Share Friends Church Calgary Weekly Message
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
By Friends Church
The podcast currently has 609 episodes available.
Speaker: Vince Klassen
Throughout history, faith communities have constructed boundaries—both tangible and intangible—that define who belongs and who does not. These barriers, whether they are the physical walls of a church or the unspoken criteria for acceptance, often determine who feels welcomed and who feels excluded.
For over two decades, Friends Church has witnessed how these walls have been used to marginalize and push people away, leaving many either cast out or unable to enter in the first place.
But why do we create these walls? What drives our fixation on distinguishing between insiders and outsiders? Is there a more inclusive path we could take?
We believe there is.
Join us as we embark on a transformative journey, exploring how a year in the "spiritual gym" can reshape your life and foster a community that embraces rather than excludes.
To donate to this podcast and support the making of more of these please visit www.friendschurch.ca/donate
So why are you interested in or are a part of Friends Church? What is it that Friends Church promotes that feels different?
This Sunday we begin a new series highlighting some problems with traditional religion and some ways Friends Church has been designed to combat those problems. Chances are, if you’ve been attending, you’ve observed something different.
We're going to spend a few weeks unpacking our approach - explaining why we believe one year spent in this Spiritual Gym could bring hope to your world in a very significant way.
Speaker: Vince Klassen
This summer, we’ve immersed ourselves in the art of peacemaking, learning how to shift from divisive “I against them” dynamics to more healthy “We” and “Win-Win” interactions. We see this as a higher level of spirituality inspiring us to healthier way of relating. But now, you might be wondering:
Can these new skills truly transform my relationships? Is it possible to get my needs met and meet the needs of those around me at the same time?
It’s natural to question whether such change is possible, especially when our current reality doesn’t reflect this newfound vision. How can we hope that things can get better when we haven’t yet seen it for ourselves?
The final step in peacemaking is having hope that we can indeed transform the way we relate to others—and that our actions can inspire a shift in their responses to us. Hope that we have the power to rise above the conflict of “I against Them” and build connections grounded in mutual respect and understanding.
This week, join us as we dive into inspiring stories of people who have turned their relationships around, who have transformed their lives and their interactions through these very principles. It’s going to be an exciting journey of discovery and growth! See you at the Spiritual Gym for your weekly workout—where we’ll flex those peacemaking muscles and elevate our connections to new heights!
To donate to this podcast and support the making of more of these please visit www.friendschurch.ca/donate
Speaker: JEff Jarvis
We likely all have someone with whom we need to have a long-overdue conversation. Things were likely done and said at some point that bruised the relationship and now there’s distance, awkwardness, maybe hurt. Sure, it’s necessary sometimes to set up boundaries, limit exposure, or even walk away from the relationship. Often though, what’s needed is for two people to come together and talk it out.
To donate to this podcast and support the making of more of these please visit www.friendschurch.ca/donate
Speaker: Vince Klassen
A few weeks ago, I shared the powerful story of a woman who bravely escaped an abusive relationship after enduring years of pain. Her journey was marked by incredible strength and resilience, ultimately leading her to leave a situation that no longer served her well-being. The focus of her story wasn’t about vilifying her abuser; rather, it was about recognizing the complexities of human nature and understanding that seeing the good in everyone is an essential part of the Peacemaker skillset.
However, an intriguing question arose from her narrative: Can you truly practice peacemaking through justice? Can holding someone accountable be a way of creating peace? Especially when those boundaries seem to contradict the very essence of peace? The woman made it clear that she no longer maintains contact with her abuser because it’s necessary for her own health. This raises a significant question for us: How do we balance justice with the desire to maintain peace?
In the context of peacemaking, how do we navigate the delicate balance between mercy and justice? Is it possible that boundaries, while essential, might sometimes appear to dissolve the peace we strive for? And in the broader sense, when do we hold firm to our boundaries, and when do we offer another chance for reconciliation?
Join us this week as we delve into the nuanced skills of peacemaking. We will explore how boundaries and mercy can coexist within the peacemaker’s toolkit, and how these elements contribute to the creation of a truly harmonious world. Together, we’ll uncover the beauty of peacemaking and its profound impact on our relationships and communities.
To donate to this podcast and support the making of more of these please visit www.friendschurch.ca/donate
Speaker: Jeff Jarvis
Over the Summer I’ve witnessed and participated in a number of what I’ll call “spicy” conversations. People with strong opinions weighing in on tricky topics like the US political race, or the female olympic boxer with an XY chromosome – even Calgary’s local water restrictions. What’s sad to me is not that the conversations happened but how some of them ended…
In a bid for more peace, it’s been said we should avoid volatile topics like religion, politics, etc, and just stick to the weather and health (not that those are safe these days But what kind of world would we have if we could no longer talk openly and honestly about the things that matter deeply to us?
This Sunday, we’re going to explore why spicy conversations are vital AND how to do them better.
Invite a friend and we’ll see you this Sunday in the “Gym”.
Ted Talk
To donate to this podcast and support the making of more of these please visit www.friendschurch.ca/donate
Speaker: Vince Klassen
Have you noticed that peace seems increasingly elusive in our world today? The number of concurrent conflicts is staggering—more than I’ve ever witnessed in my lifetime. It feels like disconnection is growing, and people are quicker to anger and confrontation than at any other time I can recall. Families seem to be experiencing unprecedented levels of distress and separation. It’s as if the very essence of peace is slipping away from us.
Don’t you wish for a world where peace is more prevalent?
Jesus said, “Blessed are the Peacemakers,” and I wholeheartedly agree. I aspire to be counted among those who cultivate peace rather than perpetuate conflict.
Don’t you share that desire?
Think about your own relationships, wouldn’t you prefer to reduce unhealthy conflict and foster a healthy, constructive dialogue that strengthens rather than strains your connections?
This series is dedicated to exploring how we can embody the role of peacemakers. This week, we will delve into one more crucial skill that Jesus seems to champion—one that has the power to transform discord into harmony.
Let’s explore together how we can create lasting peace, both within ourselves and in the world around us.
See you at the Spiritual Gym
Meek Research
To donate to this podcast and support the making of more of these please visit www.friendschurch.ca/donate
Speaker: Vince Klassen
I recently attended a dinner party that was an absolute delight—great company, incredible food, the works. Yet, amidst the laughter and engaging conversation, something struck me profoundly.
It was during a discussion that veered unexpectedly into deeper waters, where one person began recounting a chapter of their life fraught with unimaginable pain. What baffled me wasn’t just the story itself, but the way they told it—with a calmness and tranquility that seemed almost otherworldly.
Here was someone who had endured hardship beyond measure, yet instead of bitterness or anger, they exuded a serene acceptance that left me unsettled. Their peace, juxtaposed against my own inner turmoil for them, sparked a profound realization: while I was grappling with their suffering, they had found a way to make peace with it.
I wanted to know how they were at peace with this? Why was I so upset on their behalf while they had found solace? It made me wonder what do they know about creating peace that we don’t?
As we delve into our next discussion on becoming Peacemakers, I invite you to join me in exploring this narrative. Let’s uncover not only how to cultivate personal peace but also how we can harness it to foster peace in our communities and beyond.
Join us this week for Part 2 of Blessed are the Peacemakers. See you Sunday at the Spiritual Gym.
To donate to this podcast and support the making of more of these please visit www.friendschurch.ca/donate
Speaker: Vince Klassen
Throughout history, individuals have been catalysts for peace, shaping the course of nations and communities alike. But this call to peacemaking isn’t confined to the grand stage of geopolitics; it resonates deeply within our personal lives and everyday interactions.
Where are we creating unnecessary wars in our daily encounters?
This summer, we invite you to join our mini-series exploring Jesus’ profound adage, “Blessed are the Peacemakers.” Together, we’ll discover practical ways to infuse peace and harmony into the world around us, aligning our spiritual practices with the mission of Taking Water to our Worlds. Through this journey, we’ll learn that true peacemaking starts within us, radiating outwards to touch every life we encounter.
See you Sunday at the Spiritual Gym.
To donate to this podcast and support the making of more of these please visit www.friendschurch.ca/donate
The podcast currently has 609 episodes available.