Thanksgiving

The spiritual discipline of gratitude begins with an awareness that everything we have is a gift—the birds flying through the sky, the mountains we climb, the air we breathe, the relationships we cherish, the land we live on, the bodies that are our home. Every good and perfect gift comes from God (James 1:17). Gratitude is more than a response —it is a constant awareness of God’s presence, kindness and provision in our lives.

Gratitude unfolds as we slow down and cultivate this awareness. Once your eyes begin to focus on love, human or otherwise, that has sustained you, once you begin to see how that love has watched over you, nourished you, kept you going in hard times, wiped your tears, stayed with you in the dark, accompanied you to hell and back again, provided you strength, and given you a new life, once you let what you see touch your heart, once you let gratitude rise up within you, then that gratitude becomes the energizing force of love. The power of love is in you. Love will want to flow through you. You will want to expand that flow of love by loving and giving in return. In this way, gratitude is a doorway into ethical living.

I was cared for, and so now I care. I received mercy, and so I show mercy. I was given a revelation of God’s love, and so I share that love. I was given abundance, and so now I share that abundance with others. We receive all we have from the hands of Christ, and we share with one another from the hands of Christ. Gratitude is that place where giving meets receiving.

Gratitude shifts our perspective from scarcity to abundance. Instead of living as though we need to grasp and protect, we recognize that we are richly blessed, and this opens our hearts to give. We are moved to love our neighbours, act justly, and practice generosity. Gratitude energizes our ethics.

Deep peace and blessing,

Anne

Rev. Anne Baxter Smith
Pastor, Southpoint Church

Sun Dec 1   Christie Goode
You Are A Blessing Luke 1:26-38, Isa 43:1-7

Sun Dec 8 Anne Baxter Smith
We Don’t Go Alone Ruth 1, Eccl 4:9-12

Sun Dec 15 Anne Baxter Smith
Do the Good That’s Yours To Do

Sun Dec 22 Anne Baxter Smith
Hope is Worth the Risk Matthew 1:18-25/Luke 1:46-55

Tue Dec 24 Anne Baxter Smith
Christmas Eve Service, 4:00 pm
Love Knows Your Name Matthew 1:18-25/Luke 1:46-55

Sun Dec 29 ALL OUT
10:00-11:30 Annual Skating Party!
No service in 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.

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 Oct 20
Our 20th Anniversary!
If you are a regular, please bring a treat for our extended coffee time.
Joshua 4

Sun Oct 27  All OUT 
At George C Reifel Bird Sanctuary
For our group reservation sign up here. 
5191 Robertson Drive, Delta (google map)

Sun Nov 3   Anne Baxter Smith
Job: “God, do you see me?” 
Job 1:1, 2:1-10

Sun Nov 10   Anne Baxter Smith
Job: “God, do you hear me?”
Job 23:1-9,16-17

Sun Nov 17   Anne Baxter Smith
Job: “God, do you know me?”
Job 38:1-7, (34-41)

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.