When I was a kid there was a series of movies that I loved, it was called “The Bad News Bears”. Between 1976 and 1979 there were three movies and even a short lived TV series that told the story of a washed up baseball coach and a team of misfit kids competing in a highly competitive baseball league. Maybe you’ve watched one of those movies or caught the remake in 2005?
The original had Walter Matthau trying to pull together juvenile delinquents and trouble makers to form a winning team. The teammates were more likely to get into a fist fight than play catch with each other. Just when you think the team was going to pull together and unite to win a game they would fall apart again. For most of the movie the Bad News Bears were anything but united.
Have you ever been on a team like that? Have you ever been on a team that was divided?
For the last number of weeks, we have been following the story of Nehemiah as he led the people of Jerusalem to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. So far things have been going pretty great, sure there’s been some opposition from outside Jerusalem, yet the people of Jerusalem have been united around a common mission. That all changes this week. This week Nehemiah could have been coaching the Bad News Bears.
I hope you are planning to join us this weekend as we explore Nehemiah 5 and how in the midst of diversity and division we can unite around the mission God is inviting us into. Together we are going to discover that unity in diversity is found in the Spirit led life.
See you Sunday,
Pastor Kirk
A Long Walk to the Cross
Join us at MidWeek on April 12 for a special screening of “A Long Walk to the Cross,” a one-man theatrical presentation of the Gospel of Mark. Begin your Easter celebrations by watching this beautifully filmed word for word retelling of the life of Jesus as told in the Gospel of Mark. Check out the trailer online and join us on Wednesday at 6:45 pm in the auditorium for the movie.
Good Friday Service
Our Good Friday service begins at 10:30 am next Friday and will be a contemplative service culminating with communion as we remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross.
Vision Gatherings
What will the next five years look like around Living Hope? This spring we are holding Vision Gatherings to dialogue about where God is leading us as a church. Join us on Saturday, April 29 for breakfast and join the discussion. Register for one of the upcoming Vision Gatherings by visiting www.mylivinghope.ca/visiongatherings/.
Upcoming Events
- April 7. 50+ Supper
- April 10, Vision Gathering
- April 14, Good Friday Service
- April 16, Baptism Sunday
- April 16, Easter Sunday
- April 20, Elders in Training
- April 28, Terminal Velocity (Youth)
- April 28-30, Quiz Meet – Offsite
- April 29, Vision Gathering
