James 1:27 presents language about poverty that has become famous: “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” (James 1:27 NLT) Touching poverty is clearly at the heart of our worldview. But as famous as this verse is, our translations don’t capture all of James’ intended meaning. The words translated ‘caring for orphans’ actually mean ‘to check in on them yourself’ or ‘to make sure that they’re okay by seeing for yourself.’ In other words: it’s deeply personal.

This is something which can be incredibly significant for us because it gives us the opportunity to think about compassion and poverty differently. Compassion can be an obligation we pursue with a sense of duty, and we often experience it in that way. A lot of very important activity takes place because people respond to a sense of duty. But there’s more, and this verse from James hints at it. Compassion can also be the ‘difference we can’t help but make’ because we are drawn into the power of someone else’s story. In other words touching poverty can be a ‘should do’ or a ‘get to do’. In both cases the behaviour may be exactly the same, but ‘the place it comes from’ inside ourselves is very different — and so is the effect it has on us as well as our ability to maintain it. What a revolution.

It means compassion can become an adventure in generosity we can’t imagine our lives without. Imagine if we could capture this as a community. Imagine that we were not only active in the face of poverty, but we find the ways in which serving others becomes such a dynamic and natural part of our own lives that we can’t imagine not doing it. This is the opportunity that is in front of us. We can be known in our city for the action we take as well as the place that it comes from in us.

Did you know that 20% of Calgary’s homeless are children and youth?

Volunteer to help build a playground

The Calgary Homeless Foundation is looking for 100+ enthusiastic people, 18 or older to help build a playground at Acadia Place, an affordable housing complex for families.

Build Day: Thursday, September 16th

You don’t need to have construction skills, just a willingness to help out. Your Build Captain will provide you with all the information you need to know.

Registration deadline: September 7th

For more information and to register, please send us an email at localoutreach@wkc.org with a subject line of Playground Build

Join us for an afternoon of FUN!

When:
September 12th following the 11:11 celebration

What:
-Live Band
-Bouncy Castle
-Sumo Suits
-Pony Rides (for kids 100lbs and under)
-Dunk the WKC Leader
-Obstacle Course
-Ribs, chicken, sausages and salads
-Pie & Dessert Potluck (sign up at the connection counter on Sundays or e-mail bbq@wkc.org if you can bring something)

*Please pick up your tickets in advance at the connection so we can get an idea of #s*

**Bring your own lawn chair**

Recommended donation of $5/person or $10/family

God intends for us to know and believe Him, glorify Him, experience His peace, and enjoy His presence. We can “lean in” to hear the whispers of his love, “lean in” to the work to grow as He calls us to, and “lean in” to one another, supporting one another as women, in our challenges, growth and journey.

Monday evenings starting September 20th, Lean In will begin with “Breaking Free: The Journey, The Stories” by Beth Moore.

This 11 week study leads you through a study of the Scriptures to discover the transforming power of freedom in Jesus Christ. Beth looks at the Kings in the Book of Isaiah and includes testimonies of how women like you have found freedom and have been delivered from personal captivity.  This exemplifys many of the obstacles to freedom with which we must deal. Using Scripture to help identify spiritual strongholds in your life, no matter how big or small, Beth explains that anything that hinders us from the benefits of knowing God is bondage. Join us on a Bible journey unlike any other. God intends for you to know and believe Him, glorify Him, experience His peace, and enjoy His presence. This study is for woman of all ages and stages in life and offers the opportunity to meet, connect, support and challenge each other.

WHEN:
Fall 2010 – Monday evenings from 7-9, September 20, 2010 – December 13, 2010

WHERE:
The house, behind the main building of Westside King’s Church

COST:
$30 / person (Includes the purchase of the book “Breaking Free: The Journey, The Stories” by Beth Moore. If you require child care in order to attend, please make a note in the comment section below.  Please note that there will be an additional charge for child care.)

CONTACT:
403.777.0800 x259, leanin@wkc.org

ONLINE REGISTRATION:
To register online, please fill out the registration form below.

Westside will once again be sponsoring a Feed the Hungry dinner at St. Mary’s church in downtown Calgary.  The dinner that we are sponsoring is being held on August 22, 2010, and we are looking for a number of volunteers who would be willing to help out with the preparation and serving.  The preparation shift will run from 9am until 1pm and the serving shift will run from 2pm until 6pm.  If you would be available to help with either of these shifts, please contact Chantelle by e-mailing feedthehungry@wkc.org

The Local Outreach Committee

(click on charts to enlarge)

Looking back on last summer, while we immensely enjoyed ourselves and want to do it again, we also felt that large and defining moments in the Biblical story shot by us without much time to notice them.

So this summer we want to slow down a bit. We want to engage the first parts of the Biblical story, beginning with Abraham and the characters of Genesis. We want to be a bit more leisurely about this, notice the scenery a little, and make our way towards Moses and the Exodus.

There is so much in this first part of the story that is important to our faith. We hope that you will be able to join us on Sundays, but remember to catch what you miss through our podcasts.

Genesis Cycle
July 4: Abraham (Jeremy)
July 11: Isaac (Jeremy)
July 18: Jacob (Bob)
July 28: Joseph (Bob)
Aug 1: All Made Well (Chris)

Exodus Cycle
Aug 8: Absence (Chris)
Aug 15: Encounter (Bob)
Aug 22: Promise (Chris)
Aug 29: Formation (Jeremy)
Sept 5: Exodus (Bobby

In response to their inquiry about what work I did in Calgary, I mimed sitting in front of a computer, typing all day long with an occasional phone call interrupting the action. “You do that all day?” they asked me incredulously. I assured them that I did. There was some laughter, then silence, then the haunting question, “No sweating?” I’ll never forget the look of confusion on their faces when they posed that question to me, these women who survived by the sweat of their brow. It was one of those moments that could easily have slipped away without being recognized as significant. But something about it and the ensuing silence shouted ‘this is important’!

I’ve lived for many years from the neck up. Most of what I do is brain work. I don’t grow my own food, don’t wash my own car, and I don’t scrub my own floors. All these I’ve considered unimportant in the face of the ‘more important’ neck-up work I’ve had to do.

I’ve been back in Canada for several months now but I can’t shake the question. Does God meet us in unique ways through physical work? Is there a unique way that physical labour contributes to our well-being? Do mind and spirit find opportunity for inspiration and discernment through activities that get our heart racing and our muscles flexing?

While I muse on these questions I have been consciously choosing to do things that make me sweat, paying attention to what the movement of my body brings to the quality of my life. For the most part I have relegated my spiritual life almost entirely to what I think, but now I am learning a kind of spiritual alertness in using the other 95% of my body. I am revelling in the joy of physical, not mental, tiredness. I am coming to see again that there is something sacred about physical work.

If truth be known, I’m clumsy at most of what I do, but I’m trying to pursue it nevertheless. I don’t know where this burst of inspiration will lead, but I am sure that I am on to something important.

For those of you who, like me, work in front of a computer, let’s do something with our hands. Is there any sweat in your life?

Judy McVean, guest contributor

Editor’s note: Judy recently spent time serving our mission partner Hands at Work in Zimbabwe.. You are invited to check out our annual mission report which you can access here.

Our summer BBQs have become a tradition at Westside.  This year we are doing things a little bit differently, holding one per month.  The BBQs are a great opportunity to socialize and meet some new people, while enjoying some great food.  BBQs are held following each of our morning celebrations.  The schedule and brief menu are listed below – we’d love to have you join us!

June 27th – Summer Launch
9:29 French Toast & 11:11 Tacos

July 18th – Stampede BBQ – HOSTED BY WKC YOUTH!!
9:29 Stampede Breakfast & 11:11 Gourmet Burgers

August 15th – Taste of Calgary
9:29 Breakfast Sandwiches & 11:11 Spolumbo’s Sausages

September 12th – Fall Launch Tailgate Party
Details to come (this is one party you do not want to miss!)

A recommended donation of $5/person or $10/family will be collected