Together, We Serve

Did you know that “invasive species are considered to be one of the greatest threats to biodiversity world-wide, second only to habitat loss” and that introduced plant species represent 26% of the entire flora in British Columbia? *

This past Sunday, we gathered to pull invasive species together at Kingfisher Farm. The land we tended lies in the Tatalu Watershed (what settlers called the Little Campbell River). Last year, I studied old maps and historical documents concerning the land around our farm and found out that a foot path used by the Semiahmoo people ran along the river, connecting their settlement on the coast with rivers further inland. They have lived on this land since time immemorial. Pulling up invasive plant species was our humble and hidden act of reconciliation with the Semiahmoo people. As my friend Krista reminds me, “Any actions we take to restore land with indigenous plants are acts of reconciliation.”

Like so much of caregiving, pulling invasives is humble work. You pull a weed, only to have it grow back again. Because of this, you have to do it over and over and over again. You aren’t building a grand new initiative. You are simply tending and providing that which is required for thriving. It is akin to bathing and putting a child to bed. Or feeding a family. Or keeping a family budget. We do it because not doing it leads to withering, while doing it creates conditions for thriving. 

Pulling invasives is also hidden work. If the work is performed regularly and well, all you will notice is an ecosystem where native plants and animals have room to flourish and grow. One doesn’t walk through an area thinking, “Why look at the absence of invasive species!”  We only notice invasives when they get out of control and take over. Like the time-consuming, yet hidden, behind-the-scenes administrative work we do to keep a household, business, or nonprofit running orderly and smoothly: you notice the absence more than the presence!

I think God has a soft spot for humble, holy, hidden labour; and humble, holy, hidden things. 

So why do we give an entire Sunday morning to pull invasives? We do it, because it needs doing. We do it, because we care. We are putting our hope into action. We do it together, because many hands make hidden, humble, tedious work a lot more fun and a lot more effective. Thank you to Karin for organizing and focusing our labour, and thank you to all of you who came out and participated on Sunday. What a lot we accomplished together in a morning!

This Sunday, Krista Boyes will be coming to share more with us. I cannot wait our community to meet her, and for Krista to meet our community! 

Deep peace and blessing,

Anne

Rev. Anne Baxter Smith
Pastor, Southpoint Church

*BC Conservation Data Centre, Ministry of Environment, 2012

Worship Calendar

Location & Zoom. We meet on Sundays at 10:00 am, 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
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Blogs
Catch up on Anne’s recent blogs under “News” on our website, southpoint.ca

Sun Oct 6—Feast Day of St Francis

Together, We Love: Land as Home

Krista Boyes, Gen 2: 1-9

To celebrate God’s love for all Creation, and the inclusive kinship we are invited to cultivate, you are welcome to bring your (better-behaved) pets today!

Sun Oct 13—Thanksgiving Sunday

Together, We Praise

Anne Baxter Smith, Ro 11: 33-36 

Sun Oct 20

Our 20th Anniversary !

Bring a treat for the coffee time.

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.

Progress Pride Flag by Daniel Quasar (link)

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