Bravery 

This painting of two hands was created by Lisle Gwynn Garrity for the Sanctified Art Series “Face of Faith.” Here is how this artist described the work of two midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, who stood up to the machinations of an oppressive regime:

“In this painting, these hands represent the women’s resistance. They are the hands that said “no” to a power-hungry ruler but “yes” to a God of justice—to a God who transforms a story of massacre into one of liberation. The impact of their actions, like the waters of the Nile, ripples out far beyond them.”

In Exodus 1:8-22, Pharaoh is threatened by the resilience and growth of the Hebrew tribe within his borders, so he enslaved and worked them ruthlessly to diminish them. When they still continued to grow in numbers, he asked the midwives to quietly kill any male child born to a Hebrew slave.

But two midwives, Shiprah and Puah, defied Pharoah. They did what was right in their own eyes, and in God’s eyes, regardless of what Pharaoh had told them to do.

They went on with their work, welcoming babies into the world, empowering mothers, protecting life. Their labour as midwives empowered the Hebrew people to continue resisting Pharaoh’s oppression.

I think these midwives understood something about power that Pharoah, with all his authority, could not imagine. At the bottom of the social hierarchy, Shiphrah and Puah understood that real power does not come from being OVER someone or having control. Real power is found in life itself, which is a gift from God. Real power is found by preserving, protecting life, and by empowering others to labour, grow, and be resilient.
This week, may we be brave enough to  face the Pharaohs within us and around us. Brave enough to say, “no, thank you, I don’t want your kind of power anymore”.

May we be brave enough to say yes to actions that lead to growth and resilience for ourselves and others, and no to actions born of fear that lead to oppression, death, and destruction.

– Anne

 

Together @Southpoint 

 

Membership

Are you fairly new to our community? Would you like to learn more about Southpoint Church? Are you interested in becoming a member? If so, Anne would like to welcome you to join her for a zoom conversation after church on January 31. RSVP to Anne if you are interested!  (email, 778-878-4352)

 

For Everyone: Bravery Packets

Dear church family,

For the next six weeks we will be exploring stories of bravery from those on the margins of our biblical storytelling. We will be deepening our understanding of our own places of bravery in this Season of Epiphany.

This is for kids and for adults!

Please be in touch with me if you would like one and didn’t get one. (email)

– Angela

 

Well Done!

$1300 Raised to Support Vulnerable Youth

During Advent 2020, The NET, our mission team, set aside up to $500 to match gifts given by our church during this special time of fundraising for vulnerable youth. As a congregation we collected $400 in socks to go towards Youth Unlimited. Combining that with amounts donated online directly to Youth Unlimited through their Nite Out campaign and the Net’s matching funds, we raised $1300!

 

Friendship Benches

Cultivating small circles of connection, fun and care during CoVid-19. If you’d like to know more about these groups, contact Angela (email).

NB: There are no youth events this week.

 

 

Worship

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

Epiphany Series:
Bravery

Jan 17    Zelophehad’s daughters
Numbers 27:1-11

Jan 24    Deborah
Judges 4-5

Jan 31    Queen Vashti
Esther 1-2:17

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).

 

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 only $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!