Foothills Alliance Church | Video

If Jesus Was Serious - Matt. 5:45: Storms.  They happen. Right now, British Columbia is praying that they'll happen! But, sadly, any hope of rain appears to be accompanied by lightning.   It's how we feel at times. We know rain has value, but sometimes that rain seems to be excessive and sometimes appears to bring other unwanted realities with it.  Jesus, speaking to those listeners on the mountain, reminded them and us in Matthew 5:45 that it rains on both the righteous and the unrighteous. Just because we have Jesus in our lives doesn't mean that we get a “free pass” on unexpected storms. So, how, do we cope when life goes sideways or when unwelcomed storms surge in our souls?  From some beautiful words from Jesus, we will remember the heart of the Father and find comfort, courage, peace and hope! I so hope you will be able to join us this weekend as we gather around the best table in the world and consider the love of the Father for each of us.   I'm looking forward to finding God's grace and peace in the midst of the storm this weekend! With love and expectation and buckets of gratitude, Pastor Ian  

If Jesus Was Serious - Matt. 5:38-48: A dear friend sent me a note after last weekend's message and said something to this effect: “Didn't the text for this weekend include verses 31 and 32 where Jesus talked about divorce?  Does that mean we get a whole weekend on it next weekend? Lord knows enough of us are curious about it!”  Essentially, reading between the lines of the text, she might have been calling me a coward! So, this weekend I will anchor the rest of Matthew 5 on Jesus' teaching on divorce. As is often the case, I can hardly wait to hear what I have to say about the whole subject! I so look forward to connecting with you this weekend. Be blessed, be well and be connected. Pastor Ian  

If Jesus Was Serious - Matt 5:21-30: Demographic surveys indicate an increasing number of people who rarely attend a faith-based service. The fastest growing religious group appears to be a group called “nones” – those who have no religious affiliation. Some cry “persecution” and assume the posture of victim. I've studied the life of Jesus pretty closely, I see no victim mindset within him. Others are hunkering down for a political battle Some accuse us of losing our influence in culture because we've taken Jesus and his Word too seriously.   But what if we have it backwards?  What if our problem isn't that “we've taken Jesus too seriously” and what if our problem is, as Skye Jethani writes, that “we haven't taken Jesus seriously enough?”  What if our culture's judgement on Christianity isn't the result of obeying Jesus, but the result of ignoring him? Join me this weekend as we continue our sermon series, “If Jesus was serious.” I so look forward to connecting with you in person or online this weekend.  

If Jesus Was Serious - Matt. 5:1-16: How many of you have had someone offer to pay for a coffee or a meal for you and you responded awkwardly with: “are you sure?” Has the person ever changed their mind after you asking that?   I'm not sure if we say that because we're polite or we have trouble receiving a gift. Either way, when we consider it, it's an odd response to a generous offer.   I find the Sermon on the Mount to be part of the bible where I read through it, feel somewhat like I miss the mark and want to ask Jesus: “are you sure?” For those who want to take Jesus seriously, this is a tough few chapters to work through practically. So here we are asking the question: what if Jesus was serious? Would something have to change? The Church? Us? Me?   Let's get into it this weekend. See you online or in person!  

Love Where You Live - 1 Peter 3:15: I was thinking that I should name this message, "How Do You Like Your Neighbour?" as focus on engaging  with  the  people God brings into our lives. This made me think of the one and only – Mr. Rogers! Don't we all miss him, at least a little? Mr. Rogers taught us so many things in life. He taught us to be kind, that were special, that we're to accept  people  as they  are.  He taught  us that haircuts don't  hurt, though  I don't  think he  ever saw my father's handiwork with an electric razor! This weekend I'm going to ask you a very important question: How do you like your neighbours? On your street?  In your biology class? At your gym? At church? Do you like them enough to start a conversation? Do you like  them enough to pray for them? Join us this weekend as we conclude our series, Love Where You Live. You can join us either online or in person, either way you don't want to miss it! I so look forward to connecting with you this week. Be kind, be blessed and be thankful. Pastor Ian  

Love Where You Live - Luke 15:11-31: This weekend we continue our Love Where You Live emphasis. We will take time to honour Fathers for their influence in our lives realizing. Sadly, we also recognize some people can't join in such a celebration due to an absent father, or one who failed to offer care and nurture along the way.   Our time in God's word will find us focusing on the Father Heart of God in a story Jesus told to challenge the status quo of his day. The Lord has challenging words for us as we consider what it means to be embraced by our heavenly Father's love and blessed by his endless grace. We will also pause to consider his unrelenting desire to draw to himself, those who are lost to the experience of his unconditional love.  

Love Where You Live - Luke 10:25-37: This pandemic has been long, and for many, incredibly difficult. But, there have also been blessings with COVID-19. I'm healthier today than I've been in years — I weigh what I weighed when I got married! And I've met remarkable people along the way. I've got to know a man who's fairly new to Foothills who taught for years at the Medical School at the U of C. He's bright, brilliant, kind and thoughtful. As we talked, he told  me about the primary thing he tried to teach his emerging proteges. Two words he said every physician needs to embrace, which is the central message of todays teaching: Kindness and diligence. Join us this weekend and together we'll dive into Luke 10:25-37. If you haven't heard yet, we're resuming our in-person worship services, and I would love to see you! You can register by going to myfoothills.ca/register, or by clicking your preferred time below. If you're not ready to join in person, we would love to connect with you online. However you tune in, this message is incredibly important and you don't want to miss it! Be well, be kind and be diligent, Pastor Ian

Love Where You Live - Matt. 22:37-40: In everything you do, God is present. Everywhere you go, you are a child of God, a servant to Jesus, and sent by the Spirit. Everything counts. Christ plays a role in the everyday stuff of life. As Jesus saturates our lives, they change. Often the change is not what we do, but how we do them. The focus of our lives shifts from ourselves to God and his mission. Instead of serving ourselves and building our own kingdoms, we bless others and seek Jesus' kingdom. In other words, we live the rhythms of everyday life with gospel intentionality. Gospel intentionality is doing the ordinary activities of life under the rule and reign of Jesus, for Jesus, and with the power of the Holy Spirit. This weekend my good friend Jerry and I will share our love for where we live and take a look at five practices that help us reorient the everyday moments of life around Jesus and his mission and bring us opportunities to B.L.E.S.S. the people around us – our neighbours. Even in a pandemic, the mission of Jesus is simply unstoppable when every one of his followers recognizes the opportunities around them and the responsibility before them to help neighbour experience the love of Jesus.

All You Need Is Love - Hebrews 13:4-6: This weekend, I'll be teaching a topic I rarely preach about: sex, singleness and surrender. Human life and sexuality aren't just behaviours –  it's about beliefs, and ultimately, about the way we view the world and determine how we will respond to it. The language centers around the concept of a worldview.  Everyone has one. It comes from  a Germanic word:  Weltenshauung, which means our comprehensive conception or image of the world around us and how we relate to it. In every decision we make or opinion we hold on to, we are not just deciding what we will do,  we are revealing what we believe, what we value and who we trust most in life. Our moral choices in life cannot be viewed as a single action, but rather as an expression of what we believe about life itself about God himself. 

All You Need Is Love - Romans 12:9-21: How have your relationships been this last year and a half? Have you felt tensions because of the circumstances in Alberta and the rest of the world? When was the last time you had a conversation with a friend where you disagreed on vaccinations, restrictions, politics, ethics etc.? How did it go? What did it make you feel? We've seen polarization cause relational tension in close friend circles in the past few years that I personally have never experienced. It's affected all of us. And to be honest, I've seen this tension handled really terribly. As the church, we are called to an ethic of love that counters society's ethic. Where personalities are cancelled over old tweets and pro mask or anti-vax stances and voices are muted in the comment section because they disagree with us, we are called to sit in these places of tension and love those who disagree with us. Romans gives us a great road map to that. This weekend we're engaging in this heavier subject matter with the hope of seeing our community become increasingly more compelling by the love of Christ that a broken world and in places, a broken church, desperately needs. Pastor Andrew

All You Need Is Love - Exodus 20:12: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right.”  Words that easily make any teenager cringe! What about when they don’t understand?  Or they’re being unreasonable? Or they are just plain wrong? I said last weekend that “parents are not always right but they’re always necessary.”  We’ll talk about that this weekend. We’ll also talk about the shift from obeying our parents to honouring our parents. This, too, is fraught with complexity. For many of us, it is an honour and a privilege to honour our parents. They make this very easy. But in some cases, our parents haven’t been quite as “honourable.”  What are we to do then? It will be a weekend to figure out how to parent our parents! Having two of them myself, I can hardly wait to hear what I’ll have to say! I hope it will be a weekend that encourages the heart and strengthens the home.  I hope you’ll be able to join with us! Be blessed, be safe and be well. Pastor Ian  

All You Need Is Love - 1 Thess. 5: Mother’s Day – one of the more terrifying days for many husbands and children. How do we find a way to honour the woman who birthed us or our children? How do we find a card to express the measure of gratitude we feel? But we remember that Mom’s can also feel angst on a day like this. Am I being that parent who obsesses on secondary issues and neglects primary things? Am I going to parent the way my parents parented?! We all talk (jokingly mostly) about how our parents scarred us for life! How are we damaging our children?! This weekend we’ll visit a very non-parental text from 1 Thess. 5 and consider what God might want to say to us about our role in our families. We’ll honour our Moms and we’ll embrace God’s truth for building healthier and happier homes. Parenting is certainly a journey – always has been and always will be. It takes courage. It takes hope. It takes Jesus to get it right. This will be a weekend filled with hope. I so look forward to being online with you! Be blessed, be safe and be well.    

All You Need Is Love - Ruth 1: This weekend we commence a new series on ‘Relationships,’ and rightly so! Covid has placed incredible pressure on our households over the past year and, to some extent, our relationships have borne the brunt of the disruption around us.  It is fitting to be reminded that  through our relationships with each other,  we can experience God’s presence practically and powerfully. Specifically, we will be focusing on the uniqueness of marriage, unpacking foundational principles that allow us to look afresh and anew at a union that reflects Jesus relationship to his bride, the church!   Twelve church couples were surveyed related to their marital experience and their feedback is reflected in our message. Through digging into Eph. 5:21-33 and Eccl 4:8-12, we will see how the principles of submission, synergy, support, security and strength emerge in God’s design for a healthy marriage.    

How to Pray - 2 Corinthians 12:1-10: Most of us would easily agree that prayer is a beautiful, sacred and comforting reality in our lives. But we would also just as quickly acknowledge that it is also a complicated, confusing and mysterious reality. Those latter emotions especially arise when our prayers seem to go unanswered, when God seems eerily silent or when life becomes unthinkably unmanageable.   What do we do with the reality of unanswered prayer? Intellectually, we know that God is not a divine vending machine that spits out blessings when we insert a token prayer. But that knowledge can feel shallow and hollow when our prayers come from a desperate place and silence seems to be the overwhelming response to our requests. This weekend, we’ll take a dive into the mystery of prayer once again and try to honestly talk about our conversations with God -- even when it's  frustrating at times. I’m praying that we will find hope, faith, courage and peace to deal with the disappointment of unanswered prayer (from our perspective!), and that we will find that ability to trust the Father even when we don’t fully understand what is happening. I so look forward to being with you this weekend! Be blessed, be safe and be well! Ian  

How to Pray - Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 23:46, John 4:24-37: Prayer.  The very word so easily evokes a sense of guilt, inadequacy and disappointment.  But it also reflects a struggle we desperately know we need to understand.  As one writer says, “there’s no one on a plane that’s going down who isn’t praying.”  Is prayer intended only for moments of utter desperation and despair?   Last weekend, we were wonderfully reminded that everyone prays  some of the time and some of us are learning to pray all the time.  This weekend, I want us to look at the prayer that I believe defined Jesus’ life more than any other prayer.  I call it “the real Lord’s prayer.”  It’s the prayer that gives life and purpose and clarity to every other prayer we might pray.  It’s the prayer that gives hope and courage and strength and peace.   I pray you’ll find time to join us this weekend to consider the most authentic prayer we could ever pray.  We’ll be encouraged.  We’ll be informed.  We’ll be strengthened.  And our amazing God will be honoured in our midst! Be blessed, be safe, be well and be prayerful! Can’t wait to be together this weekend! Pastor Ian

How to Pray - Luke 11:1-9: How’s your prayer life? What did you feel when you read that? Did you feel guilt? Did you feel indifference? Did you feel encouraged because you remembered to pray today? It’s a weighty question. It’s like being asked how your workouts are going when you haven’t been working out. Prayer is an incredibly universal act. Everyone prays – even atheists pray! It might look different depending on someone’s culture or belief system, but everyone prays. Some see it as a way to change themselves for the better (mindfulness) and some see it as using it to make the world better. Let’s reframe the question. No manipulation and no coercion. If you were to pray, what would you pray? Do you know why you would pray? What would you hope happened because you prayed? Do you know how to pray? Luke 11 is about Jesus’ answer on how to pray. There’s a lot in it, but God has invited us to know him and respond to his love for us. Join us this weekend to learn more about this. See you then! Pastor Andrew and Student Ministries Intern Jason    

Easter Sunday: If you spend  any time  in  a  corporate  world,  you'll  be familiar  with  the concept  of annual evaluations where we are often graded with “fails to meet expectations"  or "meets expectations" or “exceeds expectations.” As a student, I remember being evaluated with letter grades,  and,  as  I remember  it,  the  only  A's" I  got  on  my report cards read something like, " A much better effort  is  required  if  Ian  wants to pass  this course." Join us this weekend as we celebrate the risen Christ. We’ll dive into why pursuing Jesus allows us to live a life marked by peace, hope, purpose and passion. I so look forward to seeing you online or in person. Be safe, be well and be blessed. Pastor Ian

Disrupted - John 12:12-19: Our world is full of stories of super heroes who face overwhelming odds, diabolical enemies and come out victorious. I remember the classic Batman movies with tacky captions like WHAM and KAPOW inserted over Batman, as he overpowers one more bad guy. Our lives don’t look much like those stories, but we all want to be saved from an enemy or two. We all need to be saved. But what kind of hero do we really need? This weekend the greatest hero of all time rides into town, but he looks nothing like what we’ve been told a hero should look like. Join us weekend as we encounter and worship Jesus, and begin our journey with him though Holy Week Pastor Carla

Disrupted - Phil 4:14: Dallas Willard writes in his newest book, “Life Without Lack,” that the phrase “the Lord is my Shepherd” is a sentiment that is “sadly carved on tombstones more than it is a reality written in daily lives.” Can we really say, “I shall not want” any more in life? A life free of insatiable desire, a life marked by inner peace, a life where we want for nothing or lack nothing, a life marked by contentment and hope, no matter what happens – no matter what comes our way? Join us this weekend as we dive into “The Gift,” and together we’ll examine Phil 4:14. We’ll see how grace received always results in grace extended. I so look forward to connecting with you online or in person this weekend. Be kind, be well and be gracious Pastor Ian

Disrupted - Phil 4:13: One year ago today we postponed our in-person services. It’s been a year like no other.  Pandemic. Online church. Zoom meetings and our new most common phrase:  “You’re on mute!” For some, it’s been incredibly challenging to experience any form of happiness. But what would it look like if we stopped focusing on what’s happening around us, and instead lived a life of contentment – not dependant on external circumstances? Robert Hughes wrote scathing critique of our culture a few years ago called, “The Culture of Complaint.”  His thesis was that: We live in a society where people perceive themselves to be entitled to having all desires fulfilled.  We take this to be part of our birthright.  We accord ourselves victim status when it doesn’t happen.  We live in the culture of complaint.  It forms our hearts and minds This is going to be an incredibly important weekend, you don’t want to miss it. Whether we connect online or in person this weekend, I am so excited for what we’ll learn together. Be safe, be healthy, be content.  

Disrupted - Phil. 4:8-9: Hey Foothills family, You’re on my mind.  I’ve been wondering how you’re doing.  It won’t be long before I’ll see some of your faces again as we reengage with in-person worship services next week Sunday.  I think of you often.  We miss you all. You know, our ability to feel and reason, to dream and create, to analyze and decide is a fascinating and holy part of our humanity. Having a thought life separates us from other parts of God’s creation. Though we cannot touch it, we all know, that what happens in our heads is real.  So, does what and how we think matter to God?  The Apostles Paul seemed to think that what we allow in our minds matters a lot.  Join me and the team this weekend as we explore Phil 4:8-9 and the importance of navigating the preoccupation of our thoughts in a way that honours our calling as Jesus followers.

Disrupted - Phil 4:6,7: If there was a condition that describes us all during this global pandemic, it would be one of anxiousness. Sociologists claim that a breakdown in social connectedness and the presence of external environmental threats only intensifies our feelings - go figure!   But in such a time as this, God’s word speaks volumes into our lives in such a dynamic and practical manner. Our message focuses on Phil 4:6-7 where Paul contends that we should “not be anxious in anything.”  But how can he say this, when being anxious seems to be part and parcel with the experience of simply being human!? As we dig into this text we will consider ‘was Jesus ever anxious?’ If so, how did he deal with his feelings? We will also unpack the provision of God’s peace to help us find calm in our chaotic world.

Disrupted - Phil. 3:15-21: Thirty years ago City Slickers arrived on our big screen. The movie follows a group of guys from New York who were disillusioned with life, career, kids and marriage. Mitch, a guy who has never left the city, has this profound moment with Curly – the poster child for a cool, rugged, rough cowboy. As Mitch tries to make sense of his disappointing life, Curly asks him “Do you know what the secret of life is?” Mitch shrugs “no” and Curly holds up one finger.  He says only one thing matters in life. When Mitch asks what that one thing is, Curly responds “That’s what you have to find out!” This weekend we will examine Phil. 3:15-21. We will be challenged to define what our one thing is, and what it ultimately should be. I can’t wait to “see” you online this weekend. Be safe, be well and be focused on the One who loves us most! Pastor Ian    

Disrupted - Phil 3:11: John Maxwell defines success as “when those who know you best love you most” and while that’s a good start, is success only about being loved by others? Isn’t there a higher standard to strive for? A greater legacy to leave? A higher purpose to give our lives to? Many of us use the image or metaphor of climbing the ladder of success … but I wonder if some of our ladders are leaning up against the wrong wall? This weekend, we will continue through the book of Philippians, looking at Phil. 3:11. We'll look at a very powerful expression from Paul's life, a page from his journal where he talks about what success in life looks like. I'm so excited to "see" you online this weekend. Be blessed, be well, be safe!

Disrupted - Phil. 2:19-30: Have you ever considered how many different people there are in the world? Morning and night people, those who believe camping includes tents and people who believe it involves five-star hotels. There are dog people and cat people, people who love coffee and those who trust Jesus for motivation. There’s even people who love sweater vests, and people with poor fashion sense. Humans are immensely diverse with a plethora of interests, aptitudes, temperaments and passions. And yet, there is one interest we all share: self-interest. This week we’ll examine what it means to be “all in” for Jesus. Please join us for an incredibly important message that will challenge us to live a life marked by having a servant heart. Together, journey through Philippians 2:19-30 and hear from Foothills Family International Workers. You can join us at foothillsalliance.tv. Be blessed, be well and be kind!  

Disrupted - Phil. 2:13: How many of you have a love/hate relationship with exercise? We know it’s good for us, but it’ so hard to be motivated and disciplined to stay the course! Well, in our text in Phil. 2:12-18, Paul uses an athletic metaphor when he challenges us to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling.” What does that mean? Are we to work for our salvation? Obviously no, we’re saved by grace and grace alone. But we are to “work out” our salvation and this weekend, we’ll talk about what it means. Just a heads up to free you from unnecessary guilt … try not to complain or grumble this weekend. It will be better for you when you engage in church! It really is going to be an awesome and inspiring weekend! I so look forward to being together online. Great things are happening! Be safe! Be well! Be connected! Pastor Ian

Disrupted - Phil. 2:1-11: Disruptions impact us deeply in almost every area of our lives. But few match the emotional complexity of a disruption at home. It seems we can navigate bumps in life with courage and grace, but when they happen at home, they leave a much deeper mark.  This week's message from Phil. 2:1-11 teaches us how to treat the people God brings across our paths. It also addresses our fundamental need in life, to learn to care for others over self. This weekend, we’ll talk about what an other’s first orientation looks like, and how to find that in a "me first" world. It will be encouraging and challenging, and I so look forward to visiting with you in your home as we gather for church!   Be safe, be blessed, be connected!   Pastor Ian

Disrupted - Phil 1:27: Decision Making 101. There ought to be a course taught at every post-secondary institution on how to make great decisions that result in great legacies. I don’t know too much about Maya Angelou (other than the fact that she wrote seven autobiographies, which seems slightly narcissistic to me!) but I love her thought that, “We may not control all the events that happen to us, but we can decide not to be reduced by them.” We are not the sum of our circumstances, but we are deeply shaped by the kinds of choices we make in life.  Paul’s words to the Philippians in chapter 1, verse 27 begin with “whatever happens.” It’s not a fatalistic statement of resignation but rather a strong statement of resolve to trust God no matter what comes our way. Out of that resolve come three fantastic truths that will serve as a great foundation for our lives. We get to look at them this weekend! I look forward to joining you in your living room as we worship Jesus together and follow the prompts of the blessed Holy Spirit! It may not feel like “Decision Making 101” but we will be encouraged! Have a great weekend. Stay safe. Stay well. Stay connected. Pastor Ian

Disrupted - Phil. 1:12-26: How are you doing with these restrictions? If the word “restrictions” triggered an emotional reaction in you, I want you to recognize it. Why does it make you feel that way? What’s at play in your soul? Why do these restrictions have the effect they do? My best guess is because they have disrupted the way we live. Our comfortable lives that we’ve grown to love and depend on have been changed. So, here’s what we’re going to do in our time this weekend: anchor ourselves in the Bible and change our focus. I’m going to give you tools to help you flourish in restrictions and outside restrictions. Not so everything goes away. Not so that emotions stop being felt. But, so we are fixated on the One who needs to be focused on. Here’s why: the restrictions placed on us do not restrict God of the universe. He will not stop moving because we have. It is possible to flourish amidst restrictions because of the One who cannot be restricted. See you this weekend! Pastor Andrew

Disrupted - Philippians 1:1-11: With 2020 behind us, we look forward with great expectation to a New Year. Not only is it a new year, it brings hope to an end of the devastating impact the COVID-19 virus has had on our world. There is no better place in God’s Word to commence our New Year, than in the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi… and a new series of messages entitled ‘Disrupted.’ Paul writes these words, socially isolated from his dear friends, in very much the same manner we have had to experience this holiday season. Our lives, traditions and rhythms of everyday life have been disrupted. It is within this experience however, Paul offers hope that through the love of God we can ‘discern what is best’ for the coming year. God has a plan and a partnership for us to embrace in 2021! Join me this weekend, as we dive into Philippians. I can’t wait to “see” you online! Pastor Tim

For Unto Us - 2 Peter 1:1-11: We'll also gather online for Church on Sunday. I'll get to teach one of the greatest passages of the Bible, which I’ve sadly never taught here before: 2 Peter 1:1-11. Here, we will discover that God is more than enough for whatever we face in life! Be blessed. Be safe. Be grateful. Be amazed! Pastor Ian

For Unto Hope - Isaiah 53: I love celebrating communion at Christmas! It builds such a remarkable bridge between the wonder of Christmas and the sacred hope of Easter. Hope is a bit of an endangered species for us all these days. We're all struggling with Christmas plans, how to care for loved ones, what we can do and what we cannot do. I've fallen in love with the line from "O Holy Night" that because of Jesus, even this "weary world rejoices!" There still is reason for joy - there still is cause for hope - there still is the gift of peace. I hope you'll be able to join us for online church this weekend and for our Christmas Eve services on Thursday. We will do our best to sing the carols, read the scriptures and remember why Jesus came and how he still comes to us today. Have a blessed week of Christmas! May whatever ends up under our tree remind us of the greatest gift of all, the One who hung on a tree so we could truly find joy - even in a weary world! Be safe. Be blessed. Be well. Be joyful! Pastor Ian

For Unto Shepherds - Overview: There are few things I enjoy more than a Foothills Worship Arts Production at Christmas! Despite all the chaos and restrictions of our current pandemic, our staff and volunteers have once again, magically and creatively, put together an original presentation. This production offers us a view on Christmas from the perspective of four shepherds. It is creatively called "For Shepherds" and portrays four potential options in navigating the realities of life. Spoiler alert: one is better than the others! Using another Adam Schnell masterpiece of writing, Rebecca Schnell and Mark Holmes have put together a powerful Christmas drama that will draw us into the heart of the story, and specifically, to our response to the story. The gift of Christmas is intended for all people - even marginalized shepherds. The play will, obviously, be presented online. But the impact will not be compromised. I encourage you to join with us this weekend to reflect upon this critical story and message. It will be available for your viewing Friday and Saturday night at 7pm and Sunday at 9 and 11 am. I know you'll be grateful you tuned in. Bless you and invite someone you care for to watch as well! Stay safe, be encouraged and take care of others! Pastor Ian

For Unto Us - Isaiah 9:6-7: Today the sun will set at 4:30pm, and by 5:30pm it will look like it's midnight outside. These dark days reinforce the practices of the Advent season. Reflecting on the darkness around and within us, allow what we discover stir our longing for God to break in with his light. The people of Israel understood that deep longing. In their season of darkness, Isaiah spoke words of hope, the promise of a child to come go them, and for us. I'm excited for our Foothills Kids to join us this weekend. They will help us to answer the questions, "Who is this child given for us?" and "How will he deliver us?" Come, let's gather together to wait for his coming. Pastor Carla

The Garden Path - Eph. 5:8-20: Every day, we face a divided reality. We live with Paul's confession in Romans 7:15, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate, I do." It's our personal "civil war" - the "every person challenge." Have you ever struggled with this? I know I have. Elie Wiesel brilliantly wrote, "Ultimately, the only power to which man should aspire is that which he exercises over himself." Is there an area in our life right now where you are most profoundly aware of your lack of self-control? Is there a dimension of your journey where you long for God to give you more discipline and direction? It is my prayer that this week we will better learn how to make great choices in life, embracing every opportunity and pursuing God above everything else. We will examine Ephesians 5:8-20 and what it means to have self-control. This is the last sermon of our series "The Garden Path," and I deeply look forward to what we will learn together. Be blessed, be safe and take care of each other.

The Garden Path - Matthew 11: This weekend, our Garden Path leads us to the eighth of nine fruits of the Spirit - gentleness. This is something all of us need in these challenging times. Whenever you think or need gentleness, think Jesus. If you feel broken or bruised, God will not step on you or toss you aside. Rather, he is always there, arms outstretched, saying, "Come to me, all who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. I am humble and gentle and you will find rest for your soul." (Matt:11) Jesus is our rest, and we find hope in the everlasting arms of a gentle Saviour. Join us with expectancy, to not only receive a gentle touch, but be motivated to extend gentleness ourselves to those around us who are in need of the Saviour. Pastor Jerry

The Garden Joy - Romans 12:9-21: Have you ever allowed doubt and cynicism to dominate your mindset? You may have found yourself saying or thinking, "I'll believe it when I see it." Our world is complicated - our COVID world even more. For many, the government's decision on Thursday was welcome news. For others, it was devastating. It's so easy to lose our sense of trust. It's so easy to wonder or question whether God is truly attentive to the little details in our lives. This weekend, we'll dive into the seventh fruit of the Spirit - faithfulness. We'll examine what it looks like to live a faithful life that honours God. I'm so looking forward to seeing you online for Saturday's service, or in person on Sunday morning at 9 & 11am. Be glad, be well and be faithful. Pastor Ian

The Garden Joy - Matthew 6:10: There's been no shortage of definitions or descriptions about the concept of "the good life." We've written books on it, made movies about it, we even named an entire fitness franchise after it. But what does it truly mean to live well? We're in the sixth week of our Garden Path series, and this weekend we'll be looking at Matthew 6:10. It is my prayer that we would come out of this weekend desiring to see the world as God sees it. That we will be compelled to embrace the priorities and passions he calls us to embrace. Come learn what happens when we fully hand over all our dreams, hopes and desires to the One who gave his life for us. I so look forward to seeing you either online for our Saturday service, or in person at our Sunday services. Be blessed, be safe and be good. Pastor Ian

The Garden Joy - Luke 10:25-37: This weekend on "The Garden Path," we will encounter the fifth fruit of the Spirit-led life - the fruit of kindness. We will be introduced to an old friend we all know of, the Good Samaritan, and an Old Testament hero none of us know about, "Ebed-Melek, the Cushite." We will learn about the power of a kind life from both of them. There are myriads of studies that prove that acts of kindness dramatically increase the quality of life for both the giver and the receiver. It's my prayer that we will be inspired to more deeply depend upon the Spirit, who pours out kindness in our lives, and that this gift will flow more frequently and intentionally out of our lives. Random acts of kindness are good. Intentional acts of kindness are even better! It will be a blessing to worship and reflect on God's presence and purpose in our lives together this weekend, either online or in person at 9am and 11am Sunday morning. Be blessed, be safe and be kind!

The Garden Joy - The Book of Genesis: Lord, give me patience, and give it to me NOW!" It's a prayer that we've probably thought of, and maybe have said. Patience is a commodity that we desperately need, but at times find it so difficult to discover. This weekend, we will dive into the fourth fruit of the spirit, the Spirit of Patience - sometimes called Forbearance. Our journey will be anchored in the story of Joseph from the book of Genesis. We'll talk about what happens when patience is lacking, and what happens when patience is discovered. We will do so in the shadow of the communion table, as we remember the One who embodied patience and trust - more than anyone else ever has. It will be great to see you in person if you can come to our service on Sunday, or to visit you in your living room online. Be blessed, be safe and be well. Pastor Ian

The Garden Joy - John 14:25-27: Peace in chaos. How have the last six to seven months been for you? One thing after another? Is disruption creating chaos in your home, your workplace, your neighbourhood? Let me ask you a question: if you could, what would you rather have? External peace or internal peace? It's a loaded question - because neither creates the other. But, internal peace can withstand external chaos. This week we're talking about peace as a fruit of the Spirit. I invite you to listen in. Jesus never promised external peace. What we're navigating now is a disruption of our normal. But no matter the chaos, Jesus promised peace accessible in him. We're going to look at that this weekend. Pastor Andrew

The Garden Joy - Philippians 4: One of Aesop's fables, the story of Androcles and the Lion, ends with the moral "gratitude is the sign of a noble soul." There is something powerfully attractive and soul-enhancing in being grateful and being around grateful people. This weekend from Phil. 4, we will examine the second manifestation of the Spirit's work in our lives - the fruit of joy. Whether you join us online this weekend or live in our Sunday 9 and 11am services (please pre-register!), we will give thanks to God for all his goodness, and we will explore a pathway to deeper joy together. Have a blessed Thanksgiving, and may our hearts be filled with the goodness of God in our lives. Be safe. Be blessed, be grateful.

The Garden Path - Galatians 5:22-23: Theologians say one of the critical capacities that reveals us being created in the image of God is the ability to make choices in life. Many of the choices are mundane and trivial, such as, what will I have for breakfast? Can I wear socks with sandles? (the answer is no). But others have much longer lasting implications. A good friend of mine constantly reminded his kids: "Show me your friends and I'll show you your future." These kinds of choices truly shape our destinies in significant ways. But there is one choice that matters more than any other in life: "What will we do with Jesus?" This choice has both eternal and temporal consequences. In many ways, this choice ultimately shapes every choice we will make in life. We are beginning a new teaching series that will take us through the next nine weekends. It is called "The Garden Path," and in it, we will dive deeper into the nine fruits of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5. This weekend we will touch on "love." Together, we'll set the context for how these fruit can become increasingly evident in our daily lives, as we'll consider the second most important decision in life - what we will do with the Holy Spirit, and will we allow him to direct our paths? It will be a great weekend, and you may want to read our text before church: Galatians 5:16-25. Whether you are able to join us in person at 9 or 11 am Sunday, or tune in online, I so look forward to worshipping our great God with you, and allowing him to speak into our stories. Regarding the in-person worship experience, please know we are doing everything we can to create the safest environment for you. It would help us if you pre-register and it is a remarkable joy for us to be together! Be safe. Be blessed and let's learn more about love this weekend! Pastor Ian

Dreams and Visions - Eph. 3:1-21: I'm old enough to remember the days before "self-service" gas stations emerged. We called them "Gas Jockeys" (or when they wanted to appear to be important: "Petroleum Transfer Engineers"). At the time, self-serve stations began to emerge, and people weren't sure they liked the idea. It seemed like a way to eliminate jobs and for gas companies to make more money. Yet what happened at the gas station took off in our culture. Other industries started adapting and cutting positions. Personal Banking arrived, which largely eliminated the need for tellers. Drive-through restaurants eliminated the need for servers. Automatic car washes emerged. When I was young, I woke up at 6am and ran milk to houses for the local milkman during summer. At the end of the day, he would pay me 50 cents and a pint of chocolate milk for my efforts. (I haven't thought about that for decades!) In so many ways, the self-serve industry has become the defining metaphor of our culture. We so often focus on serving ourselves and our agendas. Jesus taught a very different life approach in Matthew 20, and we will consider it this weekend. Whether you pre-register and join us at church this weekend or watch online, may our hearts be open to the transformational message that the truly great life is one invested in God's plan to change the world. I love gathering together!

Dreams and Visions - Galatians 5:13-15: No one would be surprised to learn we live in a "me first" world. Looking out for number one is a common mantra, and we all know how to count! This weekend we dive into the third pillar of our mission statement - the call to "reach neighbours." Jesus clearly, consistently and compellingly taught that the greatest life is one that serves others. We are truly called to be a "for others" church. In a world that mandates physical distancing, we'll spend some time from Galatians 5 focusing on what it means to love our neighbours. I do look forward to seeing you in church or online. If you plan to join us in service, remember to register to speed up the welcome process! Be safe, be blessed and be a blessing! Pastor Ian

Dreams and Visions - 1 Corinthians 12:12-27: Over the past six months, we've lost a lot of famous people who made an impact in this world. In March of this year, Bill Withers died of heart failure. Most of us don't know who Bill was, but we know some of his music. Songs like "Ain't no sunshine" and "Just the two of us" easily are memorable, but his best and most enduring work is the classic "Lean on me." The song has been recorded dozens of times by some of the music industry's greatest artists. Why? I think it's the message. For, "Sometimes in our lives, we all have pain, we all have sorrow," we need to be able to say: "Lean on me, when you're not strong, and I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on." The song ends with the admonition "Call Me" that is repeated 24 times! Do you have someone in your life to call? Are you someone others know they can call? We're going to focus on being connected in a physically-distant culture, and why it matters. Be blessed, and good luck getting this little song out of your mind! Sing it with joy! Bless you and I can't wait to see you in church on a Sunday (when the time is right for you!) Pastor Ian

Dreams and Visions - 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 Isaiah 6: I don't know if you've ever seen one of the Western Canada Lottery Corporation's brilliant advertising campaigns for their Lotto Max called, "Dream to the max." In the commercial, one lucky woman who had won the lottery was asked what she planned to do with all the money. When she suggests going on a vacation, she's told her dream isn't nearly grandiose enough. In the end, she ends up settling on buying a villa in Italy she names after herself, with a block of cheese that will last her village an entire year. "Why dream little when you can dream to the max?!" What kind of dreams do you have? What do you find yourself pursuing in life? This weekend, we will consider our greatest pursuit in life - to know God. This weekend we'll be reading from 2 Corinthians 5:11-12 and Isaiah 6. Join us as we start our new series "Dreams and Visions." I so look forward to seeing you online! Be blessed, be safe and be well.

My Story - Season Three - 2 Chron. 20: Have you noticed lately that life is hard sometimes?! Overwhelmingly hard, actually. Sometimes my own strength and my own wisdom seems so ridiculously insufficient. This weekend, we will hear a couple stories of the inadequacies of self-reliance. We'll also hear a powerful story of a God-dependent life that will bless and inspire is. I truly hope you will be able to join with us as we end Season Three of our series, My Story. Be blessed - be safe - be hopeful and take care if each other! See you online!

My Story - Season Three - 1 Cor. 10:13-2 2 Chron. 7:14: There's lots of humour around the subject of temptation, "I can resist just about everything - except temptation." My secret to dealing with temptation is to just give in. We can laugh about it, but it is a daily struggle for all of us. Many of our temptations are minor and seemingly inconsequential. "Will I have two cookies, or three? Do I watch one more episode of my favourite Netflix show, or go to bed on time?" But sometimes the consequences of giving into temptation are much more severe. This weekend, we'll consider how to navigate a world full of temptations that draw us from God, rather than to him. We'll consider how Jesus himself navigated temptation. And we'll think through some strategies on staying strong in the journey. This is week 24 of online church, and while we're all a little weary, I'm still so grateful for those who make these services happen. Have a blessed weekend, and we'll see you online. Pastor Ian

My Story - Season Three - Eccl. 2:1-11: Dear Foothills family, If you're anything like me, you've probably experienced some disappointment, suffering or unexpected negative impact on your life in the last five months; maybe on more than one front. I actually believe we're living in a season of collective grief. For most of us, habits, routines and opportunities we took for granted are just gone. And some have been more intensely affected than others. Relationally, we may be under strain or feeling alone - or a confusing combination of both. So, how do we make sense of our losses? The book of Ecclesiastes is all about the search for meaning. And, you might be surprised how connected loss is with the search for meaning. Join me this week as we hear Donna Elford's story. She'll dive into how the disappointments in life can be a catalyst for learning how long, high, wide and deep Jesus loves us. As we gather, even though apart, let's remember that he is for us! Rebecca Schnell

My Story - Season Three - 1 Cor. 3:1-9: When it comes to the high calling we have in Christ Jesus, the calling never changes - but sometimes we do. Often, INDIFFERENCE is the culprit. We become disconnected, ineffective, inactive, uninvolved and unsympathetic. INDIFFERENCE is a menace to all areas of life, and we always pay the price for it. It robs you of joy, accomplishment, fulfillment and growth. It is a thief. But when it is spiritual indifference, which will be our focus this weekend (and my 20 years of living with it), the price is much higher and robs you of so much more - kingdom production and victorious living, and all God intended you to be. Join us this weekend and be challenged to move beyond average, lethargy, complacency, inertia, procrastination and ineffective living. In God's eyes, you were meant to soar like an eagle, not a barnyard duck - blanks on those metaphors to be filled in this weekend! Hope to "see" you there! Pastor Jerry