South Abbotsford Church Website Updates

Student Ministries

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 20:10:48 PDT

Middle School Youth
Middle School meets Thursday @ 7:00-8:30pm at SAC.

Email Jacki to request more details!

High School Youth (Epik)
Epik meets Monday @ 7:00-9:00pm at SAC. Click here for more information.

Young Adult Youth (Paraza)
Paraza meets Tuesday @ 7:30-9:30pm at SAC. Click here for more information.

To subscribe to the student ministries' podcast just subscribe to http://paraza.ca/podcast.php in your favourite music player (check out itunes.com if you are looking for one).

Pray for Canada

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 12:14:24 PDT

1. That our Prime Minister and his leadership team continue to surround themselves with wise counsel.

2. That God would provide us with the wisdom to be a government which brings Canadians together rather than dividing them.

3. That Canada would continue to seek out opportunities internationally to "to act justly and to love mercy" (Micah 6:8).

Women's Resource Centre

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 12:03:37 PDT

Suggested Donations for the Women's Resource Centre

Personal Cleanliness:
- Brushes, combs
- Small towels, face cloths
- Toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss
- Tampons, pads
- Nail clippers, emery boards
- Travel-size bottles of shampoo, conditioner, hair product
- Make up, face cream, body lotion
- Soap
- Small deodorant

First Aid:
- Small tubes of Polysporin
- Small and medium sized bandages
- Gauze
- Medical tape
- Small scissors
- "First Bite"
- Rubbing alcohol
- Rubber gloves
- Tensor bandages

Food:
- Small juice boxes
- Granola bars
- Canned tuna, salmon,
- Canned soup

Camping equipment:
- Backpacks
- Duffle bags
- Flashlights
- Batteries
- Matches
- Pup tents
- Tarps
- Foam mats

Women's Clothing:
- Smaller sizes of good quality women's clothing
- Shoes (especially good, clean, used runners, sizes 7 - 10, men's or women's)
- Underwear and socks
- Gloves
- slippers
- belts and purses
- Small back packs

Other:
- Grocery bags
- Plastic containers with lids, zip-lock bags
- Notebooks, pens
- Save-On Foods Gift cards in $5.00 to $10.00 denominations

You can put your donated items in the basket on the shelf by the Information Wall.

Cooking: If you would like to help with cooking meals for the prostitutes' drop-in that takes place each Monday and Wednesday evening, please contact Norma Neufeld (604-850-9390). We need hearty meals, muffins, cookies, and whole wheat buns.

We are also planning another group cooking day for the Fall. If you would like to join us, or if you would like to help with providing meat or other ingredients, please contact Norma Neufeld.

Thank you for demonstrating God's love in practical ways.

Womens Ministries

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 10:25:59 PDT

Connecting Points
9:00-11:00am Wednesday mornings

Connecting Points is a weekday morning opportunity for women of all ages to connect with each other. It's a time to meet up with old friends, and a time to meet new friends. It's a time to give and receive encouragement. The morning starts with coffee and conversation, followed by a brief devotional and the class of your choice. Watch for registration information in September.
Child care is offered for a small fee for children ages 6 months to 5 years. Mothers with children under 6 months are invited to bring their infants to class with them.

For further information, please email Charlene Foster or contact her at 604-853-2663.

Evening Edition
7:00pm Thursday evenings

Evening Edition is a group of women who are active in the workforce and meet weekly in the Getaway to encourage each other and learn together. The evening starts with coffee and refreshments at 7:00pm, followed by a time of study and prayer. Watch for more information in September.

Please email Kathy Moodie or contact her at 604-308-1951 for further information.

First Time Moms
1:00-3:00pm Wednesday afternoons

Becoming a mom for the first time is a joyful and also challenging transition. You're invited to join other new mothers and their babies on Wednesday afternoons for a time of connecting, sharing and learning. Our schedule generally alternates weekly between a slightly structured teaching time, and a more relaxed "play date" at the park or the church. First Time Moms is taking a break over the summer months, but will start again in September.

For more information and schedule details, please email Melissa Cruikshanks
or contact her at 604-556-2270, or email Charlene Foster or contact her at 604-853-2663.

Thursday Play Group
9:30-11:00am Thursday mornings

If you're looking for relaxed place to come where your young children can play and you can meet other moms, come to the church nursery on Thursday mornings. Sometimes we also meet at the park or plan group outings. For more information, email Kelly Ens or contact her at 604-557-1927.

Prayer Blankets
9:00-11:00am Wednesday mornings

Our prayer blanket ministry is one practical way we show God's love to people in need. Meeting in the board room, women create fleece blankets by cutting and knotting the edges. As they make the blankets, they pray for the person who will be receiving it. The blankets are given along with a note expressing the hope that the warmth of the blanket will remind them of the warmth of God's love. The blankets are distributed with the help of partners in the local community. The prayer blanket class has finished up for this year, and will start again in the fall.

For more information contact the church office 604-853-2663.

Meals and Necessities

Susan Schlaak

Mon, 7 Jul 2008 9:03:31 PDT

Susan is our book keeper since May 2008. She grew up on a dairy farm in Alberta but has been enjoying beautiful British Columbia for the past 17 years. Her time is spent with her family, her dog, her quilts and her sewing machine.

Susan's favorite ice cream is Tiger.

Staff

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:15:16 PDT

Meet the Staff of South Abbotsford Church:

Dan Nicholson
lead pastor
email Dan

Jake and Anne Dyck
pastors of caring ministries
email Jake and Anne

Connie Siebert
pastor of worship arts
email Connie

Development and Equipping

Ed Balzer
pastor of development and equipping
email Ed

Charlene Foster
pastor of women's ministries
email Charlene

Outreach and Integration

Doug Harder
pastor of outreach and integration
email Doug

David Manuel
pastor of indo-evangelism and communication
email David

Harinder Sahota
pastor of indo-canadian ministries
email Harinder

Student and Family Life

Matt Ewert
pastor of student and family life
email Matt

Wanda Nikkel
pastor of children's ministries
email Wanda

Jon Wiebe
pastor of high school ministries
email Jon

Jacki Zurowski
pastor of middle school and kidstuf
email Jacki

Support Staff

Monica Dowedoff
executive assistant
email Monica

Lisa Eby
administrative assistant
email Lisa

Susan Schlaak
bookkeeper
email Susan

Sylvia Pauls
administrative assistant
email Sylvia

Eleonore Toews
administrative assistant
email Eleonore

Theresa Unrau
communications coordinator
email

3d Classes

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:16:47 PDT

Why "3d"?

It has often been said that we have a God-shaped vacuum in our souls. We long to have that vacuum filled, but most often we tend to be satisfied with just the basics of faith that leave us unsatisfied. The result is a sense of emptiness that won't go away. But God longs to take us away from our spiritual snorkeling and wants to take us deeper with Him - call it spiritual scuba-diving.

That's what the Integrated Learning Center is all about and that's why we're inviting you to "3d" - Disciples Diving Deeper. If we're to dive more deeply into God, we'll need to be trained and equipped just like scuba divers. "3d" exists to help us experience God in fresh and new ways, giving us life that can't help but be shared with our family, friends and colleagues.

New Opportunities will begin again in the fall! Check back for details in September.

Identity and Beliefs

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 12:03:34 PDT

Values

Room to Grow
Worship that Awakens ... Learning that Enlarges ... Teaching that Transforms

Room to Reach
Words and Works that Win the World

Room to Connect
Caring Community that Cultivates Christ-like Character

Room to Worship
Being a re-charging station celebrating and experiencing our living God.

Room to Care
Providing a place for love, caring and forgiveness in a world where people are hit and run over by life.

MB Confession of Faith

We believe in God as eternal Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God created and sustains the universe. The eternal purpose of God the Father is to create a people who will bring glory to God forever. God alone is worthy of worship.

We believe that God became human in Jesus Christ. Jesus came to restore the world because humans have rejected God in disobedience. Jesus taught and modeled the way of God's kingdom. He died on the cross, making it possible for us to accept a renewed relationship with God. He rose from the dead, broke the power of sin and death, and frees us to live in obedience to God's will.

We believe that God the Holy Spirit invites all people to be reconciled with God and to join the global family of faith. Believers confess their faith, are baptized, and join in the celebration of the Lord's Supper. Through the power of the Holy Spirit and guided by the Bible, members of the church seek to live as followers of Christ and invite others to experience this new life.

As Christians we are called to turn:

from ignorance of God to a personal relationship with God

from bondage of sin and past mistakes to freedom, forgiveness, and healing

from individualism to interdependence with others in the local church

from lifestyle choices that harm us, others, and the earth to choices that nurture wholeness, healing, joy and peace

from hating enemies and ignoring neighbours to showing love and justice to all

from loving possessions to sharing with all in need

from aimless existence to a mission of representing and proclaiming God's kingdom on earth.

Canadian Conference

BC Conference

As Christians we look forward to the day when God will once again send Jesus to bring all things under God's eternal rule.

What A Typical Service Looks Like

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:47:59 PDT

Our weekend services are a time where, as a community of diverse people, we all meet together to worship God.

As you go through the doors and enter the foyer, one of our greeters will welcome you with a handshake. If you have any questions, you can ask them or someone at the Information Booth which is immediately inside the foyer on your left side.

The sanctuary where the Worship Services take place is entered directly off the foyer. As you enter the sanctuary, an usher will greet you and offer you a bulletin. The weekly bulletin has information on different ministries and events that are happening at South Abbotsford Church and also in the community. You will be able to seat yourself wherever you feel comfortable whether it's near the back or up at the front of the sanctuary.

Our services usually begin with a time of worship where a Worship Band, consisting of piano, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, drums and singers, leads the congregation in lively, as well as, reflective music. Usually, the congregation is asked to stand during the singing time and a variety of responses are seen throughout the congregation from clapping and raising hands, to participation through observation. We encourage you to participate however you feel led.

We value prayer and supporting each other in prayer. Each weekend during the worship time, our prayer team will be available at the front to pray with you. The steps at the front of the sanctuary are also open if you would rather pray on your own.

During the service, we will also have a time for the giving of our financial resources. We call it an offering and, as a visitor, you are not obligated or expected to contribute. During offering time, offering plates are passed along each pew and people place their donations in the plate as it passes them. Many people also give electronically through a preauthorized payment plan.

Each weekend, one of our Pastors hosts the service and will highlight some things that are happening in the church through an announcement time.

About 10 - 20 minutes into the service, the children ages 3 - Grade 5 will be released to go to their Kids' Quest classes. They always eagerly run out to go participate in their fun, hands-on Bible teaching. Our Kids' Quest volunteers all are required to complete a criminal record check and are actively involved and committed to South Abbotsford Church.

There is also a nursery for children approximately 6 months - 2 years to play in a supervised setting. Our nursery volunteers are mainly parents of babies and toddlers but also include others who enjoy working with this age group. All of our nursery volunteers have undergone a criminal background check. There is an electronic number system, where your child's check-in number will appear if

Contact Us

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:33:15 PDT

32424 Huntingdon Rd.
Abbotsford, BC
V2T 5Z1
Phone: 604-853-2663
Fax: 604-854-2043
office@southabbotsford.com

Map

Our Summer Service Times
Saturday 6:30pm
Sunday 9:00am
Sunday 11:00am

New To SAC?

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:04:34 PDT

Welcome!

We are glad that you have chosen to join us! We understand that visiting a church can be hard to do, but we look forward to meeting you!

Here is some information you may like to know:
Service Times and Directions More Information about KIDstuf
More Information about Kids' Quest and Nursery What a typical service looks like Free coffee and snacks at 10:00am, between Sunday Services

Youth this Summer

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 11:32:14 PDT

Middle School Link

High School Link

Young Adults Link

How to listen

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:41:19 PDT

Please make sure you have quick time downloaded to your computer.

Select the first or second option to include itunes or not.
De-select the options to give them permission to send you newsletters if you don't want them.
Click Free Download Now.

Then your computer will download and run the mp3 option when selected.

Ed Balzer

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 19:46:20 PDT

Ed and Ev are proud to be the parents of three adult daughters, all married; Alison and Mike, Jen and Rob, and Erin and Dan. Currently, they are busy spoiling their grandchildren. He has been in ministry at SAC for over twenty years.

Ed's hobbies are coaching basketball, golfing (badly) and reading. Together Ed and Ev enjoy short-term missions assignments and traveling.

His favorite ice cream flavor is stratiatella.

VBS

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 8:47:19 PDT

Power Lab
Discovering Jesus' Miraculous Power!

VBS July 7-11
9-11:30am

New friends, amazing crafts, wacky snacks, mind-blowing bible adventures, hyperspeed games, incredible music!

Registration begins May 31 for children entering Kindergarten - Grade 5 in Sept. 2008.
Cost: $20/child $15/sibling

Call the church office to register (604) 853-2663.