In or Out?
Dear Church Family:
I want to begin with some news that caught me off guard this week, and I suspect it’s going hit many of you the same way. It’s with mixed emotions that I share with you that one of our beloved pastors, Senior Associate Brody Jespersen, has been named a permanent co-host of 100 Huntley Street, Canada’s longest running daily television show and the sixth longest running daily television show in the world. Brody will be relocating to Burlington, Ontario in order to take on his new role with Crossroads Christian Communications Inc. beginning July 1, 2022. We mourn this loss to our church but celebrate Brody’s elevated platform and the opportunity this provides him. Much more on this in the next few weeks.
I hope you’re able to be with us online or in person this weekend as we continue our fast-paced journey through the Gospel of Mark. This weekend will include excerpts from Mark 11-14 as Jesus and His disciples continue their move south toward Jerusalem. Our gatherings will end with the Lord’s Table, communion, so if you’re participating online, start thinking about how you’ll engage. We’re also going to facilitate some enhanced prayer opportunities at the end of our services, so if you’d like to be prayed for or pray with someone this weekend, you’ll definitely have that chance.
Thanks for your faithfulness and your engagement in the body of Christ that is Sherwood Park Alliance! And if you think my opening paragraph sounded too weird to be true... it was. April fools.
Greg Hochhalter | Lead Pastor
Serving Opportunities at Easter Services
Easter is right around the corner and we are looking for volunteers to help welcome guests to our Easter services. There are multiple roles, dates and times to choose from. Sign up today and experience community through serving.
If 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.
We are offering two options for Pizza with the Pastor. April 10 is in person following the 11 am service or April 12 at 6 pm online. If you attend online we'll have pizza delivered to your house.
Registration is required for either event.
Come and join us for the next Senior's Connect on April 12 at 1pm! Miriam Charter will be speaking about her book, reGeneration: Stories of Resilient Faith in Communist Romania. Miriam is a former Alliance International Worker and the book tells about how God was at work in Romania in her time there and the lessons God taught her.
She also served on the staff of Ambrose for some time. Recently retired, she has a unique perspective on Ukraine having served in the Eastern bloc before the Berlin Wall fell. She keeps in regular contact with her colleagues in Romania and is sharing fantastic and tragic stories of refugees fleeing Ukraine and being cared for by the church in Romania. Register to reserve your spot.
Join Christians around the world in prayer for our Muslim neighbours April 2 – May 1, 2021. Follow together with believers around the globe using the Muslim World Prayer Guide that will inspire you as you discover and learn about the unique challenges faced by our Muslim friends. This prayer time coincides with Ramadan, which is a time of prayer and fasting for Muslims.
Prayer Guides will be available in digital copy and hard copy. Hard copies will be available in the south atrium starting the weekend of March 26/27 or you can register to receive a digital copy.
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.
As the crisis unfolds in the Ukraine, our hearts continue to break for the people fleeing their homes and country. Hundreds of thousands of people have fled to Poland for refuge - most of which are women and children. In response to this crisis, the Alliance Canada has put in place a plan to partner with our partner churches in Poland to provide for these traumatized people. International Worker, Bill Finnemore, left for Poland on March 8 to assist in the refief efforts. To follow his journey and for ways to help and pray, please see spac.ca/Ukraine.
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 nuture 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.
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