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.
This past Sunday, we took time as a community to explore some of the contemplative prayer practices we’ve discussed throughout our recent What If? Reimagining Prayer series.
Together, we walked through practices that invited us into a deeper communal expression, while also providing space to explore prayer individually. It was a meaningful opportunity to reflect on how God is communing with us in all things.
Missed it? Listen now on our podcast and find resources for a selection of the contemplative prayer practices here:
Practice rhythmic breathing (4 seconds in, 6 seconds out) while repeating one of the following breath prayers.
Inhale:I am loved as I am…
Exhale:… and You are making me new.
Inhale:You collect my tears…
Exhale:… I am held.
Inhale:You are the God…
Exhale:…who sees me.
Inhale:This is not the end…
Exhale:…liberation is coming.
Inhale:Show me who I am…
Exhale:…and what is mine to do.
After a few minutes of breathing this prayer, take a moment to create a personal breath prayer and write it down on the cardstock paper. Take this card with you and come back to this prayer throughout the week.
Reflection Questions:
How did your body respond to rhythmic breathing?
What phrase emerged as most meaningful?
Reflective Prayer Journaling
Invitation:
Write freely for 10 minutes, guided by one or more of the following prompts:
Where did I sense the Sacred this week—in nature, in others, in silence, or in unexpected places?
What moments, people, or experiences brought me peace, joy or a sense of meaning this past week?
How did my words or actions contribute to healing and/or blessing and flourishing in the world this week?
Where did I encounter systems of injustice, exclusion, or harm this week—externally or within myself?
Were there moments where I prioritized certainty over curiosity, fear over openness this week?
What pain, grief or frustration do I carry from this week? How can I hold this with grace and gentleness?
When you are finished, read over what you wrote in your journal or on the paper.
If you’d like to, underline a phrase to share with someone at your Neighbours Group or someone close to you, and share with them what this journaling experience was like for you.
Reflection Questions:
What truth did your writing reveal?
How might this shape your prayers this week?
Neighbourhood Prayer Walk (Outside)
Invitation:
Walk with a posture of openness. Reflect on one or more of these questions and remain curious around what surfaces in your thoughts and feelings.
What do you notice around you?
What needs do you see around you?
What is hidden in plain sight?
What joys do you see around you?
Where might you see light breaking in?
Reflection questions for after your walk:
What did you notice that you’d previously overlooked?
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)!
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.
Lent is a time of reflection, repentance, and prayer. As we journey to Easter this year we will be taking a closer look at the practice of prayer. However you have connected with prayer in the past we invite the opportunity to reflect on imaginative ways to see, practice, and think about prayer in all its complexity.
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.
