Monthly Viewpoint: A Pocket of Heaven on Earth...

It's that time of the year again - Fall Kickoff! Our team of board, staff, and volunteers have been bustling around over the past few weeks getting ready to start our ministry year again. We are looking forward to seeing you all on Sunday and welcoming many of you back after a summer out of town or at camp. We are also excited about the new people who are looking for a church, and who have already started showing up on Sundays. Let's be sure to welcome everyone into our Jesus-centred, Spirit-led community of reconciliation!

And psst.... We've got an exciting announcement on Sunday to deliver.

Here's a little hint: our vision and mission here at Redwood is about to accelerate! God is doing some amazing things in our midst and we can't wait to share it with you.

Some exciting renovations began this week to make room for the Redwood Food Bank, a new Youth space, and offices for new staff members...

There are so many great and exciting things beginning this month to be able to go into depth here, and since you are reading this on either the website or the RPCapp, you already are in the place where the information is!  So click over to the Viewpoint and check out what's kicking-off.  

And, as always, our goal and desire is not that we would just be busy people, but rather that these links and descriptions would help point you to your next step with Jesus and into the life of our community.  Our team is praying for you as you discern whatever that may be.

Alpha is a series of interactive sessions that explore life, faith, and meaning.  It is open to anyone who wants to explore the big questions in an open and informal environment, and it has proven to be an incredibly meaningful step for many on the road to Jesus.  (In fact, next week we will be hearing the stories of three people who will be following Jesus into baptism and, for 2 of the 3, Alpha was a significant space of encountering the love of Christ).  If you ever wonder if there is more to life than this, or if you long to connect to something bigger, we invite you to come and explore your questions through Alpha.

And if you have been following Jesus for a while...

After being asked by his disciples to teach them how to pray, Jesus, in Luke 11:2, says "When you pray, say..." and proceeds to teach them the prayer that has become known as "The Lord's Prayer" or the "Our Father..."

As you pray for Thunder Bay to be transformed into a pocket of heaven on earth, we invite you to PRAY for this years Alpha... and not just in general, but specifically for three people you would like to come to know Jesus.  And then set an alarm for 11:02am as a reminder to pray daily for those people, and be open and expectant to see how God might use you.

"Our Father in heaven,

I pray for my friends, my
community, and for Alpha.
Lord, let your Kingdom come and
Your will be done.  Holy Spirit,
come fill me today, that I might
share the love and Good News
of Jesus to those around me.

Amen."