For Unto Shepherds - Overview: There are few things I enjoy more than a Foothills Worship Arts Production at Christmas! Despite all the chaos and restrictions of our current pandemic, our staff and volunteers have once again, magically and creatively, put together an original presentation. This production offers us a view on Christmas from the perspective of four shepherds. It is creatively called "For Shepherds" and portrays four potential options in navigating the realities of life. Spoiler alert: one is better than the others! Using another Adam Schnell masterpiece of writing, Rebecca Schnell and Mark Holmes have put together a powerful Christmas drama that will draw us into the heart of the story, and specifically, to our response to the story. The gift of Christmas is intended for all people - even marginalized shepherds. The play will, obviously, be presented online. But the impact will not be compromised. I encourage you to join with us this weekend to reflect upon this critical story and message. It will be available for your viewing Friday and Saturday night at 7pm and Sunday at 9 and 11 am. I know you'll be grateful you tuned in. Bless you and invite someone you care for to watch as well! Stay safe, be encouraged and take care of others! Pastor Ian

For Unto Us - Isaiah 9:6-7: Today the sun will set at 4:30pm, and by 5:30pm it will look like it's midnight outside. These dark days reinforce the practices of the Advent season. Reflecting on the darkness around and within us, allow what we discover stir our longing for God to break in with his light. The people of Israel understood that deep longing. In their season of darkness, Isaiah spoke words of hope, the promise of a child to come go them, and for us. I'm excited for our Foothills Kids to join us this weekend. They will help us to answer the questions, "Who is this child given for us?" and "How will he deliver us?" Come, let's gather together to wait for his coming. Pastor Carla

The Garden Path - Eph. 5:8-20: Every day, we face a divided reality. We live with Paul's confession in Romans 7:15, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate, I do." It's our personal "civil war" - the "every person challenge." Have you ever struggled with this? I know I have. Elie Wiesel brilliantly wrote, "Ultimately, the only power to which man should aspire is that which he exercises over himself." Is there an area in our life right now where you are most profoundly aware of your lack of self-control? Is there a dimension of your journey where you long for God to give you more discipline and direction? It is my prayer that this week we will better learn how to make great choices in life, embracing every opportunity and pursuing God above everything else. We will examine Ephesians 5:8-20 and what it means to have self-control. This is the last sermon of our series "The Garden Path," and I deeply look forward to what we will learn together. Be blessed, be safe and take care of each other.

The Garden Path - Matthew 11: This weekend, our Garden Path leads us to the eighth of nine fruits of the Spirit - gentleness. This is something all of us need in these challenging times. Whenever you think or need gentleness, think Jesus. If you feel broken or bruised, God will not step on you or toss you aside. Rather, he is always there, arms outstretched, saying, "Come to me, all who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. I am humble and gentle and you will find rest for your soul." (Matt:11) Jesus is our rest, and we find hope in the everlasting arms of a gentle Saviour. Join us with expectancy, to not only receive a gentle touch, but be motivated to extend gentleness ourselves to those around us who are in need of the Saviour. Pastor Jerry

The Garden Joy - Romans 12:9-21: Have you ever allowed doubt and cynicism to dominate your mindset? You may have found yourself saying or thinking, "I'll believe it when I see it." Our world is complicated - our COVID world even more. For many, the government's decision on Thursday was welcome news. For others, it was devastating. It's so easy to lose our sense of trust. It's so easy to wonder or question whether God is truly attentive to the little details in our lives. This weekend, we'll dive into the seventh fruit of the Spirit - faithfulness. We'll examine what it looks like to live a faithful life that honours God. I'm so looking forward to seeing you online for Saturday's service, or in person on Sunday morning at 9 & 11am. Be glad, be well and be faithful. Pastor Ian

The Garden Joy - Matthew 6:10: There's been no shortage of definitions or descriptions about the concept of "the good life." We've written books on it, made movies about it, we even named an entire fitness franchise after it. But what does it truly mean to live well? We're in the sixth week of our Garden Path series, and this weekend we'll be looking at Matthew 6:10. It is my prayer that we would come out of this weekend desiring to see the world as God sees it. That we will be compelled to embrace the priorities and passions he calls us to embrace. Come learn what happens when we fully hand over all our dreams, hopes and desires to the One who gave his life for us. I so look forward to seeing you either online for our Saturday service, or in person at our Sunday services. Be blessed, be safe and be good. Pastor Ian

The Garden Joy - Luke 10:25-37: This weekend on "The Garden Path," we will encounter the fifth fruit of the Spirit-led life - the fruit of kindness. We will be introduced to an old friend we all know of, the Good Samaritan, and an Old Testament hero none of us know about, "Ebed-Melek, the Cushite." We will learn about the power of a kind life from both of them. There are myriads of studies that prove that acts of kindness dramatically increase the quality of life for both the giver and the receiver. It's my prayer that we will be inspired to more deeply depend upon the Spirit, who pours out kindness in our lives, and that this gift will flow more frequently and intentionally out of our lives. Random acts of kindness are good. Intentional acts of kindness are even better! It will be a blessing to worship and reflect on God's presence and purpose in our lives together this weekend, either online or in person at 9am and 11am Sunday morning. Be blessed, be safe and be kind!

The Garden Joy - The Book of Genesis: Lord, give me patience, and give it to me NOW!" It's a prayer that we've probably thought of, and maybe have said. Patience is a commodity that we desperately need, but at times find it so difficult to discover. This weekend, we will dive into the fourth fruit of the spirit, the Spirit of Patience - sometimes called Forbearance. Our journey will be anchored in the story of Joseph from the book of Genesis. We'll talk about what happens when patience is lacking, and what happens when patience is discovered. We will do so in the shadow of the communion table, as we remember the One who embodied patience and trust - more than anyone else ever has. It will be great to see you in person if you can come to our service on Sunday, or to visit you in your living room online. Be blessed, be safe and be well. Pastor Ian

The Garden Joy - John 14:25-27: Peace in chaos. How have the last six to seven months been for you? One thing after another? Is disruption creating chaos in your home, your workplace, your neighbourhood? Let me ask you a question: if you could, what would you rather have? External peace or internal peace? It's a loaded question - because neither creates the other. But, internal peace can withstand external chaos. This week we're talking about peace as a fruit of the Spirit. I invite you to listen in. Jesus never promised external peace. What we're navigating now is a disruption of our normal. But no matter the chaos, Jesus promised peace accessible in him. We're going to look at that this weekend. Pastor Andrew

The Garden Joy - Philippians 4: One of Aesop's fables, the story of Androcles and the Lion, ends with the moral "gratitude is the sign of a noble soul." There is something powerfully attractive and soul-enhancing in being grateful and being around grateful people. This weekend from Phil. 4, we will examine the second manifestation of the Spirit's work in our lives - the fruit of joy. Whether you join us online this weekend or live in our Sunday 9 and 11am services (please pre-register!), we will give thanks to God for all his goodness, and we will explore a pathway to deeper joy together. Have a blessed Thanksgiving, and may our hearts be filled with the goodness of God in our lives. Be safe. Be blessed, be grateful.