The Foothills Way - Matt 4:1-11: People of the Book. That's how our Muslim friends describe us. I love this description! God has not left us to our own resources to make sense of this crazy journey called life. He's given us a remarkable book that informs our decisions, transforms our perspectives, encourages our weary hearts, comforts our sorrows and adds joy to the wonder of life! One writer I know says that while the bible might not tell us what shirt to wear to work or school, it speaks into about 95% of the daily decisions we make in life. This weekend, we'll study together an account in the life of Jesus where He modeled combatting the lies of the enemy with the truth of God. It will be a wonderful weekend made even better by your presence here! Be safe – stay warm – see you in church or on Livestream!

The Foothills Way - Acts 2:1-13: We all look forward to exciting events with anticipation. Jesus told his first followers to look forward to the coming of the Holy Spirit, but when the Spirit came things happened in a way that no one could have anticipated. Why the dramatics? Why wind, fire and multiple languages spoken? Could it be that from its inception the church was (and is!) called to move beyond the comfort zone of being with people who are like us? This weekend as we continue to explore The Foothills Way together we'll look at our practice and value of Intentional Diversity. We'll see how we're already practicing this as a church family and we'll ask ourselves: how can we lean even further into being the people that God has called us to be? What does Intentional Diversity have to do with the things that God wants his church to do? See you soon!

The Foothills Way - 2 Cor 5:11-21: It doesn't take too much insight to discover the reality that Jesus truly loved people. Whether young or old, Jew or Gentile, sinful or sweet, Jesus constantly responded to people with remarkable compassion and concern. He taught that the most important thing in the world was to love God, and he followed that teaching with a call to love neighbours passionately and intentionally. In a world fascinated with The Self, to care for others requires a deliberate decision. We must constantly work to change how we see others in the light of Jesus' teaching. That's what this weekend's Taste of Foothills is all about. The Foothills Way is that people matter to Jesus more than we could ever begin to imagine. How we can allow that value to shape the way we live, the way we treat others, the way we view the world? There will be good food to enjoy and even better opportunities to connect with ministries that are changing lives and destinies. It will be a great weekend! Can't wait to see you all here! Stay warm!

The Foothills Way - Col 4:2-6: Here's something I've never said before: I'm kind of hoping that preaching is like riding a bike - that it just comes back naturally, even if you haven't done it for a while! I'm pretty excited to be back in the saddle this weekend and way beyond excited to be a part of our Commissioning service for Glacier Ridge Church as we prepare to launch this brand new community on Sep 16! As we pray for Glacier Ridge and for Foothills, I am excited to talk about the value of Pray First: not as a prayer service we hold monthly but as a core value that needs to govern every dimension of our lives. When we work, we work but when we pray, God works and when God works, lives are transformed! I am so looking forward to being together this weekend! Bless you all!

Our Stories: What’s one of your favourite parts of the Biblical narrative? Why does it resonate with you? These questions were an ongoing assignment while I mentored our Children’s Ministry staff at Foothills earlier this year. How would you answer? What story from scripture speaks most to you? Why? This weekend, you’ll hear 3 Foothills staffers give their answers! How are our life events, yours and mine, a part of the ongoing redemptive story that God’s authoring in the world today? Captivating and potent? We each have a part to play by inviting others into a better story: the God-story. By sharing our lives, our challenges, our learnings we can become an enticing introduction to the grace filled life of journeying with Jesus. Not sure your life could inspire? As we come to the end of Our Stories, let’s think about what it might take to live a better story. Rebecca Schnell

Our Stories: Hi, my name is Karen and I’ve struggled with insecurity. For years I believed the lies Satan planted in my heart – lies that convinced me I was less-than, inadequate, not good enough. Maybe you’ve believed some of the same lies. If you have, I have good news for you. The truth of Scripture counters every lie and heals every wound planted in us. Jesus loves us more than we can even imagine and his immense love for us, and the truth of God’s word, can change insecurity into confidence. I hope you’ll join us this weekend as I tell you my story of the transformative power of our loving God. Karen Vine Karen has been attending Foothills since 1994 and serves on the Board of Elders. She also volunteers at the Mustard Seed running a cooking program for long term Seed residents.

Our Stories: My name is Matt and it’s a privilege to share my story of grief at Foothills this weekend. Pretty much all of us have a grief history – a Book of Grief, if you will - because we all, in a variety of ways, have experienced the pain and power of grief in our lives. Often we think of grief as the loss of a beloved family member or friend, but grief comes in many forms. A separation or divorce, a loss of mobility due to injury, retirement, release from employment, infertility, change in finances, leaving home, empty nesting, a move or transfer to another city. In truth, any change can bring grief. This weekend I invite you to listen as I open up five chapters from my book of grief to encourage you on your journey with Christ. Matt Boda Matt serves as Lead Pastor at RockPointe Church in Calgary. He and Jamie have five daughters, four son-in-laws, three granddaughters and three grandsons. Matt has served in pastoral and denominational leadership roles in Canada and the US, including here at Foothills from 1991-96. He loves hanging with family and friends, giving talks about the most important stuff in life and seeing leaders increase their influence. His life’s mission is to honour and influence others in company with those he loves.

Our Stories: My name is Irish (yes, that is my first name) and I have a question for you. Who or what do you turn to when absolutely everyone who’s supposed to be there for you has forsaken you? Where do you go when the choices you make cause those dear to you to pack up on you? For me, the only answer to these questions is Jesus. (Trust me, I’ve tried everything else!) Join me this weekend as I share my healing journey out of parental abandonment to finding the parent heart of God. Irish Beth Maddock Irish is a business owner and an award winning Christian children’s author. She lives in Calgary, AB with her husband and daughter, along with their three cats and dog (who thinks she is a cat too). Irish has a heart for Jesus and also a passion for serving those who cannot speak for themselves. She volunteers her time with Freedom Session Ministries, here at Foothills, and with animal rescue efforts.

Our Stories - Matthew 18:12-14: My name is Ben Elliott, and this is my story. Is it ok to have a mental illness and to still be a part of the church? What does God think about it? What is his plan? Those of us who have experienced mental illness, personally or among friends or family, know what it’s like. So, are there helpful – or even specifically Christian – ways for us to think about or live with mental illness? And for the rest of us, how can we help? This week at Foothills Alliance, I’ll be sharing a little bit about my own story of experiencing mental illness as a Christian. The Bible gives us a picture of a God who is incredibly filled with kindness and compassion towards those experiencing mental illness and their families, and a model for how we in the church can be too. This week, let’s be reminded together of the goodness of our Good Shepherd. Ben Elliott Rev. Ben Elliott (PhD Systematic Theology, University of Aberdeen) grew up at Foothills Alliance in the 80s and 90s and is currently the Lead Pastor at Deer Park Alliance Church in Red Deer. Ben has previously served in a number roles at Foothills including youth ministry, weekly study guide preparation, and playing the role of one of the lesser known of the twelve disciples in an Easter production. The Elliotts and their two children enjoy an active lifestyle and the outdoors; Ben especially enjoys cycling.

Our Stories: My name is Bernie Van De Walle, and this is my story. He and I grew up together. We were inseparable. We did everything together. Everything! Our trajectories were identical. These trajectories, however, had no good end. His trajectory ended dreadfully in a police holding cell. He was only 33! How is it that my trajectory took such a radical turn? Why am I here when he is there? Why am I now not with him, in a cemetery, in our home town? Why am I not now buried alongside him, inseparable, as we had been growing up? Or, am I? Bernie is Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology at Ambrose University where he has been on faculty for almost two decades. In addition, he is entering his second term as Chair of the Board of Directors of The Christian and Missionary Alliance in Canada and is the Chair of the International Commission for Theological Education for the Alliance World Fellowship. Bernie, his wife Colleen, and his sons David (Hannah) and Ken have been part of Foothills for 15 years.