Happy Holy Week

Happy Holy Week Friends!

Yesterday a teammate sent me a reminder about an old hymn with deep meaning. “Up From the Grave He Arose” was written in 1874 by Pennsylvania pastor and worship leader Robert Lowry and features this refrain: Up from the grace he arose; with a mighty triumph o’er his foes; he arose a victor from the dark domain, and he lives forever...Hallelujah! Christ arose!

No mystery as to my subject matter today, and no more April Fool’s jokes! Easter weekend is before us, with several participation options available to you and your friends and family.

Weekend details, gathering times, and service themes are found on the website Easter page, which includes an option for volunteering to serve in a leadership role, as well as a convenient button perfectly set up to assist you in inviting others via email or social media. Please help spread the word! What’s being planned for Good Friday is especially timely, as we mourn the last couple years of losses before we turn the corner to a grand celebration on Sunday.

Hope you can be with us online or in person this weekend. Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Greg Hochhalter | Lead Pastor

Spiritual Life - Mental Health

Mental health is a huge topic and field of study and it's something our society is talking a lot more about these days. Jesus cares for our whole person - our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being. God cares about our struggles and it's important to know that we are not alone.

Join Pastor Rita Penner and psychologist Dr. Shawn Reynolds on April 21 at 7pm as we talk about our mental health and Tools for coming out of a Pandemic. After the conversation you'll be empowered that you can improve your mental health and be given tools to help in the struggle. For more information and to register, please see here.

Life Group Open House

Life Groups matter because they invite you into a place of deep community where you are known, loved and encouraged to grow in your walk with Jesus. We know community begins when we move from sitting in rows, to doing life in circles together. We know community begins when we move from sitting in rows, to doing life in circles together.

On April 23 and 24, immediately after each service, we want to invite you to our Groups Open House hosted in the atrium, where we want to help you journey into deep community. If you’re new and not connected we want you to come find out about our new Connection Group. This Connection Group will be offered in-person at our church; it’s a safe entry point for anyone who is looking to jump into community for the first time or willing to try again.

Connections

If you are new or feeling unconnected and would like to find a safe entry point into a life group; we want to invite you out to our new Connections Group. This group will be offered in-person at our church; it’s a safe entry point for anyone who is looking to jump into community for the first time or willing to try again.

Connections will take you on a 4-week journey with others, in a medium sized setting. Here you’ll have opportunity to enjoy a meal, meet others, talk about faith through our current sermon series, and pray for one another. Connections is a quick and simple way for anyone to find community! Connections start April 26 at 6pm, see here to register.

GriefShare

Often times, grief is so overwhelming we wonder if we'll ever find a way out. Know you don't need to grieve your loss alone. Find support, comfort, and community with others who have experienced a deep loss and discover how God can give you peace and hope through your grieving. GriefShare is a 13-week program designed to help you face death of a loved one and move toward rebuilding your life. Each session is “self-contained,” so you do not have to attend in sequence. You will find encouragement and help whenever you begin. Please register here.

Cost for the workbook is $20.00.

Clothing Exchange

We are excited to hold our Clothing Exchange event at the end of this month! This is a free event that we hold twice a year for our church and community. As you come across items you've outgrown or don't use anymore, put them aside to bring in.

Drop off will start on April 29 at 4 pm to April 30 at 11 am. The Clothing Exchange event will be on April 30th, opening at 10:30 am. If you are able to lend a hand - we are looking for volunteers. For more information please check out spac.ca/clothingexchange

Online Ministry Enhancement

The public weekend gathering is no longer the front door - the digital presence and online experience of church is overwhelmingly our first point of connection with the spiritually curious, and an essential method for initiating and fostering discipling relationships within our congregation. Streaming online is more than a broadcast - it's a platform with which to nurture meaningful connections with online viewers.

The hybrid church is the new normal.

To help support this new normal, we are launching an Online Ministry Enhancement campaign. For more information please see spac.ca/online.