Week of Jan 31 – Feb 6, 2021.

Brave Conversations

“Brave conversations are difficult by definition.”  Sometime during this series on bravery, you will most likely have to have a brave conversation. It may, or may not, go well. You may, or may not, feel good with how you handled your part in it. There will be room for growth. For many of us, avoiding them all together sounds a whole lot easier!

Thankfully, there are good resources to help us grow in our ability to hold space and enter into brave conversations. I’ve been doing some digging in preparation for our Lenten Conversations. Here is a list of 10 Ground Rules, with a link to follow if you are curious to know more.

Ten Ground Rules for Brave Conversations (Link)
– Come with genuine curiosity.
– Start by assuming good intentions.
– Speak with compassion and thoughtfulness.

– Value the other person’s thoughts.
– Listen without thinking how you are going to respond.
– Be aware of non-verbal communication.
– Try to understand from where the other person is coming.
– Be comfortable with being uncomfortable.
– Honour confidentiality: what is shared here, stays here.
– Disagree with ideas, comments, or beliefs, but not with the person.

*If at any point, you feel the conservation isn’t safe or can’t be productive, either person has the right to end the conversation.

– Anne

 

Southpoint Central: Lenten Conversations

“We grow in the direction of the questions we ask.” 
– Christie Goode

Wednesday evenings, 8:00-9:30 pm
Beginning Feb. 17, Ash Wednesday

This Lent, we will be having a series of weekly Southpoint Centrals over zoom. Our desire is to create space where each person at Southpoint can deepen their own inquiry into the wider cultural conversation around the full acceptance of LGBTQ Christians in the church.

At Southpoint, unity grows from our level of love and respect rather than uniformity of position or opinions. We seek to cultivate productive, respectful conversations about this intersection of faith, community, culture, and individuals.

As to why this conversation is so important, see David Gushee’s article in Baptist News Global: ‘On LGBT: What I have learned since [writing] ‘Changing Our Mind.’ link

Feb 17 
David Gushee: Video + Conversation
Inquiry: “What are the ethical grounds for inclusion?”
David Gushee is a foremost expert in the field of Christian ethics and author of Changing Our Minds. He advocates for the full acceptance of LGBTQ Christians in the life of the church.

Feb 24 (After the AGM)
Storytelling –  Our Journeys as Leaders
Inquiry: “How have you wrestled with the theological tensions around inclusion as leaders? 

March 3
Kathy Baldock: Live Zoom + Conversation
Inquiry: “What cultural filters have shaped our perceptions?”
Kathy Baldock is executive director of Canyonwalker Connections and author of Walking the Bridgeless Canyon.

Baldock’s mission is to repair the division between conservative Christian and LGBTQ communities through education, training, encouragement, and civil conversations. Her writing explores the long-standing historical, cultural, medical, and political filters that lead to discrimination against the LGBTQ community.

March 10
Storytelling:  Our Journeys as Parents
Inquiry: “As a parent, how has presence and attentiveness to your LGBTQ child expanded your experience of being a parent and changed your understanding of God?”

March 17 
David Evans-Carlson: Live Zoom + Conversation
Inquiry: “How do we understand and care for transgender youth?” 

March 24
Storytelling: Journeys of Personal Healing
Inquiry: What’s it like to accept ourselves and one another as fully clean, beloved by God?

March 31
Film “Between a Shoe and the Roof” + Discussion

 

Together @Southpoint 

 

2020 Annual General Meeting 

Held by Zoom
6:45 pm Wed., February 24th. 

Please set aside an hour for this important meeting in our church life. Everyone is encouraged to attend (although only members can vote).

Members of Southpoint (and those in the process of becoming one!) will receive an email by Wed. February 10 containing the AGM package – including the agenda, (unapproved) minutes from the 2019 AGM, membership list, reports from our Staff, Leadership Team and Committees, the 2020 financial statements and the proposed 2021 budget.

This AGM package is available to everyone on request to Karin at office@southpoint.ca.

Still thinking about membership? Contact Anne (778-878-4352, email).

Resources for Smaller People

Angela shares: “this is what the Kids’ zoom included this week. We were led through the book, I Can Do Hard Things: Mindful Affirmations for Kids by Gabi Garcia, read aloud in this video.

We danced to the energetic song, “Brave”, from the Saddleback Church Kids YouTube channel (2014 John Cassetto ASCAP Publishing, CCLI #7025449).

 

Worship

This link will provide you with the information you need to join Sunday’s service at 10:00 am.

Epiphany Series:
Bravery

Feb. 7    Lydia
Acts 16:11-15, 40

Feb 14    Ethiopian Eunuch
Acts 8:26-40

Feb 17
Ash Wednesday

Care

Prayer Circles
Wednesdays at Noon, by Zoom
If you would like to join in, please contact Anne (778-878-4352, email).

Prayer Chain
If you have a confidential prayer need, please contact John Hardy (email).

Pastoral Support
If you’re needing to talk or to pray, please contact Anne (778-878-4352, email).

 

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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.

Thank you!