A Few of Our Favourite Things: Third Instalment (summer series | staff picks)

Pastor Tracy’s Pick #2: echo prayer app

My second pick for the summer is an app that I have used to help me pray. I find that there are so many things to pray for, so many needs, and so much that I need to hear from God about that I can pause for a time of prayer and go blank. Or, I just don’t know where to start. Add that to the fact that I pretty much forget everything that I don’t write down and it’s a recipe for a pretty ineffective prayer life.

Over the years I’ve written lists, used sticky notes (think: War Room prayer closet!), and journaled as a way to keep my memory intact and learn to pray more effectively. About a year ago I realized that there was probably an app that might also be helpful. It turns out, there are many.

I know some of you figured this out a long time ago! But I would encourage anyone who could use some extra help in remembering prayer requests or staying focused on what you are praying for, an app like Echo might help. Check it out for yourself… and remember not to get distracted by Instagram on your way to opening your prayer app!

Hope this helps you pray without ceasing!
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, JULY 23 @ 10am
ANCIENT WISDOM
The End of Trouble
Tracy Dunham

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10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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A Few of Our Favourite Things: Second Instalment (summer series | staff picks)

Pastor Erin’s Pick: Scripture Memory

I am tempted to start this devotional off with excuses. Here is why I’m not great at . . . But I know that they would just be excuses designed to cover up the real issue: a lack of effort and discipline on my part.

Instead of excuses, I’ll start with honesty. I’m not great a scripture memory because I haven’t always put in the effort and focus it needs.  

Our email devotionals over the summer are about some of our favourite things that have helped us grow spiritually. I am working on memorizing scripture. Psalm 119:11 is my reminder and motivator in this journey: "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

I want to know the Word of God, study it, apply it and have it hidden deep in my heart so that it is the divining rod of my life. It isn’t easy, but it’s worth it.

I’ve recently discovered there are apps to help with Bible memorization. I like Verse Locker and my favourite feature is ‘Words’ which gives you a choice of five words and you select what comes next in the verse you are working to memorize. It is super helpful!

There are quite a few Bible memorization apps. Go ahead and do a search in your app store. There is likely one that can give you the boost you need to keep going!

An app is not going to do the work for you, of course. It’s a tool that can help you move in the right direction. There is no 100% right way to memorize scripture and you can’t fail if you are putting in the effort.

Here are some techniques that can help us be more effective:

  • Make it a song.

  • Write it on flashcards.

  • Post it places you’ll see it often.

  • Listen to it on repeat on the Bible App

  • Try a Bible Memorization App.

  • Research and understand the context.

  • Memorize chunks together in context so it flows like a story.

  • Tell someone for accountability or do it with a friend.

  • Set realistic goals. One scripture a month is doable you’ll have 12 new verses at the end of the year!

No matter how you work to increase scripture memorization, be gracious with yourself. Sometimes it will come easily, other times it’ll feel like a grind. Keep at it and remember what Psalms 119:11 says - as we hid God’s word in our hearts it helps us avoid sinful patterns and behaviours. That is well worth the effort.

Pastor Erin

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, JULY 16 @ 10am
ANCIENT WISDOM
The Power of Friendship
Erin Jamieson

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A Few of Our Favourite Things: First Instalment (summer series | staff picks)

This summer our weekly devotionals will have a theme: A Few of Our Favourite Things. Each week, one of our staff members (the one who is speaking the following Sunday) will be sharing a resource with you that has been especially helpful in their spiritual growth.

I am kicking it off this week with my new favourite app, Pause.

This app guides you through scripture and prayer, leaving space for you to quiet your heart. Even when I'm not on the app, I find myself in the habit of praying, "Jesus, I give everyone and everything to you," frequently, especially when things feel overwhelming.

It's an app that was developed as a companion to John Eldredge's books Get Your Life Back and Resilient but it's free and you don't need to read the books to use the app.

This is my first pick. Give it a try and let me know how you like it!
Pastor Tracy

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Don't forget that we're at Braeside Camp on Sunday morning for their 10:30 service followed by a BBQ lunch at the Hancock's cottage. CLICK FOR DETAILS

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, JULY 9 @ 10:30am
Service at Braeside Camp
CLICK FOR DETAILS

Time for Camp! (join us at Braeside on July 9)

Last July, while we were in the thick of our Pavilion construction, we discovered on a Saturday morning that we'd lost water service to the church. Ugh! By noon, we had a plan. Instead of going out to Braeside Camp for their Sunday evening service followed by a fellowship time at the Hancock's cottage as we had planned for that Sunday, we would flip the script. We did our best to get the word out and asked everyone to go to the morning service at camp with a BBQ lunch at the Hancock's right after. With less than 24 hours of notice, so many people drove the extra 35 minutes to camp and we had such a great time.

This July, we are making another mess but this time we are able to plan ahead! We know that our sanctuary will be unusable on July 9th because of our renovation project (see information below). We've timed it to land during Braeside Family Camp so that we can once again take advantage of the services they are offering. Mark your calendars! A week from Sunday we will not be at Freedom but will gather at Braeside Camp. There is something for every member of the family (Childcare, Kids Church, Youth Service, Adult Service) and we will gather at the Hancock's cottage for a BBQ lunch. After lunch, you can even go for a swim in the pool!

We know that we could simply run the service in the Pavilion on the 9th. And, in fact, we may have a Pavilion service on July 16th if our renovation schedule runs behind. But we want to expose as many people as we can to camp ministry. Braeside's vision is to offer rest, recreation and spiritual renewal for families, leaders and churches in a Pentecostal Christian environment. It's not far from the city but definitely feels like a retreat, a place to reset and most importantly, a unique space to meet with God.

I grew up going to Braeside Kids Camp and Youth Camp (back in the olden days) and now my kids love spending time at camp whenever we are able to rent a cottage or drive in for a service. During Family Camp (July 1-23), I will make my way to as many services as I can and as many cottage bonfires as I'm invited to. I hope you'll be able to join us on July 9th and experience a taste of camp for yourself.

The attached PDF has all the details about time, address, location of kids/youth services, and lunch. Let us know if you have any other questions.

This is going to be a great way to spend our renovation Sunday!

Looking forward to it,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, JULY 2 @ 10am
ANCIENT WISDOM
The Beginning of Wisdom
Tracy Dunham

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10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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Raised to Life (another reason for water baptism)

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If you go to our website and read about being baptized in water, you'll find a lot of great information there. (See for yourself... freedomkw.com/baptism) I was re-reading it today and found myself with a "yes and amen" to all the reasons that baptism is important:

  • It is obedience to Christ's Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20;

  • It follows the example of Jesus;

  • It follows the example of the Early Church;

  • It confirms identification with Christ;

  • It is a testimony of the change in your life.

But our study of the book of Colossians in April and May brought water baptism freshly to my mind and heart. The way that Paul describes the spiritual transaction that baptism models is incredible.

“11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross.”
— Colossians 2:11-14

When you are baptized, you are being obedient to Jesus, following His example and making a public declaration of your faith in Him... but you are also making a powerful statement to yourself. Your identity has changed... or, more accurately, has been realigned with who you were created to be as a child of God. Your whole self (identity) that was focused on you is dead and buried and your life is made new because of your faith in Christ's death and resurrection. You were dead and God made you alive.

Baptism doesn't save you or make you a "real" Christian. No action can do that, only receiving Christ can. But it is still given to us as a powerful step to take as believers to mark the fact that we have truly been raised to life.

We are planning two opportunities for water baptism this year: July 30 and December 31. If you have a relationship with Jesus and have never been baptized in water, I challenge you to take this step. You can learn more on our website (freedomkw.com/baptism) or talk to any of our pastoral staff (our contact information is on our website). If you are ready to be baptized but these dates don't work for you, just let us know and we'll happily fill up the tank and celebrate this moment with you on another day!

Grateful to be alive in Christ,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, JUNE 25 @ 10am
IN CONTEXT
Philippians 4:13
Tracy Dunham

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10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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The Power of the Comma (guest writer: Dave Hancock)

If you were to talk to most of my school teachers, professors, tutors and finally, my wife Monica, you would find out that English as a language and the written word are NOT some of my best attributes. Go figure!

Even still, as I prepare for my next preaching topic, I am drawn to the mighty COMMA, well at least the presence of powerful punctuation when we read scripture. Honestly, there is so much power in a comma.  Track with me here…

“Punctuation fills our writing with silent intonation. We pause, stop, emphasize, or question using a comma, a period, an exclamation point or a question mark. Correct punctuation adds clarity and precision to writing; it allows the writer to stop, pause, or give emphasis to certain parts of the sentence.”
— Northern Illinois University

In our current series, we are looking at scriptures “In Context.” I have been challenged by a passage of scripture for a very long time now: 1 Corinthians 10:13.  If you want to know more about this, you will need to be at church this Sunday, Father’s Day (or go back and listen to it on our YouTube channel). It is safe to say that not only is there context needed here but, because of a COMMA, I think we can place more emphasis on the correct interpretation of this scripture.

Here are a few fun phrases that are so easy to misinterpret if we lack the context and the punctuation:
#1: “Let’s eat Grandma”, as opposed to, “Let’s eat, Grandma.”
#2: “I find inspiration in cooking my family and my dog”, as opposed to, “I find inspiration in cooking, my family, and my dog.”

And finally,

#3: “A woman without her man is nothing,” is very different than, “A woman: without her, man is nothing.”  (SOURCE: Curtis Newbold / The Visual Communication Guy)

Please, no hate mail for the last one!

The point is this: we need to read scripture carefully and with clarity - that includes punctuation. Here are a couple of examples from scripture…

In John 19:30, Jesus said, “It is finished.”  The period makes it very clear that at this moment, and not after, and with no other sacrifice needed, one way to the Father and forgiveness was created. It was now complete, period.  No more work was needed to make it happen; we just need to believe.

In Romans 12: 3 -8, every time a gift is mentioned, it does not end with a finishing period but, instead, there is a call by the semicolon to use it. Your uniqueness and gifting in the body are for those around you and not to be left unused. You will be such a blessing to others when you live the actions of the semicolon.

And finally, I want to leave you with a punctuation gemstone, and one of my favourites:

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you;  never will I forsake you.” So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

As you read your Bible today, and every day; make sure to look for the power of the punctuation. It will make a difference in how you understand and live out the scriptures, helping to create the richness of truly understanding the love God has for you in your daily life! 

(the sound you just heard was the drop of the pen!!!!) (PERIOD)

Looking forward to sharing with you on Sunday,
Dave Hancock

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, JUNE 18 @ 10am
IN CONTEXT
1 Corinthians 10:13
Dave Hancock

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10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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Be Kind to Future You (thinking about tomorrow... sowing and reaping)

I didn't want to tidy up the kitchen before I went to bed on Saturday night. Who does? But what I really didn't want was to try and make my coffee around a mess in the morning. So, I tidied the kitchen and yes, Sunday-morning Tracy was grateful to Saturday-night Tracy.

This is a classic time management principle that is often referred to as being kind to "future you". What would your future self be grateful for if you did it today? Do that thing. You will not regret it.

I was telling my daughter about this principle and as I said it out lout, I realized that it also speaks directly to our spiritual lives. What will future-Tracy be glad that today-Tracy did? What are the activities and habits that will build the faith, trust in Jesus and hope that I will almost certainly need to draw on in the years to come? What do I need to say no to, give up, or let go of that isn't going to serve future-Tracy's spiritual health and maturity?

How can I be kind to future-Tracy? How can I set her up for success?

Sometimes, like the chores we do around the house, our daily spiritual disciplines can seem small or insignificant. They might be easy to skip or skim over, to put off until tomorrow or even another season in life. But consider your future self. What a kindness to gift yourself with a deeper knowledge of the Word, a fluent prayer life, and a growing ability to hear and respond to the voice of the Spirit.

I mean, isn't this exactly the principle of sowing and reaping that we read about in scripture? (See Galatians 6:7-9)

Consider this for yourself today... how can you be kind to future-you?
Do (or start!) that thing today.

See you on Sunday,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, JUNE 11 @ 10am
IN CONTEXT
James 5:16
Tracy Dunham

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10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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Do You Have Scripture in Your Home? (we want to see it!)

As you know, I am absolutely not against making the Word of God prominent in your home. In Deuteronomy 6:9, the Israelites are told to take the commandments of God and impress them on their children, talk about them everywhere, all the time, tie them as symbols on their hands, bind them to their foreheads and write them on the doorframes of their houses and gates. I would way rather you have a sign in your house that says, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord,” than “Live Your Best Life”. 

So, let’s be clear that we’re not poo-pooing that. 

In fact, let’s see a few of these signs that you have in your homes, Freedom. To launch our new series on Sunday, In Context, I need some photos of the scriptures you have posted around your home! It can be a letter board, a framed piece of art, a sticky note on your mirror... whatever! Just email me (tracy@freedomkw.com) and attach your photo. (I'll even enter your name into a draw for a prize if you help me out with this!) I'll be using these photos on Sunday morning.

I want to create a “yes/and” out of this idea. Yes, let’s write the Word on the doorframes of our homes and let’s learn a little more about where these verses came from.

Why? Because I believe that the context will actually make these richer and deeper. If we zoom out from these verses, I would argue that we are going to find even more light and life than we realized was there.

I can't wait to dig into these scriptures and to see your photos!

See you on Sunday,

Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, JUNE 4 @ 10am
IN CONTEXT
Jeremiah 29:11
Tracy Dunham

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10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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A Summer Glow-Up (sanctuary & fellowship hall update)

I recently learned the term "glow-up" from my daughters. According to Google, glow-up is: "a slang term used to describe a significant transformation, typically in physical appearance, that is perceived as an improvement. It's the process of turning yourself into a better version of yourself and becoming more confident, attractive, and successful."

I don't know about being more confident, attractive, and successful, but the time has come for our Sanctuary and Fellowship Hall to have a bit of a transformation in physical appearance that is perceived as an improvement!

We've been planning these improvements for more than a year and are excited to be able to see them happen in the next couple of months. What will this "glow-up" include? Here's a short break-down:

SANCTUARY:

  • projector and media computer

  • 24 pot light fixtures

  • receptacles, switches & emergency lights

  • repair & paint ceilings and walls

  • sound/media booth rebuild

  • professional carpet cleaning

FELLOWSHIP HALL:

  • LED lights (18), switches, electrical upgrade

  • paint walls, ceilings & duct work

  • chairs & tables

In fact, here is an informational PDF that I will be presenting on Sunday morning. You get a sneak peek! The anticipated costs will be around $50,000 and we hope to do the work in the month of July.

Please prayerfully consider how you can invest in this project. We are committed to keeping our buildings in good condition and stewarding all of our resources to the best of our ability. Details for giving can be found on the PDF and our website.

Thank you for partnering with us, Freedom Family! Looking forward to our "glow-up". :)
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, MAY 28 @ 10am
LIKE & FOLLOW
Jesus in the Church & the World
Tracy Dunham

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10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

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Allowing Your Soul to Grow Up

As I was working on a message this week, I read something that didn't directly relate to my content but was definitely worth highlighting and tucking away. I wanted to share it with you because I know that many of us have difficulty quieting our hearts and minds in order to hear from God. This world is very noisy, we know that very well.

The part that caught me reads like this: "When you're waiting, you're not doing nothing. You're doing the most important something there is. You're allowing your soul to grow up."

You're allowing your soul to grow up.

I also recently finished reading Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross, a classic book that is also teaching about the process of maturing in our faith, leaving spiritual infancy behind and "growing up" in God. Fascinating.

I found the following passage in the NIV Application Commentary on James, but the author is quoting Sue Monk Kidd's When the Heart Waits. I trust it will challenge and encourage you today, whatever you're waiting for, in whatever way you are restless.

Pastor Tracy

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One day after morning prayers, I walked to the edge of the pond and sat on the grass. I listened to the wind sigh over the water and tried to be still, to simply be there and wait in the moment. But almost instantly my inner chaos rose up. The need to keep moving, to act, to solve everything overpowered me. I got to my feet.

As I returned to the guest quarters, I noticed a monk, ski cap pulled over his ears, sitting perfectly still beneath a tree. There was such reverence in his silhouette, such tranquil sturdiness, that I paused to watch. He was the picture of waiting.

Later I sought him out. "I saw you sitting beneath the tree - just sitting there so still. How is it that you can wait so patiently in the moment? I can't seem to get used to the idea of doing nothing."

He broke into a wonderful grin. "Well, there's the problem right there, young lady. You've bought into the cultural myth that when you're waiting you're doing nothing."

Then he took his hands and placed them on my shoulders, peered straight into my eyes and said, "I hope that you'll hear what I'm about to tell you. I hope you'll hear it all the way down to your toes. When you're waiting, you're not doing nothing. You're doing the most important something there is. You're allowing your soul to grow up. If you can't be still and wait, you can't become what God created you to be."

Sue Monk Kidd, When the Heart Waits: Spiritual Direction for Life's Sacred Questions

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, MAY 21 @ 10am
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Worth Subscribing

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More Important than Flowers (on Mother's Day)

We have been being very intentional here at Freedom to find more and more moments to go to God in prayer. We want to build the habit of prayer in every way that we can and so as I was thinking about theming this week's devotional around Mother's Day, I began to look for ways to pray for the moms in my life.

I invite you to pray this prayer (or, of course, pray using your own words) for your mom and any other mom that you know. Whether she knows Jesus or not, this prayer asks that she would know Him and His affirmation above anything else in her life - and that is the best gift she can have in this life.

Happy Mother's Day (I love you, mom!),
Pastor Tracy

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Dear Lord, Bless every mother and every grandmother with the finest of your spiritual blessings today. Confirm in her heart and spirit the work of her hands and the love that she has so freely given to those children under Your care. Validate her worth daily, so she has no reason to doubt whether she is loved, valued, and cherished in the eyes of her Heavenly Father.

Create in her a deep sense of your protection and trust, so that worry and fear will disappear as she places her loved ones into Your care. Let her know that every prayer she has prayed and every encouraging word she has spoken on behalf of her children/grandchildren has been transformed into sweet, fragrant offerings before Your throne.

Whisper deep within her spirit the sweet words she longs to hear from You—that nothing can ever separate her from Your love. Help her to nestle daily into the promises of Your Word, standing with faith on the things You declare are true. Let her know that You reward faithfulness, but that true success doesn’t lie in her accomplishments or accolades. Let her rest in the knowledge that she has done all she can—and that she and those she loves—truly belong to you. Bless her with a servant spirit so she can teach her own the joy of hearing one day, “Well done!”

Let her joy be contagious; let her passion be pure; and let her life overflow with all the blessings she deserves—on special days, and on every day of her life. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

Written By: Rebecca Barlow Jordan

Source: https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/mother-s-day-prayers-to-encourage-and-uplift.html

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, MAY 14 @ 10am
LIKE & FOLLOW
Stories of a Jesus-Follower
Tracy Dunham

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More Time to Pray (the sanctuary is open!)

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Sometimes we plan things out just so, sometimes we seem to trip into an idea. We've loved our monthly Fast & Pray Wednesdays and have been doing them for quite a while. But recently, when someone got the date wrong and showed up on a different Wednesday to pray, we thought, "Hey, why can't every Wednesday be a Fast & Pray Wednesday?"

And so, in case you haven't heard, our sanctuary is open every Wednesday from 12-1 for prayer. Our staff is taking turns making sure that the lights are on and that there is someone to pray with anyone who joins us.

The format is very simple. The doors are open, the space is available and the schedule is flexible. Typically, we pray on our own until about 12:45 and then gather together to share needs and pray before we go back into our day. But, if you come and want someone to pray with you at any time, that's what we're here for. If you come and just want to spend time quietly praying alone, just let us know and you can have all the time you need.

Additionally, we are committed to fasting with you on Wednesdays. That might be a meal, a whole day's worth of meals, social media, or anything else the Lord has put on our hearts, but we will intentionally set something aside on these days and replace it with prayer.

It should also be said that if you need a place to be alone with God, to be silent, to pray, to study, or whatever other spiritual discipline you're pursuing, we want to help. We are happy to make the sanctuary or other spaces, including the Freedom Community Centre rooms, available to you at other times of the week. Just contact the office and let us know what you need.

As we've increased our focus on prayer this year, we've seen God move in amazing ways. We are called to prayer and we are called to fasting so let's do it together. (And I hope you know that if Wednesdays don't work for you, you can practice these disciplines any day of the week!)

Hope that you can make this a part of your Wednesdays... with us at the church or from wherever you are.
Pastor Tracy

Here's the page on our website all about prayer at Freedom: freedomkw.com/prayer

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, MAY 7 @ 10am
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Trending
Tracy Dunham

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Kids Liking & Following Jesus (be inspired!

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This scripture was quoted in a book I was reading this morning and I was struck by the context. When the disciples wanted to know who the greatest was, Jesus turned the conversation on its head and told them to change and become like children. Children had no status and no voice in the first century. They were completely under the authority of their fathers and essentially had no rights that he didn't give them. So, Jesus' challenge would have felt like a punch in the gut while they were jostling for position in His kingdom.

What a beautiful reminder that we never outgrow humility. We are adopted into the family of God and are His children (thank you, Jesus!) which means we are under His authority. We need reminding sometimes just as the disciples did.

I wonder if that's why we love it when our kids participate in "big church". Watching them sing or dance or do a skit is always a highlight of any service. Is it just because they're cute? Okay, it's some of that but certainly not just that!

When our kids worship, we are reminded of how beautiful that act of surrender is and how pure it can be. When our kids learn, we are reminded about the simplicity of the gospel and how powerful it is. You may have heard it said that there is no "Jr. Holy Spirit". The same Spirit who lives in each believer, who was poured out on Pentecost, is the same Spirit who is moving in and transforming our kids to know and serve Jesus.

We love our Freedom kids and we are extraordinarily grateful for all those who teach them in Kids Church and KidzConnect each week. On Sunday, we're celebrating this generation and Miss Margaret is going to lead us in a Kids Emphasis Service... she's calling it a Kids Takeover!

Come ready to engage with the younger generation and have your own faith built while you're at it! Join us for a potluck after the service... our theme is "kids favourite foods" if you need some inspiration.

Looking forward to learning and worshiping across all generations with you!
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, APRIL 30 @ 10am
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Kids Emphasis Service
Margaret Pfeiffer

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Turns Out, It's Not Too Hard (thoughts on scripture memory)

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I know I surprised some folks on Sunday by reciting Colossians 1 instead of reading it. Many people commented about it after the message and I thought this might be a good moment to tell you what I've been learning about memorizing scripture over the past couple of years.

The biggest thing is this: it's not too hard.

If you are like me, you assume that scripture memory isn't something you could ever do because you're not good at memorizing things. I've changed my mind about that. It's likely easier for some than others but we're all capable of hiding God's Word in our hearts. (Psalm 119:11) Truly. At the end of the bible study I was attending in spring 2020 (yes, that spring), we were challenged to memorize scripture. This is the video tutorial that the author of the study guide, Beth Moore, shared. Maybe it was her warm, southern personality that got me but I started to believe it was possible and also realized it wasn't a race, it was something to learn to do.

The second thing is this: it requires discipline.

The reason it took me three years to be able to do this is because I wasn't consistent. I had publicly mentioned that I was working on this memorization project and that accountability (not that anyone really remembered) kept me returning to it. It wasn't hard to memorize a verse per day, which was the basic goal, but it was hard to repeat that day after day. I dropped the project many times and it was difficult to come back to because I had to re-cover the ground I had already gained and I started to wonder what "memorized" really had to mean. Maybe if I just had the gist of it? Also, let's be honest, I am a Type-A overachiever and it was the early days of COVID... I didn't really need to take on a whole book, did I? Who does that!?

And truthfully, no, the memorization of large portions of scripture is not required for your spiritual growth and maturity. You don't "level up" if you do it. But I knew in my heart that the challenge from Beth Moore was for me and when I prayed about what to memorize, Colossians came to mind over and over again. It was a step of obedience and I knew I needed to walk it out, not side-step it.

The third thing is this: it is worth it.

I have never known a passage of scripture the way I know the book of Colossians. It's hard to explain but it's in me. (Hidden in my heart, I guess!) I see parallels to it all over other parts of the Bible. And as well as I know it, I keep feeling like I've barely scratched the surface. It's like the more I know, the more I realize there is to know.

I remember the first time that I read a verse from Colossians in public - I teared up. It surprised me that there was so much emotion attached to 1:17 but that's when I started to realize that it had gotten a hold of my heart in an unexpected way.

The last thing is this: try it.

If you think scripture memory isn't for you, let me encourage you. It has been one of the core spiritual disciples for believers for hundreds and hundreds of years. True, for much of the church's history there wasn't even a printing press let alone YouVersion. But so, quick, digital access to the Word doesn't replace the countless repetitions of the God-breathed verses, chapters and books that memory work gives you. Start with a favourite verse and work on the verses around it so you'll have it in context. Google "best scriptures to memorize"... I did that when I started this project! Watch the video tutorial from Beth Moore and see how you get inspired.

I think the thing that was the final push for me to start this memorization project was when Beth said that the Holy Spirit would help me. It's His Word and He wants me to know it. Uh... of course! With that kind of help, I'm in.

I hope that sheds some light on scripture memory and that you'll consider what the Holy Spirit might be nudging you to hide in your heart this year.

Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, APRIL 23 @ 10am
LIKE & FOLLOW
How Not to Follow Jesus
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

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Like & Follow (nope, not the thumbs-up emoji)

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So, what's next? Easter weekend is the high point of the Christian calendar for good reason. We are brought back to proclaiming the Lord's death until He comes and celebrating His resurrection in real-time, literally on the third day. I'm reminded every year - and rightly so! - that Jesus is worth following with my whole life.

What exactly does that mean? When we talk about "liking" and "following" someone these days, images of thumbs-up emojis on social media platforms come to mind immediately. But what if you really do love the message of the gospel and want to follow Jesus? What does that look like?

The folks in the new Colossae church were wondering the same thing. They had put their faith in Jesus but were facing a ton of pressure from both culture and the religious institutions in their city to mix the true gospel with something else. Their urgent question was: how do we truly follow Him? Their pastor, Epaphras, visited Paul to get some help in answering the question. The letter the apostle wrote has become our book of Colossians. And, oh my, it's a good one.

On Sunday we're going to put ourselves in the shoes of "God's holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters in Christ" (1:2) and hear the words in our current context... how to "like and follow" Jesus.

Take a few minutes and read Colossians chapter 1 this weekend or, even better, the whole book if you can. I've also included a video from Bible Project to give you an overview of the letter. You can click the link below to watch it.

Looking forward to Sunday... grateful He is risen indeed!
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, APRIL 16 @ 10am
LIKE & FOLLOW
Jesus’ Pic and Bio
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

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Easter is VERY Good News (who do you know that needs to hear it?)

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On Sunday we will be sharing some very good news. The best news, in fact. He is risen indeed! We are so privileged to know that regardless of any bad news that we've received in our lives and no matter what comes our way, we have this good news each and every day as our anchor. Thank you, Jesus!

On Friday, Scott Corkill will be sharing from the Gospel of John with the headline "Jesus is Love". We will gather around the communion emblems, proclaiming His death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26) and consider what the "headline" of our lives is because of Christ.

On Saturday, we will rest, considering that quiet and grief-filled day of the first Easter weekend but with the full knowledge that the story doesn't end in death.

On Sunday, we celebrate. As Pope John Paul II said, "We are an Easter people and hallelujah is our song!"

If there is someone you'd like to invite, we want you to know that they will hear the message of the gospel on Friday and Sunday. There is toddler care for the littlest in our Freedom family and all other ages will be involved in the service. We've been mindful of this in our planning and have been intentional about how we can keep our Freedom kids engaged.

We have an easy invitation card ready for you on our website and lots of FAQs answered if someone is new to our church. freedomkw.com/easter

Also, we will be livestreaming on Friday and Sunday. That might be a great way to invite someone who is hesitant about attending in person. Details for that are always on the homepage of our website.

Someone grabbed a photo of some of our team during our final music rehearsal on Tuesday night... it makes my heart happy. I can't wait to see you this weekend and celebrate Jesus together!

Indeed!
Pastor Tracy

THIS FRIDAY & SUNDAY

FRIDAY, APRIL 7 @ 10am
THE GOSPEL
John: Jesus is Love
Scott Corkill

EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 9 @ 10am
THE GOSPEL
It’s Very Good News
Tracy Dunham, Erin Jamieson

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

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Palm Sunday to Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Beyond (Holy Week begins...)

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It's time, once again, for palm fronds. This is your warning that you may get hit with a palm branch on Sunday morning if you are with us for our in-person service. We hope you don't, but there are no guarantees! We'll be encouraging our Freedom kids to grab a palm branch and wave it as we sing "Hosanna". Why? Because it is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week.

Holy Week (or Passion Week) is the traditional name for the week leading up to and including the crucifixion of Jesus. The Church looks back at the events of each day and in a way, relives them, recognizing the significance of each step Jesus took on His way to the cross. We did a series on this last Easter - you can check it out here.

As we get ready for Palm Sunday, I want to invite you into this journey to the cross. Use each day to prepare your heart for Easter weekend. Here are some ways that you can do this:

  1. Join our Holy Week reading plan in YouVersion.

  2. Watch this video about Holy Week to understand it better.

  3. Listen to the messages from our 2022 series "The Passion".

Looking forward to reflecting and celebrating with you this season,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, APRIL 2 @ 10am
THE GOSPEL
John: Jesus is God
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

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Looking Back to Look Ahead (praying for our church leaders this weekend)

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As I look at my calendar for the rest of the week, it's filled with 10,000-foot-view-type conversations about church life. Our monthly board meeting is on Thursday, we have our annual "Leadership Summit" with the board, staff and spouses on Saturday, and the annual business meeting is on Sunday evening. I think it's going to be a very inspiring (and maybe a little tiring?) weekend!

I want to invite you to engage with us. This weekend will have us looking back into 2022, considering where we are as a church and using that to help us mark where we feel God calling us in the year ahead. We quite literally look back in order to look ahead. We need God's wisdom to rightly understand our current position and what's next. We can't (and shouldn't and won't) move forward without knowing that we're in step with His Spirit.

But as you know, time flies by. Our calendars are full and our minds are busy. So we know it's vital to take the time to check in and gain perspective, new insights, and clarity in the life of the church.

Here's how you can be a part of that:

  1. Pray for us on Saturday. Pray that God's Spirit would speak clearly as our leadership gathers, prays together, listens for His voice and sets direction for the year ahead.

  2. Join us for the Annual Business Meeting on Sunday at 6:00. Members are especially encouraged to be there and to vote but everyone is welcome to come and hear the good reports from 2022 and together to set our hearts on 2023. (You can even watch on Zoom if you can't make it in person. Just email us for the link.)

It continues to be a high privilege to serve this church. Thank you for your partnership and commitment to unity in the Spirit!

Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, MARCH 26 @ 10am
THE GOSPEL
Luke: The Truth of Jesus
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

The Gospel According To... Mark (and he's asking you to decide)

Are you ready for some more good news? This time from Mark's perspective?

It's so interesting that John Mark wrote a Gospel account and that it was very likely the earliest one written. His relationship with Paul and Peter gives him a unique perspective and ultimately he's inviting the reader to decide who they think Jesus is.

This one is a fast-paced telling of the good news and if you're ready to dig into this next Gospel account, The Bible Project (again!) has an incredible resource for you. Click the image below to go to the video or the button below for the video and even more about Mark's Gospel, taking a moment with the follow-up questions that are included on the page.

I trust you're enjoying learning more about the incredible words of scripture that we have been given. I'm praying that the Holy Spirit teaches us more about Jesus and our faith will grow as we explore these Gospels.

In Christ,
Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, MARCH 19 @ 10am
THE GOSPEL
Mark: The Sacrifice of Jesus
Erin Jamieson

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.

The Gospel According to... (and it's very good news)

Have you ever wondered why there are four gospels in the New Testament? Why is the story of Jesus told by all of these different people? Why not just get together and create one epic gospel account?

There are a lot of answers to those questions and some speculation as well. But what we do know is that the word gospel means "good news". The first four books in the New Testament could be called, "The Good New According to Matthew' (or Mark, or Luke, or John). And right there we start to see the gift of having these distinct accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus.

This is incredibly good news and by telling it from different perspectives and writing it down for different audiences (Jews, Greeks, Romans, etc.), we have a beautifully robust picture of just why this news is so great.

There are many ways to sum up the themes of each gospel to be sure. In our series that begins on Sunday, we're leading up to Easter by highlighting some of the most important themes we see in the gospel accounts.

Like a newspaper headline, we're shouting this good news with the writers:

Breaking News! Jesus is King! (Matthew)

Read All About It! Jesus is the Sacrifice and Servant! (Mark)

Extra! Extra! Jesus is the Truth (Luke)

Exposed! Jesus is God and God is Love! (John)

To prepare for Sunday, I invite you to watch this great video from The Bible Project that gives an overview of all the Gospels. It's a great resource, helping you to know what you're reading and how to put it into context when you're in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John.

Let's spread some good news this Easter! Invite someone to hear the Gospel!

Pastor Tracy

THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, MARCH 12 @ 10am
THE GOSPEL
Matthew: Jesus is King
Tracy Dunham

Join us for our IN-PERSON SERVICES OR
LIVESTREAM on Sunday!

10:00 - Live Service & Kids Church (+Church Online)

Follow along with the message on YouVersion.