Week of March 28-April 3, 2021.

Colt
M. Nash, 2016

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday, as I imagine it in my mind, holds this joyful fulness of a long anticipated event finally arriving. A bride enters the church to begin her walk down the aisle, and everyone turns towards her with smiles.  A new President takes the stand to give an acceptance speech, and everyone cheers.  The war is declared over, and everyone rushes into the streets to bang pots and pans and cheer. Of course, there are these subtle currents of tension visible under the surface.  The whispering Pharisees, the furrow on Jesus’ brow as he gazes intensely at the temple. There are these signs. But we see what we want to see, and on this day, the crowd wants to frame this as victory, as the long awaited Messiah entering into Jerusalem, the Holy City.

The dam will soon break, and the waters will rush out into the streets. The waters of hatred, betrayal, revenge, and judgement will churn through the city, carrying the crowd away, scattering the disciples, leaving Jesus’ body, broken and emptied. During Holy Week, we pause to witness this. It is not the narrative that anyone had expected. It is still not the story we like to see. However, the hope we have going into this week is the knowledge that this emptied, broken body is not where the story ends. The emptiness will give way to fullness once more.

This week we, too, are being emptied. Again. Emptied of any residual hope of an easy, swift exit ramp off this Covid highway. You know what I mean – do I need to name it? The disappointment over new restrictions, new variants, rising numbers, delayed vaccines. It is not the narrative that anyone had hoped for. It is still not the story we want to see. The hope we have going into this week is the knowledge that this new reality is not where the story ends. The emptiness will give way to fullness. In the meantime, to quote Johnny in the Outsiders, “Stay gold, Pony boy. Stay gold.” We hold on to our moral compass and stay beside Jesus, like the women did who accompanied him to the tomb.

– Anne

 

Southpoint Central: Lenten Conversations

This week we’ll have the last evening in this series!

March 31, Movie & Discussion: Between a Shoe and the Roof
__________

“Sitting in the Emptiness”

Enter into Holy Week by joining together on Friday evening  (zoom) from 7:00-7:30 pm.

“Sitting in the emptiness” will be an intergenerational Good Friday experience.
Grab a blanket to wrap yourself in!
Led by Anne and Angela.

__________

Testament: An Easter Presence

Pacific Theatre Digital Premiere April 3 at 7:00 pm
Streaming On Demand from April 3-11
Trailer
Tickets available from as little as $10.00
Link to purchase 

A celebration of Easter, a lament for what we’ve lost, and a paean to the audacity of hope. In the tradition of Christmas Presence, Testament brings together musicians, storytellers, and singers to weave an evening of meditations on sacrifice and renewal.

Featuring Reading & Songs From Cheryl Bear, Charlie Demers Jon Ochsendorf, Tom Pickett, Katharine Venour, Kaitlin Williams, Maki Yi, and Samantha Forbes

Please note: This performance takes place online. After ticket purchase, you’ll receive an email on March 31 with the link to the premiere. After the premiere, you’ll receive a link to access the performance on vimeo from April 3-11.

 

TOGETHER @SOUTHPOINT 
LENTEN 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.

Apr 2   Good Friday
7:00 – 7:30 pm
Zoom intergenerational experience

Apr 4   Easter Sunday
Speaker: Anne Smith

Apr 11   Anne’s Sunday before Sabbatical
Speaker: Anne Smith
Diligence, Delight and Congruence

Spring Theme: God’s Heart for Creation
Spring liturgy begins

Apr 18   Zoom Church
Speaker: Rick Faw
The Story of God’s Creation, Part 1
Ps 104:10-17a, 24-28

Apr 25   Good Seed Sunday
Activities at A Rocha and at Kingfisher
Deepening Our Participation in Creation

May 2   Zoom Church
Speaker: Rick Faw
The Story of God’s Creation, Part 2
Col. 1:15-20

May 9   Wonder Walks
Download Guide prepared by Leah Kostamo
Click (TBA) for Gathering group assignations

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

 

CALENDAR ITEMS 

Youth, in April

Roots Zoom:
Fri. Apr 2, 8:00 pm

Order o/t Phoenix Zoom: 
Tue. Apr 6, 6:00 pm

 

FINANCIAL UPDATE, 2021

Because our 2021 budget has a small margin, at our AGM we committed to good communication and regular updates regarding our financial situation. Here is the first budget update of the year.

The monthly donations needed to meet our budgeted expenses is $9,650.

January donations: $7,926.00
under budget by $1,724

February donations: $8,638.64
under budget by $1,011.35

Thank you for your continued support and prayers as we trust God to provide for the needs of our community.

 

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 $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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