Good afternoon, Friends.I don't typically use this space for confession, but here goes: Church family, I've sinned. I've broken one of God's Ten Commandments. To be clear, I haven't slept in the wrong bed or murdered anyone or given false testimony against a neighbour. The commandment violation I'm confessing is the one most socially acceptable. I've broken the 4th commandment, the one about keeping the Sabbath. Other Ten Commandment violations might get me fired, but for whatever reason, Sabbath violations aren't taken too seriously. Maybe it's our obsession with productivity and achievement which fuels this reality, I don't know. But some of us think it's entirely normal, even admirable, to live life on fumes, trying to cram more and more into our days. How about we change it up and pursue something a bit countercultural?This weekend, I'm beginning a 3-part teaching series on the Sabbath, one of the essential Sacred Practices given to us by God to catalyze the process of becoming more deeply rooted followers of Jesus. September, one of the busiest times of the year, is the perfect time to rediscover the glorious gift of rest. The Sabbath, when experienced as God intended, really can be the best day of the week - an invitation to feast, play, dance, sing, laugh, tell stories, read, walk, worship, and watch creation in its fullness. It's a day to encounter God's delight. I look forward to unpacking the Scriptures and describing God's invitation to Sabbath rest online or in person this Saturday or Sunday! Greg Hochhalter | Lead PastorDid you know......that we have a prayer room? It is located by the back east entrance beside the fireside room. This room is open for you to use after weekend services or throughout the week.You will find a nice, quiet space to pray with some resources there. Calling all Seniors! Welcome back from our summer break. Come and enjoy refreshments and conversation, and be inspired by the ways that you can be involved in church.Registration is requested.Oftentimes, grief is so overwhelming we wonder if we'll ever find a way out. Know you don't need to grieve the loss of a loved one alone. Find support, comfort, and community with others who have experienced bereavement and discover how God can give you peace and hope through your grieving. GriefShare is a 13-week program designed to help you face these challenges and move toward rebuilding your life. Each session is “self-contained,” but we will be closing registration after 4 sessions.Cost for the workbook is $35.00. There are many different types of support groups starting up this fall. To learn more, please see spac.ca/groupfinder.Groups Open HouseIn September, we will hear a lot about Group life at Sherwood Park Alliance Church and invite you to consider joining in. There are various types of groups to choose from: Life Groups, Medium Size Groups and Support Groups. On the September 23/24 weekend, we will host a Groups Open House to learn more about how you can find a group to belong to.An easy introduction to group life is by joining our Connections—a 6-week journey with others in a medium-sized setting. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a meal, meet others, talk about faith through our sermon series, and pray for each other. Connections is a quick and simple way to find community!For more information on how you can get connected, please get in touch with [email protected].Pizza with the PastorIf you are new or feel new, join us to learn more about our church. Discover how to get connected and enjoy the opportunity to meet others. Pizza with the Pastor is a regular event we hold as a way for you to meet others who are new(er), as well as some of the pastoral team. The next Pizza with the Pastor will be held on September 24 at 11:15 am, and we would love for you to join us! For more info and to register, please see here.For many of us, grief is a deeply painful, lonely, and isolating experience. When someone we care about dies or we go through any other 43 forms of loss, we often feel unprepared and ill-equipped to deal with our emotions and the journey ahead. Sadly, we haven't been taught the information on how to navigate our grief in a healthy and meaningful way. Instead, we are told, "keep busy," "be strong," and "wait for time to pass”. Many intellectual messages we hear are not emotionally helpful and further isolate us from our fear and pain.Join us on September 26 to learn from Guest Presenter Ashley Mielke, psychologist and founder of the Grief and Trauma Healing Center, as she helps us better understand grief and how we can best support others after any loss.Our semi-annual Clothing Exchange is just around the corner! This a large event that serves our community in a meaningful way. You do not need to donate to attend, and everything is free.If you have items to donate, they can be dropped off starting at 4 pm on September 29 through to 11 am on September 30.All clothing must be washed and clean. Items accepting: Men, women and children's clothing, footwear, belts, purses, small household items, small children's toys, and books Items not accepted: Car seats, sports equipment, helmets, furniture, damaged goodsIf you are able to help out at this event, please register. Thank you! In The Know at SPAC! Another place to stay In The Know and connected is to follow our social media accounts! You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Feel free to give us a follow, a subscribe, a like, and a share!