Southpoint News September 25, 2015

“I love being a pastor,” I said to Adam as we drove away from Colin and David’s house where we’d gathered for prayer. I get to be a part of really significant moments in people’s lives. “It suits you, Mom” he said. “Of course, Southpoint makes it pretty easy”, I said. “ I love our church.” “Yea, it’s the perfect church for you,” he said. Which was pretty cool.

This week, being a pastor felt just that – pretty cool. Being a pastor meant talking to Julianne, a Syrian woman trying to get her sister into the country. It meant learning how we can fight for the Little Campbell River. It meant cooking Syrian food for my family as a way of trying to connect emotionally with the thousands of families waiting to find sanctuary in Europe. It meant networking with folk on behalf of a Congolese family with six kids and a seventh on the way, one of whom has leukemia and all of whom need food, clothes and suitable shelter. It meant meeting with David and Colin for a time of discernment. Being a pastor meant brainstorming with Jen about volunteer internships for our high school students, talking with Cornelia about finances, and meeting up with six local pastors over lunch. It meant phone calls with Chris about board matters and emails with Willy about Friday night games. It meant formulating slides for our power point, writing this newsletter and somewhere, in the midst of that all, crafting a sermon. It meant carving out sustaining chunks of silence for prayer. I love being a pastor. I never know what a week will bring.

The challenge for me is what comes next? How do we move from all this talking about change, to actually living out change? As a counselor said to me this spring, “Good intentions do not bring change. It is re-directed action that brings transformation. Request action.”

Here are some actions I’d really like to see happening in our midst this week:

• Bring a generous offering of dried goods or school supplies for the Congolese family this Sunday – paper, pens, flour, cornflour, oil, veggies, sheets, towels, blankets, pots, pans.
• Write that letter to the city on behalf of the Little Campbell River
• Read up on Syria. It is a fascinating country with 4,000 year old history and one of the oldest cuisines.
• Start up a conversation with someone from a different country of origin. Let them know they are wanted and welcome here.
• Pray for one another: for Thea, for Chris whose Mom just fell and hurt her head, for Colin and David, for Janet and Gerry’s son, for Loree as she networks on behalf of the Congolese family, for all those advocating for the Little Campbell.
• Join a volunteer team at church. It is an “All Hands on Deck” moment. Find out where you can fit, and serve.

I love our church. I am so grateful to be the pastor of Southpoint. Let’s not just go to church together. Let’s be church together. Let’s be the church. Together.

A CONGOLESE FAMILY IN NEED
from Loree McDougall-Lade

“Last week a family reached out to our staff at Umoja with a desperate plea for help. The family are refugees from the Congo and are new to BC. There are 7 children between the ages of 2 and 16 – 1 has leukemia and is receiving chemotherapy. The mother is 6 months pregnant. The family is not receiving any assistance at the moment for reasons that I am struggling to understand (with their limited English) but what I do know is that they spent the past wknd living on the street as they had nowhere to go and now they are in a mouse infested basement suite with no heat and only a few very basic supplies. They have only have $200 left in their bank account. This family needs care asap. I am hoping to gather food and clothing items as soon as possible (see list below) as well as looking for alternate accommodation. (They are looking for a 4 bdrm in the Guildford/fleetwood area).

Immediate needs: school supplies such as backpacks, notebooks, paper, pens, etc.,, gift cards for Superstore, dry red beans, rice, corn meal, veg. oil, whole wheat flour, cereal, electric heaters, clothing when we have sizes.

SOUTH CAMPBELL HEIGHTS TRUCK PARKING DEVELOPMENT

A proposal for a truck parking lot (with oil change and washing facilities) will endanger the Little Campbell River on the South side of 16th and just East of 192. It contains a second-growth forest that is about 100 years old, is home to an abundance of wildlife, and the Little Campbell River, which is a spawning area for Spring, Coho and Chum Salmon. The loss of this land would be an ecological tragedy. Make your voice heard! Let the City of Surrey know how you feel:

MELISSA JOHNSON MCIP, RPP – mjohnson@surrey.ca

CALENDAR

• September 25th: YOUTH GROUP @ Jen and Andrew’s, 7:30-9:00
• September 27th: SUNDAY WORSHIP: Are You My Other? Part 2: “Worshiping with the Other”
• October 4th: SUNDAY WORSHIP – Saint Francis Feast Day! We will honor the deep well of the Franciscan tradition by having a “Blessing of the Animals” during our children’s conversation. Small pets/animals in cages and larger pets that are very well-behaved and good with other animals are welcome to join us for worship.
• October 9th – Intergenerational Game Night @ Shiloh Shelter, 512 172nd St., Kingfisher Farm. All are welcome. Bring a favorite snack and game to share. 7 pm.
• October 11th – SUNDAY WORSHIP – Thanksgiving Sunday!
• October 16th – YOUTH GROUP @ ? – Location TBA
• October 18th – SUNDAY SERVICE @ SOUTHPOINT
• October 25th – ALL OUT – PotLuck Breakfast/Home Church