Whenever Jesus calls someone to follow him, Jesus always calls that person into community with other Christ-followers. As a church family our strongest form of community is through home groups who support, encourage and challenge each other in weekly meetings at someone's home and in the ongoing friendships that develop.
Most groups will start the week of October 4th and run for 12 weeks. This year there will be groups on the following topics.
Connecting Faith and Reason: An Apologetics Home
Group
Do you lack confidence in communicating your faith to
your friends? Do you
often feel that you don't know how to answer common objections to
Christianity? In the next 12 weeks, the objective of the apologetics home
group is to look into some of the common arguments raised against
Christianity in North America and explore ways in which to effectively
engage in these conversations with our friends and family. The group will be
held weekly in an interactive discussion format.
The Christian Steward: "All You Do After You Say
Yes to Jesus"
In our study on Stewardship, it is important to
state at the outset that this is not a study about money or giving. Or to put it a better way, it is not just a
study about money or giving. In fact, it is a study about everything that
touches our lives. Necessarily that means money and possessions are
included. But so are time and talents, our health and our bodies, our
families and our homes, our relationships to others. And if we understand
how comprehensive a topic stewardship really is, it also has to include our
relationship to and care for the earth and the environment, as well as our
relationship to the world - all the people of the world, and to God. In other
words, stewardship encompasses all of life.
Theophostic Prayer Training
We will begin weekly training sessions in Theophostic Prayer Ministry
(TPM). TPM helps Christians become free from fears, shame, false guilt,
anxiety and emotional pain by exposing the lies that we have come to
believe, some through severe trauma, and others through common life
experience. In Romans 12:2 Paul encourages us to "be transformed by the
renewing of [our minds]." Jesus is the Light of the World and can illuminate
the darkness in our minds and bring us into His truth and the wholeness we
were created for.
Senior Women's Bible Study
This will be held on Tuesday mornings at 10:00 am in the McDonald
Room starting on September 22nd.
For more information or to be put in touch with a group leader, contact the church office or one of the pastors at 439-3654 or .
NEW: List of home group resources
It's a bit like spiritual housecleaning, a deeper and more intensive prayer experience to help people move ahead in their walk with God.
Commissioned visitors from the congregation care for those in need of care, seniors, the sick, etc.
Some past opportunities
Compassion Art Show
A community art show with visual art submissions (painting, sculpture, etc.) from anyone who lives, works or goes to church in Old Strathcona. The art show was non-juried, peer-reviewed. Submissions included painting, sculpture, photographs on the theme of compassion and suffering.
ALPHA Course
ALPHA is a basic course about Christian life, which answers questions like "Who is Jesus?" and "How does God guide me?" More information on ALPHA can be found at the ALPHA Canada website.
Drama Ministry
Ministry through skills-building and dramatic performance. Come together as we minister to each other, our church community, and beyond.
Next Steps to Wholeness
A day to grow deeper in your healing and experience of God's love and forgiveness, with a chance to have 2-3 people pray with you around specific issues.
Social Needs Initiatives in Old Strathcona
The links page has minutes from public consultations concerning homelessness in the Old Strathcona area held in October and November 2004.
One Day With God
It is important to our spiritual growth to have extended times of prayer and communion with God. Come for this one day with God - some structure and instruction provided for those who wish it.
Summer Church Camp
Summer church camp 2004 at Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park near Lac La Biche.
Sports Night
Free drop-in volleyball every Tuesday night 7-9pm, September to May.
Non-competitive volleyball with others from the Old Strathcona area, with some social time at a local café or bar afterwards.
Summer Urban Mission Intensive
Start praying now about being involved in our intensive summer mission to our own city! Be a part of a team that will learn and reach out among the urban poor of Edmonton. The journey begins in May on one night per week, and steps up to 4-7 single days (or half days) in June and July, and climaxes in a 4-7 day focus in August. (The mission activities will include education, intercession, volunteering with inner city agencies, ministry to the needy in Old Strathcona & a one-week hands-on project that will support outreach in the downtown.) Watch for more info.
Tough Questions Series
for seekers, skeptics and those asking questions, on Sunday mornings in April and May.
- "How can I believe when I still have doubts?"
- "Is the Christian faith incompatible with science?" ?
- "Are all religions the same?", featuring 5 speakers from the major world religions- Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism. Lunch to follow.
- "Why does God allow suffering?"
Out of the Cold Winter Shelter Project
In Winter 2002/3 and Winter 2003/4 several churches cooperatively ran an emergency shelter during the winter nights. Homeless guests received bag lunches and a mat to sleep on.
Specific volunteer opportunities for the shelter included making soup, bag lunches, breakfast, and donating food and other items.
Them Bones, Them Bones Movement Class
This 10 week class explores the interaction between how we move & who we are. Experience how we can journey towards a oneness of body, mind & spirit. No particular fitness or skill level required. Strathcona Baptist Gym.
Becoming a Contagious Christian Seminar
God wants to use you to impact the spiritual lives of your friends and family. Learn how to effectively communicate your faith to the people you know. Find out and explore what is your personal style of sharing your faith. Learn how to spot spiritually open doors in day-to-day relationships with people outside your faith.
Winter Church Camp
Mark your calendar! Winter church camp is Jan 30-Feb 1 at Gull Lake Baptist Camp! We had a great time last year-don't miss this one. Inspiration, fun, good food, worship, getting to know people (heated cabins!).
One day with God
Spend a whole day with God to reflect, rest (sleep?!) and slow down. The retreat will be at a local retreat centre and each person will receive a room with a bed. Basic direction will be provided. This retreat is primarily for those who have always thought it would be great to take a day away to slow down but need some guidelines on how to do that.
Seminar: Personal Financial Planning for Dummies
Do you ever wonder where all your money goes? Want to think about your financial future? Come and take time with Gail Hiller, CMA, to consider how to pay off debt, learn how to budget and plan for the future.
Poetry & Prayer: Written & Moved
Explore ways of expressing through written and body language what is within you. Writing inspirations and movement interludes will be choreographed into a day of spiritual discovery and connection. Instructors: Shirley Serviss/Val Kennedy.
Parenting Seminar: Helping Parents & Kids Grow
Doug Boyd, a counsellor from Cornerstone Counselling and the father of two children, will present practical, hands-on tips about some of the following topics:
- how to invest into your kids
- recognizing the differences between children - character, skills, personality
- how to take care of yourself as a parent
- dealing with discipline, bad temper.
10 Foundations of the Good Life
Sunday Service 10:30-11:45am. Oct. 6-Dec. 8
What are the basics of a life that works? How do the parts all fit together? Come and learn insights from the 10 commandments about the freedom God wants to instill in daily living. Our children's program runs concurrently from 11-11:45am. The first Sunday of each month (Oct. 6, Nov. 3, Dec. 1) we conclude our service with a Community Lunch provided by our church members. Why not come out and meet us personally in October?
Friday Night Fever Dance
Dance the night away with The Side Men & Rhonda Withnell playing Rock, R/B, Jazz, Country. Tickets $10 at door.
Last updated September 06, 2009.