How Canadian Are You?

Last Sunday we played this video as a primer for the message.  It was inspired by the July 9, 2012 Maclean's edition.


Christians in Canada? from Parkside Church on Vimeo.

Hot Dogs & Apple Trees

Next Sunday (July 4th) we are going to have a short service followed by some tree planting and hot dogs!  The apple trees we will plant will serve as symbols and reminders of our purpose here on Earth.  As our trees grow and bear fruit, so must we.  Anything that is healthy grows and bears fruit.  If we are a Church that stays healthy we too will grow and bear fruit.  Following the "back-breaking" work, we will rest and have some hot dogs.  Our youth are preparing the food and any donations made at the lunch will go towards helping our youth get to summer camp!

Remember to bring a blanket or lawn chairs!  We will be eating outside on the grass.  In case of rain, we will eat inside.

Soccer and the Heart of God

With the World Cup around the corner I've got soccer on my brain... so I enrolled my daughter in it to live out my unfulfilled childhood dreams of being the next Pele (I'm getting old... Beckham wasn't around then).  What I have discovered is that one of the side benefits of taking her to soccer practice is getting to know new people in our community.  Between working for a Bible College and a Church, I don't get to see very many 'outsiders' :)  So, I am enjoying meeting new people and allowing God's Spirit to lead and love as best as I can let Him.

Greatest Place on Earth

The way I see it, the greatest place on Earth is always the place where God wants us to be.  Sometimes it's difficult to see the purpose for being there, while other times it's easy.  Yesterday as the latter experience.  I spent the afternoon exploring our local mountains with a friend.  We scrambled up to a peak on Mt. Woodside where paragliders jump off.  As you can see we live in an amazing place.  I am certainly grateful that this is where God wants me to be!

This view looks Southwest down the Fraser River towards Mission.  On the left side of the river is Chilliwack.

A Good, Good Friday Service

This morning Ruby and I enjoyed a Community Good Friday service hosted by Cedar Valley Mennonite Church.  It was really nice to see pastors from various churches lead the music and other ministry elements of the service.  It was even greater to see 400-500 people from different churches come together to be the church in Mission!

Although I rarely get to meet with our local ministerial (they meet Wednesday mornings and I work at Pacific Life Bible College on that day); they are a great group of people who love Jesus and love our city.  I would like to thank them for planning these and a few other services (because there isn't one building in town large enough to hold us all).

Dan Rempel (Pastor of Cedar Valley Mennonite Church) mentioned in the service that one year we would love to have the service either outside (and battle the elements) or in an arena so that we could all gather together as the church of Mission.

Don't forget that you can participate in the Community Easter Sunrise Service at Heritage Park this Sunday at 7:00am!