Sunday, October 4, 2009

Chiastic

Chiastic - a literary structure used in the Torah, the Bible, as well as in other (older) texts. Concepts or ideas are placed in a special symmetric order or pattern in a chiastic structure to emphasize them.
(Wikipedia).

For those who were at SimplyChurch today, you will understand chiastic. Unbelievably as it might sound, admittedly, I like structure. In the midst of chaos (which I admit is a norm in my life) I like structure. Recently I renovated and re-organized my work office. It has a new paint job with a very bold color but more importantly the place has been de-cluttered, re-organized and ... in the words of several people ... looks more professional. Strange how structure, organization, and a little fresh paint creates the perception of professionalism. And people are willing to pay for that perception, give credibility even when there is no real proof that professional equates to credible, and set it as a standard by which all businesses must strive and achieve.
However, (for those who knows me well, there has to be a however to this...) I'm conflicted with a Christ who didn't have a well organized office, manicured walls, and a scheduler to coordinate his day. Yet God is a God of order and structure (cosmological argument). Somewhere along these lines there must be a balance... a balance between being scattered, cluttered and free-flowing ... and structure, organizational, and "professional".

Perhaps that is what I hope SimplyChurch would be. A church that emphasizes the primary concerns of Christ with intent, clarity and determination (like Christ's path to the cross) but with a little bit of organization and structure.... just a little bit... so we can look professional.

And now for those who weren't at SimplyChurch this Sunday... here are the announcements:

Announcements:

1. We welcome you to our new location for SimplyChurch. If you are here for the first time, we would like to get to know you. Please contact pastortim@gmail.com.

2. Sunday school starts today following Worship service at 11:30pm (Today’s topic: “God: From the Fathers to Moderns”)

3. Grocery run – Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. meet at Mikey’s. Please confirm ahead of time so that we have enough vehicles to accommodate everyone.

4. Next Sunday – Thanksgiving Praise, Prayer and Potluck. Bring some yummy edible and a word of thanksgiving to share with one another. There will be no Sunday school next week.

5. Sunday Rides – rides are available at 9:45 a.m. at the side of the HMV store on University and Philip. Please confirm with Pastor Tim beforehand to ensure there will be a seat for you. If you require a ride and that pick up point is not suitable, please inform us and we will arrange an alternative pick up point.

6. Servant-hearted – if you are interested in helping out with worship, greeting, caring, ushering, Children Sunday school, set up, please contact pastortim@gmail.com as soon as possible.

7. Are you web-savvy? We are looking for talented people who would be interested in helping design the simplychurch.ca website and bulletin.

8. Pastor Tim will be away for the Thanksgiving weekend (October 7-13).


Have a very thankful Thanksgiving.
PT

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Week of September 27

It was a very memorable inaugural worship at the Wesley Chapel in St. Paul's University College on Univ. of Waterloo. Small and quaint but very intimate. Anyways, it will be our place of worship for a little while. In some ways, the desire to stay there is great and yet there is a strong desire to out grow it quickly.
Eyes are burning so I'll just put up the announcements for this week.
Blessings.
PT

Announcements:

1. We welcome you to our inaugural new location for SimplyChurch.
2. We thank Pastor Lew Worrad for speaking this morning.
3. Sunday school starts today following Worship service at 11:30pm (Today’s topic: “God is…?”)
4. Grocery run – Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. meet at Mikey’s. Please confirm ahead of time so that we have enough vehicles to accommodate everyone.
5. Sunday Rides – rides are available at 9:45 a.m. at the side of the HMV store on University and Philip. Please confirm with Pastor Tim beforehand to ensure there will be a seat for you. If you require a ride and that pick up point is not suitable, please inform us and we will arrange an alternative pick up point.
6. Servant-hearted – if you are interested in helping out with worship, greeting, caring, ushering, Children Sunday school, set up, please contact pastortim@gmail.com as soon as possible.
7. Are you web-savvy? We are looking for talented people who would be interested in helping design the simplychurch.ca website and bulletin.
8. Pastor Tim will be away for the Thanksgiving weekend (October 7-13).

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Happenings

This is what is happening this week:

Thursday 7:00pm - Car Workshop @ 427 Philip St. (Meetz' Small Engines). Learn about oil change and brake repair.

Saturday - Stem Cell Drive: Want to save a life? You could be a possible winner to save someone's life. But you won't know until you play and it is simple - Just a simple cheek swap from you will increase the Chinese "Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide Database". Guelph-Cambridge Chinese Alliance Church will be conducting a Stem Cell Drive this coming Saturday. Bus transportation is provided (see schedule below) from William G. Davis Center. Remember to bring your OHIP card. Please consider this possible life-saving test by adding to the database.

Depart Trip: 12:15pm Waterloo University to 31 Tannery St. W. Cambridge
(William G Davis 2:30pm Waterloo University to 31 Tannery St. W. Cambridge
Computer Research 3:15pm Waterloo University to 31 Tannery St. W. Cambridge
Center)

Return Trip: (From the church back to William G Davis Computer Research Center)
1:45pm 31 Tannery St. W. Cambridge to Waterloo University
2:30pm 31 Tannery St. W. Cambridge to Waterloo University
4:30pm 31 Tannery St. W. Cambridge to Waterloo University

Sunday - We are moving! Just a reminder that we will hold our very first worship service at St. Paul's University College Chapel. Dr. Lew Worrad will be delivering the sermon that morning and Sunday School will follow.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

On the Move!

SimplyChurch is on the move! I say this both literally and dynamically.

Literally because we have outgrown the gracious hospitality of Mr. Wong's home and are moving to the facilities of St. Paul's University College Chapel on the grounds of the University of Waterloo. This is both exciting and challenging as we inflitrate directly onto the hallow grounds of high education and into the world of the largest demographic group of SimplyChurch.

Dynamically because along the way to this juncture, we have picked up a few first and a few friends. Our first partnership with another church in lending us their communion equipment for our communion service. Our first missionary sharing with Volodya and his family from Kazakhstan. Our first marriage (Emily and Joseph). Our first church family with children. Our very first expense (rental fee). As well, Pastor Lew Worrad has been gracious to assist in the preaching and teaching ministry, so in some sense we actually have our first pastoral team.

To misquote CS Lewis, "There is a bit more than hope, SimplyChurch is on the move."

St. Paul'sUniversity College Chapel
University of Waterloo
190 Westmount Road North Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G5

Monday, July 13, 2009

Week of July 12th, 2009

The highly anticipated (and Christian-controversial) 6th installment of the film adaptation of "Harry Potter" will be release this week. Of course I will have to preview it for quality control purposes. I think I gave up reading the series around the 4th or 5th book. Somehow the books got thicker and thicker and the print got larger and larger with greater line spacing as well. Not to mention the price for one of these books. Perhaps it is a reflection of the fact that the readership was also aging as the books were slowly released... and our eyesight worsen with age.
Well you can bug me about a review of the latest Harry Potter movie in about 4 hours after I post this.

Announcements:

Grocery run – Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. meet at Mikey’s. Hoping to catch some $1,2, and 3 deals


Next Sunday – We will celebrate The Lord’s Supper. We welcome all who are practicing and professing Christians to join with us.


Sunday Rides – rides are available at 9:45 a.m. at the side of the HMV store on University and Philip. Please confirm with Pastor Tim beforehand to ensure there will be a seat for you.


Worship teams – if you are interested in helping out for worship, please contact pastortim@gmail.com as soon as possible.


Are you web-savvy? We are looking for talented people who would be interested in helping design the simplychurch.ca website and bulletin.


Please continue to pray that God will guide us in finding an appropriate rental location.

Monday, July 6, 2009

Rice Boy

Ok. I love my rice. I realized tonight after a big bbq dinner, that I just didn't feel "full". The think that was lacking was a good dose of starch.... rice to be exact. Perhaps I have been brainwashed from birth but I just don't feel like a meal has satisfied me until I ingest a large allowance of rice. I know what dietitians says about consuming too much carbs, especially at my age. But I just love my rice - a big huge bowl to go along with yummy chinese dishes with just the right amount of delectable sauce to accentuate the rice.
The word of God is like rice. Not only is it a basic staple, it goes along well with everything in life - the perfect accompliment to the delectable things of life. I just wish my desire for the word of God was as strong as my desire for rice and would come as easily as reaching for a big bowl of rice. If God's word is my daily rice (bread), then I think I am either really mal-nourished or extremely underweight.

Announcements:

Grocery run – Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. meet at Mikey’s. Hoping to catch some $1,2, and 3 deals

Sunday Rides – we have one pick up spot at 9:45 a.m. HMV.

Worship teams – if you are interested in helping out for worship, please contact pastortim@gmail.com as soon as possible.

Are you web-savvy? We are looking for talented people who would be interested in helping design the simplychurch.ca website and bulletin.

Please continue to pray that God will guide us in finding an appropriate rental location.

Next week - Ruth 3

Monday, June 29, 2009

Week of June 28, 2009

Announcements for the week of June 28th:

Grocery run – Tuesday night this week 7:30 p.m. meet at Mikey’s. Hoping to catch some deals.
Canada Day – July 1. Celebrate Canada Day at Columbia Lake. There will be fireworks (weather permitting). If you want to watch it together, please contact Pastor Tim for arrangements.
Sunday Rides – we have one pick up spot at 9:45 a.m. HMV.
Worship teams – if you are interested in helping out for worship, please contact pastortim@gmail.com as soon as possible.
Are you web-savvy? We are looking for talented people who would be interested in helping design the simplychurch.ca website and bulletin.
Please continue to pray that God will guide us in finding an appropriate rental location.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

A Fixture

"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" (Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr).

Someone called me a "fixture" today as I witnessed my 18th UW convocation ... 18th I think... well I should clarify that and say that I took pictures with UW grads for the 18th year. To be honest, I've lost count... but I do know that I've only witnessed one convocation and after that one, I had come to the conclusion that there are just some things in life in which your time is much better spent elsewhere than to sit for several hours for a 12 second glimpse of someone significant to you walk across a stage, shake a hand, and grab a piece of paper. Now, if the student who was giving the valedictorian speech is someone of significance to me, then I might be able to convince my gluteus maximus that it would be a worthwhile investment of time.

Some of us were talking the other night about setting some survey up on FB or some website for some feedback on the question, "Name three events/activity/things that you wish you could get your time back". It was amazing how quickly that list grew as we spurred each other with events in our lives that just made us angry and we want to reclaim our lost time - sitting through a convocation was on the list, along with joint baptismal services with translation, university lectures, bad movies, music recitals, grade 1 and grade 2, BGR's, customer service calls, cable TV or phone installation and I am sure that by now certain personal events have come into your mind.

Photos on convocation day is like that. Is it time well spent for an outsider like myself? Sure it is but a tiny few hours expended in one's treasury of hours here on earth; and probably miniscule in comparison to the hours one has procrastinated and squandered away. How much impact is made during that one photo? that one captured moment in time? To be honest, not a whole lot. But what that one photo represents is the completion of time, sweat, blood and tears invested - to them, achieving their degree, to myself... well....
The privilege of the pastor is that there is a title and a position by which you impose upon and impact a person's life. But isn't that the privilege of all who have been called by God? A privilege that does not require a title nor sanctioned by an organization? The title "Christian" and our adoptive position as "children of God" becomes our privilege of being impact players for God. Christ called it "salt and light".

Young people come and after 3,4, 5 or more years, they leave this place - close a chapter of their lives and open a whole new one. Being a pastor to these group of young people has always been a privilege. The names and faces all change but the ministry has, is and always will be the same. Same old same old? To me, it might seem the same but it never gets old.

Congratulation graduates.

Speaking of same old ... next Sunday SimplyChurch will have a slight change of time for worship service. Instead of the usual 10 a.m. we are moving it to 2:00 p.m. due to some hockey conflicts. As well, Pastor Lew Worrad will be preaching and teaching. You certainly don't want to miss that golden opportunity to hear him speak.

And now for the rest of the announcements...

1. Sunday Rides – we have one pick up spot at 9:45 a.m. HMV.

2. Grocery run – Wednesday night 7:30 p.m. meet at Mikey’s.

3. Worship teams – if you are interested in helping out for worship, please contact pastortim@gmail.com as soon as possible.

4. Are you web-savvy? We are looking for talented people who would be interested in helping design the simplychurch.ca website and bulletin.

5. Please continue to pray that God will guide us in finding an appropriate rental location.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

May 19, 2009 Burn Baby Burn

The May long weekend is the starting point of the beginning of the summer months ahead, of warmer weather and of course ... BBQ season! There is nothing like a sunny day innodated with the smell of charred flesh on a ceramic grill surface infused with carbon byproducts, unburnt propane, and seared grease drippings on lava briquettes. Mix in with a good dose of fireworks on a clear and calm night and you have the perfect Victoria Day holiday.
What is it with man's fascination with fire? Fire has always played an important role in mankind's history - culturally, religiously, philosophically, and scientifically. It has its practical usage - if you watch Survivor, it is one of the first and foremost items that the contestants vie for - in providing heat, energy, purification, cooking, light. It is mystical - one of the 4 classical elements in Greek philosophy and a symbol for many religions and gods. It is metaphysical - often representing the passion and creativity and fervor within a being. That being said, I'll take what's behind door number 3 for SimplyChurch. I would love to hear people say that SimplyChurch is on fire. Need i say more?

Announcements:

1. Car Cell – This Thursday 7p.m. to learn about front disc brakes. 427 Albert St. (between Columbia and Philip) If you are interested please send an email to pastortim@gmail.com.

2. Grocery run – Wednesday night 7:30 p.m. meet at Mikey’s.

3. Worship teams – if you are interested in helping out for worship, please contact pastortim@gmail.com as soon as possible.

4. Are you web-savvy? We are looking for talented people who would be interested in helping design the simplychurch.ca website and bulletin.

5. Next Sunday we will begin a Sunday school series on Eschatology starting at 10:30 a.m.

6. Pastor Lew Worrad will be speaking June 21 in our worship service and Sunday school.

7. Please continue to pray that God will guide us in finding an appropriate rental location.

Thursday, May 14, 2009

May 20th 2009

No time no time no time... The most valuable commodity we have is time. Strangely enough it is the one thing that we do not seem to cultivate, nurture, invest, appreciate. In reality, time is something that we cannot grow, extend, control, manipulate. The only thing we can do is to manage ourselves to make the most of our time. That being said, here are some announcements this week to help you better manage your time.

Announcements:

1. Car Cell – Want to get down and dirty? Some people have expressed interest in learning some basic car maintenance and repair. If you are interested please send an email to pastortim@gmail.com as to when you are available.

2. Grocery run – Wednesday night 7:30 p.m. meet at Mikey’s.

3. Worship teams – if you are interested in helping out for worship, please contact pastortim@gmail.com as soon as possible.

4. Are you web-savvy? We are looking for talented people who would be interested in helping design the simplychurch.ca website and bulletin.

5. Next Sunday is the long weekend. There will be no Sunday School. Instead we will take a luncheon together. Please send an email to pastortim@gmail.com to confirm if you will attend.

6. Pastor Lew Worrad will be speaking June 21 in our worship service and Sunday school.

7. Please continue to pray that God will guide us in finding an appropriate rental location.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Spring is in the Air

Well time certainly flies by when you realize the distance between this post and the last one. Rather than relaying history, I prefer to proclaim the future. Not that what has transpired is of inconsequential significance, but I am more excited about the future than retelling of the past.


I have been encouraged by the consistent attendance and anticipation of the full inauguration of Simplychurch. Four months have passed and support for this endeavour has been found in so many ways. It is never easy to be enterpreneurial - there is much uncertainty, anxieties, fears, unknowns, expectations, failure - especially when the statistical odds of a successful church plant is less than 30%. There are always those difficult questions to answer from my harshest critics - What is your vision? Is this God's will? How will you fund this? Who's your targeted demographics? Why don't you come out to visit more often? When are you going to cut your hair? Well mom, I got my hair cut. :)


Spring is always a reminder of new life, of hope, of vitality, and in essence so it is with Simplychurch. As the spring term students return, there is a rejuvenation from within - some new faces, some old faces, some who have not yet been part of the Simplychurch family. And with the warmer weather, there are many more options for activities and ministries. As well, the urgency of finding larger facilities to accomodate our growing family. We have even resorted to printing a bulletin for announcements for news and contact information for newcomers.

So, a fresh start to Simplychurch. Cheers to a glorious spring!


Announcements:

1. Car Cell – Want to get down and dirty? Some people have expressed interest in learning some basic car maintenance and repair. If you are interested please send an email to pastortim@gmail.com as to when you are available.

2. Grocery run & Farmers’ Market – Is your cupboard getting a little bare? Tired of the frozen pizza in your fridge? Summertime is a great time for grocery runs and trips to St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market. Market runs are Saturday mornings at 8:00 a.m. while grocery runs are Wednesday or Thursday evenings 9:30 p.m. (TBA depending on availability).

3. Worship teams – if you are interested in helping out for worship, please contact pastortim@gmail.com as soon as possible.

4. Are you web-savvy? We are looking for talented people who would be interested in helping design the simplychurch.ca website and bulletin.

5. Next Sunday is Mother’s Day as well as our Communion Sunday.

6. Pastor Lew Worrad will be speaking June 21 in our worship service and Sunday school.

7. Please continue to pray that God will guide us in finding an appropriate rental location.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

BBRRRRR...

It is on mornings like these that I question why I live in Canada as I awaken to -23C temperatures before the wind chill effect. Even Oreo didn't venture to the front door to send us off this morning. Smart cat. I don't know how she got to be so smart. I'd like to think it is because she gets it from me - not in terms of genetics but that she has learned from me.

Now that being said, I don't consider myself to be a "smart" man, but I do love to read and learn from others. Hence I am going to promote the Burlington Family Christian Bookstore. Upon the demise of Mitchell's there are but a few Christian books stores left standing in the real (not cyber) world, and even though Burlington is a bit far from Waterloo, it is worth the drive there - especially for their bargain basement and used book sale.

http://www.familychristian.ca/flyers/saleroom10thanniversary.pdf

I will go down tmr after work (530pm departure) and I have limited space in the car for those who wish to come along for the sale. Perhaps even stopping in at IKEA if we have time. Reservations for the ride is first come first serve (and if you balk on your reservation I will penalize you).

2. Just a reminder that rides are available Sunday. Please contact me whether you need a ride or you can provide a ride and I'll work out the logistics.

3. Pray for Charles as he is being shipped Hamilton today to have a defibrillator implanted. He should be back later in the day

4. Grocery run - there has been some expressed interest in grocery runs once again. My preference would be Superstore from 9-10pm on wed. night. (like the good old days one might say). If you are interested, please drop me a note.

Blessings,
PT

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Up and Coming

"Up and coming" - I believe that is an appropriate catch phrase for the first post - not only because it is for the list of announcements I need to make but also our status. Just like Hollywood stars, IPO's, technologies, and newsmakers, "Simply Church" is up and coming - a church to be on the look out for - now and in the future. That being said, announcements for this week are:

1. Stonecrock coupon time! "When it is home-style comfort you crave, come in to the warmth of the Stone Crock Restaurant...savoury roasted meats, hearty soups, salad bar, our famous fresh-baked pies and breads." Once again we are going to head out to St. Jacobs for some food, fun, and fellowship during these dreary and COLD winter months. (Can't believe it is going to drop to -22C by tonight! Makes me think that congee might be appropriate for a post-service snack this week...) Anyways here is the link to the coupon in pdf format.(http://stjacobs.com/html/documents/StoneCrockWebCoupons_000.pdf)
We are hoping to start next week. So far it looks like Tuesday night is the preferred night. If there are enough people interested we could open up a Wed. or Thur. night as well. Please confirm with me ASAP.

2. Interested in helping out or serving at Simply Church? Your spiritual gifts, talents, skills, and just about anything you wish to offer to God is something I am interested in. If Jesus could turn water into wine, how much more do you think God can do with your gifts? Come and let's find out. Contact me and we'll talk.

3. On a sad note, Rosita and Kattie's father passed away peacefully on this past Monday.
Here is the unofficial abbrev. version that I am editing (and waiting for final approval). I will post the exact one when it becomes available.
NG, Hon-Chung, Wilfred passed away peacefully after a courageous battle with cancer on Jan.12, 2009 in his 84th years with family by his side. Beloved husband and best friend of Yuen-ha (nee Tang) for 58 years; Dear father to Violet (Chan), Illya (Charles Chan), Rosita (Charles Tse), Kattie (Pedro Ho) and Shik-yan; Cherished grandfather to Kah-fai Chan, Kah-leong Chan, Fiona Chan, Tiffany Tse, Simon Tse and Iris Ho. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service to celebrate his life will be held at 10:30 am on Sat. Jan.17, 2009 at the Guelph Cambridge Chinese Alliance Church, 31 Tannery Street West, Cambridge, ON. As an expression of sympathy and in lieu of flowers, donations will be appreciated for either The Guelph Cambridge Chinese Alliance Church or The Canadian Cancer Society.

4. Please pray for: Uncle Charles and his recovery. PTL he is doing much better but still awaits the implant of a pacemaker. As well, his memory is s l o w l y returning.

5. On a personal note, I want to congratulate Jon Ching for being my very first follower of this blog. I had a secret prize for my first follower but little did I know that (well I did know that it would be a possibility that my cyber brothers/sisters in Christ could possibly sign up first) a non-KW'er would sign up first. So, Jon, you have a gift coming your way. Send me your address and I'll get it out to you ASAP. For the rest of you, keep your eyes out for more contests, treats and surprises on my blog.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Sunday Worship - January 18, 2009 at 10 a.m.

We will be having Sunday Worship at Steve's at the following location:

8-250 Keats Way
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
N2L6J5

To view a map to this location using Google Maps, please click on the link here:
Google Maps

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Welcome

Welcome to the website for Simply Church online and the blog of Pastor Tim.

Please keep an eye on this web site for more information about the upcoming Sunday Worship schedule and location.

We thank you for visting our web site and for your interest in Simply Church.