Seeing ‘The Table’ Freshly

Four core images hold the vision of our community: The Well. The Table. The Seed. The Net. They help us see who we are. They remind us who God is calling us to be. As pastor of Southpoint, I have used these  images as one would a compass. They point me in a good direction. This week we took a long, lingering look at the Table, as imaged by Joy Bank’s artwork.

Families
It is this image of the Table that became the portal through which we became an openly welcoming and affirming church. In the early days, it was our weekly practice of communion that brought clarity to the conversation around membership. Gay and straight, we love Jesus and want to follow him. One day, we will sit around the banquet feast of heaven together. So, why would we not be that beloved community at this banquet table here on Earth?

Build Longer Tables
When all the political maneuverings to build the wall between the US and Mexico began in the States, once again, this image of the Table brought a more just invitation: “Build longer tables, not higher walls.” 

And, Find “Big Love”
Being a pastor’s kid is a complicated heritage, full of blessing and wounding. For a while, my daughter Jo needed a break from church. During that time, however, she held on to two things: A desire to be at the Long Table. And “Big Love”, whom she knew welcomed everyone home with abundance, warmth and unconditional love.

To what would I compare the Kingdom of God? The Kingdom of God is like a long table where everyone is welcome to come home, feast, and be met with Big, Abundant Love.

Scott Simpson, founding pastor of Southpoint, and his team crafted this expression of the Table, which has carried us:

“Trapeza is Greek for table. In the Christian writings, it often stands for the whole meal and is associated closely with the act of hospitality. The Table is a foundational ministry image at Southpoint. We gather midweek around a shared meal. We welcome people to our table with coffee and refreshments when they enter our gathering on Sunday mornings… just as Jesus welcomes us to his table.

We practice hospitality with our neighbours. Both giving and receiving. We are prayerfully seeking ways to extend our table to include the stranger, the poor and the forgotten of our society.”

Warmly,
Anne

Rev. Anne Baxter Smith
Pastor, Church at Southpoint

Current Series:
Refreshing Our Imaginations
(1) The Welcoming Christ podcast
(2) God of the Small Things podcast
(3) Unveiling Our Core Images podcast
BONUS 3.5 The Well podcast Anne Baxter Smith

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

Listen to Sermons
Follow “Meditations from the Church at Southpoint” on Spotify, Apple and Google

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

Sun Apr 7
(2) Opening to Love
Rev Anne Baxter Smith
John 21:1-19

Sun Apr 14
(3) Receiving Clarity
Rev Anne Baxter Smith
Acts 3:12-19
 
Sun Apr 21
Rev Scott Swanson
Acts 4:5-12

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.