We are excited to invite you to our annual fundraising event on October 4th, 2025! 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’re a first timer to the event, please register before the end of the day on Thursday, September 18th, in order for us to get your t-shirt printed in time for the event.
Registering for the Event:
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)
Fundraising:
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 (create a Solo Campaign for you, your family or team and use the first name section for your team name). It’s that simple!
Zeffy Fundraising Page
More Information:
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:
09:00AM – Check In
09:30AM – Walk/Run/Rides Start
11:00AM – Snacks and Mingle
12:00PM – Dismissal
Here’s a list of who we are raising funds for this year:
The walk will be the same as last year, a scenic stroll around Silver Lake in Waterloo Park. The 5km loop will be mainly on trails and cycleways in and around Waterloo Park. The 10km route will essentially be the same as the 2024 route, however, the direction is reversed this year. The 25km ride is for serious riders, with mountain bikes recommended. However, gravel bikes will also do the job! Click on the above links for the maps on Komoot.
If walking, running, 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.
For our Learning portion of our September Service & Learning you are invited to us for a viewing of the compelling Documentary “No Place to Grow Old“.
No Place to Grow Old breaks new ground as the first documentary to capture a growing crisis older adults aging into homelessness. The film reveals an unthinkable reality—people who worked, paid taxes, and raised children now finding themselves without shelter later in life.
Set in Portland, Oregon, the documentary follows three older adults navigating life on the streets. Through their personal stories of loss and resilience, the film exposes both the human cost and systematic abandonment that pushes vulnerable seniors into homelessness.
The result is both an urgent wake-up call and testament to human dignity, challenging us to build a future where everyone has a safe and stable place to call home.
Many of our youth viewed this film and it left quite an impact, our hope is to have them share as conversation starters some of the questions and insights they took away from the film.
Date: September 14, 2025
Time: 09:00-10:30
Where: Elevation Waterloo (Screening in the Sanctuary and Discussion in the Gym afterwards)
The book of Romans is a letter given to a community searching for peace in the midst of a world caught in the grip of violence, hatred and division. This week we will be asking questions about how this first century church in Rome wrestled with their identity in their social and political environment , perhaps in similar ways that we do today. Together we can will explore how Romans emphasizes the same subversive, peace-loving resistance taught and demonstrated by Jesus.
Romans, Part V: The Kin-dom of Subversive Love: Where Our Shared Belonging is Our Power.
What if the point isn’t to endure pain, but to dismantle the things that cause it? This week, we’re revisiting Romans 5-8 through the lens of Subversive Love. This is an invitation to resist the world’s broken logic by embracing the counter-cultural way of Christ that leads to mutual liberation and collective care.
Discover a hope and purpose beyond the empire’s grip, in the now and not yet kin-dom of connection and flourishing, where our shared belonging is the source of our power and no one is outside the circle of love.
This week is our Service and Learning for the month of October! Join us for a time of community and connection!
On Thursday evening from 5–6:30PM, we’ll gather withCommunity Ministryat 22 Willow to share a hot meal and build relationships.
On Sunday, October 12, you are welcome to register to join here at 22 Willow at 9am for cooking for A Better Tent City in the kitchen, or for our fall baking/preserving bonanza in the gym. We’ll have several stations set up in the gym, and are inviting the learning group to join the serving team there, as we spend some time learning and taking part in preserving apple sauce and baking. Within the region, feel free to register to join the team to prepare and enjoy brunch at SHOW, or head on a five Senses Walk in Stanley Park Conservation Area beginning at 9:30am. If you are joining for the walk, no registration is required. Otherwise, you can register and find all the details on Church Center.
This week we continue our exploration through the book of Romans. Continuing out of order, we will explore the first two chapters of Romans. We will ask how the ideas we have talked about so far in this series can inform these earlier chapters. We hope to look at this passage with compassion towards those it has been used to harm over the years, as we search for the message given to this small community so long ago, and what it might mean for us today.
The reason Romans was written was to address the conflict within the church of two factions, both of whom had complicated relationships with the Roman Empire. Join us this week as we gain a deeper understanding of this conflict and ponder how we handle church conflict and our relationship to power today.
The reason Romans was written was to address the conflict within the church of two factions, both of whom had complicated relationships with the Roman Empire. Join us this week as we gain a deeper understanding of this conflict and ponder how we handle church conflict and our relationship to power today.
The reason Romans was written was to address the conflict within the church of two factions, both of whom had complicated relationships with the Roman Empire. Join us this week as we gain a deeper understanding of this conflict and ponder how we handle church conflict and our relationship to power today.
In our introduction to Romans on September 7, we saw that this letter was delivered in person through Phoebe to a multi- ethnic group of believers that included Jews and Gentiles, women and men, slaves and free. This week we will study Romans 12 and see that this eclectic group of individuals are called to be transformed into a unified yet diverse body that fully reflects the character of Jesus and the values of his kingdom. The lessons of Romans 12 remain relevant, as we are also called to be transformed into the image of Jesus.
This week is our Service and Learning for the month of September!
On Thursday, you’re welcomed to come and join Community Ministry in the gym and kitchen in preparing and serving a meal to those seeking a warm meal and community.
On Sunday, our Peace in Action Team’s learning branch is showcasing a viewing of the documentary, “No Place to Grow Old”, followed by a discussion in the gym. Other Serving Branch activities include baking and cooking in the kitchen and gym for A Better Tent City, sharing a brunch at SHOW, Kit Assembling here at 22 Willow, and a Connection to Nature hike on the Health Valley Trail in St Jacobs.
The book of Romans has had an incredible impact on the history and theology of the church over the centuries.
This week we will begin our series on the book of Romans by looking to the end of the letter. Here we find one of the longest lists of names in the New Testament. What can be learned from this seemingly innocuous list of people whose experiences have been mostly lost to history? How does this list belong in a letter given to a community searching for peace in the midst of a world caught in the grip of violence, hatred and division?
Perhaps understanding the stories behind this community can help guide us as we approach this letter together in the coming weeks.
Happening this Sunday is our Annual Picnic! As August draws to a close, we will gather together to reconnect and celebrate the ending of summer and the start of a new season filled with both familiar and novel experiences.
We’ll meet in the back gardens at 22 Willow at 11AM for worship and communion, followed by a relaxed time of potluck, conversation, and space for kids to run and play. We’ll have water and a sweet treat on hand.
What to Bring:
A potluck dish to share (nut-free, please)
Chairs or blanket for the grass
Outdoor games
Your own water bottle
If you find yourself able to join us at the last minute or aren’t able to contribute a dish to share at this time,please do join us! There will be plenty of food to enjoy together.
Parables: Then and Now, Part V: Irresponsibly Unrestrained.
This week we conclude our series Parables: Then and Now with Jesus’ stories about two people who go all-in on discovered treasure. We’ll explore our objections to such foolhardy behaviour and invite Jesus to guide us toward unrestrained love.
This week we continue our series Parables: Then and Now with a look at the parables of watching and waiting. What does it mean to watch and wait for Jesus? What questions sparked these parables? Together we will delve into how Jesus runs against the grain of the very question he’s asked, redirecting us towards something new.
This week, we’ll be taking our second (and last) long weekend rest next week — there will be no gathering on Sunday, August 3rd.
As we shared earlier this summer, a typical Sunday takes the time and energy of 40–50 volunteers. As we enter the second half of summer, we want to say another heartfelt thank you to everyone who serves so faithfully. This break is a small way to offer rest and reset for all.
Enjoy the long weekend, and we’ll see you back on Sunday, August 10th for our AugustService and Learning Gathering!
We are in the third week of our summer series on Parables, and this week we will spend some time with a familiar parable found inLuke15describing a lost sheep and a shepherd who notices, cares and takes action for the sake of the sheep. As we consider the values that Jesus is inviting us to ponder within this story, in what ways might this communal listening and conversation inspire us towards even greater inclusion and belonging as a community?
Drawing from Indigenous teachings, and Jesus’ words in this parable and Matthew 17:20, we’ll explore how the tiny mustard seed mirrors the sacred interdependence of the Three Sisters (corn, beans, and squash) — plants that thrive only when woven together in reciprocity. Just as they depend on one another for strength, nourishment, and growth, so too are we invited to root our faith in shared flourishing that grows the Kingdom.
One of the regular opportunities in our Service and Learning Gatherings is to spend time outside—enjoying, observing, and caring for creation. We hope that by being together in a local park, we’re reminded not only of the beauty of nature but also of our responsibility to learn about, care for, and share the land we find ourselves on.
Does Jesus endorse Workplace Embezzlement? A quick read of the Parable of the Dishonest Manager sure makes it seem like it does!
Join us as we kick off this summer seriesParables: Then and Nowas we sit with one of the most challenging parables and discuss how we read difficult passages of scripture as a community and what this passage might have to teach us today.
We’ll be taking a long weekend rest THIS WEEK (Sunday, June 29)! There will beno Sunday gatheringthat day.
A typical Sunday requires the time and energy of around40-50 volunteers, and as we begin the summer season, we want to take this opportunity to express our deepgratitudeto all who serve so faithfully. This break is a small way of saying thank you and allowing everyone a chance to rest and reset. Our Young Adults group will be meeting up, though. Pleasecontact Lisaif you want to join!
We hope you enjoy the long weekend, and we’ll see you back on Sunday, July 6 for the Start of our Summer Series,Parables: Then and Now.
For our teaching time this Sunday, we will be studying a part of Paul’s letter to the Colossians. Interestingly, Paul wrote this letter to a group of people he had never met, but he invited them to embrace their identity and live fully as dearly loved followers of Jesus. We are hoping that this week’s teaching time will be a time of encouragement for everyone.
On Sunday June 15th we are excited to welcome TK and Nikki from Future of Africa to come and share with us.
Future of Africahas been one of our partners for many years, and are continuing as our Global Partner as part of ourPeace in Action Team. TK, Nikki and their family live and work in Ghana, but are here in Waterloo visiting during the month of June.
We are looking forward to hearing more about their passion and vision for the work of Future of Africa, as well as ways that we can continue to pray for and support them, both as a family and as an organization. Please join us on Sunday June 15th at 9am!
For our June Service and Learning gathering, rather than dividing into various opportunities, we are inviting everyone to come together for a special learning experience as a community!
We are fortunate to have facilitators of the KAIROS Blanket Exercise joining us on Sunday, June 8 to lead our community through this powerful experiential teaching tool. The exercise explores the historic and contemporary relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in the land we now call Canada.
You can learn more about the exercise and register for the morning and afternoon session through the Church Center app or following this link.
This Sunday we will wrap up our atonement series as we explore one more theory together: Christus Victor. Although this is one of the oldest recorded theories around the atonement, it may offer us new or fresh ways to approach this mystery of at-one-ment. We’ll also spend some time thinking about the impact of these atonement theories on the evolution of the Church over time, as well as our own faith formation. How do these theories and approaches inform the songs we may sing and our view of God, humanity and the world? Join us as we bring this series to a close, and have a chance to discuss some of our learning from the last few weeks around discussion tables as well.
Our kids will continue with theGreat Big Bible Walkthroughthis week, where our JK’s to Grade 1’s will learn about how Jesus calls His twelve helpers (Matthew 4:18-22, Luke 5:1-11; 27-32) and the Grade 2’s to 5’s are going to dig into how God invites us back, and how Josiah Finds Scripture in 2 Kings 22.
This Sunday we continue our exploration of the different atonement theories that have been presented through history. This week we look at Penal Substitutionary, Satisfaction, and Last Scapegoat atonement theories. Devon asks us to explore the themes of violence inherent to these theories, and asks us to consider atonement not simply as something Jesus did on the cross, but something consistent with and exemplified through his incarnation, life, ministry, teachings, death and resurrection.
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!
Join us, starting this week, for our monthlyService and Learninggathering, 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 documentaryA 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.
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.
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!
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)!
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 inPrayers 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.
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.
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.
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.
This week is our Service & Learning Sunday! Please sign up onChurch 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.
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.
Stories from Scripture: Flannelgraph Not Included, Part5: 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.
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.
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!
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
It’s not about “you”… What if the moral lessons that we have extracted from the parables are not the whole story? We are returning together, to the source (the parables in light of the way of Christ) in the spirit of communal listening as we invite the stories to shape us.
We invite you to join us on Sundays this summer. To help coordinate this busy time, here’s our Sunday summer snapshot that you can use to see what we have planned for each Sunday in July and August.
Atonement remains to be one of the most mysterious aspects of Christian theology. Theologians through the centuries have used a rich tapestry of metaphors and other language in their journey, and in this series we walk humbly alongside them. With open hands, we approach this topic with humility.
In this series we explored how history, and evolving cultural thought has informed our thinking, our theology, and biblical interpretation. We can see connections between the historical/cultural context of a theory being developed. In this we can see humanity journeying together with God to struggle through these great questions. But the work doesn’t end with historical understanding. Hard questions must be asked about what the atonement means to us today, how it works, and how it fits meaningfully into our lives.
So, as we explored Christus Victor, Ransom, Satisfaction, Scapegoat, Substitutionary, and Moral theories we were often forced to recognize things that could not be reconciled with our personal convictions. In contrast, we could often find aspects of these theories which speak clearly to our understanding of a loving God, and help move us more clearly in the direction of Christlike love. Our hope is that as a community we can wrestle through these occasionally contradictory concepts, to find ourselves not just understanding, but living them more clearly.
We thank you for journeying with us through this series. Below is a list of resources suggested by the teaching team if you wish to dive deeper into this concept.
You have Permission Podcast with Bonnie Kristian, talking through 5 of the most popular and historic atonement theories: Christus Victor, Satisfaction Theory, Moral Exemplar, Penal Substitution, and Scapegoat Theory.
20 Minute Takes Podcast with Brian Zahnd, talking about the role of the cross as well as new ways of looking at the cross as a kaleidoscope, in order to inform how we respond to aspects of Christian life and to justice issues in our society.
This spring we’re exploring theories of atonement through the centuries. Our aim is to explore the topic with open hands, understanding that atonement (or at-one-ment) is both encapsulated in, and transcends these different theories. The authors of the Bible explored the themes of salvation and atonement using a rich tapestry of language, metaphors, and conceptual frameworks. Though the full truth may be beyond us, this encourages us to continually journey towards greater understanding together.
