Church in the Park is a gathering we look forward to each year as all five of our worship communities came together to worship outdoors, reconnect, and welcome new friends from the neighbourhood. With beautiful weather, lunch, a petting zoo, and bouncers, there were so many opportunities to connect. The theme for the service was “Grab an Oar”: a reminder that everyone has a contribution to make, and that there is such joy in building this thing together!

When pain piles up and life feels relentless, how do you know whether you’re under spiritual attack, or simply living in a broken world? In “Flaming Arrows,” from the My Jesus Story series, Pastor Todd discovers that the greatest battle isn’t explaining the source of every hardship, but choosing which voice to believe in the middle of it. Learn how to confront the lies suffering whispers with the unchanging truth of what God has already said.

For years I went looking for the presence of God in all the dramatic places, but it stayed elusive, like it was meant for everyone but me. In this week's "My Jesus Story," a stuffed octopus is where that search finally turns. I've discovered that Jesus is rarely where we're looking, and almost always around the corner, in the person we didn't plan for.

Sometimes we can spend so much of our lives trying to prove who we are by what we do. We serve, work, lead, provide, and accomplish, and even good things can quietly become the foundation of our identity. But what happens when we can no longer keep our hands on the steering wheel?

Tony shares a deeply personal chapter of his Jesus story, beginning with a panic attack that exposed how much of his identity he had tied to being effective and useful. Through the story of Jesus’ baptism, Elijah’s exhaustion, and his own journey of restoration, we’re reminded of a simple but life-changing order: know, be, do.

Most of us can handle almost anything... once we know what we're dealing with. It's the waiting, the wondering, and the endless "what ifs" that often steal our peace. This weekend, Jennifer shares an unexpected lesson from a backyard garden shed before opening Mark 5, where two desperate people encounter Jesus in very different ways. Together, their stories reveal a Saviour who is not intimidated by our fear or absent from our uncertainty, but who simply invites us to trust Him. 

For Todd, IT began with a monkey costume, a construction site, a mop, a printing machine, and a soundboard.  IT wasn’t particularly spiritual looking, yet IT quietly shaped the course of his entire life. Jesus said IT reveals our allegiance, redefines greatness, and is inseparable from following Him. So, what exactly is IT and what might Jesus do in your life when you embrace IT?

As Christians, we can hear the truths of Scripture again and again without ever letting them truly

take root in our hearts. Sometimes, it isn’t until our faith is shaken or we find ourselves in the

middle of pain that we’re confronted with the choice to believe Christ’s truths or not.

Thankfully, Jesus isn’t afraid to meet us in those moments. Just like He did for the woman at the

well, He reminds us that we are fully known, deeply loved, chosen, and accepted by Him. It’s

from that place that we find the courage to not only believe the truths Christ died to give us, but

to live them out.

Life can be complicated. We all carry responsibilities, ambitions, goals, and unexpected circumstances that can leave us feeling overwhelmed. When life becomes difficult, our instinct is often to work harder and solve the problem ourselves. Only when we've exhausted our own strength do we finally turn to God, making Him the last piece that completes the puzzle.

This weekend, we'll hear authentic stories of lives that are complicated yet transformed by the faithfulness of God. Through the story of Isaac, we'll discover that God was never meant to be the final piece of our life's puzzle. He is the main piece that gives meaning to every other piece. After years of conflict and striving, Isaac finally arrived at Beersheba, built an altar, and worshipped God. The question for all of us is: What will it take for you to arrive at your Beersheba?

What do you do when God doesn't remove the thorn? In this deeply personal message, Pastor Todd shares a story he's still living as he wrestles with an unexplained medical condition and discovers fresh hope in Paul's "thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12). If you've ever prayed, "God, please take this away," this message may change the way you see your pain, and the grace that meets you in it.

Have you ever wondered if God still speaks to ordinary people? Through the story of Mary Magdalene and a personal story of God's call, discover how the risen Jesus still meets people where they are, calls them by name, and invites them into a life of hope, purpose, and mission.