Lent: Living the Questions (2) Will I Cross the Threshold?

Distractions come easy these days. We have an infinite amount of options that pull our gaze elsewhere—Amazon Prime, Crave, Instagram, Netflix, Tiktok, Twitter, Tinder, Airbnb, Kindle, WhatsApp, Facebook, Yelp, news feeds and podcasts and search engines, and those are just on-line options. It’s easier than ever to distract ourselves. Even spiritual practices can be a form of distraction, allowing us to bypass or dissociate from the messiness of human existence with its vulnerabilities, unfelt feelings, needs, wants, traumas, and desires. It takes intention to slow down and sit within the tension of unanswered and even unanswerable questions. 

We draw on the same awareness that helped us see God in Epiphany, to come close and see ourselves in Lent, welcoming what shows up into our awareness, even if it is uncomfortable. Trusting that as we do so the Spirit will be our guide, drawing to the surface that which needs our care and attention. 

This week, notice the thresholds in your life right now. What is the Spirit inviting you to leave behind? What is the Spirit inviting you to step into?  How is Jesus calling YOU to be born again? What’s holding you back, keeping you stuck? Where will the courage come from to move forward? What help do you need? 

These are big questions. You don’t have to answer right away. Just sit for a while in the wilderness of your days. Sit still long enough to see the colours of the sky change. Sit still long enough to feel what movements are happening inside of you. What is it that you notice wanting to say? 
That moment, when we finally dare cross a threshold, is a very short, but very heroic moment. I want to highlight the importance of this singular,  courageous action, and all the inner work we do to ready ourselves for that one small step. I am praying for you. 

Deep peace and blessing,
Anne

Rev. Anne Baxter Smith
Pastor, Church at Southpoint

If you missed Sunday’s message…

Southpoint is Hiring!  Community Life Coordinator

We Need Your Help!
This is an important position for our church, and we are a bit of a niche community! Finding the right fit for us feels essential. 

Would you help us by utilizing your network of connections, passing this job description along to whomever you think might be interested, or who might have connections that would be? 

While our ideal start date is May 1, we will wait until we find the right fit before we make a hire. 

Worship Calendar

Location & Zoom. We meet on Sundays at 15639 24 Avenue, Surrey. Zoom is offered if you cannot attend in person. Zoom link. Meeting ID: 831 1690 9977 password: 753319

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Blogs
Catch up on Anne’s recent blogs under “News” on our website, southpoint.ca

Sun May 12   Mother’s Day
Acts 1:15-17, 21-26

Sun May 19 Pentecost
Acts 2:1-21

Sun May 26 
No service at the Sunnyside building
Brunches Together!

Sun Jun 2
Rev Rusty Edwards (CABF)
2 Cor 4:5-12

Sun Jun 9
2 Cor 4:13-5:1

Sun Jun 16
2 Cor 5:6-11, 14-17

Sun Jun 23
Baptisms, at A Rocha’s Brooksdale Environmental Centre

Sun Jun 30 
No service at the Sunnyside building
Fifth Sunday Brunches Together

New to Southpoint?

At Southpoint, it all begins with God’s love. Just as a plant grows, it receives sunshine, so we grow as we receive God’s love. At Southpoint, we are growing in our capacity to love God, ourselves, one another, and creation.

We seek to be a community of grace that is intentional yet organic, spacious yet authentic, grace-filled yet accountable. * We are fully welcoming. *

We encourage relationships rather than run programs, yet we recognize the importance of intentionality and structure as we nurture life together.

As a community, we seek to put our love in action. We value helping out on Sunday mornings, sharing food, and showing up in hard times. We keep our church life simple so folk have time to build relationships with family, friends, and neighbours. We encourage folk to serve in tangible ways within the wider community. We rent space rather than own a building, allowing us to do more with less, supporting missions at home and abroad.

Curious to know more?

These six slides express what motivates our ministry (best viewed on a monitor). Here’s the bio of our Pastor, Rev. Anne Baxter Smith.

If you’d like to really peek inside, sign up for our weekly Southpoint News (scroll to brown footer at bottom of page). The Southpoint News is a MailChimp distributed email—you can unsubscribe anytime and will not be added to our contacts list. Email us at office@southpoint.ca. Website: southpoint.ca.

Sun Feb 26 First Sun. Lent (No service)
What Voices Am I Listening To?
Matt 4:1-11, Gen 2:15-15, 3:1-7

Sun Mar 5 — Lent (2)Will I Cross the Threshold?
John 3:1-17, Gen 12:1-4a

Sun Mar 12— Lent (3) What Am I Willing to Give?
John 4:5-42, Ex 17:1-7

Sun Mar 19— Lent (4)Why? [All IN Service]John 9:1-41

Sun Mar 26— Lent (5)What Hope is There?
John 11:1-45, Ez 37:1-14

Sun Apr 2 Palm SundayCan I Trust This?
Matt 21:1-11

Readings for Maundy Thursday Will I Let You In?
John 13:1-17, 31b-35

Good Friday Stations of the Cross 
512 172 Street,10 am -12 pm
Self-guided walk of reflection offered at Kingfisher Farm. 
Readings: Why Have You Forsaken Me? Matthew 27:27-50

Easter SundayDo I dare believe?
John 20:1-18

New to Southpoint?

At Southpoint, it all begins with God’s love. Just as a plant grows, it receives sunshine, so we grow as we receive God’s love. At Southpoint, we are growing in our capacity to love God, ourselves, one another, and creation.

We seek to be a community of grace that is intentional yet organic, spacious yet authentic, grace-filled yet accountable. * We are fully welcoming. *

We encourage relationships rather than run programs, yet we recognize the importance of intentionality and structure as we nurture life together.

As a community, we seek to put our love in action. We value helping out on Sunday mornings, sharing food, and showing up in hard times. We keep our church life simple so folk have time to build relationships with family, friends, and neighbours. We encourage folk to serve in tangible ways within the wider community. We rent space rather than own a building, allowing us to do more with less, supporting missions at home and abroad.

Curious to know more?

These six slides express what motivates our ministry (best viewed on a monitor). Here’s the bio of our Pastor, Rev. Anne Baxter Smith.

If you’d like to really peek inside, sign up for our weekly Southpoint News (scroll to brown footer at bottom of page). The Southpoint News is a MailChimp distributed email—you can unsubscribe anytime and will not be added to our contacts list. Email us at office@southpoint.ca. Website: southpoint.ca.