What’s Happening in September

• Theology for the Ordinary Book Club is THIS WEDNESDAY, September 4 at 6 pm PST using zoom. We will be discussing Forgive by Tim Keller. Contact Cindy to register: heartland@cbwc.ca 

• National Day for Truth & Reconciliation is September 30. Resources available for your September 29 church service: agoodway.ca 

• Banff Conference: November 11-14. Make sure to sign up before Earlybird Deadline September 10! cbwc.ca/bpc 

• Board Development Essentials Video Series has launched! We hope you’ll use these free, 5-minute primers in your Board or Elders meetings this year. cbwc.ca/boardessentials 

VBS Rules!

So many of our churches ran awesome VBS programs this summer, and a few of them shared photos with us! Check out some of the fun that was had these past couple of months. We love to see it!

 Partner Spotlight: Hopehill

Intergenerationality at Hopehill

Some of you know Hopehill. We are a ministry of the CBWC providing low-cost affordable housing to low-income seniors in the Vancouver area, “in Jesus’ name.”. Close to 400 folks call HH home. The average age of our residents is 79 years old. That’s a lot of wisdom. And to that wisdom we like to add some energy (of youth), and our seniors love it when it happens.

1. This summer, for July and August, we were glad to take on 2 students as interns. Georgia is a 2nd year University of Victoria student. Luciano is a first year Simon Fraser University student. Both return to full- time studies this fall.

2. In July, we were thrilled to have a youth group from the Summerland Baptist Church spend a day with us.  They were on a mission trip to the Lower Mainland.   On the day with us, they met seniors, participated in group activities, and served our residents by “sitting and listening.”.  We were impressed by this group of young people.  They were amazing.   

3. In the fall of 2024, we look forward to having the KURIOS cohort spend a week with us in their learning cycle.  They learn about gerontology (seniors) in the mornings, and in the afternoons get to put into practice what the morning hours taught them.  Our residents LOVE them being with us.  Win-Win. 

Jasper Update

Submitted by Rev. Roy Nickel

Dear friends,

On our return to Jasper late afternoon Friday, there was a flurry of activity coordinating with ATCO to restore gas service to both church buildings, Kurios House, and to our home (through this we learned our antique furnace in the manse needs to be replaced!)—assessing them for visible damage. Then, with hunger haunting us, I couldn’t keep from driving around town to see the aftermath. Words fail. Maybe a few don’t—Slave Lake, Ft. McMurray. You’ve seen the devastation on TV. It’s worse. Friends’ homes, historic character houses, iconic church buildings (Anglican, United). The fickle nature of the fire, sometimes taking all in its path, sometimes a single home standing, sometimes just a single home burnt! But 70% of Jasper seems to be in the same condition we left it. Surreal!

God has us here “for such a time as this” (cf. Queen Esther). Social media helps us keep in touch with our church family. A couple of single young adults won’t be back. We’ve posted personal & church updates, offering help to our friends and neighbours who have lost everything, expressing love and care for our neighbours. On Sunday, we had a “non-service”—opening our church doors for people to come for a cup of coffee or a bottle of water, hugs, prayers, conversation. While only a few came, it caught the attention of many, and we received messages of gratitude. Our prayer is that through this event the community will see Jesus in us. Some already have. We will resume services sometime in September. Steve and Ingrid are moving ahead with plans to start Kurios—we are thankful for their leadership, their contributions to our church, and their friendship!

Insurance says the ceiling insulation in the brick church and in Kurios House needs replacing. Ash and even soot were found in all four buildings. We will be out of our home for a couple more weeks as it undergoes a professional deep clean. What we thought was unconscionable delays (selling the old church) has turned out to be a blessing. We are serving as a dormitory for a couple of weeks for Team Rubicon, who is on site to help people sift through the ashes. Later, we will use the sanctuary for a donation site and help the United Church resume their thrift store. We are offering the use of our new church to the United and Anglican churches to meet. The Sunday school rooms, washrooms, kitchen, and lounge will be temporary residences for a couple of families. God knew!

THANK YOU for all your phone calls, e-mails, and messages of love, encouragement, and offers of support!! Please pray that we will have patience, courage, strength, and wisdom. There is great trauma that affects us all, especially those who have lost everything. We ALL grieve over our wounded town, but there’s a sense of resolve to band together and rebuild. Jasper WILL be back!

With a grateful heart, on behalf of Jasper Park Baptist Fellowship and our town,

Rev. Roy Nickel

Shalom in Enemy Territory

This reflection is brought to you by CBWC’s Banff Pastors and Spouses GIVE and GO campaign, a clergy care initiative to help as many pastors as possible to join us at Banff Pastors and Spouses Conference this November. Early bird deadline for BPC registration is September 10, so make sure the clergy in your life are signed up to join us! cbwc.ca/bpc

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows (Psalm 23:5).

Imagine being invited by a really close friend to a dinner party.

You’ve been looking forward to it all week because you know your friend is a fabulous host and wonderful chef. It promises to be an amazing evening. When you arrive at the gathering, your friend welcomes you and ushers you into the dining room, only to discover all the other guests are people who have caused you hurt, betrayal, and disappointment in life—and they are sitting at the table! Your host sees the look on your face and, in a weak attempt at reassurance, tells you not to worry and promptly invites you to sit down and eat.

Why would your friend do this to you?

Or perhaps more perplexing, why would the Good Shepherd invite David’s enemies to the celebration in Psalm 23?

We all know our world is broken, and we realize that we ourselves are broken. In some ways, it feels like we are living in enemy territory every day. Our values feel attacked. The pressure and competition of the world is on us. We put on airs of confidence and don our false masks in order to convince people we are worthy of their employment, recruitment, and even friendship. Our enemies often include people we cannot forgive. However, more often than not, our enemies are also more vague and illusive things like thought distortions, temptations, and strongholds—those worries that plague us night and day in the aftermath of life-changing events. All of this can leave us haggard and worn out.

And yet… there are still those moments when the kingdom of God breaks through, and we catch shalom sightings. For me, the simplicity of sitting at a farmers’ market on a beautiful day in the midst of great uncertainty evoked a sense of peace and joyful wonder. In fact, I have decided to rename this farmers’ market moment and call it a kingdom moment, because in this time of unsureness, it gave me a glimpse of a beautiful world that felt whole and right, where everything was as it should be. It was within this ordinary life occasion where goodness crowded out the anxiety, and I received a gift of shalom from God to me.

God is in this broken world. He has gone before us already and scouted everything out. Nothing catches Him off guard, not even a pandemic. Not even a war. He knows where the predators are even when we can’t see them. Psalm 23 reminds us more than ever, to stay close to Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and not wander off on our own. It urges us to pay attention to the quiet ways in which God shows up and reassures us that He is indeed with us. Shalom guides the soul back to God and points us to the hope of Christ in a broken world.

He Anoints My Head with Oil
In the midst of grazing in the alpine meadows, enjoying the best grass and the freshest water, sheep are still surrounded by predators and often tormented by unwanted pests. However, the shepherd is always watching for parasites of this sort, and at the first sign of infestation, he immediately applies a remedy which is a linseed oil concoction. This oil is applied to the sheep’s head, and there is an immediate transformation. The sheep’s fear and agitation give way to lying down in peaceful contentment.

Oil has a very symbolic meaning in the Bible. It represents the presence and power of the Spirit of God. Jesus was often referred to as the Anointed One, using oil as a metaphor for the Holy Spirit being present and acting in Christ.

So it is within this backdrop—remembering that David had been shepherd himself, that Psalm 23:5 is written—giving a picture of an extravagantly set table filled with an endless buffet of gourmet food, yet surrounded by the presence of enemies. The Good Shepherd knows David’s fears and immediately puts him at rest by anointing his head with oil, symbolically declaring the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

But here’s the startling revelation. If you notice, the enemies are sandwiched in between the feast (joy!) and the anointing of oil (power!). The enemies don’t stand a chance.

We can feast with joy and rest in the truth that the Lord is our Shepherd, and we lack nothing. We sit in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

Congratulations Trinity Baptist Preschool!

By Jenna Hanger

Yesterday marked an exciting milestone for Trinity Baptist Church in Sherwood Park, AB, as they cut the ribbon and celebrated the grand opening of their new preschool building.  

The preschool has been a meaningful ministry for the church and community for the past nearly three decades. After running for a few years out of the church basement, it was moved into what was planned to be a temporary building in the parking lot in 1999. Now, 24 years later, the new building is open and ready for the 30 three- to four-year-old registered preschoolers this fall.  

“The preschool means a lot to members of our church, and it means a lot to people in the community. My own son was a student at the preschool years ago,” says Ashley Winkel, the Children and Family Ministries’ Pastor and Director of the preschool.  

“Even now I meet young adults with ties to the preschool from twelve to fifteen years ago. It’s really neat to see a ministry with this kind of longevity and to see it set up so well now. It feels like there are no limitations to this ministry and to how it will impact our little world around us.”  

An exciting feature of this building, which CBWC was honoured to be a part of via the C2 grant, is inclusion accessibility. The long, outdoor ramp and some bathroom features will allow every child access to the building and programs.   

“Our building now doesn’t have hinderances or barriers. Every child can come and be a part of our playground. It actually brings a tear to my eye,” Ashley said. “I am excited to have kids who are a part of our program just be able to get in and out of the building when before, it was such a struggle.”  

The theme for the preschool comes from Zechariah 4:10: “Do not despise these small beginnings”—a reminder that this phase in the lives of the little ones starting school and their families is such a special, significant time. Ashley shared that they love and take seriously the opportunity to be a part of such a formative part of life for these families. 

When asked what practical tips she had for parents with first time preschoolers, Ashley shared one of the most helpful things to do is to have intentional conversations at home.  

“If you have the ability to go to your preschool ahead of time, that is great. Put pictures of teachers up on the fridge. Talk about it at bedtime, and include it in your prayers together,” Ashley said.  

“I think as parents, when we talk about these things, we might be feeling more anxiety about it than the kids are feeling. So, to be calm and joyful about this big milestone really helps them feel like, ‘Oh this is an okay thing. It’s big and important but it’s okay too’.”   

Banff: A Personal Perspective & What to Bring When You Join Me

By Hannah Hamm

Maybe this sounds familiar— “When through the woods, and forest glades I wander… When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur…then sings my soul to Thee!” This could be an excerpt from my journal the last time I was at the CBWC pastors & spouses retreat in Banff, AB.

My husband and I, with the full support of our church council—which we do not take for granted—have made it a priority to be at this gathering for several years now. All aspects of this retreat are a feast for your physical and spiritual senses. The VENUE is unparalleled, and you will have ample time to explore both the castle, the grounds, and the town of Banff. The catered MEALS will more than satisfy your hunger, delighting your eyes and imagination just as much as your stomach. Another gift during mealtimes is long, unhurried CONVERSATION time with just a few table mates—maybe a new connection or maybe someone you haven’t seen since the last retreat. The SESSIONS are packed full of meaningful worship (well-led and planned by someone other than you), prayerful blessings, and directly relevant teaching. I have consistently found myself moved by one or all of these elements each day at the retreat. A favourite place for me—and others with a smaller social battery like myself—is the spiritual formation area, Stillpoint. Take TIME TO BE ALONE with your Maker, and the Maker of all the splendour framed by the huge windows. Maybe do some art, or pray in a new way, or just sit and listen for the voice of Love.

If you’re still not convinced this is worth asking your church council for, maybe consider the natural, spring-fed outdoor pool just outside an epic, historic indoor aquatic centre. I can’t even count the hours or the deep conversations I’ve had while floating there, surrounded by mountain grandeur during the day and brilliant stars by night.

So, now that you’re asking your church council to consider sending you, here’s what you should plan to bring.

– Comfortable clothes and your bathing suit
– Exercise clothing if you’d like to use the hotel facilities (these are generously offered on loan by the hotel, if requested; ask Randy Hamm how to access this perk)
– Walking shoes or boots for unforgettable outdoor exploration
– Weather depending, you may need winter gear for outdoor warmth
– Notebook or journal
– Your own access to the Scriptures

All linens and many toiletries are provided by the hotel

Come find me if you are attending with an extroverted pastor spouse and need coping strategies! Hope to see you there and may your soul sing. ~Hannah Hamm.