Week of April 18-24, 2021.
The Story of God’s Creation
The biblical story is shaped like an hourglass. Of course, in the middle is one very particular person: Jesus. Jesus’ birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension is the centre of the biblical story.
However, we cannot fully appreciate the significance or the implications of this hinge point of God’s work in history without the story of God’s creation. The biblical arc begins–and ends–with the widest scope imaginable: all that exists! If we have eyes to see, this creation-wide scope is consistently in view throughout the biblical story.
Jonathan Wilson writes: “I emphasize the necessity of always keeping creation and redemption together in our thinking, teaching and living. Without creation there is nothing to redeem; the work of redemption is empty of content. Without redemption there is no creation! There is only chaos, emptiness, meaninglessness.”
In six points, Rick Faw’s meditations discuss the implications of the cosmic scope of the story of God’s creation – the first three were last Sunday:
1. Creation is made by God: God made it all!
2. Creation is God’s temple.
3. Creation is very good.
If creation is the dwelling place of Yahweh (Isaiah 66), then just like a house tells us something about its resident, so creation, God’s temple, reveals his character (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1). Among other things, in creation we experience God’s provision and creativity, generosity and faithfulness, and we learn of God’s vibrancy and love of diversity.
In the ancient near eastern world, when you built a temple to a god, the last thing you put in the temple was the image of the god. So, too, in Genesis 1, women and men are the final pieces of the temple construction. We are created to be God’s representatives within his temple. We are meant to display, reflect and convey God’s character to each other and to the rest of creation.
Needless to say, there are major implications for how we live! The implications for people-keeping are perhaps more commonly recognized, but the implications for creation-keeping are just as profound.
The work of creation in Genesis 1 culminates in sabbath shalom – you’ll notice that in the text, the seventh day is the only one that doesn’t end. Rather, in Genesis 2 we get this picture that the sabbath shalom of God means that all things: God, human creatures and non-human creatures, are rightly related to each other and mutually thriving. A key part of this picture is women and men doing work, acting out our purpose, whilst we image our Creator.
Stay tuned for part 2, on Sunday 2 May.
– Excerpt from meditation offered by Rick Faw
It’s Good Seed Sunday!
This Sunday, 24 April, we are invited to spend one hour planting onions A Rocha or Kingfisher Farm. Where to go? Each gathering group is assigned a location Sunday morning – see below!
Come prepared to plant onions (bring your own garden gloves if you’d like them). Any other tools will be provided and sanitized between groups.
We will have COVID protocols in place at each location, please be prepared to sign in and answer the usual COVID screening questions.
If you are unsure which gathering group you are in please contact Angela this week angneufeld@gmail.com.
If you feel uncomfortable attending, or cannot attend and still would like to fellowship, perhaps you’d like to join the informal small group zoom at 10:00 am, made possible because Yvonne has kindly offered to zoom host from Québec! This informal group chooses how to spend their time together – it is a time of fellowship and it is NOT designed as an alternative service.
From 10:00-11:00
A Rocha (Farmer Carly facilitating)
– The Hubbard & McDougall-Lade gathering groups
Kingfisher Farm
(Paul & Angela facilitating)
– The Neufeld gathering group
_________________________
From 11:15-12:15
A Rocha (Farmer Carly facilitating)
– The Unrau/BJ & Smith gathering groups
Kingfisher Farm
(Paul & Angela facilitating)
– The Oger gathering group
TOGETHER @SOUTHPOINT
EASTER SEASON WORSHIP
Zoom Sunday service at 10:00 am.
You may like to have a candle at hand to light during the service, and the elements of Communion ready for that portion of our worship.
God’s Heart for Creation
The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.
– Psalm 24:1
During this Easter season we are exploring our relationship to the Creator and Creation in ways that you will (hopefully) find both delightful and thought provoking. Our exploration will happen through our hands and feet and senses as we go on wonder walks and as we participate in Good Seed Sunday at A Rocha and Kingfisher Farm. Our exploration will also happen through our minds as we consider Scripture passages in sermons given by Rick Faw and Leah Kostamo.
Time to play in the rich soil of creation and the rich soil of Scripture!
Apr 25 Good Seed Sunday
Activities at A Rocha and at Kingfisher
Deepening Our Participation in Creation
May 2 Zoom Church
Speaker: Rick Faw
The Story of God’s Creation, Part 2
Col. 1:15-20
May 9 Wonder Walks
Download Guide prepared by Leah Kostamo
May 16 Zoom Church
Speaker: Leah Kostamo
Jesus the Outdoorsman
Matt 6:25-33
May 23 Outdoor Church begins!
Playfully Engaging the Spirit in our Imaginations
Pentecost special liturgy
Alerts Regarding Outdoor Church
Please be assured that the Southpoint Leadership Team is monitoring BC’s current province-wide restrictions (here) so that our ‘Outdoor Religious and Worship Services’ follow the guidelines properly.
In the event that Good Seed Sunday or Outdoor Church needs to be cancelled (for Covid reasons, or due to inclement weather!) you will receive an email on Sunday morning by 8:30 am fromKarin (office@southpoint.ca) to alert you! Thanks for glancing at your emails and the Southpoint News to keep us all facing the same way!
CALENDAR ITEMS
Got a question? Contact Katie (email)
Instagram: thechurchatSouthpoint
Order of the Phoenix
Zooms 6:00-7:00 pm
Tuesdays, April 7, 21
Fellowship of the Rings
Zooms 6:30-7:30 pm
Tuesday, April 14, 28
Roots
Hike, at 11:00 am
Saturday, April 24
Location TBA
Everyone welcome. Bring yer masks!
Roots Zoom chat, 8:00 pm
Friday, April 30
Topic: Prayer
CARE
Active Pastoral Care Person
If you’re needing to talk or to pray, or would like support while you figure out what you need(!), our Pastoral Care Team is here for you.
From now until Sat, May 1,
please contact Anne Hartnell
(email)
Southpoint Gathering Groups
These are designed also to show care and be neighbourly – let your group facilitators know that you’re limping a little. Let’s lift each other up.
Prayer Circles
Wednesdays at Noon, by Zoom
If you would like to join in, please contact Karin (office@southpoint.ca).
Prayer Chain
If you have a confidential prayer need, please contact John Hardy (email).
SUPPORTING SOUTHPOINT
Thank you for considering your giving while we are not meeting in person. Possible means of giving include:
Pre-authorized debit (monthly or one-time) with our linked form. Cost to Southpoint is $0.50.
Paypal to the The Church at Southpoint. Cost is 3% of the donation. No Paypal account is required, only a credit card.
Charitable Impact Foundation.
Cost is 2.8% of the donation.
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