2013-09 Spiritual Formation

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Minister: Dr. Gerard Booy Page 1E-Mail: [email protected] Tel. 778 868 1548

Haney Presbyterian Church11858 - 216th StreetMaple Ridge, BC, V2X 5H8Tel: 604-467-1715;[email protected]

September2013

How to think about

Chrisan Spiritual FormaonIn the future we plan to issue this separate SpiritualFormation newsletter once a month. We could haveput this information in the other newsletter along withthe other bits and bytes about the churchs minis-

tries, but we chose not to.

The reason for doing it this way is that spiritual for-mation does not just refer to some of the many minis-tries of the church; it is an important aspect of every-thing we do in the church. Spiritual formation has to

do with the continuing work of the Holy Spirit thattransforms us more and more into the image of Christ(2 Corinthians 3:18). This is why all letters to the church-es in Revelation include an exhortation to all whohave ears to hear what the Spirit says to the church-

es.

Spiritual formation so important that we do not wantto risk losing sight of it.

Spiritual formation, participating in the work of theSpirit who forms us into the likeness of Christ, is thegoal behind everything we do as a church. But we do

set aside some activities where we pay special atten-tion to this; where we intentionally gather to listen towhat the Spirit says through the Word; where wegather to be equipped for living Christian lives in theworld.

Spiritual formation includes Christian education. Butlike school, we tend to reserve that for the kids. Westart to think that it is merely part of the churchs pro-

gramme, on par with other activities, groups, and pro-grams. Now we have a long list of options from whichwe may choose what we like to do. Some peoplechoose activities for fellowship or service and others

choose activities for Christian education. I have hadpeople say to me for instance that theyre not inter-ested in Christian education, they dont think they

need it, or they dont like participating in Christian

education events. It is not their idea of what church isabout or what churches are for. As a minister, I amshocked when that happens. How can any Christiansay something like that? But, Im not surprized any-

more because I realize that we have given the im-pression that spiritual formation is limited to a few op-tional programs that the church offers.

When I read thescriptures, I cant

help but noticethat spiritual for-mation is not op-tional. To thinkthat it is optionalwould be thesame as thinkingthat it is optionalfor a baby togrow and devel-

op and acquire life skills. Well have a baby but itwould have to grow up on its own. Spiritual formationis not optional. And it is not limited to a few specialactivities. Spiritual formation includes Christian educa-tion, but it is also much more than that.

It is an inherent part of being a follower of Jesus Christ.The Bible uses organic metaphors to describe the lifeof faith. God is a farmer, and his people is a vineyard.God prepares the soil for his vineyard and nurture theplants. Christ is a vine and we are the branches. Weare grafted onto the vine, we are pruned by thewords he speak to us. Gods desire is for us to grow

and bear fruit, fruit that is pleasing to him, fruit that willlast.

Spiritual formation is that aspect of the churchs minis-

try that nurtures of our faith, feeds us, strengthens us,and encourages us to live in faith, hope and love. Welearn to think Christianly; we develop a better under-standing of the Bible; we learn to discern Gods will for

our lives; we grow in Christian character; we start tolook more like Christ.

There are two words that describe who we are asChristians - followers and witnesses. Christians are peo-ple who follow Jesus Christ. And we are his witnessesin the world. Christ leads us into the world. And thechurchs role is to equip us for our lives as Christians in

the world. Spiritual formation is that aspect of thechurchs ministry that equips us for our role as Christs

witnesses in the world.

With this newsletter, we want to come alongside you,offer you information, share news with you, and en-courage you to participate in the work of the Spiritwho transforms us more and more into the image ofChrist. - Gerard Booy

Saturday 5 October

Mens Retreat 8:30 - 3pm

Starting Thursday10 October

Bible Study @ 7:30pm

Sunday 13 OctoberThanksgiving Family Service
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Over the next year, we are planning for six family services, worship ser-vices that consciously include all members of our church family. Wewill still have a nursery option for children ages 2 and under but every-one else will stay for the whole service. The first one is October 13thThanksgiving Sunday.

Why Include Children in Worship?

Primarily children belong in church because of who God is: God is theGod of our children and God is reaching out to children just as surely asGod is reaching out to adults. Children belong in church because ofwho we are: a community of faith joined together by Christ. Children need to be in church because ofwho they are: humans with emotional and spiritual needs for acceptance, comfort and challenge. All hu-mans are fulfilled by worshipping their Creator. Children also need to be in church because of how theylearn: children learn by observing and practicing. They may not understand everything we do in worship,but children participate in many things they do not fully understand. Children belong in worship becausethey belong to the community and nothing says, You are part of our family better than actually being to-

gether.

What you can expect?A family worship service may not seem all that different to our regular worship services. We will still follow the

same format of praise, followed by hearing the word and responding in faith. The service will be shorter.There may be a few more explanations of what we are doing and why. And since leadership is part of par-ticipation, our children will help lead the service. It may be a little noisier than we are used to but the soundof children in worship is the heartbeat of our church family: it is a blessing not a distraction.

How to help the children near you worship? If you are worshiping with your own child Sit near the front so your children can see and hear everything Arrive ten minutes early to allow your children time to settle into the

pew, visit the washroom , notice anything different about the sanctuaryand generally shift gears to worship

Expect your children to participate as much as possible. Children cansing and pray. Save books and pencil work for the sermon.

Whisper instructions as you coach your child in worship. Remember ourgoal is a worshipping child not a quiet child.

Remember how glad we are to have you and your children worship-ping together: we are more concerned about your childs experience

of God than their behaviour.

If you are sitting beside someone elses child We want the children to know that they are part of something bigger

than they are and that it is powerful and good. Smile at the childrennear you so that they know you are glad they are there. Get to knowthem by name.

The parents of worshipping children are often nervous that their children

might disturb otherssmile at them too! Children learn by imitation so worship with passion and pleasuretruly it

is good to be in the Lords House. Be a good model of worship. Include children as much as possible: they can pass the offering plates

too.

Lets all worship together

this Thanksgiving.

By Paddy Eastwood(Youth Pastor)

To Think About

How does a child devel-op skills like talking, read-ing, math, soccer, play-ing a musical instrument?

Is practicing skills likereading, math, sport, mu-sic always easy and fun?

What happen when Istop practicing a skill?

What is the differencebetween what we wantand what we need?

Would we let our childrendecide whether they

want to brush their teeth?

Do we expect children tobe completely compe-tent as they are develop-ing skills like reading?

How do children learn toworship?


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Faith, just like a plant, needs to be nurtured to grow and bear fruit.

How does God get to our hearts?

A person story.Women know that the fastest way to a mans heart is

through his stomach. Women are not quite so basicbut are known to cave in with chocolates and flow-ers. But how does God get to our hearts?

I can`t speak for everyone but I know how God cap-tured my attention and continues to speak to myheartit is via my head. Each of us encounters Godsome time along our journey in life. Each of us makesa choice about that encounter. I chose to give mylife to Christ; to follow where He leads and how Heleads me. God calls; we choose to follow or notbutto what end? For me it continues to be to grow as hisdisciple.

When Christ called me I was 13 years oldveryyoung. I didnt know much about the God who

seemed to want to be part of my life other than what

I had learned in church on Sunday mornings. People Itrustedincluding my parentsseemed to know a lotabout God but I sensed that knowing about andknowing the person are often poles apart. I wantedto know the person I had given my life to. And just asour response to God`s call is deliberate, so are thechoices we make to know Him and follow Him.

I started by attending youth group which was greatbecause in addition to a lot of fun times, I learned touse my prayer book more effectively, reading theweekly passages and the attending prayers. Severalyears later I was prompted to become confirmedand in the Anglican tradition, studied with a smallgroup under the direction of our pastor for a year.The Bible now became a book of interest, not just forguiding principles as my parents had taught me, butto introduce me to real people who lived in the pres-ence of God. Here were men and womensomevery weak and some very strong--who really knewGod. The apostle Paul became my hero and I readhis letters with a yearning to understand what he wastrying to say to the people he was writing to and tome as a young follower of Christ. There were aha

moments but more often I was just baffled by his writ-ings. But Paul was realreal to mehe had bad

days and great days; frustrations, anger, hope, joy;everything that I was feeling as a teenagerand he

knew God; knew Christ as I longed to know Him.

Time passed and I left home to attend university andmy journey with Jesus came to a halt. I had no timefor church (more honestI made no time} and notime to devote to our relationship; other things occu-pied my time and thoughts. I married; we had chil-dren and brought them to be baptized but still at-tended church only at Christmas and Easter. Our old-

est was five when we holidayed in the Kootenaysand visited friends. There was an open Bible on thecoffee table and plaques with Bible verses on thewall. After the visit, our son asked Are they Chris-

tian? I answered yes. He said Are we Christian? I

suspect you can fill in the blanks about how that con-versation ensued. It was a wake-up call from Godthrough the words of our child. My husband and Iprayed together that night and asked God to lead usto a church where we might once again be nur-tured. He didnot only a church but a cell groupwhere we could study; where we prayed for one an-other and worshipped the God who doesnt let us

go.

Some years ago, when Regard, Jonathan, Rudolph.Steven and Matthew were budding teens I had theprivilege of being their Sunday-school teacher forone year. I read a book about the rabbinical tradi-tion in the time of Jesus and we talked about thosetraditions over a couple of weeks. I shared with themthe blessing that parents gave to their sons (perhapsto daughters as well) when they had been acceptedas a student by their chosen rabbi: ``May you becovered in the dust of your rabbi. It implies a very

close walk with one`s teacher. It implies listening, talk-

ing, learning and walking in the footsteps of the rab-bi. Now let me ask, Who is your rabbi and are you

covered in his dust?

By Karin Breuer

PUMPKIN PIES

We are taking orders for pumpkinpies for Thanksgiving. Speak toLynda Gaudiuso before October10th to order or call her @ 604-463-9454. Pies will be ready for pick upon the Sunday, Oct. 13.


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Wednesdays @1pm Church Library

Battle Field of the Mind

Thursdays@ 1pmChurch Library

Revelation Audio Series

Thursdays @ 7:30pmChurch Library

Starting 10 October on 1 Peter

Sunday School

For ages 3 - 10 Come to the wor-ship service at 10am and kids willgo down for Sunday School afterthe childrens story

Friday 4:45 pmUpper Room

We Believe Group (ages 10 - 13)Dinner @4:45, followed by BibleStudy

Friday Night Youth - at 6pm

Chicklettes for girls aged 5 - 8

Gods Girls for ages 9 - 12

HPC Girls for ages 13 and up

HPC Guys for boys aged 11 - 17

Mondays2 pm

@ Cal & Alice Chambers#5 23580 Dewdney Trunk Rd, MapleRidge; Tel. 604 466 1881

Tuesdays7:30pm

@ Greg & Cherilynn Tolls12206 207A St. Maple RidgeTel. 604 465 3214

Tuesdays7:30pm

@ Dave & Ricky Newberry12322 193rd St. Pitt Meadows

Tel. 604 465 7065

Thursdays7:30 pm

@ Maynard & Susan Embree12520 220th St. Maple RidgeTel. 604 463 7190

Last Tuesday ofMonth; 7:30pm

Cell Leaders Group @ Booys11495 Dartford St. Maple RidgeTel. 778 868 1548

Saturday5 Oct

Mens Retreat

Soon to be an-nounced

Confirmation Classes

21 - 23 February2014; Cedar

Springs, SumasContemplative Retreat

First Monday ofMonth

Theology Caf; Powers, Weak-ness and the Tabernacling ofGod by Marva Dawn

Fourth Thursday ofMonth

6:15pm in Library

Tuesdays 9am Prayer Time in Church Library

Sundays 9:30am Prayer Time in Ministers Office

John 15:5-6I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear muchfruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branchthat is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

2013-09 Spiritual Formation

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