December 6 - December 12

In Romans 12, when Paul is instructing the early church about what it looks like to love one another well, his instructions include the call to “rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” 

I was thinking about the implications of this verse recently. To be able to share in either celebration or mourning means that a relationship must exist; indeed, a close enough relationship that allows one person to invite another person into their life at an intimate moment. 

Many forces in our culture push against this type of closeness, especially in those times when things are not all going right. In a world where self-sufficiency is considered a virtue, displaying weakness or want is frowned upon. When the algorithms that govern social media deliver edited photo after edited photo of lives of seeming perfection, who wants to share their grief, their tragedy, their pain?

The forces that disincentivize sharing our struggles with one another also have the result of diminishing our ability to share in our joys. As relational bonds weaken, we can start to believe the lie that nobody is interested in our successes - or even the more mundane celebrations of life, such as birthdays, anniversaries, family weddings, new arrivals, new jobs, promotions, and the like. Best to keep them to ourselves; at least nobody will think we’re bragging that way.

But that’s not the model of love that we get from the Scriptures. We are called to share, as a church family, in the highs and lows of life, glorifying God in both of them. This is one of the reasons why I am championing (some might say “pushing on you”) Name Tag Night again this Saturday. Not knowing somebody’s name is a barrier to speaking with them, and my hope is that we can, by God’s grace, continue to build a culture that pushes against the cultural forces that stand in the way of the model of Biblical relationship.

I look forward to sharing more than just time and space with you this weekend!

Eric

This weekend, we’re continuing in our Advent sermon series, "WITH." Throughout Advent, we'll reflect on the profound truth that from Genesis to Revelation, God has made it abundantly clear that He desires to be with His people. This week, we continue with “God WITH Us in the Tabernacle” as we explore Exodus 40:34-38 and John 1.

Higher Ground Bible study for middle schoolers is not on this weekend but will be back next week, and dinner will be served at 4:30pm in the gym.

We're also looking forward to doing Name Tag Night again on Saturday! When you arrive, you'll have the opportunity to write your name on a name tag and wear it for the duration of the service. This is a great way to know others and be known in our campus community!

SATURDAY MEALS

Join us at 4:30pm in the gym for a delicious meal before the service. 

Invite your friends and neighbours!

PRE-SERVICE PRAYER

At 4:15pm we pray for our campus & our neighbourhood. Join us in the Basement Lounge off of the main foyer.

NORTHVIEW KIDS 

Check-in for kids ages 6 months through grade 5 begins each weekend at 5:15pm. Want more info? Click here.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

The Higher Ground bible study happens every other weekend. Click here for more info. Higher Ground will not be running this weekend.

Did You Know that our toy drive was a huge success? Thanks to all of you who brought a toy to the service last weekend! The donation of toys this past weekend was the largest donation that we have made so far! The toys go to the Abbotsford Christmas Bureau and they distribute them. They estimate that they will be helping 1500 kids this Christmas.

Well, now you know!

Building Update:

We are getting very close to handing in our building permit application. Our construction company and Northview's development team worked to get a Class C estimate of building cost. This means that they went to various trades and suppliers to get a rough estimate.  After rounding everything up, the Class C estimate came in at a much higher number of $47M. Even since then, the team has been finding different sections to lean and trim to ensure that the actual building number ends up being lower than this new estimate. If you are wondering how we went from $27M to $47M, click HERE for a great chart that shows the reasons why. We will be getting a more accurate quote (Class B) in Febuary and, at that point, we plan on having another Special General Meeting to discuss with the church the way forward. While $47M is a big number, it's not surprising to those in the construction industry, or to God! He still owns the "cattle on a thousand hills" and is the One who is guiding all of this. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Pastor Darcy at [email protected]

After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, a new generation of Israelites stands ready to enter the promised land under Joshua’s leadership. The book of Joshua chronicles their journey into Canaan, filled with triumphs and challenges as they strive to fulfill God’s promises. Will this generation follow God more wholeheartedly than their parents?

Join us at the Downes Road Campus for Part Two of our study of Joshua, where we will explore the internal and external challenges Israel faced while settling in the land. Even if you’re new to the study, these lessons remain timeless, offering both encouragement and warnings as we reflect on God’s unchanging nature. Together, we’ll uncover how this Old Testament narrative points us to our ultimate inheritance in Christ.

Our Bible Study sessions are available:

• Monday nights (women): 7:00–9:00 PM
• Wednesday mornings (women): 9:15–11:15 AM (childcare available)
• Wednesday nights (men): 7:00–9:00 PM

Learn more and register today by clicking the button!

Many individuals and families in our church family and the broader community are at risk of losing their housing or being unable to put food on the table. Every month, we as a church family help dozens of families in crisis through Northview's Care Fund. However, due to the increase of needs in our community, this fund has now reached a critically low level, and we have had to start turning people away.

We are asking for your help to replenish this fund so that we can ensure those who need assistance are not facing hunger or homelessness this Christmas season. As the apostle James says, this is what it looks like when our faith is working. Just as God has been kind and generous to us, let us be kind and generous with one another.

If God is calling you to give, please click below to support the Care Fund and make a difference in the lives of those in need.

- Pastor Jon and the Northview Care Team

We are so excited to be bringing back a theatre production this Christmas! Our team has been hard at work on an original play that’s engaging, meaningful, and full of fun. While this isn’t a children’s production, the content is crafted to be family-friendly and welcoming for all ages. This is the perfect opportunity to invite your friends and neighbours to experience church in a warm and inviting way.

The play delves into some of the big questions that often arise during the holiday season, such as “Would Jesus love someone like me?” “Is there really true joy, peace, and hope in this world?” and “When hard things happen, does God really care?” Bring your loved ones and show them that it’s okay to ask these deep questions.

There are lots of other fun elements planned, too! Enjoy complimentary goodies and hot beverages while you explore a beautiful winter wonderland experience.

We have only four performances: December 12th, 13th, and a matinee as well as evening show on the 15th. Seats are limited, and your seat will be reserved based on the ticket you purchase, so be sure to secure your tickets online. Chat with your friends and family, make a plan, and click the button below to reserve your seats today!

God moves through prayer, and we’re dedicating the 24 hours leading up to our first Christmas Eve service to seek Him together! Commit to praying for one or more 15-minute prayer slots between 11:00am on December 23rd and 11:00am on December 24th.

When you register, you’ll secure your time slot and receive our Christmas Eve Prayer Guide to help us pray specifically and in unity. Let’s prepare our hearts and our church for this special day!

In this class, we aim to equip you with practical teaching and advice to help you build a successful marriage. Over three sessions, we will cover topics such as marriage, sex, finances, communication, and relationships with parents/parents-in-law, and we’ll also address any questions you may have! Each session will include a discussion on the current cultural view compared with the Biblical perspective on each topic. This class is designed for seriously dating and engaged couples.

The sessions will take place on February 4, 11, and 18, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. The cost for the class is $40 per couple, and it will be held at our Downes Road location. Register today by clicking the link below! 

Northview Young Adults! Join us on Friday, December 20 at 6:00pm for our annual Christmas Gala! The evening will consist of a sit down dinner, entertainment, games, Christmas carols, and many photo opportunities.

Purchase your ticket by Monday, December 16 at 11:59 PM. We can’t wait to see you there! 

Don't miss out on your 2024 tax receipts! The last day for donations to be receipted in the current year is Tuesday, December 31st. Our Downes Road Campus office (32040 Downes Road, Abbotsford) is open from 8:30am to 2:30pm on December 30th and 31st to accept year-end contributions. Please note the office will be closed on December 25th, 26th and 27th. Keep in mind that, as per Canada Revenue Agency regulations, any donations received on Wednesday, January 1st, 2025 or later will be receipted in 2025, regardless of the date on the cheque.

Thank you for your support!

Whether you need prayer, have questions, or want to get plugged in, we're here for you! Check out the links below and we would love to connect with you.

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