Yes to Hope

Advent hope is not wishful thinking, but it is deeply expectant. It’s about believing that God is doing something beneath the surface of things that we cannot yet see, something redemptive, good, and real. Here and now.  Advent hope is not rooted in a specific outcome. It is rooted in the confidence that God is unconditionally for us, all of us. Advent hope acknowledges the dark edges of reality, but it also points us towards something even more solid than hardship. Advent, therefore, holds both light and darkness.

I think this is why I love Advent so much.  I am given four weeks to honor the reality of darkness, while  holding up a little shard of light. I get four weeks of remembering it is possible to live expectantly  under the shadow of a Hope that is solid and real.

It is still easy for me to fall into doom and gloom thinking or succumb to the subtle seduction of despair. It requires a certain muscularity of soul for me say yes to hope. Once I do it, however, I walk more lightly in my heart.  So this week, I am going to ask you to try to open your heart to hope -even just a crack.  It is God’s desire that we would receive.  “Let me not run from Your Love that you offer,” Saint Ignatius prayed. As we open ourselves to hope, we open the posture of our heart so that we can say yes to what God what wants us to receive this Christmas.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of thee Holy Spirit.”

Romans 15:13

Christmas Eve Service

4 -5 pm. Main house, Brooksdale Environmental Center, 192nd and 16th Ave.  Come join us for our annual Christmas Eve Service. We keep it simple. We sing together, read the Christmas story, and break our fast from communion with beautiful loaves of Challah bread, glasses of wine and grape juice.This might be the last time we can all fit into the Brooksdale living room!

Skating Party

Everyone is welcome to join us for an ice skating party!!

When: Saturday, Jan. 5th, 3:00-5:00
Where: Centennial Arena

ROOTS

Our next ‘ROOTS’ gathering will be Tuesday, Dec. 11th @ 6:15 pm. Meeting at Anne’s house (Kingfisher farm).

Our Advent Loonie Toons Campaign: Fill the Stable!

1 Goat for a $100
2 hens and rooster for $50
1 Piglet for $40
1 Cow for $600
1 sheep for $150
And even an Alpaca for $250

Let’s fill a  stable with as many animals as we can this Christmas!  This Advent, our Loonie Toons campaign will go towards the purchase of livestock for a community overseas. Bring your loonies, toonies, raid your change pots, or bring some baked goods to church to sell! Help us raise enough money to fill a stable!   We are still exploring the best organization to purchase our animals through – Canadian Baptist Ministries, World Vision, Compassion International all have Christmas Gift Programs. We are also exploring the possibility of a more grass roots option. We want to say yes to bringing hope, peace, joy, and love this Christmas!

Services in December

Sunday, December 2nd: 
Advent, Week 1
“Yes to Hope”, Luke 1:5-25

Sunday, December 9th:
Advent, Week 2
“Yes to Peace”, Luke 1:26-38

Tuesday, December 11th:
ROOTS
6:15 pm @ Anne’s house

Sunday, December 16th:
Advent, Week 3
“Yes to Joy”, Luke 1:39-45

Sunday, December 23:
Advent, Week 4 – Kids Nativity Play!
“Yes to Love”, Matthew 1:18-25

Monday, December 24th:
Christmas Eve Communion and Carol Sing @ 4 pm

Sunday, December 30th: 
ALL OUT SUNDAY IN GATHERING GROUPS

Have an Announcement?

If you have an addition you would like included in this newsletter, please send a prepared announcement as you would like it to appear to: office@southpoint.ca by Tuesday and we will get back to you.

Prayer Needs

There are many prayer needs in our community right now. If you would like to join the prayer chain to be in more intentional prayer for our community, or if you have a need for prayer that you would like to pass on to the prayer chain, please contact John Hardy.