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Advent Meditations: Hope

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The season of Advent begins on Sunday. It is a beautiful season of waiting, anticipating, and awakening. We reflect on how the Israelites waited for the Messiah and how we also wait for His second coming.

To pull our minds and hearts to the gift of the coming of Jesus, I will be sharing an Advent devotional or meditation each week from Practicing the Way. This week, we begin with reflecting on the hope we have been given in Jesus.

You can download a PDF of all of these devotionals and share them with your family, print them for yourself or save them to read on your phone.

Pastor Tracy

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Read Luke 1:5-7

"The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God." Mark 1:1

"Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive." Luke 1:6-7

Before every dawn, there is deep night. Between each breath, a quiet and trusting suspension. Before the earth drinks the rain, it travels in silence from the clouds that send it. Every good arrival is preceded by a waiting, a suspension, a liminal moment.

So it is with hope. It must begin with awakening. With a felt awareness of what isn’t and what can’t be. We only need hope when the moment seems bleak, when it looks as though life is unchangeable, on a path toward greater pain, grief, or loss.

That loss may be in the dreams we once had for ourselves or someone we’ve lost. It may be in the physical or mental healing we’ve been seeking without respite or the deep loneliness we feel. It may even be our sense of the absence of God, our inability to love him like we long to, our lack of spiritual vitality.

It’s important to feel all that. To truly know that neither we, nor this world, can fix ourselves. Because without an admission of our little or large terminalities, we’ll have no room for the miracle of hope.

Luke begins the story of Advent right here, with a barren woman named Elizabeth. He tells us she’s a true believer, righteous, blameless even, but lacking in what was likely her very greatest longing — a child. Luke wants us to remember that healing starts in our pain, in our darkness. But also that to live in the spirit of Advent is to anticipate God in the midst of it.

Hopelessness beckons the Miracle. Touching our longings honestly, and allowing ourselves to feel them, is the true beginning of hope. It necessitates it. In the midst of our great need arises the first in-breaking light of incredible news. Christ is soon arriving.

Reflect

What is your most vulnerable grief or hope this Advent season? If you like, take a moment to open this longing up to God and sit with him in it. You could journal your feelings, draw a picture that illustrates them, or sit in deep silence with the Spirit, feeling them and directing them toward the loving gaze of God.

This week, carry something with you that signifies your grief or hope. Holding it before God, beckoning the miracle.

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 @ 10am

WAITING FOR JESUS
Waiting for Hope
Erin Jamieson

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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The Simplicity of God's Will (rejoice, pray, give thanks)

Today is Thanksgiving in the U.S. Some of you are keenly aware of this and have even taken time off work to watch football! This means that tomorrow is Black Friday... and then there is Cyber Monday... and basically we're on the fast track to Christmas.

These next few weeks can feel like A LOT so I wanted to share a simple word of encouragement with you today. God has a plan for every day this season (and beyond, of course) and He's already let you know what His will for your life is. It's stated with simplicity in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:

““Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.””

As we step into the seasons of Advent and Christmas and launch into a new year, keep these verses close to your heart. Rejoice, pray and be thankful and you will be right in the middle of the will of God. It won't always be easy, but you can choose to keep yourself focused on Christ as we get ready to celebrate His incarnation.

Rejoicing, praying and grateful with you,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26 @ 10am

THE PRESENCE OF GOD
We Are The Temple
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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On Mission (working together here and around the world)

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For the past several weeks, one of my least favourite ministry tasks has been going on behind the scenes at Freedom... we've been working on the 2024 budget. We have a team that does great work with this each year but of course, as Lead Pastor, I still need to spend quite a bit of time just looking at it, thinking about it, and trying to be sure we haven't missed anything or made any mistakes. It's an absolutely necessary process but I wouldn't call it the highlight of my year!

We will be working on the general operating budget until late in 2023 but it's not the only budget that we work on in the fall. This is also the time of year that the Missions Committee, Finance Committee and Board consider our missions giving for the coming year. What is God asking us to do in the new year? Do our missions partners still align with our core values? How can we commit to missions giving in a thoughtful and also faith-filled way?

2024 will be a special year for us in Missions. We will be launching our own Miss Margaret as a full-time Global Worker in Guatemala! We've known this for more than a year and the time has come for us to make some financial commitments to her that will reach into the next two years. It's been extremely exciting for us as we've worked on the 2024 and some of the 2025 missions budget... a lot more fun than budgeting for office supplies! And, not to leave you in suspense, but you will be hearing more about this in the coming weeks.

We believe in the mission God has given us as a church. We believe in making an impact here in Kitchener and in supporting those who are sent out from here to engage the world for Christ in other countries and contexts. Our missions giving budget is an expression of faith and obedience to what we believe God is calling us to do. It depends on each member of Freedom asking themselves, what is God asking me to do to support His mission through my local church?

As we get toward the end of this year, we are doing well in our General Fund and also well behind our target for missions giving year-to-date. (63%, $13,765 of our $22,000 goal.) This is an unusual circumstance for Freedom. At the end of the year, we will fulfill our commitments to our missions partners (for details, go to freedomkw.com/missions) and any shortfall in the Missions Fund will be covered by the General Fund.

The economy has been tough this year. So many people are worried, uncertain or struggling in their financial lives. That's reality to be sure. And still, as the people of God, we are called to trust Him in and with everything. As He cares for us, would you join Rob and me as we pray about what God would have us do to support the spreading of the Gospel in Kitchener, Canada, Guatemala, Ethiopia and Cambodia?

As you know my heart, you know this is not about guilt or obligation. This is simply an invitation to help us meet a need and believe in how God might stretch us for the global mission this year, into 2024 and beyond!

A few practical items:

  1. You can meet our missions partners and learn more about all of this on our website: freedomkw.com/missions.

  2. You can learn how to designate to our Missions Fund on our website: freedomkw.com/give

  3. You can hear from our Global Worker in Ethiopia, Jeremy Feller, this Sunday morning in service! Join us in person or online at 10am.

Finally, let me say thank you. Your generous giving to our General Fund has been unprecedented this year. Your response to meeting practical needs in our community (gift cards for seniors, food pantry donations, furniture and household items for a family new to Canada...) is inspiring and beautiful. God is using us, church. Let's keep pressing into lives of generosity!

Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19 @ 10am

THE PRESENCE OF GOD
We Have Seen His Glory
Tracy Dunham

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LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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About Tarrying (time in His presence)

The older folks in church used to use a certain word to describe spending time in God's presence. If there was a time of prayer around the altar, especially on a Sunday night or during a camp service, it was said that people were "tarrying".

To tarry means to "stay longer than intended" or to "delay leaving a place". What an appropriate word to describe waiting in God's presence.

Have you ever tarried? Have you had the opportunity to set everything else aside and delay leaving a time of prayer or worship? Have you had the chance to do that lately?

The writer(s) of Psalm 42 seemed to be describing what it's like to have experienced God's presence and know how soul-filling it is, that when you're in His presence, it's like quenching a desperate thirst.

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?" (Psalm 42:1-2)

I wonder if we overestimate our own power and underestimate the effectiveness of being filled freshly with the Holy Spirit, of tarrying in His presence so that our souls can be refreshed and we can fully access all that we need for life and godliness as we get to know the Lord more intimately? (see 2 Peter 1:3)

I'll be the first to admit that there seem to always be pressures on our limited time and energy. But still, I can't say more emphatically how the choice to find a quiet place with Him will always be the best thing and the most valuable time you can spend.

To that end, I'd like to invite you to Deep Roots on Sunday night. It's a quiet time of worship followed by a directed time of prayer. It looks a little different each month as we gather, but it always has the same effect - time set apart to simply be in the presence of God. We start at 6:30 and would love to have you join us for an hour or so.

Often on Sunday evenings (especially as it gets colder and darker!) it can be hard to think about driving back to the church for this time. But in all the years we've been doing Deep Roots, I have never left and wished I'd spent the hour in any other way. Not once.

Whether it's Deep Roots or some other time that you are able to get alone and spend time with the Lord, receive today's email as a reminder that when you come near to God, He will come near to you. (James 4:8) It's worth tarrying.

See you on Sunday,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 12 @ 10am

THE PRESENCE OF GOD
Even More Undignified
Erin Jamieson

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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Shaken Up (a student devo)

I so enjoyed our service on Sunday. I remember "Youth Takeover" services when I was growing up in church and I couldn't have imagined the impact that had on the adults in the room. Well, now I am an adult in the room and I'll tell you, my heart was full. I've shared a couple of essays from our students in the past few weeks. Today's devo is a repeat of what was shared on Sunday morning, something that Sarina had shared on Redefine's IG page and read to us at the beginning of the service. (Scroll down to watch the video if you prefer!)

Let's continue to pray for our students as they seek God with all of their hearts and are being discipled to follow Jesus!

Enjoy,
Pastor Tracy

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By Sarina

Recently, I read the book of Habakkuk. And, I found out that a good chunk of the book is Habakkuk crying out to God and he seems, at times, to be questioning the future of his people who were dealing with heavy oppression. And, though Habakkuk was unsure about how long the hard times would last, God answered him and reassured him that He had plans for their benefit. So, that book of the Bible ends with these verses:

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as sure-footed as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.” (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

When all of the things that we rely on are shaken up (in the case of Habakkuk and his people it was the livestock and farm crops and in our case it could be church leadership, parents, finances, a friend group, or other similar things), we can still be completely sure-footed wherever God leads us and absolutely confident though we can’t see the future because He is our strength every step of the way.

Has anything felt shaken up in your life recently? How is God helping you to trust Him and be sure-footed despite your circumstances? What are you praying to God that He will reveal to you in uncertainty?

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 5 @ 10am

THE PRESENCE OF GOD
Show Me Your Glory
Tracy Dunham

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LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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Losing and Finding Identity (an essay by a grade eleven student)

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As we get ready for 5th Sunday (Youth Takeover!), I was privileged to read another essay from one of our students, Vaughn. He is in grade eleven and, like the essay I shared from Sloane a few weeks ago, was also tasked with writing about his identity. Again, I was so encouraged and asked Vaughn's permission to share a few paragraphs from what he wrote.

As we get ready to finish our (In)Secure series, I can't tell you how important it is that everyone, especially the next generation, get a firm grip on who they are in Christ. Hearing how the Holy Spirit is working in our students gives me so much hope for the church!

Enjoy,
Pastor Tracy

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By Vaughn Jamieson

Identity is a series of characteristics that come together to form what a person is or is not; this is a vague definition of identity since identity can be interpreted differently depending on who you ask. My identity resides in Christianity. Christianity is a religious belief in one God. The ideologies of Christianity can be found in a series of books and letters that tell a story of God's people, called The Bible. In this world, not all Identities go hand in hand. For example, my identity clashed with my religious beliefs, and this caused my identity to fall apart; I was left with hurt and depression, but eventually, I found hope and healing through my religious identity. 

During the beginning of my tenth-grade year in high school, I met a group of roughly twenty people, who did not have faith in any religion, which they displayed in their day-to-day life. After a couple of months of building relationships and spending time with these friends, I would come to adopt their habits. During this time, I was less aware of the sins I was committing thus drifting me away from my religious identity. I was walking by sight and not by faith, essentially stopping any growth in my religious beliefs. Though I was attending church, I didn't have a desire to pursue my beliefs. I had a false sense of security and happiness that I didn't understand at the time.

In Matthew 7:24-26 it says, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.” (NIV Bible, Matthew 7.24-26). This passage is a metaphor for your lifestyle and identity; this is because the rock stands for Christ and the house is your identity, regardless of what is going on such as the storms in your life. As long, as you are planted firmly on the foundations of Christ and his teachings, your house won't crumble. [When I was spiritually confused], I wasn't sure where to get back into my faith. I ended up finding the Forest Fellowship Club (FF) at school through a friend. As soon as I entered the room, I felt a sense of belonging; this moment would kickstart the healing process.

As time went on, I found myself praying during my quiet times at work just telling God what was happening in my life. I found that this helped me form an identity in Christ because I was able to lean on Him by discussing my life and emotions. Other parts of healing consisted of asking questions and rebuilding my faith with what pieces I had left over. I began to think about what I was singing during worship. Digging into the lyrics, I had powerful moments where I felt comfort, love, and a strong Identity in my faith. I would also consistently write down these thoughts in a journal. Praying, worshiping, and journaling helped me grow to where I am.

As of right now, I feel as if I have a purpose and I feel happy and content in my circumstances because I know my identity in Christ is firm. I continue to seek out and build on my religious identity through the Word. My identity is planted in Christ and I choose to dig my roots into the rich Word of God. I use that to bud beautiful flowers expressing outwardly to my friends that I am not ashamed of my identity. Throughout my experiences, I learned a lot about myself and about my religion. Now is the practical application of those teachings in my life which in time can hopefully be shared with those around me. I know I have come a long way from being broken and lost, to growth and healing; I have found my Identity. From being left in the dark, finding my identity again and where I am now has been a journey that has shaped me. Without God, I would not be here today and I thank him for everything.

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29 @ 10am

(IN)SECURE
I Can Fight

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LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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Taught By God (praying for love)

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As we continue to work our way through Ephesians on Sunday mornings, we are looking for ways to live (chapters 4-6) like the people we have become (chapters 1-3).

We are using this lens to spotlight our core values (Connect, Learn & Engage) and something keeps coming up over and over again. Certainly, it's in Ephesians, but sometimes you start to see themes emerge in your personal study or in conversations and you start to pay special attention to what the Holy Spirit might be saying. Have you ever had that happen to you?

What I keep hearing is love. Simple, but powerful. If we try to keep the unity we've been given by Jesus, if we try to connect with others, if we try to engage with our neighbours and tell them about Jesus, but we aren't doing it in love, we're missing it. As I read in a commentary recently, "You can have all the right ‘truthing’ but if you don’t have love, it’s for nothing." That's the idea of 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, isn't it?

This really came together for me in a recent Bible In A Year reading from 1 Thessalonians 4:9. The Apostle Paul says to the church, "Now about your love for one another we do not need to write you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other."

They were taught by God to love each other? I mean, wow. That's the kind of love that we need in order to live lives that are worthy of the call we've received. (Ephesians 4:1) We need God to teach us what love looks like and how to love others well, in a way that reflects His heart for His image-bearers.

I want to connect with my church family, I want to learn to think and act like Jesus and I want to engage the world with the transforming message of the gospel. I am called to be a disciple of Jesus and let these things mark my life but always by learning what real love is from God so that I can minister with the grace given to me.

I've been challenged to pray that I would be like the church in Thessalonica and would be a student of God's love with Him as my teacher. I'll offer the same challenge to you: Would you pray with me that we would be taught by God to love each other?

In Christ,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22 @ 10am

(IN)SECURE
I Am Engaged in Mission With Jesus
Tracy Dunham

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LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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What Did You Learn Today? (it wasn't nothing!)

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For some of you, the very thought of school makes you uncomfortable. All you wanted to do was graduate grade 12 and never look back. I get it. The word “learn” often makes us think about negative experiences in a classroom setting. Maybe you associate it with bullies, academic struggles, an unreasonable teacher or just the angst of being a teenager.

Whether you loved school or wish I would stop reminding you of it, the good news is that learning isn’t limited to what we did in K-12. Learning is happening all the time. What did you learn today? Big or small, important or inconsequential, it wasn’t nothing.

Another one of our core values is LEARN. (We talked about ENGAGE last week.) I truly don’t want you to be intimidated by that word, no matter how brutal your grade eleven math teacher was. I want every member of Freedom to be excited by the idea that they are called to learn to think and act like Jesus. Each of us is enrolled in the life-long course of following Him, studying Him, imitating Him and being challenged by Him.

There isn’t an entrance exam, there are no prerequisites and you don’t have to sit in a classroom. This learning happens as you live your life surrendered to Christ and apply yourself to surrendering to His life-transforming work in you.

This learning happens as you pray and listen to the Holy Spirit. He shows you His will, reveals Jesus to you, shines light on things that need to be illuminated, convicts what needs to change and strengthens you with all the power you need to live what you have learned.

This learning happens as you read the Bible. Little by little you understand the heart and character of God. As you are exposed to wisdom and truth, your mind is renewed and your thinking changes. New thinking leads to peace and faith and finding everything you need through your knowledge of Him.

This learning happens as you walk alongside others who are also learning. As our small group went through a simple list of questions last week, we found ourselves listening to one another’s ideas and insights, asking more questions and searching for answers in the bible together (yep, we even opened Google on our phones to help us find what we were looking for!). I learned so much from their desire to know more and I hope they learned from mine, too.

Learning to think and act like Jesus is transformative. Opportunities to learn are all around you, every day. They all require a degree of intentionality and in my experience, every ounce of effort pays off in dividends.

So, what are you learning today?

Learning with you,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15 @ 10am

(IN)SECURE
I Am Learning to Be Like Jesus
Tracy Dunham

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LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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Beginning With the End in Mind (ready to engage through connecting and learning)

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For the next three weeks, while still in Ephesians, we'll be talking about our core values: Connect, Learn and Engage. As we've been thinking about these values in a post-pandemic world, we realize more than ever that we connect and learn so that we can maximize our effectiveness as we engage the world with the message of the gospel. I was asked to reflect on this and write an article about the good news story of how Freedom is doing outreach. I appreciated the chance to reflect back on all that God has done, how He has taught us and led us, and the immeasurable opportunities that are still in front of us.

We'll start in Ephesians 4:1-6 on Sunday with "I Am Connected to Jesus"... but I trust this article will point your heart toward beginning these core value messages with the end in mind... sharing Christ with the world.

See you on Sunday!
Pastor Tracy

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The truth is that our current efforts to engage with our community for Christ have been born out of frustration. We had run events that we heard were successful in other churches like carnivals and movie nights but didn’t see any fruit from the massive effort that these events required from our congregation. We experienced more than a little ‘holy discontent’. So, about 15 years ago, we started to shift our thinking and our efforts around outreach.

The first shift was to consider engaging with our community in ways which had the potential to build long-term relationships. Instead of events, we started an hour-long Saturday soccer league for kids. Our coaches (members of Freedom) were able to get to know the families over the course of eight weeks. Soccer led to more programs over the next dozen years: basketball clinics, group piano and guitar lessons, sewing school, knitting lessons and soccer camp, while we continued to run a full-day camp throughout the summer. We renovated the old house on our property and called it the Freedom Community Centre.

The major result of all of this was creating an excellent reputation in our community. When it came time to rezone our property, a City Councillor, whose children participated in our programs, spoke in our favour, saying that our church was ‘good for the community’. We became known as ‘the church with the volleyball courts’ or ‘the church where my kids play soccer’.

But we couldn’t deny that it wasn’t enough. We knew that we were called to be more than a community centre. Most of those who knew about our church were still far from God and we knew that, as much as they had helped us, great programs and favour in the community weren’t the Great Commission. We needed to find ways to leverage all of this goodwill and present Christ to those who needed Him.

It would be great to tell you that we’ve figured it out. We haven’t. But we know that the Holy Spirit is challenging and changing us. We continually ask ourselves why God has placed us in this neighbourhood, at this time. There is a reason and we are committed to being in His plan. 

Over the past few years, our Connections Pastor has built relationships with the Program Directors of the Community Associations in our neighbourhood. They have the staff and funding to run great, low-cost programs for families, but very little space. We have lots of space and its our joy to make it available to them for free. 

We have also asked ourselves, who has God given us in this church? Our congregation loves to give to people in need and to host others. So, we made some new connections with community organizations and began to find out how we could help in practical ways. We built a pavilion last year and made it available all week long for our neighbours to come and enjoy. The community programs use it extensively and this summer we put a team together to run a tuck shop and engage with families who were waiting during programming.

We are working to find ways to leverage what we have (great people, great location, great property) to do more than be a space for programming but to become a spiritual oasis in this neighbourhood. And while the process of learning and growing can be frustrating, seeing all that God has done and how He has strategically placed us on these 10 acres in southwest Kitchener is very good news.

Tracy Dunham

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8 @ 10am

(IN)SECURE
I Am Connected to Jesus
Tracy Dunham

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LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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Factors That Shape My Identity (by Sloane, a grade eleven student)

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After our Sunday Night Conversation about sexuality on Sunday night, one of our grade eleven students, Sloane, shared with me how difficult these topics are in school. Her English class had been assigned to write a few paragraphs about their identity, giving examples of different things they could talk about: gender, talents, hobbies, etc. Sloane was struggling to write the paper as assigned because she knew that her identity didn't come from any of those things. I asked her to share her finished paper with me and when I read it on Monday morning, I was blown away. She has graciously allowed me to share it with you as this week's email devotional.

Thank you for encouraging us all to find our identity in Jesus, Sloane! (We hope you get an A!)
Pastor Tracy

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The Factors That Shape My Identity
by Sloane Capson

Identity is not the world around us but is what we choose to let into our hearts. There are many worldly concepts we can choose to identify with, but only the ones we internalize can truly fabricate our lives. My identity has been shaped by my religion, by my relationship with Jesus, and by the beliefs my family has instilled in me.

My religion, the belief that Jesus is my Saviour, has shaped my identity by giving me a clear idea of how I should act. As a Christian, I believe that God is my Creator, and He is my Lord. I believe that the only reason for my existence is because it was God's will; this makes me a child of God. As God's daughter, I am commanded to live a life that represents Jesus's love. Living a life that represents Jesus's love means that not only my outward appearance should represent Him, but my heart should as well. This has formed my identity because it controls how I carry and represent myself. I try to be someone who is constantly connecting with and reaching out to others because God commands me to do so. I show all people around me the love God shows me because God commands me to. The way I treat others has been solely based on the love my Saviour has shown to me. I forgive those who have wronged me throughout my life because God forgave my sins first. God has fabricated my identity by showing me how to act as a godly woman.

The values my family has instilled in me have also shaped my identity by reinforcing what my religion tells me. I've grown up attending church every Sunday morning. This was because my mother and father knew that God had magnificent plans for my life. No matter how tired I was, no matter what else I wanted to do, my family made sure I was present every Sunday to participate in Sunday school. My parents have raised me to understand the value of God, and the church; to understand that my life should come from a foundation built upon God. This has formed my identity because I now believe God is the basis for all areas of my life. Without my mother and father's discipline and encouragement to seek God, I would be a lost and broken person. My parents' belief that God has a plan for me has now been branded on my soul. No matter what, I know God is controlling my life and holding the outcome of all scenarios in the palm of His hand. My parents teaching me the importance of a life based upon God has shaped my identity by strengthening the core aspects of my life.

My life and identity are a clear representation of the values my family has instilled in me, and of how Jesus tells me my life should look like. I could choose to represent my identity by my gender, by my struggles, and by what the devil says about me, but I refuse to let those things define who I am. My identity comes from where my heart is rooted. Only a heart planted in rich nourishing soil can produce quality fruit.

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1 @ 10am

(IN)SECURE
I Belong
Del Wells

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LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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Get Connected (Groups start in a couple of weeks)

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At Freedom, our core values call us to three things:

  1. Connect with God and others.

  2. Learn to think and act like Jesus.

  3. Engage the world for Christ.

As you know, we do this in a variety of ways through the different ministry opportunities we offer. One of the key ministries we focus on to engage with our core values is Groups.

If you've been around Freedom long enough you'll know that these small groups used to be called "Connecting Point" or, going back even further, "Connecting Point 1". Our small group ministry has taken on a few different forms and formats over the years, always trying to stay in step with what makes sense for the particular season of church life we may be in. What hasn't changed is the reason we continue to do groups.

In our Groups promo video (see below), Scott says, "Outside of community our spiritual growth often gets stunted." And that's the heart of it. We know from the biblical example of the Early Church (see Acts 2:42-47), the huge amount of commands to love and serve "one another" we have in epistles, and our own personal experience as Christ-followers that we need community in order for our faith to grow in a healthy way.

I am extraordinarily excited for Groups this fall. As you can see in the video below, we are offering a wide variety of options to match up with what's next for you in your spiritual growth. There are two Life Groups, Alpha, a men's group, a women's group, a marriage group, a group open to the whole family and a group that you can drop into. Ah! This is going to be a great season!

And by the way, we changed the name to "Groups" because, well, that's literally what they are. We found ourselves trying to explain CP to people who are new to Freedom and thought, "You know what, let's just simplify!"

We want you to grow. We want you to be connected to God and others in the church family. We want you to have a support system as you reach out and engage the world for Christ. We want you to make your faith an active part of your Monday-Saturday life. We want you to jump into a Group.

Of course, all the information is on our website: freedomkw.com/groups

Take a look at the video below... or, there are longer versions of some of them listed with the Groups on the web page. We're available for any questions you have, just give us a shout.

Can't wait to get started,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 @ 10am

(IN)SECURE
I Am Seen
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Get Secure (learn about being in Christ)

On Sunday, we started a new series called (In)Secure. We're going through the book of Ephesians to learn what it means to be in Christ and to find our security in Him. This means a lot of different things and we're going to talk about a bunch of them over the next few weeks.

Pastor Del Wells has written a course about this that goes much deeper than we have time for on a Sunday morning. It's called Get Secure and I know you'll find it beneficial as a guide through Ephesians.

Don't be surprised if you hear a lot of quotes from Get Secure or I share some concepts straight from the pages of the 13 lessons. It's so fun to be able to borrow from a course that was written in our church, for our church and for the Church! And yes, Pastor Del is delighted to let me plagiarize as needed. As an added bonus, he will be preaching a message in this series in a few weeks... it seemed only fitting.

There are lots of great courses on our Next Discipleship page. Allow me to recommend that you click this link and download Get Secure today and get started on your deep dive into Ephesians!

Looking forward to learning more with you,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 @ 10am

(IN)SECURE
I Have Hope
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

Happy New Year! (it's a new season)

Of course, it's not really a new year, but as Scott pointed out on Sunday morning, it definitely feels like it! We live our lives in seasons and whether or not you or your kids are going to school this week, you can sense a new beginning around Labour Day weekend.

Many time management experts say that making quarterly goals is much more effective than making a New Year's resolution. Thinking of life in three-month segments is easier for us. I can't imagine what I'll be doing on September 1, 2024, but I can tell you some things I want to accomplish before Christmas this year. And so, we can use September's "new year" feeling to our advantage. We can reset and refocus after a time of fun, rest and great weather.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens." Have you thought about what this next season might be for you?

There are no guarantees and anything can happen in the next three months, but we are still called to be intentional with our days. (See Psalm 90:12, Proverbs 16:3, Proverbs 21:5, and Colossians 3:23)

So let me encourage you to look ahead. Find a quiet place with a cup of coffee and ask the Lord what needs to be prioritized in your life for the season ahead. What needs to be added or taken away? What is He calling you to at home, work and relationships? What is He pointing out in your life (big or small) that requires some changes?

Don't let the busyness of the fall sweep away this amazing opportunity to listen to the Lord for this next season of your life. I'm carving out time for this in the next week - join me! (And, just a thought, but Fast & Pray Wednesdays are a great time for this as well!)

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 @ 10am

(IN)SECURE
I Am Chosen
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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A Few of Our Favourite Things: Final Instalment (summer series | staff picks)

We're looking forward to hearing from Scott Corkill on Sunday morning! I asked him to do the final instalment of our summer devotional series and he graciously agreed. Join us on Sunday morning to hear his message about grace and enjoy his recommendation below. - Pastor Tracy

________________________

I rushed past it without noticing it more than once.

It was only recently that I actually slowed down enough to read it… but, more than that, to think about the language that is used and the important message that is communicated through it.

Do you know the stated mission of Freedom in Christ?

It’s ok if you don’t… like I said… I rushed by it numerous times before noticing and taking some time to think about it.

The stated mission of Freedom in Christ is…

“To equip people to live a Christ-centered life through daily transformation."

I really appreciate the thoughtfulness and depth of this mission (not to mention its honesty!). From my experience, the importance of “daily transformation” cannot be overstated! I know we all love those “miracle moments” when God just does a deep and significant miracle work in a moment of time… but the reality is, we are being formed more deeply through our daily habits and routines than we often imagine.

Over the past couple of years of my life, Lectio 365 has been a welcome addition to my daily routine in helping encourage this work of “daily transformation”. The title of the app, “Lectio 365,” is taken from an ancient Christian tradition called lectio divina (Latin for “divine reading”).

Every day the app provides a reading from the Psalms to rejoice in, as well as a reading from the Bible through which the reader is invited to take time to pause, reflect on the Scripture, ask what the Holy Spirit is speaking to you about this passage, and yield in obedience to what God is speaking to you through His Word.

The user can scroll through the readings at their own pace, or they can hit the “play” button to hear the readings and prayers read out loud for them (with pauses to add your own thoughts and prayers).

The app has also recently added a “night” option as well. I find it a very helpful tool to use at the end of my day… to take time to review my day and notice where God was at work in my life, and when God was speaking to me. It also helps us to review those moments of our day where we need to ask forgiveness and rejoice in God’s great mercy and forgiveness!

It’s a free app… you’ve got nothing to lose (and daily transformation to gain!)

Hope to see you this Sunday!
Scott

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 @ 10am

LABOUR DAY WEEKEND
Grace Goes Further Than Forgiveness
Scott Corkill

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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A Few of Our Favourite Things: Eighth Instalment (summer series | staff picks)

This resource is one that I am so proud to have at Freedom Church. Our former pastor, Del Wells, has been writing discipleship courses for over two decades and has made them available to anyone and everyone free of charge. This started with the four core courses in the Life Transformation series: First Steps, Life in the Spirit, Learning to Serve and Learning to Lead. Each one is foundational to learning to be a fully-devoted follower of Jesus.

Pastor Del continues to write discipleship material and share new courses with the Christian community. We have the privilege of hosting them on our website and having first access to them when they are released. They currently include:

  • The Disciple of Jesus

  • Produce: Developing the Fruit of the Spirit

  • Everything You Need: A Study of 2 Peter 1:3-11

  • Commands of Christ

  • Get Secure: A Study of Ephesians

  • Pentecostal Essentials

  • Explaining the Trinity

  • Get Joyful: A Study of Philippians

  • Get Ethical: The Ten Commandments

I also have Get Faithful: A Study of 1 Thessalonians and The Lord's Prayer in queue to be added to the website shortly... hopefully by the time this email is published!

You can find everything on our website: freedomkw.com/next. All of the courses can be downloaded as PDFs, some are available online in module-style lessons, and one has even been turned into a podcast (that was fun!). We also have copies of each course at our Welcome Centre if anyone needs a hard copy.

What a gift to our church. What a gift to the Church at large. We get downloads from literally all over the world - the US, South Africa and Singapore so far this year.

These courses are not complicated. They are easy to read and understand and they will challenge you to get to know the Word and teach you to walk faithfully with Jesus.

One note: we are currently updating our website and will soon be giving our NEXT page a facelift and reorganizing it. We hope this will make it easier for us to create and share this incredible library of resources. However, if you're looking for something and can't find it, just reach out to me and I will get it to you. You know how renos can be. :)

With so much gratitude to Pastor Del and in hope that your life is transformed in Christ by the Holy Spirit as you use these resources,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, AUGUST 27 @ 10am

KINGS & KINGDOMS
Josiah Protects A Generation
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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A Few of Our Favourite Things: Seventh Instalment (summer series | staff picks)

I love reading. Some of my favourite memories are riding my bike to the library in the town where I grew up. The library there was converted from an old train station. Walking in the doors to the smell of the books and the old wood brought so much joy to my heart. Scouring through the Nancy Drew and Babysitters Club books to find one I hadn’t read or grabbing an old favourite was simply the best. 

I always have a book on the go and many on a waitlist. Controversial, I know, but I mainly read on an e-reader, getting my books through Libby, the free library app. My love of reading centres around fiction and biographies. I feel like I have lived a thousand lives and travelled to so many worlds through books. I will never live in ancient China but I experience it through gifted authors. The love God has given me for other cultures and countries was cultivated through books. Growing up in small-town Ontario, I had no way of knowing what the world outside my door looked like except through books that opened my perspective.

I could talk about books all day but the point I’m getting to is that I love fiction and struggle to read non-fiction, the ‘good for me’ books by spiritual mentors, leaders, teachers, pastors etc. I set goals for myself and fall behind almost immediately. One year I told myself I had to read a non-fiction book in between my novels. I read one.

It's good for my spiritual growth to pair my regular scripture reading with books by other Christ followers. Books like "Good Boundaries and Goodbyes" by Lisa Terkhurst, "Power to Change" by Craig Groeschel, "Gay Girl, Good God" by Jackie Hill Perry, "The Problem of God" by Mark Clark, and the list could continue on and on.

So here is how I got myself into the habit of consuming non-fiction without infringing on my reading time, realizing that non-fiction is my hobby, my relaxation, and the thing that helps me unwind at night.

I started finding these books in audiobook format and replacing my podcasts for a week at a time. I discovered that Libby, the free app I mentioned, has a lot of audiobooks and I joined a paid subscription, Scribd, that also has a lot of audiobooks and no wait times. I walk a lot, so listening while I walk is helpful. With Scribd, I can also get a copy of the ebook that I can highlight and make notes in. So, if something jumps out to me while I’m walking I go back and find it in the ebook and make a note. It's a bit of extra work but worth it. Finding affordable Christian content can be tricky and Scribd has a lot of the books I’m looking for so it’s worth checking out. (Libby has some but there is usually a waitlist.)

I knew I needed to find a way to do the thing I knew was good for me but felt like I couldn’t get there. I believe the Lord led me to think outside of the box and I found something that works for me. Obviously, reading Christian content does not replace daily scripture reading; it should complement your daily reading, not replace it.

This worked for me and I’m glad Kaitlin and Joel told me about Scribd... So, I’m telling you! I’d love to hear if you have another app or way of reading great content that works well for you.

Enjoy!
Pastor Erin

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, AUGUST 20 @ 10am

KINGS & KINGDOMS
Ahab Becomes the Worst King Ever
Erin Jamieson

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

A Few of Our Favourite Things: Sixth Instalment (summer series | staff picks)

After graduating from college, I was looking into how to further my biblical and theological education when I came across TheosU. The best way I know how to describe it is that it’s the Netflix of theology! Essentially, what you get from it is a whole host of biblical and theological courses. You’ll find everything from courses on introductions to each book of the Bible to more in-depth studies on the Pentateuch, Wisdom Literature, the Pauline Epistles and more. You’ll also find courses on theological topics like soteriology (the study of salvation), ecclesiology (the study of the church), spiritual gifts and even speaking in tongues. That’s just a small sample of what they have to offer.

It's been a valuable resource in advancing my biblical and theological knowledge. With that being said, I have to say that I don’t necessarily agree with all theological stances or opinions they may have, but it is a great place to start and hear varying perspectives on different topics.

There is a cost involved if you want to sign up for it. For the monthly plan, it is $15.99/month USD (so a bit more in CAD $) or $159.99/year USD ($13.33 USD/month). You can find them at theosu.ca or if you look them up in the app store at TheosU.

Praying this helps in the advancement of your biblical studies.

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, AUGUST 13 @ 10am

KINGS & KINGDOMS
Rehoboam Rejects Good Advice

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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A Few of Our Favourite Things: Fifth Instalment (summer series | staff picks)

MARGARET’S Pick: YOUVERSION BIBLE APP

I love hearing about all the staff summer picks. I personally use or have recently added many of the apps that have already been mentioned. I love anything that will help me learn and keep me organized.  

My pick is the YouVersion Bible App. It's a great app that offers so much. 

I have always struggled to find a good method to help me with my devotional time. I have tried various books, study guides, and the classic let-my-bible-open-to-a-page-and-read -hat method. I have also tried various online programs or other apps as well.

When I was first introduced to YouVersion, it was literally just an app to read the bible. But since it was first released it has become much more. 

I love the variety of bible studies and devotionals that are available for all ages and stages of life. I am also not going to lie, I love that each study has a checklist so as you read you get to check something off.  

But I think my absolute favourite feature of YouVersion is the availability of the audio Bible. I love listening to the Word. It is how I start and end my day. Personally, my favourite audio version is the NIVUK, I could listen to the British accent for hours.  

There are so many other great features, like all the various translations of the Bible, the ability to complete plans with friends, verse of the day story, guided prayer and so much more. If you have not checked out YouVersion, I highly recommend it. It is the most used app I have on my phone and I can use it anywhere in the world.  

If you do not have YouVersion I suggest you download it and join Freedom for our next bible study together. In fact, you can also make Freedom your church on the app and see what plans we're featuring!

Margaret

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, AUGUST 6 @ 10am

KINGS & KINGDOMS
Adonijah Does it His Own Way
Margaret Pfeiffer

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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A Few of Our Favourite Things: Fourth Instalment (summer series | staff picks)

Pastor Tracy’s Pick #3: Logos bible software

There is a tool that I use more than anything else for studying the Bible. It’s no contest. I am in Logos Bible Software constantly. I mean, yes, of course, I am using a Bible study tool all the time since I am writing sermons and not everyone does this as a vocation. Fair enough. But even still, Logos has so many features that have helped me understand the scriptures much more deeply. When I get to a passage in my personal devotional reading that I don’t understand, I open Logos and see what I can learn.

Logos is an investment. There is an entry-level version of the software that cost $50 USD and packages that include more and more resources go up from there. Essentially, Logos is a library of resources for studying the bible that have been indexed and cross-referenced so they are fully searchable. There are commentaries, devotionals, Bible dictionaries, translations, and a lot more.

Another cool thing about Logos is that it is shareable with your spouse. They believe that since “two become one”, married couples can share an account at no extra charge.

This powerful study tool is more than I can describe in a few paragraphs so I’d encourage you to check it out for yourself. Or, by all means, ask me and I’ll geek out giving you a tour of the software!

Praying a blessing on your study of the Word,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, JULY 30 @ 10am
5TH SUNDAY - PAVILION SERVICE & POTLUCK

ANCIENT WISDOM
The Foundation of Family
Tracy Dunham

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LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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A Few of Our Favourite Things: Third Instalment (summer series | staff picks)

Pastor Tracy’s Pick #2: echo prayer app

My second pick for the summer is an app that I have used to help me pray. I find that there are so many things to pray for, so many needs, and so much that I need to hear from God about that I can pause for a time of prayer and go blank. Or, I just don’t know where to start. Add that to the fact that I pretty much forget everything that I don’t write down and it’s a recipe for a pretty ineffective prayer life.

Over the years I’ve written lists, used sticky notes (think: War Room prayer closet!), and journaled as a way to keep my memory intact and learn to pray more effectively. About a year ago I realized that there was probably an app that might also be helpful. It turns out, there are many.

I know some of you figured this out a long time ago! But I would encourage anyone who could use some extra help in remembering prayer requests or staying focused on what you are praying for, an app like Echo might help. Check it out for yourself… and remember not to get distracted by Instagram on your way to opening your prayer app!

Hope this helps you pray without ceasing!
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, JULY 23 @ 10am
ANCIENT WISDOM
The End of Trouble
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.