Join us at the Farm Centre, 420 University Ave.

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

February
Saint Francis of Assisi and the True Self
by Tim Suttle At Redemption Churchwhere I pastor, we are in the midst of a preaching series calledThe Communion of Saints. This past week we studied the life of St. Francis of Assisi. Most of us know at least a little something about St. Francis. Born to a wealthy merchant father, Francis grew up a child of privilege. He was a magnetic personality and by the time he was a young man he was somewhat of a ringleader among Assisis younger set oftroubadours. Francis grew up in an honor/shame culture. Public honor was sought, hoarded, and flaunted. Shame was hidden through an intricate system of social norms and pressures. It was a very fragile way to live. People often became insecure, cruel, neurotic, and even violent attempting to pursue honor and avoid shame or humiliation. Francis tried to play the game. He joined the fathers business. He went off to war. He suffered as a foreign prisoner of war, and returned to Assisi completely disillusioned. F r a n c i s , though not particularly well educated, was able to make a giant leap forward. The leap was prescient at his time as it is now. Francis was able to see that the real flaw in the honor shame system was that human identity was exterior to the person. As though I am what I do, or I amwhat people think of me. What Francis taught is that we are Gods beloved children, and no shame can take this away from you, no honor can add to it. He also taught that no religion could give this to you, because Gods love was a gift from God. If we ever grasped this idea, lived into it, made it our own, then our lives would never be the same. When Francis let go of the incessant need to impress, to achieve, to make a name for himself, and to gain public honor, he found that all of the insecurity and anxiety of that fragile system melted away. He found that his identity was no longer found on the exterior, but in the interior where he was inhabited by continued on page 2

16
SPEAKER

2014

Serving this Sunday

WORSHIP TEAM
John McDonald Tom Zawacki

CHILDRENS MINISTRY

Lindsey Perry and Sam

CLEAN UP TEAM B
Brian Read, Ferne MacEwen, Tom Banks, Patsy Doiron, Justin Perry, Donna Wigmore

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

Saint Francis of Assisi...

continued from page 1 nothing less that the Spirit of God. He learned what Paul was citing in Colossians 3:3, Your real life is hidden with Christ in God. What Francis did was really quite stunning. He stepped off the honor/shame wagon and let go of any means of gaining honor. He sought only to take the lowest place to refuse building the human ego as a means of gaining honor, wealth, status, power, and so on. In the process his interior life grew enormous. He was a capacious soul, who became a radical lover of all of life. He was, perhaps, more like Jesus than any other human person Ive read about. Im trying to learn the lessons of St. Francis, and make his example a constant part of my life. I am not what I do. My identity is not wrapped up in my accomplishments. My identity is hidden with Christ in God. My truest identity what I am before I am anything else is that I am a child of God. As Richard Rohr often teaches: I am who I am, and this is more than enough for God, and this is all that I can offer back to God my life as an act of worship, love, and devotion to the one who is making all things new again. Im leaning into this today.

* CLEANUP TEAM NOTICE OFFERING NOTICE * * ONLINE DONATIONS

CHURCH NEWS

Please note that all chairs are now stacked on dollies and stored in the furnace room. If donating cash please use envelopes This allows us the ability to provide you with an accurate giving record at years end. Go to www.charlottetown communitychurch.com At the top of the page click the word Donate (next to Newsletter) Secure donations via PayPal Can donate with or without a PayPal account

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 by Wednesday of each week.

CHURCH FINANCES

Four Week Average: $1,469.95 Four Week Average Needed: $2,000.00 Lets keep praying for God to supply all we need!

CHURCH GROUPS
There is lots going on, be free, go where the life is, family first.

Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.
PRAYER REQUESTS
The prayer list is refreshed at the start of each month. All

Mother Teresa

SO YOU DONT WANT TO GO TO CHURCH ANYMORE BOOK CLUB 7:00 PM at Zawackis

Books are available at Maritime Christian Bookstore $12.99

existing requests will be removed. If you would like your request returned to the list or new requests added, please indicate on the Facebook page, or contact Tom Zawacki.

NIGHT OF WORSHIP AND PRAYER First Friday of the Month 7:00 PM at Zawackis WOMENS GROUP Wednesdays 7:00.

Bernice Gallant Gordie G.

For good health and white blood cell counts to return to normal. Freedom from worry. For a successful back surgery, quick healing and relief from pain.

At Linda MacFarlanes house. THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD BOOK CLUB

Mondays 7:00.

At Donna Wigmores House

Greg MacKinnons sister, Joanne

For healing of esophageal cancer, relief of pain and worry. Support and encouragement for her and her family.

THURSDAY NIGHT QUESTIONS GROUP Thursdays 7:00.

Lori Knox-Nelsons father and family

Healing, support and encouragement through his fight with cancer.

This group is currently full due to space capacity. If you are interested in hosting and/or leading a new Questions group, please contact Tom Zawacki.

The CNOY walk raises money for Harvest House PEI- a street level ministry in Charlottetown & Summerside that reaches out to people trying to overcome addictions & unhealthy lifestyles.

SOUP & BREAD POT LUCK

Sunday, February 23, 2014 after the service Bring your best homemade soup or bread to share Nut free, please.

This year, Harvest House will be opening a residential addictions recovery program and needs some $$$. The goal for the walk is to raise $50 000 to help this program. To make this goal of $50 000, Harvest House PEI needs your help- MORE TEAMS!! Like our facebook page Coldest Night of the Year- Harvest House PEI or follow our progress on twitter https:// twitter.com/PEIHarvestHouse (@ PEIharvesthouse ) Share the page with your friends and retweet our updates to spread the word about this fantastic and family friendly fundraiser!

GET INVOLVED AT CCC!

COMMUNITY CHURCH RETREAT

MARCH 7-8, 2014 AT BELCOURT LODGE FRIDAY NIGHT TO SATURDAY AFTERNOON Theme: The Only Thing That Counts Guest Speaker: Andrew Bryce
Cost: $90 Per Person Includes Lodging and Three Meals

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.

Space is Limited: 44 People Max $45 Per Person Non Refundable Deposit to reserve a spot. Final date to register - Feb. 23, contact Shelagh

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Positions we are often looking to have help with are: MEDIA, WORSHIP TEAMS, CLEAN-UP TEAMS, CHILDRENS MINISTRY

OFFERING AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

We are looking for people willing to take up the offering and make weekly announcements. Please contact Tom if interested to be added to a schedule.

COMMUNION

COMMUNITY CHURCH FAMILY FUN DAY

SUNDAY MARCH 9, 2014 AT STRATFORD GYM 3:00-5:00 P.M.
For more information, contact Teressa Peters.

We do communion on the first Sunday of each month. We are looking for volunteers to offer a meditation and lead us through that part of the service. Please see Tom if interested to be added to a schedule.

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!