Week of October 11 – 17.

Restored, by Lisle Gwynn Garrity
Acts 9: 1-20

Restored

 

Artist’s Reflection

“In this image, a halo hovers around the hand of Ananias, nodding to the sacred courage required to melt the hatred of his oppressor with intimacy and connection. Scales pour out of Saul’s eyes, purging him, cleansing him, igniting him with a new and particular mission: to pour out God’s grace wherever humans try to limit it.(p. 24, Unraveled Journal)

–  Lisle Gwynn Garrity, Sanctified Art
 

 

Prayer

God of new life, what would we give to have you appear with a flash of light and a clear voice like you did for Saul?
Maybe then, our doubts would disappear.
Maybe then, we would live as you called us to live.
Instead, we draw lines around enemies and friends, who’s in and who’s out.
We see the “other” faster than we see our “neighbour”.
We refuse second chances.
Pull the scales from our eyes.
Help us see as you see. Help us live as you live.

Amen.

– written by Sarah Are, Sanctified Art

 

 

Our 2021 Budget

Pledging this October

It is easy to avoid talking about money. Churches have been demanding in the past, and we do not want to be like that. What you do and who you support with your money is personal, and we want to honour that. And yet, money and possessions are one of the most common topics in scripture: Jesus talked about money more than faith and prayer. Our money stories, therefore, are spiritual stories.

Southpoint has a money story.  It is a story of mistakes made, lessons learned, risks taken, and stewardship cultivated. It is a story of figuring out how to walk financially on our own. It is a story of people’s generosity and God’s faithfulness. It is a story of opening up our hands to share locally and globally. It is a story of caring for our staff by paying them fairly for the work they do.

The best stories captivate and transform us—they change how we live. We think Southpoint is that kind of a story. As we enter into October, a season of Thanksgiving, we invite you to help us write a story for 2021 by making a pledge. What future we imagine for ourselves as a church depends in part on what we can each imagine ourselves giving.

The pandemic has been an interesting thread in our financial story. Our giving is currently under budget, but worshipping outside and on zoom has helped us make ends meet. What will 2021 be like? We want to be able to meet all together, face to face, when it is safe to do so. We want to keep paying our Pastor, Anne, a full time wage, and to pay our hardworking staff. We want to be able to give generously to missions at home and abroad. We want to find a worship space that is large enough to allow for growth. We want to be able to support our program life.

Stewarding our money is an ongoing spiritual practice. It helps us and our communities become more whole. It is important to our spiritual health, and helps us work for equity and enoughness for all. As part of your own spiritual practice of stewardship, we invite you to pledge how much money you hope to give in 2021. We understand that the unexpected happens. The year 2020 taught us that! We realize that you might be able to give more, or less, than your pledge. However, as part of our spiritual practice of wise stewardship, we will use your pledges to design our budget for 2021. Naming your giving intentions helps us do this.

Send your pledge amount directly to Sarah Adams (email) – it will be kept strictly confidential. Please include your full name and the monthly amount you anticipate giving.  A copy of this letter is here.

In Confidence and Gratitude,

– The Southpoint Leadership Team

Gratitude, from Himalayan Life

Save the date! Himalayan Life Virtual Gala
Thursday, November 19, 7:00 pm

Part of a Thanksgiving message from Daniel Burghi, CEO:

“I am grateful for the opportunity to deliver essential relief supplies to dozens of families in the southern part of Nepal, where COVID-19 is causing much loss of income and livelihood… and for our Girls’ Home in Pokhara making a difference for vulnerable girls from marginalized families at risk of child trafficking… and for the Distributed Learning Program at our school in the Yangri Valley.

I am grateful to you, for your continued support and friendship. Thank you for all the resources you have so faithfully contributed to our work of protecting, nurturing and educating children and families in need in the Himalayas.”

 

 

Together@Southpoint 
Worship

Oct 18:   Zoom Church (Anne Smith)
Oct 25:   Zoom Church
Nov 1:    Outdoor Church
Nov 8:    Zoom Church

This link provides all the information you need to attend Zoom church this Sunday.

Are you a regular and not in a Gathering? Contact Angela (email).

If you would like to join us for either Zoom or an Outdoor Church service, please contact Karin (email) for more information.

 

Friendship Benches 

Cultivating small circles of connection, fun, and care during Covid:

Youth and Younger
If you’d like to know more about these groups contact Angela (angneufeld@gmail.com)

K-3 gathering at Kingfisher Farm
Wednesday, Oct 21, 4:00-5:15 pm

Monthly Roots Hangout
Saturday, Oct 17, 6:00-7:30 pm
Contact Anne, text (778) 878-4352? or email.

 

Care

 

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 call Anne (778-878-4352?).

 

Supporting the Work of Southpoint

Thank you for considering your giving during this unusual time. Options include:

– via Pre-authorized debit (monthly or one-time) with this form (link). Cost to Southpoint is only $0.50.

– via Paypal to The Church at Southpoint. Cost is 3% of the donation. No Paypal account required.

– via Charitable Impact Foundation. Cost is 2.8% of the donation.

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