meets at the Farm Centre, 420 University Ave.

Charlottetown, PE Sunday mornings 10:00 am - 12:00 PM

October

Ten Thousand Pieces of CrumblingFaith

By BrianValley www.brianvalley.wordpress.com
of truths, and in these truths they would see Jesus. Good thing I was absolutely certain in everything that I believed. My faith was solid as a rock. I used to have faith because it made sense. Growing up, choosing a faith in Jesus Christ and calling myself a Christian seemed to be the obvious thing to do. My parents were Christians, my family went to church, I sang in the kids choir, and many of the people around me were called Christians. What else was I supposed to believe? Everyone else was dead wrong, I was told; lets just hope they eventually pick the right god to follow and save them from eternal fire. Or something like that. I certainly didnt want to be wrong about something so big as God, and the Christians in my life seemed to have it together. And for those in my world who didnt believe in my God, I knew all the right things to tell them. I could prove that each and every word in the Bible was historically true. How archeology could point to the accuracy of every story I learned in Sunday school. I had been taught all about how evolution just couldnt have happened and a six-day creation made a whole lot more sensejust as long as I ignored certain lessons in biology class. All I needed to do was convert others to my list
Charlottetown Community Church
Part of the Vineyard Network in Canada P.O. Box 1081 Charlottetown, PE C1A 7M4 Pastor Tom Zawacki (902) 892-5001 communitychurch@pei.aibn.com www.charlottetowncommunitychurch.com

20

2013

Serving this Sunday

WORSHIP TEAM Ian and Natasha SPEAKER Tom Zawacki CHILDRENS & TODDLER MINISTRY Chantale MacEwen & Andrew Friedrich Teressa Peters CLEAN UP TEAM A John & Lori MacDonald, Blair & Chantale MacEwen, Tom & Jill Shultz, John & Jennifer Cudmore

I remember talking in high school youth group about what it would mean for our faith if part of the Bible wasnt trueif one of its stories hadnt occurred in history. The answer we landed on was that we would still have faith. Yet before even taking a breath, we added on that its sure nice we dont have to worry about that because the whole book is true. Phew that was a close one. Solid as a rock. As long as the ten thousand different ideas and qualifications that made up that rock all held true. Inevitably, though, this list of a thousand beliefs that I thought to be faith has slowly fallen apart. My Christian university taught me that some parts of the Bible dont seem to have really happened. That a whole lot of really good science points to evolution. I made close friends who know and experience Christ in ways I never have. Some continued on page 2

Ten Thousand Pieces of CrumblingFaith

continued from page 1 as I have released my white-knuckled grip on those vapors.Yet paradoxically, by walking by faith, I have been able to see more clearly. I dont have faith because it makes sense. I have faith because the story of Christ is the most beautiful story I know. I have faith because parts of scripture arent historically true, yet God uses them to speak truth. I have faith because the more I look, everything is pointing to Christ. I have faith because of all the saints, past and present, who help point my gaze toward Christ. I have faith because the same God who called me by name seven years ago still listens when I call out to Him. I have faith because I have leaned into Christ and discovered an abundant life like nothing else. I have faith because I see in God a love that is not restrained by anything. Anything. I have faith because in the crazy, illogical, countercultural act of placing my trust in God I have found a peace that passes understanding. I dont have faith because it makes sense.Yet I have faith.

of these friends are gay. I voted for a president that four years earlier I would have told you wasnt the one a Christian ought to vote for. I took a class that taught postmodern philosophy something I had been warned about because it undermined absolute truthand I loved and embraced it. Almost every piece of the rock of my faith has crumbled apart; some pieces are still in the process of falling off. My faith did not make sense. What I had thought was faith was really only belief in a list of criteria. Following Jesus, for me, had been about believing and knowing that a whole host of things were true. Suddenly, these things werent as true as I thought they were.Yet as the ten thousand pieces of my faith have fallen away and continue to do so, something more sturdy has remained. Something more ancient. A rock, a cornerstone tried and true, leaned into through the ages. On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand. As almost everything that I used to call faith has fallen apart, I now see more clearly the center of all thingsChrist. I see Jesus in my literature classes, in reading Plato and Dostoevsky and Marx. I see Jesus in people who dont call on His name. I see Him more clearly in the church, in the mountains, in pain, in joy, in suffering and forgiveness. I see Jesus more clearly in myself. Suddenly Jesus is showing up in all kinds of places I didnt know he was allowed to be. I dont walk anymore by sight, because everything I was looking to for truth has slipped away,

Church News & Groups

There is lots going on, be free, go where the life is, family first. Church website is now updated with all activities. If you would like to get something in the newsletter (prayer request, announcement, etc.), please email it to communitychurch@pei.aibn.com byWednesday of each week. CHURCH FINANCES Four Week Average: $1,896.22 Four Week Average Needed: $2,000.00 Lets keep praying for God to supply all we need! THE SHACK BOOK CLUB Starting October 23rd - 7:00 PM at Zawackis SMALL GROUP - QUESTIONS Thursday evenings 7:00 Will be held at Megan Cunninghams home. For information, please contact Megan or Lisa Taylor. MOMS N TOTS Wednesday Mornings 10:00 Contact Trevena MacLeod for location. FREE CLOTHING GIVE-AWAY Friday, November 8: 6:00 PM 10:00 (Bring Clothes) Saturday, November 9: 8:00 AM 2:00 PM (Give Clothes Away) Gently Used Fall and Winter Clothing Only See Lindsey Perry for More Information

Prayer Requests
Cadence & her mother Crystal Healing, and support. Stacey Campbells Son Judah Healing from a spinal injury. Trevena MacLeods mother Good recovery and no infections. Lori Knox-Nelsons Father Healing from cancer, lifted spirits & support for him and his family. Bernices Son Cory & His Wife Healing from staff infection & MRSA. Comfort, peace & support. 12 week old Baby Miles He is in desperate need of a heart transplant. His parents have been at the hospital with him in Vancouver & have given up their rental home in Kelowna. Wayne Simmons sister Healing and relief from blurred vision in one eye. Jack McAskill Healing & recovery from surgery and complications, lifted spirits & support. Donna MacDonald Healing, comfort and ease of pain. Lifted spirits and support. Lori McDonalds friend Jen Healing from cancer, lifted spirits & support for her and her family. Karen Gallants grandson Oliver Healing and support for him and his family.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD - Sunday, Oct. 27 3:30-4:30 At the Farm Centre See Dede for more information.

Get Involved!
OUR ELDERS TEAM The elders are: Wayne & Natalie Simmons, Errol & Shelagh Campbell, Greg & Debbie MacKinnon, Garfield & Brenda MacDonald and Tom & Nadine Zawacki.
Please feel free to contact us anytime with your thoughts, questions or ideas.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! Positions we are often looking to have help with are: MEDIA, OFFERING
COLLECTION, WORSHIP TEAMS, CLEAN-UP TEAMS, CHILDRENS MINISTRY

FACEBOOK Joining the Charlottetown Community Church Facebook group is the fastest way to get up to the minute news, prayer requests and get in on discussions. Check it out today!

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WHERE:

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WHEN: COST:

Fri. Nov 8, 6:45pm to 10:15pm Sat. Nov 9, 8:45am to 1:45pm $15/person through October 28th $20/person after October 28th

QUESTIONS:

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