Hey Church Family,I had to laugh yesterday as I heard several times…Isn’t it great to have this warmer weather but now the mosquitoes! Life is never perfect is it? But at time we get duped into thinking that life - for someone else or some place else - looks pretty close to perfect.Here’s an example for me that was poignant and a little funny. We have some family friends from Bermuda. I remember thinking, when we first met them- Bermuda that sounds like the perfect place and the perfect paradise with it’s endless beaches and sunshine! Then our friends talked about the fact that there’s no source of water on the island other than rainfall so water rationing is really rigid, and there’s these giant toads, that look like a big cow patty. They are all over and when you open your front door you have to be careful not to step on one or have it try to hop right past you into the house! Who would have thought? I bet you’ve never seen that on a travel brochure! Life on this planet isn’t perfect. And often the challenges are way more intense than mosquitoes and toads. Whatever you’re facing I’m looking forward to diving into Psalm 63 with you this weekend. The Psalmist gives us an essential key to navigating life well on this imperfect planet. I really hope you can join us in person or online. And I hope that at some point this weekend you get to you enjoy the sunshine…mosquitoes and all!Grace and Peace, RitaA Summer in the PsalmsWe hope you are enjoying our A Summer in the Psalms series so far. It has been so wonderful to partner with Jason Hildebrand and his team at Jason Hildebrand Creative Arts to share with you some of their Psalms Microfilms. These scripture-based microfilms welcome heart engagement and connection with God, encourage us to reflect on how these living ancient texts can speak to us today.We invite you to write and create your own Psalm this summer - share it with us at [email protected]. We love seeing these creations coming in! Summer Youth Drop-In!Attention Youth!! We are please to let you know we will be holding Youth Drop-In nights with Luke the Intern this summer, on Tuesdays, 7-9 PM, for Junior and Senior High! Youth going into grade 7, and those who recently graduated are all welcome. All events will be outside and focused on building community through fun activities, so invite your friends! For more details on specific events, please follow us on Instagram (spacsrhigh and spachjrhigh). Please see spac.ca/youth for more information and drop-in dates.Monumental VBSParents: Send your kids on a desert adventure! At Monumental VBS, kids celebrate God's greatness! Monumental is filled with awesome Bible-learning experiences kids see, hear, and touch! Sciency-Fun Gizmos™, team-building games, unforgettable Bible songs, and tasty treats are just a few of the standout activities that help faith flow into real life. (Since everything is hands-on, kids might get a little messy. Be sure to send them in play clothes and sturdy shoes.) Plus, we'll help kids discover how to see evidence of God in everyday life - something we call God Sightings®. Get ready to hear that phrase a lot! Your kids will also participate in a hands-on mission project, through a program called Operation Kid-to-Kid™, that will provide school supplies for kids living on reservations. Parents, grandparents, and friends are invited to join us at Canyon Closing each day at 11:30 am, a daily celebration of God's greatness and love! So mark these dates on your calendar: August 22-26, 2022. The fun starts at 9:00 am and will end at noon. Click here to register your children for this life-changing adventure!Summer Family Activity ChallengeOur Summer Family Activity Challenge is back this summer and created for YOU as a family to have the most memorable summer ever! Running for the months of July and August these Summer Family Activity Challenge digital guides include fun, faith-focused activities for all ages to complete together – earning points for every challenge along the way. At the end of the summer, the family with the most points will win the grand prize. But don’t be discouraged, even 10 points will qualify your family to enter our draw to win a participation prize! And don't forget to follow us on instagram/facebook @spackidsministries and turn on notifications so you don't miss our Summer in Psalms daily devotions by Pastor Kent for the whole family!Registration is required.Online Ministry EnhancementThe 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.