Psalms of Ascent

We are into my favourite psalms – Psalms 120-134.
These are called the “Song of Ascents” or “Pilgrim Songs”.
Many scholars believe that these psalms were sung by worshippers as they ascended the road to Jerusalem to attend the three pilgrim festivals in Judaism – Pesach (Passover), Shavuot (Weeks or Pentecost), and Sukkot (Tabernacles, Tents or Booths).
I would encourage you to read these psalms out loud, and maybe even walking around.

Take Heart – Matthew 11

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” ~Matthew 11:28-30 MSG

Jesus invites us… into his presence.

Not into a bunch of rules, or do’s and don’ts, but into his presence:

where we can know him and be known by him,
where we can find hope and meaning, forgiveness and joy, peace and rest,
where we can be who he has created us to be – whole in him

Today, may you find rest in him, rest in the midst of whatever it is you are called to do.

film: the twelve thousand

On Tuesday 24 September at 7pm, OCC is hosting a showing of the film

The Twelve Thousand

A SHORT FILM TO PREVENT TRAFFICKING + RESTORE SURVIVORS IN NEPAL

check out the website for details about this ministry

watch the trailer

Take Heart: powerlessness

Henri Nouwen, in Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life asks

What keeps us from opening to the reality of the world?

Could it be that we cannot accept our powerlessness and are only willing to see those wounds that we can heal?

Could it be that we do not want to give up our illusion that we are masters over our world and, therefore, create our own Disneyland where we can make ourselves believe that all events of life are safely under control?

Could it be that our blindness and deafness are signs of our own resistance to acknowledging that we are not the Lord of the Universe?

It is hard to allow these questions to go beyond the level of rhetoric and to really sense in our innermost self how much we resent our powerlessness.

Up In Out

Life in the kingdom of God is multi-dimension, it involves all of life.
Life in the kingdom of God impacts not just what we often call our spiritual life – prayer, worship, service, giving… it impacts everything… how we respond to good stuff and hard stuff, what we do with our money, our time, our energy.

On 8 September we looked at 3 dimensions: Up – In – Out
Up: this includes prayer and worship, focused on and centred in the triune God: Father, Son, Spirit
In: this involves our relationships and partnership with our brothers and sisters in the body of Christ
Out: this moves us out into this world which is looking for hope

This week (and every week), let’s be intentional about this 3-fold living.

 

film: unplanned

On Friday, 13 September, at 7pm OCC in partnership with the Orillia Pregnancy Resource Centre is showing

Unplanned

14A GORY SCENES, DISTURBING CONTENT

Unplanned is the inspiring true story of one woman’s journey of transformation.

All Abby Johnson ever wanted to do was help women. As one of the youngest Planned Parenthood clinic directors in the nation, she was involved in upwards of 22,000 abortions and counseled countless women about their reproductive choices. Her passion surrounding a woman’s right to choose even led her to become a spokesperson for Planned Parenthood, fighting to enact legislation for the cause she so deeply believed in.

Until the day she saw something that changed everything, leading Abby Johnson to join her former enemies at 40 Days For Life, and become one of the most ardent pro-life speakers in America.

Tickets available on-line: http://www.instantmovietickets.com or at the door.

Take Heart

We are kicking off this fall with a series we are calling “Take Heart

Jesus said in John 16:33take heart! I have overcome the world

In a world, where many struggle with:

  • anxiety
  • depression
  • fear
  • worry
  • afraid
  • and the like

We want to be a people who offer more than cliches like: “you’ll get through it.”

It is important that we learn to be present in the hurt, offering real encouragement.

Join us, beginning 15 September