Friendship: A Vintage Home Remedy

We had such a rich conversation in our Sunday service on why it’s hard to do friendship in “modern” times. Here’s a few that stuck out to me:

–  We’re out of practice: Our friendship muscle is a bit weak and feels awkward when we use it.

–  Our culture prioritizes other values: work, responsibility, entertainment, freedom to do what we want when we want it, academic pursuits or being accomplished at something….Friendship is not something we prioritize highly when scheduling our time..

–  Friendship takes sacrifice. We can’t just do our own thing. We have to nurture it, and that takes effort.

–  We move around a lot. This makes it hard to focus on building friends where we are, or if we do, it makes it hard to stay in touch with those who are far away. Our attentiveness and relational capacities are stretched thin.

As one person confessed to me this week, “My life is so full of responsibilities, I think of friendship almost as a luxury.”  I knew exactly what she meant.

It is a luxury item?  

Genesis 2:18 wrote, “It is not good for the human to be alone.” Modern science seems to be in agreement.

This study in Britain concluded that isolated and lonely persons are at increased risk of AMI and stroke, and, among those with a history of AMI or stroke, increased risk of death.  https://heart.bmj.com/content/
104/18/1536

In this article, Julianne Holt-Lunstad, PhD, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham Young University, reports that isolation and loneliness  heightens health risks as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day or having alcohol use disorder and is twice as harmful to physical and mental health as obesity. https://www.apa.org/monitor
/2019/05/ce-corner-isolation

In this season of creation, consider the good gift of friendship. We receive God’s love quite viscerally through the gift of each other.  What would it look like to honor your God-given need for friendship this week?

Circles of Friendship

As the pastor of Southpoint, I am passionate about providing safe circles of belonging for youth, a place where they can show up, be seen and valued and heard. A place where their questions are honored and their faith journeys encouraged but not controlled.  Right now, we have two circles of friendship for youth. Each group decides how often they meet, what the focus of the group will be, and what the group will be called:)  These groups are NOT closed. The circle is open. If interested, please contact Anne.

Roots: Meeting most Tuesdays @ 7:30 at Anne’s home.

Age:  Currently 10th grade to young adults

Focus: Sharing over popcorn and tea, and this fall, studying gnarly passages in the Bible.

The Fellowship of the Rings:  Twice a month, once Wed and Friday.

Age: Currently 5th grade to 8th grade

Focus: Friday is for fun, Wed is for deeper conversation

Ride for Refuge

The ride is Saturday, October 5 and you can sign up to ride/walk (or donate) right here: https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant /TeamFundraisingPage.aspx?teamID=874853&langPref=en-CA

Thank you for helping us reach our goal! Jen

ALL IN & Potluck

This coming Sunday is an ALL IN Sunday and Potluck! Please bring food to share!

Praying for our Children and Youth

I would like to hold space for praying for our children and youth.  There are 2 options of times so that hopefully you can make one of them.  You are invited to come on Wednesday October 2 at 1:00 or 7:30 to the Shiloah Shelter at Kingfisher Farm.  For more information contact Angela at angneufeld@gmail.com.

Who’s Coming for Lunch?

On Sunday October 6 after church we will be matching guests with hosts for an informal, friendly lunch experience.

To sign up to be a guest please email angneufeld@gmail.com

Global Climate Strikes: Sept 20-27th.

If you would like to participate with the youth of our world in the Global Climate Strikes happening this month, there is one happening in own back yard. There will be a global climate strike in the Peace Arch Park on September 21st at 11 am.  There are also strikes in Vancouver on various dates.  For more information, follow these lines:

https://act.350.org/event/global
climatestrike/17901?

https://globalclimatestrike.net/#map

Fall Sunday Calendar

9/22  –  Hope  
         Eph 3:14-21 

9/29 –  Freedom
         Gal 5:13-26

10/6 –  Friendship
         Prov. 27:9, 17

10/13 –  Defense Systems
         1 Thes 5:6-11

10/20 –  Vulnerability
         Colossians 3:12-14 

10/27 – ALL OUT –

11/3 –  Actions
         1 John 3:16-24 

11/10 –  Responsibility and Accountability
         Gal 6:1-6

11/17 – Inspiration
         Romans 12:9-21 

11/24 – ALL IN: Christ the King Sunday –  Joy
         John 15:1-17

Have an Announcement? Prayer Request?

If you have an announcement for the newsletter, please send it fully prepared and edited to: office@southpoint.ca by Tuesday.  If you have a prayer request to share with our prayer chain, please contact  johnandwendyhardy@gmail.com