Rest from Work. Work from Rest.
During the summer, many of us adjust our schedules to include more rest, fostering the restoration of mind, body, and soul. This healthy rhythm allows for varied work intensity throughout the year, often creating lasting family memories.
At our church, we also shift practices to accommodate this season. We believe summer rest enables different working rhythms for the remainder of the year. As families travel more, we adapt how we practice our values.
As of June 29, Sunday mornings will be held in the Fellowship Hall. We'll gather, sing a couple songs, read and discuss Bible stories, with children engaging in related crafts. Coffee and occasional treats are available, promoting informal connections and diverse conversations. Discussion encourages contribution and can improve our retention of biblical teaching.
The change in rooms helps us get out of the routines that lead to repetitive actions each Sunday. When you enter the sanctuary, you carry a set of expectations, that the service will go roughly according to a pattern. Changing where we gather helps turn off the auto pilot and also accommodates various learning styles that may not be tapped into during our average Sunday service.
These changes also provide rest for volunteers and staff, reducing responsibilities and encouraging sabbath…resting in ways that open us to observe and participate in God’s rhythms. For example, Sunday School teachers get a break, office hours are shortened, and cleaners have fewer tasks.
We won't have services on two Sundays: July 13 and August 3. On July 13, we encourage you to come join the morning service at Deer Valley Meadows Campground in Alix, AB, which wraps up the week of Family Camp week. It’s an hour drive (FIND MAP HERE) and we can try to arrange a carpool if you’d like to come but don’t want to drive yourself. On August 3, we encourage you to spend time with family, watch an online service, or attend another local church, gaining broader church insights.
Moving to the Fellowship Hall lets us gather in a cooler space on those hot summer days and it facilitates maintenance work in the sanctuary when needed.
Summer gatherings have often continued informally, often at by-the-lake park on Sunday afternoons. Whether picnicking, taking out food, walking, biking, kayaking, or relaxing, the sunshine beckons us outdoors. Consider inviting someone over, make some time to connect outside of the church building.
For any questions about our summer schedule, please reach out. I hope you find life-giving rest this summer and meaningful encounters with God.
Sincerely,
Pastor Nate