This past Sunday, we shared some exciting news to share with you.
As many of you know, our church has been growing in wonderful ways. One key area of growth has been in how we lead together as a community. At Elevation, shared leadership isn’t just a model we talk about—it’s a value we strive to live out.
Before we share the exciting hiring news, we wanted to take a moment to recognize and celebrate someone whose faithful leadership has been instrumental in helping us shape this vision—our co-lead pastor, Melissa Burke.
Melissa has been in pastoral ministry here at Elevation for over six years, skillfully guiding us through two major transitions with wisdom, compassion, and grace. She has played a pivotal role in developing a leadership model that reflects our core belief: leadership is about mutuality, collaboration, and partnership, not power.
With over a decade of co-pastoring experience and 12 years of service across areas such as worship, community engagement, children’s and youth ministry, justice work, and church planting, Melissa’s influence continues to weave deeply into the fabric of our Elevation community. Her theological depth and heart for social justice have shaped not only our mission but also the core values of our church. We are thrilled to share that Melissa, originally ordained by the Vineyard Church, is now credentialed through Elevation.
We are grateful for her leadership, wisdom, pastoral care, and unwavering commitment to Elevation, and are so thankful to have her as one of our co-lead pastors!
With this spirit of shared leadership in mind, we are excited to introduce the newest member of our pastoral team who will work alongside Melissa and all of us. Please watch this special video message from the hiring team to hear more about this exciting new chapter!
As mentioned in the video, it was a privilege to be part of this hiring process. We received an impressive range of applications, representing diversity in race, gender, sexuality, age, and location. After much prayer, reflection, and aligning our decisions with Elevation’s values, vision, and mission, we are thrilled to welcome Devon Wagler as our new co-lead pastor!
Devon brings with him 12 years of pastoral experience, including his role as associate pastor and founder of the Network Church plant. Some of us have had the pleasure of serving alongside Devon as part of our teaching team, and deeply appreciate his theological insights, rooted in scripture and tradition, yet practical for our daily faith journeys. His posture of curiosity and grace has enriched our team, and it is clear that Devon embodies the shared, collaborative leadership we value at Elevation.
We deeply appreciate Devon’s authenticity and humility. He makes room for others and leads in a way that aligns beautifully with our church’s ethos, values, and vision. We are confident that his passion for nurturing both individuals and our collective ministries will help our community continue to flourish.
We are excited for what lies ahead as we continue this journey together as a community!
If you have any questions about the announcement or the process, please do not hesitate to reach out to boardchairs@elevationwaterloo.org.
It’s a brand new school year, and with that, Elevation is returning to our usual rhythms and routines. If you’re new to our community, welcome! And for those who’ve been with us for a while, welcome back!
Melissa and Tyler have shared a brief introduction for anyone new, highlighting both our staff and our board of directors.
It’s a brand new year, and in KidsQuest we are beginning a brand new series, with our brand new kids ministry curriculum!
This week we launched our new Great Big Bible Story Walkthrough curriculum, by Meredith Miller (author of “Woven”). Our first lesson was all about creation, and how God made our beautiful world!
To join the discussion this week, feel free to listen to the GBBW podcast (with or without your kids!) at the following links:
We are excited to invite you to our annual fundraising event on October 5, 2024! This year, we’ve made a significant change by organizing our own event, Journey for Justice, instead of participating in Ride for Refuge. To sign up as a rider, walker or to volunteer, follow the link above! If you register before the end of the day on Sunday, September 8th, you’re guaranteed a free t-shirt!
Church Center & Zeffy
Upfront, let’s explain the platforms we’re using. To register for the event as a participant, walker or volunteer, head over to Church Center and sign up there. Families can sign up together under one simple registration (so much easier!).
Church Center (Registration Page)
Then, to donate to Elevation or one of the people/teams participating, head over to our Zeffy Fundraising page. There is no need to create an account, just click on Donate, and then select who you want to donate to, and go from there!
If you do want to raise your own funds, head over to the same Zeffy Fundraising page, and click on the Fundraise button to set up your own page with your target amount, profile photo and team name (use the first name section). It’s that simple!
Zeffy Fundraising Page
Why the Change?
By hosting our own event, we can ensure that 100% of the funds raised go directly to our charities. The platform we’re using (Zeffy) will still provide automatic tax receipts for donations of $20 or more, ensuring a smooth transition for all participants.
What’s Staying the Same?
This year, the event will still be hosted at 22 Willow, as it has for the past few years. The timing of the event remains on par with how it has been recently, too:
09:00 AM – Check-In 09:30 AM – Ride & Walk Starts 11:00 AM – Snacks & Mingle 12:00 PM – Dismissal
The charities we’re raising funds for is also the same: – Journey Elevation – Compass Refugee Centre – Sanctuary Refugee Health Centre – KW Multicultural Centre – Refugee Services.
For those who prefer walking over riding, we’ll again have a walk along the Iron Horse Trail behind 22 Willow. If walking or riding are not your thing, you’re welcome to come cheer on the team or volunteer to help out, as usual! While we won’t be serving a full meal, snacks will be provided after the walk and ride.
We hope this new approach will continue to engage our supporters and allow us to make an even greater impact. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you on October 5th!
As we move into the fall we will be devoting some time to take a fresh look at how the historic affirmations of faith found in the Apostle’s Creed might inform our living.
What is the significance of the Creeds in the history of the Church? What significance can the Creeds still hold for us today? And what if we aren’t sure that we agree with all that is written? Does it even matter? Our teaching team is looking forward to setting the table to dig into these questions and others, as we ask, reflect, and learn from one another over the next number of weeks of this series.
This Sunday we continue our journey through the Apostle’s Creed. Devon explores the articles of “the holy worldwide church, and the communion of Christ followers,” centering on ideas around the family of God, and what it means to belong to something far from perfect.
“Descending, Ascending, Returning: Christ’s Love in the Creeds”
In this message, we explore one of the most perplexing passages of the Apostles’ Creed, which includes: He descended to the dead, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
What if far from the fear-driven images of fire and brimstone, the judgment of Christ isn’t about exclusion or eternal punishment; but about a love that will not rest until ALL is made whole, healed, reconciled and alive. Join us as we reconsider what it means for Christ to descend, ascend and come again, bringing refining love to every corner of our lives and the world.
This coming Sunday we will continue our series Living the Creed: A Fresh Perspective. We’ll dive into the second line of the Creed: “I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord.” We will take some time to explore the significance of Jesus’ divinity. What does it mean for us today? Does it shape how we understand justice, and our calling to love? What does it look like to discover or rediscover Jesus as our Lord? Together, we’ll reflect on how this foundational belief invites us into a deeper relationship with God and a renewed vision of hope, compassion, and transformation for the world.
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.
We engage in our Service and Learning gatherings on the second weekend of the month, so put those weeks on your calendar! Head on over to Church Center and read over the opportunities and then register for the one that you would like to participate in for Sunday September 15th.
This Sunday we are beginning a new series titled “Living the Creed: A fresh perspective.” We will look at how the ancient creeds came to be and examine how the statement of beliefs that form the Apostles Creed can positively influence how we live out our faith. This week we begin with “I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth”.
You’re invited to a Bring-Your-Own Picnic this Sunday at 22 Willow, starting at 11:00AM.
We’ll have some snacks available for those just dropping in, and if you’d like to bring something to share, please ensure it’s nut-free. Communion will be hosted by Melissa, and for music, we’ll be singing acapella, with lyric sheets provided. Come enjoy good company, music, and a relaxing time outdoors before the rush of the new school year begins (remember to bring lawn chairs or a picnic blanket!). Hope to see you there!
We live in a culture obsessed with youth, yet aging is a universal reality. Ecclesiastes talks about youth as being “meaningless” but also implores us to remember God in the days of our youth. This week we will explore the value of youth and aging and what it means to follow Jesus in every stage of our lives.
This Sunday, join us as we continue in our series on Ecclesiastes, exploring the theme of confronting death—not only physical death, but the death of ideas, relationships, organizations, and aspects of our lives that no longer serve us.
We’ll reflect on what it means to be resurrection people, finding hope and renewal in the very act of letting go. Together, we’ll confront the struggle to release what is familiar and comfortable, understanding that true growth and new life arise from our willingness to embrace endings.
This journey through Ecclesiastes invites us to discover the transformative power of surrender, and to find strength and inspiration in the promise of resurrection.
Relationships and community are important. Much of our personal happiness (or unhappiness) arises from the health of our relationships with others and sense of belonging. This Sunday, Mark Dettweiler will be examining how the “cord of three strands” in Ecclesiastes can inform our understanding of healthy relationships and supportive communities.
Due to the long weekend, we will not be gathering this Sunday. We encourage our dedicated volunteers to use this time to rest and recover, and we hope the entire community takes this opportunity to rejuvenate and spend quality time with loved ones. Enjoy the break, and we look forward to coming together refreshed and re-energized on August 11th.
We are in the sixth week of our Summer Series, digging into the book and themes of Ecclesiastes. This week we’ll be continuing to ask questions about what we do with the very real, seemingly pessimistic and hopeless nature of the words that the author presents. In light of the meaningless nature of everything around us, how do we go on? If life is a vapour, what do we hang on to? How does the life of Jesus and the presence of the Spirit continue to invite us into the gift of imagination and hope?
This Sunday, Devon explores the theme of work (toil and labour) in the book of Ecclesiastes. We discuss what work can and cannot contribute to our lives today.
This Sunday, we continue our study of Ecclesiastes, exploring the raw honesty of its author. We’ll reflect on how this ancient text invites us to confront the world’s suffering with open eyes and compassionate hearts, and grants us liberating permission to be honest about our own struggles, suffering, doubts, despair and disillusionment as a path to healing and growth.
Together, we’ll consider the transformative power of lament, authenticity and vulnerability within community as gifts of hope and strength amidst life’s struggles, tragedies and uncertainties.
The Teacher of Ecclesiastes contends that everything in life is ultimately in vain and therefore meaningless. Is the Teacher completely correct or could there be something more? What might Jesus have to say to the Teacher?
Join Mark Dettweiler as he explores these questions.
This weekend marks the first of two long weekends where we will not be gathering together at 22 Willow at 9AM (June 30th and August 4th). Instead, we encourage the community, staff, and especially our valued volunteers, to utilize this time for rest, relaxation, and rejuvenation.
This will also be the last Neighbours Sunday until the fall. If you’re part of a Neighbours Group, you’ll be hearing from your group leaders directly. If you’re not in a Neighbours Group and would like to be plugged in, sign up on Church Center to get connected with the group in your area.
The Importance and Danger of Moderation:We are told that moderation is a virtue, but it is easy to call for moderation when you are in a place of comfort and privilege. This week we will look at a number of passages of scripture and consider how they could be used to both help and to harm and discern together what it means to listen to the Spirit as a community.
This Sunday we open up our nine-part series on one of the most difficult books of the Old Testament. Devon explores how the uncomfortable and abstract nature of Ecclesiastes is intentionally present, and also an essential aspect of the teaching of this book.
We invite you to join us for an interactive Service & Learning Reflection morning this Sunday! We’ll be gathering at 22 Willow for our usual worship and announcements (some might now know this as the Half-time Show). Then, instead of sending the kids off to KidsQuest, we will ALL be participating in various reflective activities around the church!
Come prepared to engage in painting, planting, and a mindful prayer walk as part of our worship together. Additionally, we’re conducting a collection for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region. If you’re able, please bring some of their top-requested items, such as canned fruits, vegetables, meats, and fish; rice; or individually wrapped snacks.
They will be commandeering over the welcome and greetings, worship, communion, announcements, kids dismissal, and teaching. Join us as we celebrate together and special thanks to the regular KidsQuest volunteers who will still be caring for the younger members of our community during this special service.
This Sunday, we’re continuing our 2-week ‘Church as a Common Collective’ series with a look at how God can bring beauty out of brokenness. Join us as Mel, Shane, and Sophie each share their own story about God’s providence in times of despair.
This week, join us as we explore the theme of God’s miraculous intervention throughout the Old Testament and its profound connection to Pentecost. Together, we’ll ponder the intriguing question: Why does goodness often seems chaotic in this world?
Sunday, May 12th Opportunities: – Cooking at 22 Willow for A Better Tent City – Journey Team English Conversation Circle – Learning Opportunity in the Sanctuary at 22 Willow – Cooking & Sharing at SHOW Sign up here:https://elevationwaterloo.churchcenter.com/…/2289766
Understanding our own belovedness transforms us, and in doing so transforms our understanding of others. When we see others through the eyes of Jesus’ love we realize that even our enemies are beloved. But belovedness does not mean we lack boundaries, but instead belovedness calls us into transformed living.
This week, Brian will be rounding off the current series with his topic on howBelovedness Transforms Enemies. He will be looking at the story of Paul and Ananias, with scripture taken from Acts 9:9-19 and Galatians 1:15-20.
As we continue our series on Belovedness, Cathleen will guide us through “Breaking the Binary of Belovedness.” We’ll explore how everyone, from the prodigal to the powerful, from the marginalized to the magnified, is deeply cherished. Join us as we embark on a journey beyond the constraints of binary thinking to recognizing, celebrating and embracing the belovedness of all, paving the way for individual and communal healing.
This Sunday we will begin a sermon series on Belovedness. Mark Dettweiler will speak about the positive changes that arise as we embrace God’s love for us and live each day as His beloved.
It’s Service and Learning Weekend this week! Saturday Food Bank opportunity has already filled up, however, there are still many opportunities for Sunday. Head on over toChurch Center to sign up!
This Sunday, there will be a slight adjustment to our regular gathering format. We’ll commence in the sanctuary as usual. However, when the children head upstairs to KidsQuest, instead of our typical mingle time before the sermon, we’ll transition to the gym. You’re invited to grab a drink and find a seat at one of the tables.
Mel Martin will be leading us in a guided discussion focused on Mission at Elevation. This will involve introducing an idea or question, followed by round table conversations. It promises to be an engaging and thought-provoking session.
In the accounts of the Resurrection recorded in the varied Gospels a strange theme occurs: when Jesus shows up after the his resurrection even the people who knew Him most intimately fail to recognize Him! Join us this Easter morning as we look at these puzzling stories and unpack the ways that we too can fail to recognize Jesus and the work of Resurrection in own lives.
As we enter Holy Week, we invite you to join us for special observances at Elevation. On Friday, March 29, come to the gym and partake in the Stations of the Cross between 9am and 10pm. Additionally, join us at 3pm in the Sanctuary for our Good Friday service, where together, we’ll reflect on Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice through songs, scripture, and poetry.
Join us on Palm Sunday as we explore repentance as a radical reimagining of a better world beyond our current constructs. Discover how the crowds lining the streets on Palm Sunday struggled to envision a better way, and how Jesus’ entrance was inviting both them and us to imagine and partner with Him in ushering in the new KINdom.
Join us on Palm Sunday as we explore repentance as a radical reimagining of a better world beyond our current constructs. Discover how the crowds lining the streets on Palm Sunday struggled to envision a better way, and how Jesus’ entrance was inviting both them and us to imagine and partner with Him in ushering in the new KINdom.
As we continue in our series on repentance and repair, we will look at the Galatian church to see how fear often prevents us from living out the full freedom of following Jesus.
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. This Sunday, we will use our gathering time 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.
This week we will continue to dig into our Repentance and Repair series as we walk through the season of Lent. We will be spending some time exploring what it looks like to approach the practices of repentance and repair communally, as well as sharing the Eucharist together as a community.
Devon Wagler invites us to explore repentance in light of hidden injustices in our midst, and around the world. We hope to explore a practice of communal grace united with our repentance, and hope to discuss modes of repair in our lives.
Brian Pengelly kicks off our series on Repentance and Repair by digging into Matthew 12 and sharing where he has been forced to change his mind about the meaning of Repentence.
This week we turn our focus to the third aspect of our vision: reimagined church. Join Mel Burke and Steve Coupland as they explore this idea together.
This week marks the second week exploring our vision of open hands, diverse voices, and reimagined church.
On Sunday, we will explore the idea of “diverse voices” together with some participatory elements including the practice of Eucharist together as a whole community. We will take some time to express gratitude to the Steering Committee, and we will commission and pray for our new Board of Directors.
We are entering into a three week conversation on our vision of open hands, diverse voices, and reimagined church.
This week we will explore the idea of “open hands” as a practice leading to liberation, a deeper connection with God and a more compassionate and connected humanity. Join Cathleen Getchell as she starts this series off.
Please join us on Sunday morning for our worship service at 9am when we will be sharing in communion together and then hearing a community update from the Transition Team and Steering Committee.
This Sunday, we turn our attention toward the Epiphany, as we continue to explore some of the details of the biblical narrative surrounding the coming of Christ. Brian Pengelly will be sharing with us, and we hope that you are able to join us as we begin this new year together!
We invite you to join us on Saturday, December 23rd for a Christmas Eve-Eve service at 6 pm. We will spend time reflecting on our theme, Come Oh Christ and then head to the gym to enjoy baked goods and warm drinks together.
Please note, that there will be NO services on Sunday, December 24th. We will resume our regular Sunday Morning Service on Sunday, December 31st at 9 am.
This Sunday, we are approaching our Service and Learning weekend a bit differently! We will all be meeting together at 22 Willow at 9 am and will spend some time singing carols together, looking back and reflecting on some of the Service and Learning opportunities we participated in throughout this last year, and then hearing a bit about the work that is going on at A Better Tent City (ABTC). As part of this service and learning, we are inviting the Elevation community to bring in items to pass along to either the Food Bank or A Better Tent City (or both!).
This week in Advent we’re continuing in our series, ‘Come, Lord Jesus’; diving deeper into the hope that Jesus brings when He comes, and how that still rings true today.
This Sunday is the start of the new Church year, which begins in the season of Advent. For our three Sunday’s of Advent (Dec 3, 10, and 17), we will locating ourselves in a series we’re calling Come Lord Jesus. As Advent anticipates Christmas, so to will each of our Sunday’s urge us in anticipation of the coming of Christ in our lives.
We begin this Sunday with a look at the landscape of darkness with ‘Christ is Coming’.
We’re concluding our “Through the Lens of Jesus” series this coming Sunday. We’ll be spending time looking at some of the ways that the lens of Jesus invites us to both consider and reorient our lives to the upside down nature of the Kin-dom.
We continue our series on looking at scripture through the lens of Jesus. Devon explores how Christ’s focus on peacemaking may inform our approach to scripture as a whole.
This Sunday we continue in our series “Reading the Bible Through the Lens of Jesus” with Cathleen inviting us to consider that our journey with Jesus encourages a shift from a posture of certainty to one of curiosity.
This Sunday we continue in our series of reading the Bible through the lens of Jesus with Mark Dettweiler speaking. We will turn to a familiar story in John 8, considering the shift from judgment to grace that we see in Jesus.
This weekend is our October Service & Learning weekend. Please note, that this means that we willnothave our regular Sunday service at 22 Willow.
We encourage you to review the options below and sign up to participate. If you haven’t chosen an opportunity but find yourself available on Sunday morning, please feel free to join us in the sanctuary at 9am for a chance to hear an update from one of our mission partners, TK (Future of Africa).
What does it mean to read scripture through the lens of Jesus? Or that Jesus is the one through whom we read scripture? Join us this week as we wade into the waters of this important conversation.
This week we continue our series on metaphors for our church as we return to the metaphor of an open table.
Brian Pengelly will be bringing us back to the idea of a table big enough that we can always add another chair and everyone feels at home and is welcome. We will also be re-examining 1 Corinthians 11 and how the text was about making everyone included, rather than making sure only the worthy got to take part.
On Sunday, the Transition Team will be presenting a Vision and Mission Community Update. The adults will be in the gym and our kids will be taking over the sanctuary.
When you arrive at 9 am you can head right into the gym. If you have kids in JK – Grade 5, please head to the front door of the sanctuary where you can sign your kids in for supervision. Our kids will be watching a movie in the Sanctuary from 9-10 a.m. and then joining us in the gym for snacks. Our littlest congregation members are welcome in the Nursery which will be staffed during our meeting. Parents will need to pick their child up from the Nursery after the meeting.
This week we will continue our three-part series looking at metaphors for the church. We will explore the theme of textiles as we consider the ways that the Church is like a woven tapestry – full of beauty, diversity, and engaged in the work of mending and repair.
This week we begin to look at the first of three different metaphors for the church as we consider our identity moving forward. What if we see ourselves through the lens of an ecological metaphor, like a forest garden, as a community of cultivation, interdependence, rootedness, and vibrant justice?
“When you lack the verdancy of justice, your soul is dry, totally without tender goodness, totally without illuminating virtue.”-Hildegard of Bingen
This Sunday, we are having a special Campfire VBS wrap-up service. Our kids will be staying with us in the sanctuary and sharing songs, crafts, and the key verse they learned this summer. We are looking for kids who wish to participate in sharing.
After the service, all are welcome to join us in the gym for a special campfire-themed snack.
This week, we will wrap up our current series on the theology and practice of foot-washing by leaning into the practice. Our service will feature some more contemplative elements.
During the discussion time in the gym, there will be an opportunity for anyone interested to practice foot-washing (or hand-washing as an alternative) outside in the courtyard. This is an invitation, and everyone can make the choice to participate or not as they feel comfortable.
In our second week looking at the theology and practice of foot washing, we will be looking at the particular story of Jesus washing the feet of Judas. What does it mean to love and serve those that are different than us, or that we might consider as our enemies? How do we bear with one another even if we are so markedly different at times?
We’ll also participate in communion together during the first part of our service with our kids.
This Sunday we will be exploring another sacrament of the Church: footwashing. This ancient practice finds its origin in the story of Jesus who modelled servant leadership to his friends and followers who often asked questions about their own importance.
While we won’t actively be practicing footwashing this week, we’ll instead be looking at the virtue of humility that undergirds this practice.
We are continuing our Deep and Wide series this coming Sunday, exploring the length, width, height, and depth of God’s love. We are excited to have Patricia Layng speak on the depth of God’s love for us.
We are continuing our Deep and Wide series this coming Sunday, exploring the length, width, height, and depth of God’s love. We are excited to have Jonathon Sawatzky speak on the width of God’s love for us.
This coming Sunday we will be talking about about how we know and experience God as an introduction to our July series: Deep and Wide. We’ll be exploring a few ideas as we navigate the mystery of knowing and experiencing the love of God who is vast and beyond us, and closer than the air we breathe.
This week, we are hosting an outdoor baptism service at 11 a.m. followed by a Potluck Picnic on the back lawn. Please bring a lawn chair or blanket, your own water bottle, dishes, cutlery, and potluck dishes to share. If your items need to be kept cold, please consider bringing them packed in a cooler. If you are bringing a dish that needs to be kept warm, please pack it in a crockpot and plug it in in the kitchen.
Below, Steve shares with us a reflection on how to potluck well.
This Sunday, we will turn our attention to the ancient practice of baptism. Why do we do it and what meaning does it carry for us as individuals and as a community? We will explore three main aspects of baptism.
It’s Pentecost Sunday. It’s the birth of the Church and the end of the Easter season. We’ll be wrapping up this Tabled series by pulling together some developing themes around the Eucharist table. If God is the host, then the table is not ours; it is Christ’s. And if the character of God is one of generosity and an open embrace, then everyone is invited to come and eat. Stemming from this, we’ll consider the question, ‘what actually happens at the table?’ What is this communion meal about, and how can we open ourselves up to receive more than bread and wine?
We continue in our series called Tabled. This week we turn our focus to the peacemaking power of food. At the centre of this idea is sharing food together, and yet, we can broadly sketch out a great number of injustices – historical and present day – that surround and surface from food.
This Sunday we will map out some of the ways justice is lacking when it comes to food before we pivot toward peacemaking.
This coming Sunday we will be continuing our Tabled series by taking some time to explore the meaning and significance found when we gather around the Eucharist Table. What does this invitation to come, receive and remember mean for us today? In what ways does our approach to the Eucharist table reflect our calling to follow Christ in extending an open table to all? Our kids will be staying with us for the service and so our shortened sermon around this theme will be crafted with them in mind as well. Kids of all ages will also be invited to receive and participate in communion together with the adults. If children and/or their parents or guardians do not feel ready to participate in this way, there is no pressure at all – but rather an open invitation.
This Sunday, in the second week of our Tabled series, we move from the feast itself to the act of invitation. Who gets invited? Who’s banquet feast is it anyway?
We will turn to a parable in Luke 14 as we consider invitation, welcome, and belonging.
Fasting and feasting. Jesus gets questioned about why his followers are more prone to feasting than fasting. Feasting is a thread that runs through the whole of the biblical story, from cover to cover, bursting with feasts of all kinds throughout. What would it look like if we were a community marked by feasting? What are some of our modern ideas about feasting? Can feasting be bad? We’ll attempt to look at a few of these questions together before we carry on the conversation around discussion tables.
This Sunday is the 3rd Service & Learning Sunday in our 4 part series. If you previously signed up for an option you are already registered for the remaining months. If you’re not signed up, feel free toregister here.
If you have any questions about the events or need assistance with registration please contact Sue at the office at admin@elevationwaterloo.org.
He is Risen! We are wrapping up our series Postures of the People on Easter Sunday with a look at three postures we see in the risen Christ. The art featured in the slides for Sunday comes from Mexican artist Bernardo Ramonfaur. You can find more of his work athttps://bernardoramonfaur.com/
We invite you to take some time to come and move through the stations, either on your own or with your family or friends, to sit with the story of the events leading up to the death of Christ and the significance of the Cross.
Each station will feature a short reflection alongside a reflection geared toward kids. The journey through the stations will culminate in a short film in the sanctuary.
This week, we’ll be exploring the posture of protection as we take some time to discuss the ways that we can develop a culture and community of protection especially for the more vulnerable among us.
As we continue in this Lenten season considering the postures of the people, we turn to the story of Lazarus. We will consider the posture of vulnerability in community that we find toward the end of John 11.
This Sunday (March 12th) is Service & Learning Sunday. A very detailed email was sent out on Tuesday with information for each event this month. This information can also be found here.
A reminder that our Service & Learning Sunday opportunities take the place of our regular Sunday morning gathering at 22 Willow. We look forward to connecting with one another in a variety of spaces this Sunday and we will join back together at 22 Willow on Sunday March 19th.
We will join together this week to celebrate the second Sunday of Lent. Melissa is carrying on with the “Postures of the People” theme with this week’s sermon titled ‘Awe and Adoration”.
On the first Sunday of lent, we turn to a story of walking on water. Jesus walks on the waves and meets his weary friends and followers in morning light, amid crashing waves. Peter is invited out onto the waves. As we consider the Postures of the People, we turn our attention to Peter’s posture as one who had the courage to risk.
This Sunday, we’ll be partaking in a fishbowl conversation!
A fishbowl conversation is a form of dialogue that can be used when discussing topics within large groups. A number of chairs are arranged in an inner circle. This is the fishbowl. The advantage of a fishbowl is that it allows the entire group to participate in a conversation.
We look forward to gathering together in this special format on Sunday morning!
This week is Service and Learning Sunday! In lieu of our regular Sunday Morning gathering we will be taking part in Service and Learning Sundays as a community. Over the last 18 months, these Sundays have provided opportunities for our Elevation community to support service organizations in our local community or learn more about a particular issue or concern in our broader community.
We are looking forward to having Christie Penner Worden join us this coming Sunday! Christie is the North American Director for RaiseUP Faith (The platform that produces the OneStory Curriculum that we use here at Elevation).
With a focus on equipping and coaching, resourcing and training, Christie is a strategic leader who is passionate about discipling children, empowering leaders and providing effective support to those who love and serve today’s kids. Christie will bring a fresh and broad perspective as she teaches from her own experience and expertise, helping us to imagine what inviting our Elevation kids into genuine faith and community could look like!
In our second week sitting with the crossing over story found in Joshua, we consider the role of endings and starts, as well as the importance of beginnings. We will look at Joshua 4 and the practice of markers in communal remembrance
Join us for the next three Sundays as we turn our attention to some ‘crossing over’ stories found in Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua.
Change management experts speak of ‘boundary events’ as those that mark our journey and help us move from one reality into a new one. As a church, we find ourselves on the cusp of a significant boundary event with the addition of a transition team to our leadership community.
This week we consider the stories of giants and grasshoppers found in Numbers 13.
We are entering the season of Epiphany this week. It’s a season of revelation, illumination, and light breaking in. It’s a season that invites us to consider the myriad ways God reveals the Divine to us, through us, and in us.
This week we’ll focus in on the story of Jesus’ baptism found in Matthew 3.
We will join together as a community for our Christmas Eve service at 22 Willow at 6pm. This will be an opportunity for us to sing together (including some special music from our youth and kids) as well as reflect on the hope of Christ through scripture and other spoken words.
Please note, there will be NO Sunday morning services on December 25 or January 1. We look forward to resuming our regular Sunday services on January 8 at 9 a.m.
This Sunday we continue our exploration of Advent Embodied as we embody hope together. We will meet in the sanctuary at 9 a.m. for a carol sing. After we have filled our hearts with the hope and anticipation of Christ’s birth, we will head to the gym to decorate sugar cookies and enjoy hot beverages. There will be gluten free cookies available that are also nut and dairy free. If you have additional dietary restrictions we invite you to bring a sweet treat from home to enjoy.
This Sunday we continue our exploration of Advent Embodied as we Embody Peace as we share a potluck breakfast together. In the video below, Sue Campbell reminds us how to potluck well. To register to participate, please click here. Please note there is no service at 9 a.m. Everyone is welcome! Please come even if you are not able to bring a dish or find yourself available at the last minute.
This Sunday we continue our exploration of Advent Embodied as we Embody Joy through service as a community. In the video below, Mel Martin invites us to participate in one of seven curated service opportunities. To register to participate, please click here. Please note there is no service at 9 a.m.
For the month of October, we’re moving our focus into the neighbourhood. In this last of three weeks, we will consider the pace of Jesus, the idea of proximity, and how we can make small shifts toward greater presence in the life of our community.
We are pausing our series on Neighbouring and Neighbour’s Groups to bring you a special Mission Sunday. Please join us to hear exciting updates of how God is working in the lives of our mission partners and their initiatives.
For the month of October, we’re moving our focus into the neighbourhood. In this second of three weeks, we will consider the spiritual practice of hospitality, building upon this possible way forward through Neighbours groups.
For the month of October, we’re moving our focus into the neighbourhood. In this first of three weeks, we will consider the story of the Good Samaritan, engage the question ‘who is my neighbour’, and lay out a possible way forward through Neighbours groups.
Here’s a Look at the Weekend: Saturday at 3pm – The Ride for Refuge (at 22 Willow) Saturday at 4:30pm – A Light Dinner as our Elevation Gathering Sunday Morning – No Service or Gathering Sunday at 1pm – Elevation Members Meeting
The cry of the people in the story of 1 Samuel 8 is for a king. “We want a king.” We’ll be spending two weeks looking at this story, reflecting on the church’s impulse to want a leader at the top to rule, to lead, and to make decisions for us.
On September 18 we will consider the story and it’s implications for the church.
Then on September 25 we will have a fishbowl conversation reflecting on this theme together.
The cry of the people in the story of 1 Samuel 8 is for a king. “We want a king.” We’ll be spending two weeks looking at this story, reflecting on the church’s impulse to want a leader at the top to rule, to lead, and to make decisions for us.
On September 18 we will consider the story and it’s implications for the church.
Then on September 25 we will have a fishbowl conversation reflecting on this theme together.
This Sunday September 11 isKidsQuestSunday at Elevation! That means our kids and teachers are taking over the service, reminding us who Jesus is by exploring what they’ve been learning this summer.
Our last long weekend of the summer is this coming Sunday. Join us on Sunday September 4 at noon for a time of reflecting on the goodness of God. If you’re feeling up for, bring something to share. We’ll set up a table for shareable food. But there’s no pressure to do that if you’d prefer to keep to your own food. As always, we ask you to bring your own chair or picnic blanket. We will not have a 9am service that morning either.
We’ll also be reflecting on this summer of learning. What has God been teaching you? What have you been reading or studying that is inspiring you? How has this series in the Psalms been good for your soul?
Our summer series on the Psalms wraps up this Sunday with Mark Dettweiler leading us through Psalm 121. We’ll also be celebrating communion together in the service.
At the outset of our Summer in Psalms series, Christin led us into Psalm 82 and a consideration of how God is like the picture we see in the Circle of Security: bigger, stronger, kinder, and wiser. This week we turn to two Psalms, Psalm 130 and Psalm 131, considering once again the Circle of Security attachment theory framework as a model for faith and community. The first Psalm paints a picture of exploration, the depths, and calling out for God, while the second Psalm paints a picture of safe hands to welcome us home.
In our Summer in Psalms series we now turn to a psalm of disorientation in Psalm 137. Containing one of the ugliest verses in scripture, this psalm offers us a raw emotional response, as well as a lingering question that resonates with us today: how shall we sing the Lord’s song in this strange place?
This week, Melodie will invite us to turn our attention to the well-known Psalm 23. As we explore what it means for us that God is our shepherd, we pray that you’ll experience an invitation to be grounded in who God is and to sit with the knowledge that God’s goodness and unfailing love pursue us always.
This Sunday we’re gathering outdoors at noon for a long weekend picnic. We’ll be celebrating communion together. Here’s what you need to know: we’re gathering at 12noon (not 9am) outside of 22 Willow out toward the back parking lot on the grass. We’ll have the side playground open for kids. Please bring your own picnic lunch and something to sit on if you have it.
In the continuation of our Summer in Psalms, Steve opens up Psalm 46 for us. These three stanzas are jam-packed with goodness for us, and they offer us a timely reminder: stop fighting and trust; be still in the awareness that God shows up in times of trouble.
This week, we study Psalm 82, a somewhat bizarre Psalm with a profound message: that our God is bigger, stronger, wiser, and kinder than any other power or principality. We can trust God with our hearts and lives.
The first weekend in July is the long weekend and we’re excited to host another picnic in the courtyard. This time we’ll be reflecting on the June series about the Holy Spirit. We know the conversations happen in the sanctuary (through teaching), in the gym (through discussion and reflection), and ongoing in various conversations. We’d love to hear what the Spirit has been speaking to you and what you’ve been reflecting on.
This week, Steve ends the “The Disruptive Spirit” series with this last message, “Disrupting a Culture of Power”. The scripture we’re drawing on come from Acts 2 and Joel 2.
We continue in our series on the Disruptive Spirit in Acts 2, this time turning our focus to the ways the Holy Spirit disrupts a culture of exclusion. If God is a wall-breaker, breaking down the barriers that get in the way of our relationship with God and with one another, are we joining Him in breaking down walls or are we building them up?
It’s Pentecost Sunday. For the month of June we’ll be looking at the holy disruption of a Holy Spirit. The Spirit comes as wind and violent storm in Acts 2, and we see a pattern of wind and storm all throughout the book of Acts. Perhaps we’re guilty of putting the Spirit in a box, or believing the Spirit is only ever like a gentle breeze. God shows up like a disrupting wind in our culture, in our communities, and in our lives.
The wilderness is a natural place of scarcity, chaos, and uncertainty. So often when we hit scarcity, chaos, and uncertainty in our lives, we find ourselves asking, “Is God even with us?” This week we will declare the truth that not only is God with us in the wilderness, but He is faithful to provide our every need during seasons of scarcity, chaos, and uncertainty.
Join us this coming Sunday for an outdoor gathering where we will reflect on our service and learning Sunday together, enjoying a picnic and communion together.
Pack your own picnic lunch and bring your own chair or blanket. Join us at noon at 22 Willow. All are welcome.
In our second week of locating ourselves in this season of change, join Steve as we turn to the story in Exodus 16 of longing for Egypt. We’ll be exploring the purgative way, recognizing that this season is both gift and grief, and asking reflective questions of what it is God is calling us to bring with us, and what it is we are being asked to let go of.
Transition can be difficult and disorienting. In this early part of our journey ahead, we’ll be taking a few weeks in the middle chapters of Exodus to locate ourselves in this season of change. Join us as we begin with an invitation to cross over with us, trusting God as our guide.
We are on the 5th Sunday of Lent. Through this journey of Lent, we’ve been sitting with the passages from the Revised Common Lectionary. We encourage you to read along, and we look forward to digging deeper into Psalm 126 as we hear from Christin Taylor this week.
On this, the fourth Sunday of Lent, guest speaker Mark Dettweiler continues our journey through the Common Lectionary with a sermon titled, “You Don’t Know My Father Very Well.”
This week, we look forward to hearing from Devon Wagler, who is newer to our Elevation community. He will be continuing our Lenten series through the Lectionary.
This week, we’ll be gathering on YouTube on Sunday at 10:00am for our service and we look forward to hearing from members of our Mission Team with updates around all things mission at Elevation. Thanks to Mel Martin for giving good leadership to this team!
This first Sunday of Lent we are dipping into Luke’s gospel to talk about the significance of the temptation of Jesus. Ron Kroeker will be leading us in this conversation. Looking forward to seeing you at 10:00am over on our YouTube channel!
Once a week or so, our collective worlds intersect at the Elevation worship service and we hear this invitation in the call to worship: “Imagine a world infused with the presence of God”. This week, Mark Dettweiler spends some time reflecting on these words.
This week, we are looking forward to worshipping together and hearing from Susan Fish as she shares from Psalm 19. Susan will be using readings from the Revised Common Lectionary.
To start off the new year, all are invited to join together for either an outdoor walk through the woods, or a ZOOM call for a time of interaction and reflection.
We will be watching the weather, as well as regional guidelines around COVID restrictions for gathering, and if our outdoor walk is not possible, we will all shift over to the ZOOM call option.
We’re looking forward to this meaningful time together – either outdoors or online!
As we move forward from ‘Anticipation’. The story is unfolding quickly now, as we move toward the arrival of the infant Jesus. The Light of the World. And in these darkest days of the year, we need that Light!
As we move from Preparation toward Anticipation on this Advent journey, may we be open and attentive to God’s movement in our lives and in the world. The scripture reading is taken from Mark 1:1-8.
A fitting preparation for Advent is to focus on the reality that Christ, as the Word, came to the world to effect a new creation in those who receive him.
As we move into Advent, we want to recognize the season of transition we are in as a community. We know that there are a variety of emotions and feelings, and we want to recognize those, but we also feel that moving forward through Advent can be a really hopeful and redemptive experience for us, especially this year. The word Advent means ‘arrival’ or ‘appearance’. It’s a gentle season, a season of slowing down and paying attention. A season of yearning. We are longing and yearning for what is to come.
The scripture reading is taken from Psalm 147: 1-5, 8-9.
When all is said and done, at the centre of the Christian faith stands Jesus. He was a profound teacher. He was a miracle worker. He was compassionate, insightful, and wise beyond his years. But Jesus is not just someone from the past for us to reflect on. The four accounts of his life that open the New Testament were written so that we can know him more today!
As we head into the Summer of 2021, our Pastoral Team is making plans to help our Elevation community balance the limitations of pandemic life with some creative opportunities to start connecting in person. Take a look at the schedule below and mark your calendars!
Everything here is subject to change based on local guidelines and provincial restrictions, and more details will be provided in our regular weekly email updates.
July 4 – Long Weekend (no online service—connect with your Neighbours! group, either virtually or in-person)
July 11 – Elevation Livestream and Neighbours! groups
July 18 – Elevation Livestream (plus outdoor Communion at 22 Willow @ 11:30) – No Neighbours! groups
July 25 – Elevation Livestream and Neighbours! groups
August 1 – Long Weekend (no online service or Neighbours! groups —distanced in-person bring-your-own-picnic at 22 Willow 11:30-1:00)
August 8 – Elevation Livestream and Neighbours! groups
August 15 – Elevation Livestream (plus outdoor Communion at 22 Willow @ 11:30) – No Neighbours! groups
August 22 – Elevation Livestream and Neighbours! groups
August 29 – Elevation Livestream and Neighbours! groups
September 5 – Long Weekend (no online service or Neighbours! groups —distanced in-person bring-your-own-picnic at 22 Willow 11:30-1:00)
Our tentative plan is to offer in-person worship alongside our Livestream starting on Sunday, September 12. More details to come!
