, 18
Fellowship of the Rings
Zooms 6:30-7:30 pm
Tuesday, April 27, May 11, 25
Roots
Project Climbing Cloverdale
Fri. May 7
Zoom chat, 8:00 pm
Friday, April 30, May 28
CARE
Active Pastoral Care Person
If you’re needing to talk or to pray, or would like support while you figure out what you need(!), our Pastoral Care Team is here for you.
From now until Sat, May 1, please contact Anne Hartnell
Southpoint Gathering Groups
These are designed also to show care and be neighbourly – let your group facilitators know that you’re limping a little. Let’s lift each other up.
Prayer Circles
Wednesdays at Noon, by Zoom
If you would like to join in, please contact Karin (office@southpoint.ca).
Prayer Chain
If you have a confidential prayer need, please contact John Hardy (email).
SUPPORTING SOUTHPOINT
Thank you for considering your giving while we are not meeting in person. Possible means of giving include:
Pre-authorized debit (monthly or one-time) with our linked form. Cost to Southpoint is $0.50.
Paypal to the The Church at Southpoint. Cost is 3% of the donation. No Paypal account is required, only a credit card.
Charitable Impact Foundation.
Cost is 2.8% of the donation.
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