CURRENT TEACHING SERIES
Identity Theft
Sunday Sept 17 – Oct 22 | 10 AM
What we believe about our identity and calling has huge implications for who we are becoming as followers of Jesus. Identity is our controlling self-understanding and self- worth. All of us live with a concept of who we really are and what we believe to be most fundamental and important about us. We often find our identities from what we do, what we have, what we want, or even what others think about us. But unlike these other approaches, the unique Christian claim is that identity is not achieved but received. The truest thing about us is that we are loved “in Christ” (Eph 1:1). We are the Beloved (Rom 1:7). We are God’s children. (Jn 1:13) We are the friends of God (Jn 15:15). We are Saints (1 Cor 1:2), free (Rom 8:1-2), and citizens of heaven (Phil 3:20). We are God’s temple (1 Cor 3:16), God’s workmanship, God’s poem (Eph 2:10), and God’s good creation (Gen 1-2, Ps 139). Yet, so often, we forget what is most fundamental and important about us. We can sometimes believe lies about our identity. As theologian and professor Henri Nouwen suggests, the lies we believe about our identity are ….
I am what I have.
I am what I do.
I am what other people say or think of me.
I am nothing more than my worst moment.
I am nothing less than my best moment.
In this teaching series, we want to take time as a community of Jesus followers to explore what is most fundamental and important about our identity by examining the different ‘identity thieves’ and false statements we are tempted to believe.
Sept 17 – Who Am I?
Sept 24 – Identity Theft: I am what I have
Oct 1 – Identity Theft: I am what I do
Oct 8 – Identity Theft: I am what others say or think
Oct 15 – Identity Theft: I am nothing more than my worst moment
Oct 22 – Identity Theft: I am nothing less than my best moment
ATTENDING 139 SMITH
For our in person gatherings to keep you and others safe we will have these practices and procedures in place.
Masks are optional here, but we are a mask friendly church. If you prefer to wear your mask please feel free to do so.
The balcony has a designated “mask-required zone” for those who feel more comfortable around others who are wearing one.
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT
- Welcome Centre located at the back of the auditorium
- Hot coffee and tea are free at the cafe before the gathering. Specialty drinks are available for purchase as well.
WHAT TO WEAR
- We’re pretty casual! Our pastors are in jeans and you won’t see many ties. Wear what makes you comfortable.
TRANSPORTATION
- 3 levels of FREE parking in the parkade next to church on Smith Street
- FREE street parking
- Click here for a list of bus routes that service 139 Smith Street
ACCESSIBILITY
- First floor of the parkade next to the church is wheelchair accessible
- Elevator access to all three levels of the church
- Wheelchair accessible washrooms on all three levels of the church
- Designated wheelchair spots reserved in both the first and last rows of the auditorium
- Trained service animals are welcome, as in all public spaces in Manitoba
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A CHURCH SERVICE
- 70 minutes long
- Worship through music, and other creative arts
- Biblical, dynamic teaching usually part of a themed series
- Prayer
- Question + Response time following the teach, where the teacher answers questions that have been texted in during the service
- A time of giving, where we financially support the work of the church locally, across our city and around the world
BRINGING KIDS?
- Nursery for parents with infants at the back of the auditorium equipped with nursing chairs and support pillows, and a change table
- We have excellent programming, and fully police checked volunteers, for children and youth during Sunday services, beginning with infants all the way up to Grade 7
- Infants-Grade 4 gather in age specific spaces on the lower level
- Grades 5-7 gather in the Youth Lounge on the second level during the 11 am gathering