Don't Walk Alone (join a Group this fall)

I love the Church. I love being a part of a community of believers. I love being able to serve others with what God has given me. And I love learning and growing by gathering with and listening to others who are also following Jesus. That's why I intentionally put Groups on my calendar each season. It's like a breath of fresh air in the middle of the week.

Admittedly, I don't always want to get in my car after dinner and get myself to the church for my group or log onto my computer and open Zoom. There are always things pressing for my time and energy. But, I can honestly say that I can't remember ever regretting the effort I made to get together with others and talk about the Lord. Literally, never.

And, not to be dramatic, but I don't know where I'd be as a disciple, how I would have made it through some dark days, or stayed encouraged all these years if it wasn't for the input of others in the body of Christ. Even the most average time in a Group far exceeds any input I might get from Netflix or scrolling on IG. It's not even a contest.

I don't say this to pressure people or make anyone feel guilty. I'm simply always going to be a champion of Groups in all their various shapes and sizes. True connection and learning that leads to engagement with the church and the world who needs to know Jesus is beautifully facilitated when we spend intentional time together.

If you have a place where this happens for you, go after it with all your heart. If not, join a Group at Freedom this fall. Most of our Groups happen on Wednesday night so we can provide a great program for kids (KizConnect) and childcare. But we also have a new Tuesday night Group on Zoom for men.

My heart for every one of you is to be connected with God and others in life-giving relationships. Join us to connect, learn and engage in new ways this fall.

Pastor Tracy

PS - Hope to see you on Saturday for Prayer & Deep Roots!

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THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, September 22 @ 10am

WHEN IN ROMANS
Freely By His Grace
Pastor Tracy

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 Third Space (Groups start again next week)

I recently heard a phrase I'd never heard before but immediately connected with. It's "a third place" or "a third space." According to a very helpful article I Googled, "A third place is a familiar public spot where you regularly connect with others known and unknown, over a shared interest or activity." Your first space is home, and your second is work but, especially in a post-pandemic time, people are realizing how important third spaces are.

I was excited when I heard this phrase on a podcast because without being told, I already knew that I had access to the best third space. On Sunday, Pastor Erin is going to be sharing the next message in our "This is the Way" series. This month our series topics have been "He is First" and "I Am Second." Next up, "We are the Third Space."

Church, we already have what the human heart is longing for - community that makes a difference in our lives where people know our names and are doing life with us. And, we have the best reason to create and nurture this space: Jesus. (Since, of course, He's why we gather!)

I won't scoop Pastor Erin's message, but I will point you to one of the most life-giving third spaces that I know of - Groups. New groups start next week and they provide such an excellent third space. They are a place to gather around our shared desire to know Jesus more, connect with others and be known by them. It is always worth the time you invest.

All the information is on our website but here are this season's Groups in a nutshell:

• Financially Thriving: Biblical Principles for Your Finances - Tuesdays - starts January 30

• Life Group with the Parks - Wednesdays - resumes January 31

• Sunday Debrief - Wednesdays - starts January 31

• Foreign to Familiar - Wednesdays - starts in February

• Alpha - Wednesdays - starts January 31

• Women's Prayer Connection - Mondays once/month

• Men of Freedom - Saturdays once/month

See you in the third space!
Pastor Tracy

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THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, JANUARY 21 @ 10am

THIS IS THE WAY
We Are the Third Space
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.

Factors That Shape My Identity (by Sloane, a grade eleven student)

After our Sunday Night Conversation about sexuality on Sunday night, one of our grade eleven students, Sloane, shared with me how difficult these topics are in school. Her English class had been assigned to write a few paragraphs about their identity, giving examples of different things they could talk about: gender, talents, hobbies, etc. Sloane was struggling to write the paper as assigned because she knew that her identity didn't come from any of those things. I asked her to share her finished paper with me and when I read it on Monday morning, I was blown away. She has graciously allowed me to share it with you as this week's email devotional.

Thank you for encouraging us all to find our identity in Jesus, Sloane! (We hope you get an A!)
Pastor Tracy

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The Factors That Shape My Identity
by Sloane Capson

Identity is not the world around us but is what we choose to let into our hearts. There are many worldly concepts we can choose to identify with, but only the ones we internalize can truly fabricate our lives. My identity has been shaped by my religion, by my relationship with Jesus, and by the beliefs my family has instilled in me.

My religion, the belief that Jesus is my Saviour, has shaped my identity by giving me a clear idea of how I should act. As a Christian, I believe that God is my Creator, and He is my Lord. I believe that the only reason for my existence is because it was God's will; this makes me a child of God. As God's daughter, I am commanded to live a life that represents Jesus's love. Living a life that represents Jesus's love means that not only my outward appearance should represent Him, but my heart should as well. This has formed my identity because it controls how I carry and represent myself. I try to be someone who is constantly connecting with and reaching out to others because God commands me to do so. I show all people around me the love God shows me because God commands me to. The way I treat others has been solely based on the love my Saviour has shown to me. I forgive those who have wronged me throughout my life because God forgave my sins first. God has fabricated my identity by showing me how to act as a godly woman.

The values my family has instilled in me have also shaped my identity by reinforcing what my religion tells me. I've grown up attending church every Sunday morning. This was because my mother and father knew that God had magnificent plans for my life. No matter how tired I was, no matter what else I wanted to do, my family made sure I was present every Sunday to participate in Sunday school. My parents have raised me to understand the value of God, and the church; to understand that my life should come from a foundation built upon God. This has formed my identity because I now believe God is the basis for all areas of my life. Without my mother and father's discipline and encouragement to seek God, I would be a lost and broken person. My parents' belief that God has a plan for me has now been branded on my soul. No matter what, I know God is controlling my life and holding the outcome of all scenarios in the palm of His hand. My parents teaching me the importance of a life based upon God has shaped my identity by strengthening the core aspects of my life.

My life and identity are a clear representation of the values my family has instilled in me, and of how Jesus tells me my life should look like. I could choose to represent my identity by my gender, by my struggles, and by what the devil says about me, but I refuse to let those things define who I am. My identity comes from where my heart is rooted. Only a heart planted in rich nourishing soil can produce quality fruit.

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THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1 @ 10am

(IN)SECURE
I Belong
Del Wells

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.

Get Connected (Groups start in a couple of weeks)

At Freedom, our core values call us to three things:

1. Connect with God and others.

2. Learn to think and act like Jesus.

3. Engage the world for Christ.

As you know, we do this in a variety of ways through the different ministry opportunities we offer. One of the key ministries we focus on to engage with our core values is Groups.

If you've been around Freedom long enough you'll know that these small groups used to be called "Connecting Point" or, going back even further, "Connecting Point 1". Our small group ministry has taken on a few different forms and formats over the years, always trying to stay in step with what makes sense for the particular season of church life we may be in. What hasn't changed is the reason we continue to do groups.

In our Groups promo video (see below), Scott says, "Outside of community our spiritual growth often gets stunted." And that's the heart of it. We know from the biblical example of the Early Church (see Acts 2:42-47), the huge amount of commands to love and serve "one another" we have in epistles, and our own personal experience as Christ-followers that we need community in order for our faith to grow in a healthy way.

I am extraordinarily excited for Groups this fall. As you can see in the video below, we are offering a wide variety of options to match up with what's next for you in your spiritual growth. There are two Life Groups, Alpha, a men's group, a women's group, a marriage group, a group open to the whole family and a group that you can drop into. Ah! This is going to be a great season!

And by the way, we changed the name to "Groups" because, well, that's literally what they are. We found ourselves trying to explain CP to people who are new to Freedom and thought, "You know what, let's just simplify!"

We want you to grow. We want you to be connected to God and others in the church family. We want you to have a support system as you reach out and engage the world for Christ. We want you to make your faith an active part of your Monday-Saturday life. We want you to jump into a Group.

Of course, all the information is on our website: freedomkw.com/groups

Take a look at the video below... or, there are longer versions of some of them listed with the Groups on the web page. We're available for any questions you have, just give us a shout.

Can't wait to get started,
Pastor Tracy

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THIS SUNDAY

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 @ 10am

(IN)SECURE
I Am Seen
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.