Shifting Seasons: All Out Wild Church This Sunday

Our summer series on “Friendship and Flourishing” has come to an end. This Sunday, our ALL OUT gathering will make a bridge from our Friendship theme to the Season of Creation, which will cover six Sundays starting September 1. How fitting for us to have another “Wild Church” where we can relish in our friendships with each other, Creator, and Creation.

For those of you fairly new to Southpoint, you might not know that I live on Kingfisher Farm, a community of six families who seek to engage respectfully with each other and the land so that together we might experience a kind of mutual flourishing. I would like to host our Wild Church at Kingfisher Farm so I can share this land I love with you and let you shed your shoes and wander to your heart’s content. (Or, keep your shoes on and sit to your heart’s content!) 

We will first gather at the Long Table for a “pot luck” style snack. Please bring fruit and or baked goods to share, as well as a thermos or water bottle with your drink of choice. After visiting at the Long Table and waiting for people to arrive, we’ll gather in a circle for a brief introduction around before sending you on your way. It would be helpful if you could bring a blanket or a folding chair for this group portion of the morning. We will end our Wild Church with communion back in the circle of our gathering.

To whet your appetite for wandering, here is a quote by Lyanda Lynn Haupt, from her book Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit:

“We know that there is more than what has been given and named by the overculture, more than what we have been told is true, more than green gardens and nature calendars, and recycling, and a summer hike in the mountains, and an occasional camping trip…

We know there is a wilder earth, and upon it—within it—a wilder, more authentic human self…

We pack our satchel lightly and cross the threshold… we enter as pilgrims, as wayfarers—knowing there is something we are seeking, something nameless, beautiful, waiting, wanting. Something that will change us so thoroughly that our cozy slippers will no longer fit…”

Deep peace and blessing,

Anne

Rev. Anne Baxter Smith
Pastor, Southpoint Church

Six-Week Season of Creation

Sun Sep 1
(1) Together, We Hope
Rev Anne Baxter Smith
Rom 8:20-21, part 1

Sun Sep 8
(2) Together, We Act 
Rev Anne Baxter Smith
Rom 8:20-21, part 2

Sun Sep 15
(3) Together, We Learn 
 Is 11:1-9 Jodi Spargur

Sun Sep 22
(4) Together, We Care 
ALL In service

Sun Sep 29
(5) Together, We Heal
All OUT service: No gathering at the Sunnyside building!

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.

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