Sunday, May 18 2025
by Elevation | May 13, 2025 | Sunday Morning
Atonement, Part II
This Sunday, we’re diving into two theories of the cross: the Moral Influence Theory and the Ransom Theory. Does Jesus’ life and death primarily inspire us to live compassionately, as a divine model of love? Or did Christ’s sacrifice act as a cosmic transaction, “paying a debt” to liberate humanity from Satan’s grip?
We’ll unpack the historical roots of these ideas, their contrasts, and their implications for how we understand God’s character. Does a God who bargains with Satan align with radical grace? Can a focus on moral example empower – or burden -our pursuit of justice and mercy? Together, we’ll explore how each theory nurtures – or undermines human flourishing, justice, and our capacity to trust a God who is love.
Join us as we re-examine ancient ideas for a modern world, seeking a faith that deepens our love for others and our awe of a God who meets us in struggle and solidarity. All voices, doubts, and curiosity welcome!
Sunday, May 11, 2025
by Elevation | May 8, 2025 | Sunday Morning
Join us, starting this week, for our monthly Service and Learning gathering, at 22 Willow and in our community.
In our learning at 22 Willow, we invite you to join us for a screening of the short documentary A Human Picture, exploring Ontario’s transformational Basic Income Pilot.
Hosted by the Peace in Action Team (PiAT) Learning Branch, this event also features guest presenters who will share insights and lead thought-provoking discussions around the topic.
Everyone is welcome — come learn, reflect, and be part of the conversation.
If you have any questions, please contact our missions team or pastoral team at: mission@elevationwaterloo.org or pastoral@elevationwaterloo.org.
Sunday, May 4, 2025
by Elevation | Apr 30, 2025 | Sunday Morning
Theories of Atonement.
This week we begin our new series on theories of Atonement.
In our first week, we’ll begin with an overview of this important and often controversial topic. Most importantly, we’ll explore how we, as a community, can learn, grow, and live together while holding different beliefs and understandings—and how we continue to live out our shared vision and values in the midst of that.
Sunday, April 27, 2025
by Elevation | Apr 23, 2025 | Sunday Morning
Contemplative Prayer Practices.
This coming Sunday we’re going to take some time to explore some of the contemplative prayer practices that we have talked about during our recent series around prayer. We’ll be walking through practices together as a community, as well as providing a space to explore some prayer practices on our own. We’re looking forward to reflecting on the ways that these practices can invite us into a deeper expression as a community, as well as noticing the ways that God is communing with us in all things.
Our kids will be wrapping up the Easter curriculum this week by exploring how Jesus appeared to and spent time with His followers after the events of the Easter weekend. Please note that the Grade 4-5 class will be using the gym for their time at KidsQuest this week.
We’ll wrap up around 10am, and then all are invited to join with their Neighbours groups in whatever your group has planned!
Sunday, April 20, 2025
by Elevation | Apr 15, 2025 | Sunday Morning
EASTER SUNDAY.
Holy Week began this past Sunday with our Palm Sunday celebration—a time that marks Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. As we continue this sacred journey together, we invite you to join us in reflecting on Christ’s path to the cross and rejoicing in the hope of the resurrection.
- Stations of the Cross – Thursday, April 17 (7–9PM) & Friday, April 18 (9AM–8PM)
- Good Friday Service – April 18 at 6PM
- Easter Sunday Celebration – April 20 at 9AM
After the sermon this Sunday, we’ll all gather in the gym for a time of Communion around the Eucharist table (after collecting our kids from KidsQuest). Afterwards, we’ll enjoy fellowship and community over coffee, tea, and donuts!
Please note: an allergy-friendly option (nut-, gluten-, and egg-free) will be available. If you have other dietary needs, feel free to bring along your own treat(s)!
Sunday, April 13, 2025
by Elevation | Apr 8, 2025 | Sunday Morning
Service and Learning.
This week is our monthly Service and Learning gathering!
Here’s a list of what you can sign up (or on some cases, drop in) for:
Thursday, April 10, 2025
- Community Ministry Meal (5PM to 6:30PM)
Sunday, April 13, 2025
- Learning in Sanctuary at 22 Willow (9AM)
- Cooking at 22 Willow for A Better Tent City (9AM)
- Baking at 22 Willow for A Better Tent City (9AM)
- Food Kit Assembling (9AM)
- Cooking & Sharing at SHOW (10AM-12PM)
- Luther Manor Connection (1PM-3PM)
If you have any questions, please contact our missions team or pastoral team at: mission@elevationwaterloo.org or pastoral@elevationwaterloo.org.
Sunday, April 06, 2025
by Elevation | Apr 3, 2025 | Sunday Morning
What If? Reimagining Prayer, Part 4.
We’ll be wrapping up our Reimagining Prayer series this coming Sunday by taking some time to consider the beauty of reflecting on the words of prayers that have been written by others, and the gift of borrowing language to express words that may resonate with our own hearts and minds. From contemplative prayer practices to sharing in Prayers of the People, from more ancient liturgy to modern litanies – we’ll be exploring the ways that these practices can invite us into a deeper expression as a community, as well as noticing the ways that God is communing with us in all things.
Sunday, March 30, 2025
by Elevation | Mar 25, 2025 | Sunday Morning
What If? Reimagining Prayer, Part 3
This week we continue our series “What If: Reimagining Prayer.” This Sunday Devon will share several forms of prayer that he has found meaningful over the years. Together we will explore the connection between prayer and the physical world around us, including ourselves.
Sunday, March 23, 2025
by Elevation | Mar 19, 2025 | Sunday Morning
Prayers that Hurt, Prayers that Heal: Building Consent into Interpersonal Prayer.
Praying for each other is one of the powerful and intimate parts of Christian community. This week Brian and Grace will lead a discussion on how to be mindful of how we use the power of prayer in ways that make everyone feel safe and included.
Sunday, March 16, 2025
by Elevation | Mar 11, 2025 | Sunday Morning
LENT SERIES: WHAT IF? RE-IMAGINING PRAYER.
Whether prayer feels like a sanctuary or a struggle, a familiar rhythm or a distant mystery—whether you approach it with confidence, doubt, or not at all—you’re not alone. This Sunday, we’re stepping into an honest, open-handed exploration of prayer—one that welcomes our doubts, questions and curiosity.
Together, we’ll consider prayer through the lenses of theology, science, personal experience, and deconstruction, as we’re invited to rediscover, rethink, reconstruct, or simply rest in the mystery of prayer.
Sunday, March 09, 2025
by Elevation |Mar 5, 2025 | Sunday Morning
Service and Learning.
This week is our Service & Learning Sunday!
Please sign up on Church Center for the many activities that are taking place, not only on Sunday March 9th, but also on Thursday March 13th and Saturday March 29th.
Sunday, March 02, 2025
by Elevation | Feb 24, 2025 | Sunday Morning
Stories from Scripture: Flannelgraph Not Included, Part 6.
A powerless and desperate widow reaches out to connect with the prophet Elisha. Together, they offer what they have and do what they can, and with God’s blessing there is a miraculous outcome. Their story provides a compelling lesson as to how God participates with His people to provide justice and restore dignity to the most marginalized.
Sunday, February 23, 2025
by Elevation | Feb 18, 2025 | Sunday Morning
Stories from Scripture: Flannelgraph Not Included, Part 5: Longing and Being Seen.
What do we do with our deepest longings? What does Jesus do? Let’s explore through an underrated story as we continue our Stories from Scripture: Flannelgraph Not Included series.
Service Cancelled – February 16, 2025
by Elevation | Feb 15, 2025 | Featured, News | 0 comments
Due to the significant and worsening snowstorm affecting the Kitchener-Waterloo area, we have made the difficult decision to cancel tomorrow’s church service scheduled for Sunday, February 16, 2025. This early decision aims to ensure the safety of our entire community, from staff to volunteers to everyone attending the service or our kids participating in KidsQuest.
Environment Canada has issued a winter storm warning for our region, forecasting total snowfall accumulations of 20cm to 30cm by Sunday evening. The heaviest snowfall is expected tomorrow, with peak rates of 3cm to 6cm per hour, leading to hazardous travel conditions. Additionally, significantly reduced visibility in heavy snow and blowing snow is anticipated.
We encourage everyone to stay safe and avoid unnecessary travel during this time. Please continue to monitor local weather updates and adhere to any advisories issued by authorities.
We apologize for any inconvenience this cancellation may cause and appreciate your understanding as we prioritize the well-being of our community. We look forward to gathering together when conditions improve and we can gather safely again.
Sunday, February 09, 2025
by Elevation | Feb 5, 2025 | Sunday Morning
SERVICE & LEARNING: PEACE IN ACTION TEAMS.
Back in November we introduced the Elevation community to the Peace in Action Team (PiAT), inviting our community to participate in building the branches of this team. We are thrilled to further this important work of education, reflection, service, giving and advocacy, rooted in our faith and commitment to justice, compassion and re-imagined church.
Mark your calendars for a special Service & Learning Gathering, this Sunday at 9am, and be part of this transformative journey.
Together, we’ll:
- Introduce our theme for the next few years, and reflect on why this theme matters in our community
- Learn through regional stories, stats, and lived experiences
- Take first steps toward advocacy and meaningful action
- Shape the vision of PiAT—including a collaborative logo and creative project!
We’ll gather in the sanctuary to kick things off, then dive into interactive sessions with both our Learning and Service teams before sharing a snack and heading out. Please note that KidsQuest will not be running, but we will have activities to keep our younger generation engaged.
Your voice, presence, and passion matter. Let’s step forward in peace and action—together. See you there!
Sunday, January 5, 2025
by Elevation | Jan 30, 2025 | Sunday Morning
Stories from Scripture: Flannelgraph Not Included, Part 4: Rohoda Who?
This week we will be continuing our Stories from Scripture: Flannelgraph Not Included series with a look at perhaps a lesser-known individual from scripture – Rhoda. We may not hear a lot about Rhoda, but her story is not unfamiliar. The mention of her name in scripture, and her experience within the early church community, invites us to reflect about the ways that voices from within our own communities may be dismissed or disregarded. In what ways will Rhoda’s story invite us to think about more intentionally listening to the voices in the margins?
Sunday, January 26, 2025
by Elevation | Jan 21, 2025 | Sunday Morning
Stories from Scripture: Flannelgraph Not Included, Part 3: Learning from the Book of Esther (Laughing in the Face of Uncertainty and Times of Trouble).
This week we will be taking a closer look at the book and person of Esther. There are lots of messy topics that this book touches on but like most great cultural events, it may actually be best read as a comedy. Sometimes one of the greatest gifts God gives us may actually be Their sense of humour. Humour allows us to view things in a different light and breathe a little easier when it feels like our breath has been taken away.
Sunday, January 19, 2025
by Elevation | Jan 14, 2025 | Sunday Morning
Stories from Scripture: Flannelgraph Not Included, Part 2: The Sassy Syrophoenician
Fierce, witty, and unapologetically bold—the Syrophoenician woman didn’t submit or resign to passivity. She was persistent and courageous in challenging the status quo, refusing to take “no” as an answer, and in so doing she partnered with God in creating a more just world.
Join us this Sunday as we explore her powerful story, and discover how her example (among others) invites us to challenge our assumptions, reimagining our own role in partnering with God in our journeys of transformation and the pursuit of justice and healing of our world.
Sunday, January 12, 2025
by Elevation | Jan 6, 2025 | Sunday Morning
SERVICE AND LEARNING.
One of the ways we practice living out our faith and worship as a community is through connecting and partnering with service organizations in our local community, being guided by those working and living at the margins. On a regular basis we use our gathering time on the weekend to spread out in smaller groups around the city to learn more about a particular justice issue or concern and to find ways to contribute to the work that is happening in our broader community.
Sunday, January 5, 2025
by Elevation | Dec 31, 2024 | Sunday Morning
Stories from Scripture: Flannelgraph Not Included, Part 1
This week we begin the year with a new series looking at different characters from scripture. To start us off Devon explores the story of Jesus healing a blind man, and how his personal connection to this story has changed and grown over the years. We attempt to journey through the many influences this story has on us today.