Where It Really Begins

Hello church family!

This weekend I’m beginning a message series we previewed on Christmas Eve: The B-I-B-L-E: Knowing the story OF the Bible In Order to Embrace the Story IN It. We’re going to dive headlong into the confusion and controversies which surround our Scriptures.

Many accept the Bible without question as authoritative, inspired, clear, and God’s unquestioned Word about anything and everything. Others find inspiration and wisdom within it, but pick and choose what they adhere to, while dismissing the troubling parts. And outside the church is a community that doesn’t know what to believe. Some think the Bible is a quaint relic...others find it offensive, even repulsive.

This is your invitation to join a journey of discovery as we seek to understand how the Bible we possess came to be. We’ll be honest about some of the Bible’s challenges and its weird side. But, I’m praying that when we’re through, you’ll be inspired, enthralled even, by the Bible’s wisdom, creativity, reliability, and trustworthiness. And most important, my goal is that you meet—perhaps in an entirely new way—the Jesus whom the Scriptures reveal.

Join us online or in person on Saturday night at 7:00 pm or Sunday morning at 9:00 am or 11:00 am. If you can’t make it live, check things out on demand on YouTube and our website.

Greg Hochhalter
Lead Pastor

As we begin looking forward to 2022, the New Year is a time to reset and give priority to what’s most important. Our church has a tradition of collectively doing this reset by starting the year with a week of prayer called Solemn Assembly. It doesn’t matter if prayer is new to you or a regular part of your life we invite everyone to register for the five day prayer challenge.

Each morning from January 10th to 14th, you’ll receive an email that’ll guide you through a short time of prayer. How cool to know that hundreds of us are united in prayer on a common theme!

Two in-person gatherings are planned—Monday, January 10th and Friday, January 14th at 7:00 pm at Sherwood Park Alliance Church. We will also host an online gathering on Wednesday, January 12th at 7:00 pm where we’ll have the privilege of hearing from author and pastor, Ken Shigematsu. 

For details and to register for any or all of these go to spac.ca/solemnassembly.

Join the Staff's Morning Prayer

In addition, this week you are invited to join with the staff online each morning from 9:00 - 9:30 am as we spend time praying together for God's blessing in our lives, the lives of others, our church, and the world.

Please register at spac.ca/openhouseofprayer to receive the Zoom link. 

Alpha is a great place to explore the Christian faith with others. No question is too complex or too simple. Over a 10-week journey, we'll explore questions of life, faith, who Jesus is, and how it all comes together.

This Alpha session is taking place in person at Millbourne Community Life Centre starting January 17th at 7:00 pm. Register at spac.ca/millbourne_alpha. 

There is no manual for raising kids, but God has given us something far better—the Holy Spirit and community. Child Dedication is a way to acknowledge our dependence on the Holy Spirit as we do our best to be an example and lead our children in a relationship with Jesus.

Register at spac.ca/childdedication before January 10th to have your child dedicated during one of the January 29th or 30th weekend services.

Have you ever been unsure how to navigate your kids' questions about faith, God, and the world? If so, join Pastor Brody Jespersen on January 26th at 7:30 pm for a conversation over Zoom to learn how to navigate doubt in your family.

This discussion will include practical tools you as a parent can use to navigate your own feelings towards their curiosity, while also fostering an environment that encourages your kids to talk about their questions and share what they are wrestling with.

Head to spac.ca/faithathome to register.

Treehouse Preschool is having an Open House on January 27th at 3:30 pm!

Register here to arrange a time to drop in with your child to check out our program for three- and four-year-olds. This will give you an opportunity to meet the teachers and to visit the classroom.