Come as you are.
Life-long Jesus follower, or never cracked open a Bible. Shirt and tie guy, or jeans and sneakers person. You are welcome here. We invite you to join our perfectly imperfect community where we explore together the big questions: What’s the meaning of life? Does my life have a purpose? Who is Jesus? What does it mean to be a Christian? No question is dumb or insignificant. We explore these together, we seek to bring hope and healing in our neighbourhood and city through practical projects all while having fun and the odd potluck!
One Service. Three Ways:
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St Paul’s Presbyterian Church
1545 Monaghan Road – enter at McDonnel Street
Join us at St Paul’s Presbyterian worship sanctuary located at the front north corner of The Mount Community Centre
Sunday July 28, 2024 - Tim Purvis - More Than Enough
The world’s problems seem insurmountable. The challenges we face in daily living seem overwhelming. What good can we do as people with limited time and resources? We have so little to offer in the face of the needs all around us.
Or do we?
The famous story of Jesus feeding the multitudes from a meagre supply of five loaves and two fish suggests that small things, in God’s hands, can be a grace-filled abundance.
Why is it that our lives are so busy, Busy, BUSY? We always seem to be breathlessly rushing from one thing to the next, one appointment to the next, one task to the next, and in general behaving like the world would come to a grinding halt if we weren’t doing something useful or productive, or just SOMETHING. And then we complain about being tired all the time! We are complicit in our own weariness. Then God our divine Shepherd – the one who “leads us to quiet pastures and still waters” — taps us on the shoulder to remind us we need to slow down – to stop – to take sabbath rest for our weary spirits. “Remember the sabbath day,” says one of the commandments. “Come to a deserted place and rest awhile,” says Jesus to his disciples.
Sunday June 23, 2024 - Getting and Keeping A Grip 5
This Sunday we conclude our “Getting and Keeping a Grip” sermon series on 1 Peter. So many in our world today seek to deny, mask or numb their pain and suffering through alcohol, drugs, overspending, overeating or mindless scrolling on social media. These provide, at best, temporary relief…and at worst, exacerbate the suffering. Peter has a different solution: to turn away from these earthly (and faulty) coping mechanisms and instead to embrace and see value in suffering.
This Sunday we’ll consider how one of the heroes of our faith, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, did just that, and leaves behind a legacy that has benefited many subsequent generations of Christ followers.
I think you’d agree that there is a decidedly anti-authority sentiment sweeping through our western society. This has shown up as violent protests, increasing polarization, calls to dismantle institutions such as the police force, coarse, vulgar or disrespectful language from elected officials and much more.
What does the apostle Peter say to all of this: submit to earthly authorities, not just those who are good, but also to those who are harsh. Ouch! Really? Yes, really. He says far more can be achieved and advanced for Christ if we suffer well and love those who persecute us.
He counsels us to live as “free servants.” Join us this Sunday as we explore this apparent contradiction in terms.
To prepare, read ahead: 1 Peter 2:13-25 and Romans 12:14-21.
Did you know that what you choose to focus on becomes bigger, more powerful and influential in our lives? Different areas of our brain are actually re-shaped by our experiences — this is something called “experience-dependant neuroplasticity” by neuroscientists.
No wonder then, that our scriptures tell us to “…fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2) and to “…be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)
As we continue to look at the subject of suffering this coming Sunday, and in particular how to keep our grip – i.e. our sense of calm and well-being — in the midst of it, where we place our focus helps us to keep from stumbling and falling. What example does Jesus provide in keeping our focus in the midst of distraction, calls to individualism and confusion about the mission of the church? What does his student Peter tell us about our identity in Christ and how that can help us amidst the storms of life? Join us this Sunday to find out!
This Sunday we will continue to look at the subject of suffering and in particular how to keep our grip – our sense of calm and well-being — in the midst of it. Part Two of this series will consider how we can overcome evil. It is easy, with so much wrong and corrupt in our world, to feel overwhelmed and despair that justice will prevail and that integrity will be restored in our institutions, homes, relationships and communities. What advice does the Apostle Peter offer us in how we can play our part in overcoming evil? Join us Sunday to learn more!
This Sunday we begin a five-part series called: “Getting and Keeping your Grip” and its primary focus will be on suffering. Questions about the reason for suffering/evil are probably the greatest single category of questions Christians are asked when people inquire about their faith. During this series we will consider how we can live life well and even joyfully against a never ending “rumble of panic” in the background of our lives. Suffering is everywhere, unavoidable, and its scope often overwhelms us. The loss of loved ones, debilitating and fatal illnesses, personal betrayals, financial reversals, random accidents and moral failures all of these can come upon you if you live out a normal life span. No one is immune. But Peter, Christ’s “rock” of a disciple, in his first letter to believers gives us resources to help us get (and keep) a grip on our hope and our joy even as we live in chaotic, divisive and uncertain times.
To prepare for the service, please read: 1 Peter 1:1-12 and 2 Corinthians 4:1-12; 16-18
SUMMER BOOK CLUB - Sign up now!
Back by popular demand is our summer book club! We will meet on Thursday afternoons at 3:00 p.m. during the month of August on our beautiful front verandah (weather permitting). The book we’ll be reading is a Christian classic, “Life together” by the late German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. It was written during the Nazi years and arose from Bonhoeffer’s unique experience of Christian fellowship and community in an underground seminary during that time. This book gives practical advice on how life together in Christ can be sustained in families and groups. The role of personal prayer, worship in common, everyday work, and Christian service is treated in simple, almost biblical, words.
OFFERING
You can send weekly or monthly offering by mail, by dropping off at the church’s new letter slot in the green door, by Pre Authorized Remittance (PAR), and through www.CanadaHelps.org by searching for St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church Peterborough. Electronic bank transfer (e-transfers) can be sent to finance@stpaulspeterborough.ca