Gateway Magazine // Fall 2014

I S S U E 1 2 : fa l l 2 0 1 4

i n s i d e : m i c h a e l h a r d i n t h e a c a d e m y m e e t t h e i n t e r n s h o u s e pa r t i e s

Who is Jesus Christ for us today? What has happened as Jesus, the rabbi from Galilee, has been displaced as the center of the Christian faith and replaced with false portraits? How can we understand the relation between this nonviolent Jesus and the violent God of most Christian traditions? What might Christianity look like if it truly followed this Jesus?

The Jesus Driven Life takes us beyond the dead ends and false trails of much Christian interpretation of the Bible. Come discover a new and exciting Way of living in the world as true humans who imitate the crucified and risen Lord!

The Jesus Driven Life is everything you wanted to know about Jesus but were afraid to ask! This seminar will help you to understanding Jesus’ life and times, his understanding of God, his mission, his passion and his model of living the ‘shalom’ of his ABBA.

the academy presents a special event

tuesday 4th, wednesday 5th & thursday 6th november 2014 // 7pm-9:30pm

Michael is a grateful graduate (1988) of North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago where he studied the works of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Rene Girard. He lives in Lancaster, PA (in the heart of Amish country). Michael and his wife Lorri have three daughters and two granddaughters, all named from characters in J.R.R. Tolkien’s books.

cost: $50register at gateway.ac or at our info desk at the gateway centre

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welcome to gateway! We love our church and we hope you love it to. That seems an unusual thing to say - “I love my church”. So often people have bad experiences of church - “it’s boring,

or irrelevant to my life, or sometimes

even downright hateful”. Surely none of that is what Jesus had in mind for his followers, was it?

Jesus said: “I have come so that you may

have a full and abundant life”

(John 10:10)

But what about all the religious obligations and laws and rules? Well, Jesus had something to say about that too:

Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God

with all your heart, soul, and mind.’ This

is the first and greatest commandment.

The second most important is similar:

‘Love your neighbor as much as you love

yourself.’ All the other commandments

stem from these two laws and are

fulfilled if you obey them. Keep only

these and you will find that you are

obeying all the others.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

Love God with your entire being - let every part of your being and every part of your life glorify God in the creativity, passion, focus and gratitude that you show.

Love other people - relationships are valuable, family & friends are a gift, and you yourself are a gift to those who don’t have friends & family and need to help, support and love.

Love yourself - that seems a strange thing to say, almost arrogant or egotistical, but you will only love others “as you love yourself”, your life is a gift, you should love every minute of it.

At Gateway, we have abbreviated that to “Love God, Love people, love life!”

Our church is your church - we are here to serve you, to provide a safe place for growing spiritually, connecting with others, and building a better life.

We believe that if you Connect with God at our Sunday service each week, Grow in a group that is right for you, and Serve on a team once a month, that you will gradually see your life change for the better, grow in your personal faith, and learn to Love God, love others and love life - a life you are living to the full!

Come join us on that journey!

Rev. Dr. Martin I. Trench, Lead Pastor

a letter from the pastor

“LOVE GODLOVE PEOPLE

LOVE LIFE”

“CONNECTGROW

SERVE”

v i s i t g at e way. a c / / 3

Wednesday October 8th // 7pm - 9.15pmwritten in the starsThe Ancient Biblical Teaching of the Zodiac “Ages”

What does the Bible mean by “the End of the Age”?Why does it speak of “former Ages” as well as “Ages to come”?What happens after the “conclusion of the Ages”?Why are there so many zodiac symbols in scripture?

The books of the Bible were written by and to people who shared the same world-view and a common calendar. Because of that, they don't always explain things which seem very cryptic to us, but which were common parlance to them. Once we discover what their outlook was, we suddenly see the clear meaning of formerly difficult-to-understand Biblical passages.

This season, the Academy is doing something a little bit different. Due to the fact that we have theologian Michael Hardin joining us for a special three-night Academy in November (see page 2), and as we prepare to develop The Academy into a more substantial ministry next year, we are holding two Academy “taster nights” which are FREE, and are OPEN TO EVERYONE.

Wednesday October 29th // 7pm - 9.15pmit’s all greek to me! Understanding the Aramaic idioms and Ancient Near-Eastern figures of speech in the Bible.

Was Lot’s wife “turned to a pillar of salt”, or did she “suffer a stroke”?Was there ever a “Lucifer”?Why did Jesus call Peter “Satan”?A “camel” through the “eye of a needle”? Does that even make sense?

There are a lot of figures of speech used in the Bible which were very commonly understood in ancient times, but which go right over our heads today. Understanding them will make the Bible seem fresh, more relevant, and less obscure.

socialize with us & join the conversation

fb.com/gatewayalliancechurchgateway.ac

vimeo.com/gatewayedmontontwitter.com/gac_edmonton


We will be accepting donations for the Food Bank this Thanksgiving.

Please bring non-perishable items to church on Sunday Oct 12.

Mugs of Joy for the Mustard Seed. All December long, bring in mugs of joy and put under the foyer Christmas trees. Let’s bet last year’s gift of 98 mugs!

On Christmas Eve, we will also be collecting a cash offering for the Mustard Seed.

RELEASE is a ministry department set up for people who are interested in social justice issues in Edmonton and further afield. » facebook.com/releasegac // » [email protected]

W I T H

looking for a great venue to rent?the gateway centre is not only our church home, it is also used for conferences, weddings,

seminars, concerts, rehearsal space, parties and a whole lot more.

As well as having a number of different sized rooms, we also have high quality sound, lighting, and projection equipment, staff to work everything, as well as a cafe.

Contact us to find out what rental packages we have available.

call: 780.456.0252email: [email protected]


WE WERE NEVER BUILT TO DO LIFE ALONE and it can be hard sometimes to build deep and meaningful connections and relationships on a Sunday morning. So HOUSE PARTIES are tailored to do just that. If you are longing to connect, dig your roots deep and have a place you call home with people you can call family, make sure to check out one of our HOUSE PARTIES and start doing life together!

WHAT HOUSE PARTY

WHOAnyone

WHENSaturday: 7pm-9pm

(once a month)

CONTACTConnie: [email protected]

WHAT HOUSE PARTY

WHOAnyone

WHENSunday: 1pm-3pm

(once a month)

CONTACTGeorge: [email protected]

WHAT HOUSE PARTY

WHOAnyone

WHENSunday: 12:30pm-2:30pm

(twice a month)

CONTACTAdela: [email protected]

WHAT RENDER HOUSE PARTY

WHOYoung Adults

WHENSunday: 12.30pm-3.30pm

(once a month)

CONTACTDrake: [email protected]

WHAT HOUSE PARTY

WHOAnyone

WHENSunday: 3.30pm-7pm

(once a month)

CONTACTDrake: [email protected]

WHAT The KasihNyata HOUSE PARTY

WHOIndonesian House Party

WHENEvery Sunday: 4pm

CONTACTAdela: [email protected]

We also have a variety of other community groups with various purposes of meeting. If you would like more info, please head to the info desk or email pastor drake at [email protected]



VISION SUNDAY - NOVEMBER 23RD HEALING SERVICE - NOVEMBER 30TH

{ SPECIAL SUNDAYS }

BACK STAGE PASSCome and experience an entertaining and enlightening look at what goes on “behind the scenes” to make our services, ministries, events, and community function at Gateway.

Celebrate our achievements in 2014

See the “teams” who make things happen - Staff, Board, and Volunteers

Find out about Volunteer opportunities which may be the right “fit” for you

Get a sneak-peak at whats coming up in our plans and goals for 2015 and beyond!

At this service we will also be receiving our final Vision Offering of 2014 and we have agreed on our goal - $25,000 over and above our usual tithes & offerings. Please pray about what your contribution will be.

POWER TO HEALAn anointed and Spirit-filled service which will focus on worship songs, Bible passages, prayer with the laying on of hands, and spiritual gifts relating to healing for spirit, mind, and body.

Come expecting to receive a miracle of answered prayer for yourself or others.

Invite those who need a miracle or healing themselves.

Experience the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

“prayer offered in faith heals the one who is ill, and the Lord will raise him up to health”James 5:15

new message series

But the inkblot theory goes further - it

is also based on the fact that we will see

patterns that are already in our minds or

already in line with the way we think. So, a person

who sees everything in life as “doom & gloom” will see

gloomy images in the ink-blots, and a person whose

mind is filled with playful ideas will see such images

in the ink-blots. We don’t see things the way they

really are, we see them the way WE really are.

We live our lives by what we believe, not what we see. (2 Cor 5:7)

Sometimes we can self-sabotage the good

things that are coming into our lives because

we see them as threatening, unfamiliar, or as a

problem to be solved rather than as an opportunity

to be embraced. Sometimes we can look at the things

in our lives which are not quite “tied together” yet,

and see them as a mess, instead of seeing those “lose

threads” as a sign that something is being created.

Its like a man making a tapestry - the rear side of

the tapestry may look like a mess of threads, but on

the other side a beautiful picture is being created

which will be revealed at the right time. Well, God

is the master-craftsman who is taking all the broken

pieces of our lives and weaving them together into his

handiwork - “we are God’s workmanship” (Eph 2:10)

God works all things together for the good of those who love him.

(Romans 8:28)

This new message series is all about

changing our perspectives - on our

problems, our purpose and destiny,

and how God works in our lives. It

will help you to see with new eyes -

change your perspective - and open

up to fresh ideas.

I hope you can join me for this

inspiring and empowering teaching

series.

Martin Trench // Lead Pastor

"we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror"(1 Cor 13:22)

The famous Ink-Blot Test was devised by Swiss psychoanalyst Hermann Rorschach in the 1920’s and is still widely used today. It is based on the idea that our minds tend to look for familiar patterns in objects - that’s why we often see faces or animals in the clouds or wallpaper.

You have been interning at Gateway since May, how are finding it? Interning here at Gateway has been crazy! I feel like every day I learn something new, whether it’s about God or ministry or even just life. Being in an environment like Gateway, it’s impossible not to grow. My view of God is constantly being challenged (in the best possible way), and being at Gateway has really opened my eyes to just how big our God is.

So what exactly does an intern do?I get to do a lot of really cool stuff. Since this is part of my schooling, I am here to learn and grow, but I also get to get my hands dirty and serve Gateway with my gifts and talents. Drake is my direct supervisor, so we work together in different areas of the church, he thinks about opportunities for me to get my feet wet, learn and grow, and we work together to see different ministries like Youth and Kids go to the next level.

Not too long ago I got to work with our awesome GatewayKids team and helped plan and run our Kids Ministry Summer Program that ran in August. Every week I got to help plan exciting youth events, connect with youth, and look for ways to make our youth ministry even better than it already is.

What drew you to get involved in Youth Ministry?I think that most people who get involved in youth ministry do it

MEET

because someone did it for them, and my reason is the same. I hated being a teenager. I thought life was boring and pointless and I didn’t want to participate. Unlike a lot of kids though, I was lucky enough to have two wonderful adults push their way into my life and show me that when you live life for God it has a point and it’s anything but boring. Teenagers seem to be blessed with a deep sense of dissatisfaction and a lot of questions, and I think that that’s the time to get involved and help them figure out who they are and how to live. I want to be that person who helps them.

What is your favorite part about working with youth?Without a doubt, my favorite part is the first good conversation. Youth ministry is a lot of small talk, and it takes a really long time to get someone to trust you enough to show

you who they are. My favorite part is when you finally get to that point, and you have your first real conversation with a teenager. Like the kind of conversation that isn’t about movies or school. I’m talking about the kind of conversation that reveals a little bit about what they think and who they are. I love it!

What are you most excited for in your internship in the next couple of months? I’m really excited about our Student Lead team! We really want the youth group to move in the direction of being more student led, because we want it to be the youth’s group. We want it to be a place where youth feel like they belong to it and at the same time, it belongs to them.

We want to create an exciting and fun environment where students feel that they can belong, be accepted and grow in their relationships with each other and God. Talking about God can be hard, and being a Christian can really be hard, but by allowing XLR8 to be a group that belongs to the youth, we encourage the youth who come there to get invested in their own discipleship process.

I’ve had the chance to get to know a couple of our Student Leaders, and we have a really spectacular bunch of people. I’m excited about working with them to find ways to make the culture of XLR8 into one that reflects both them and Christ.

Cora BathgateYouth Intern

STAFF Q&A series

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You just started at Gateway as our Kids Ministry Intern, can you tell us a bit about yourself?I am from Legal Alberta. I lived there for 18 years and then moved to Calgary where I started my schooling at Ambrose University College. I love hiking and just walking around exploring new things that I have never seen before. I walk to relax after a stressful situation. I enjoy getting to play and watch sports. Hockey, soccer, and football are sports that I love. The Edmonton Oilers are my favourite team out of sports that I watch. I will watch them through thick and thin and there has been a lot of thin for the last few years. Traveling is one of my dreams. I would love to get to see every country in the world. Everything is just so fascinating. I am getting married in February to Joslyn, we got engaged about 7 months ago.

What drew you to get involved in Kids Ministry? My youth pastor played an important role in getting me involved in it. I was not too sure about going into children's ministry but he really encouraged me in it, and pushed to keep going with it. I could hear God speaking through him to let me know that this was what I was supposed to be doing. Working with kids also just teaches me so much about life, and all these different circumstances that kids come from. There are all these issues that I never thought I would really ever have to deal with but I love getting to help these children know that they

Get to know our two newest interns here at Gateway

INTERNS

have a friend through the tough times that they are going through.

It is just amazing to create relationship with them, and bond over anything with them. Also getting to see them come to Christ and grow in him is awesome. I could not ask for a more amazing gift then to watch them grow in God and watch God work through them. That is what has drawn me into children's ministry. I was drawn in to kids ministry by just having a blast with them and getting to spend every Sunday with these children and the relationships that I made were phenomenal. It was the first time that I felt really a part of something special.

What is your favourite part about working with Kids?My favourite part about working with kids is getting to build a relationship with them. They are so real. You know when they are upset, or mad, or

happy. They let you know what is going on and it is what makes them so special. Yeah I love being a friend to them and walking through life together with these kids. It is so special and unique. Every kid has something different to show you, and teach you. It is all about connecting with the kids and watching them grow.

What are you most excited about for your internship at Gateway and working with the GatewayKids team?I am most excited about growing in God. I imagine that this year is going to be huge growth year for a lot of reasons and internship is a big part of that. I know God is going to be making me come out of my comfort areas and try new things that I never thought I could do.

I am also so excited to be a part of the GatewayKids team and super excited for the opportunity to serve GatewayKids in this next season. With the short time I have been here and being able to work with our Kids Ministry teams, I know God has something special for GatewayKids this coming year. It is going to be awesome to be watching everyone growing in their walk with God and see this ministry flourish and I am thrilled to be a part of all that.

Eric Wilemsonkids Intern

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Grade 6 are invited to join XLR8 youth for our CHAOS NIGHTS once a month.

At Gateway we take our kids' safety seriously. All workers are screened and trained in Plan to Protect Policies. Parents, please create a KidCheck Profile at:www.kidcheck.com/signup.aspx

These nights are tailored specifically to Grade 6-9 and give our preteen’s a chance to dive into what it will be like when they enter youth and make some connections and friends on the way.

Grade 6 are invited to regularly attend XLR8 Youth starting May 30th and get plugged in before you start grade 7. Look to the XLR8 page for all the details of the events following that date.

At Gateway, kids matter! They are respected for the way God created them. He made them so that they love to play, discover, question and have fun! So we at GatewayKids are all about helping kids BELONG, BELIEVE and BECOME what God made them to be. We believe in kids and have a passion for kids and all that God has for them. Every experience here at GatewayKids has an eternal purpose behind it.

We provide a place for kids from 0 to grade 6, with nursery & toddler, a preschool program, an elementary program and a preteen program. Check out the KidCheck center and talk to one of our GatewayKids team members on a Sunday for more information or contact Drake at the church office.

Email: [email protected]

gatewaykidsb e l o n g . b e l i e v e . b e c o m e

We wanted to create an authentic worship environment where people could come as they are and feel at home while growing and engaging in lifelong faith, so...we did.

OUTBREAK is the result of a team looking to create opportunities for youth and young adults to discover their gifts and how they can use them in the church and in the world. Each night consists of passionate worship, relatable teaching, real community, and the chance to build relationships outside our own church walls.

A JOINT MONTHLY MULTI-CHURCH WORSHIP EVENT FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS.

“A MOVEMENT SPREADING ACROSS THIS GENERATION”

when: Sept 26thtime: 630-930where: Gateway

when: Nov 7thtime: 630-930where: Gateway

when: Dec 5thtime: 630-930where: Gateway

contact info

For more information or to get involved, email:[email protected]

Our theme for XLR8 this year is I Am Second: Don’t just believe, but become. I Am Second is a movement meant to inspire people of all kinds to live for God and for others; to not just believe, but live this faith out in real life. Through the stories of real people, their dealing with typical struggles and everyday living, seeing God work in these stories, we hope to be inspired to not only look to our own interests but the interests of others, serving those around us and living out God’s purpose for us today—a real honest look of faith in real life with real people and with a real God.

X L R 8 Y O U T H P R E S E N T S

DATE TIME WHAT WHERE

Sept 19 6.30 - 10pm KICK OFF: Corn Maze Zombie Run Meet at Gateway

Sept 26 6.30 - 9.30pm OUTBREAK Gateway

Oct 36.30 - 8.30pm CHAOS: Grade 6-9

Gateway8.30 - 10pm The Lounge: Grade 9-12

Oct 10 6.30 - 9pm XLR8 Arcade Gateway

Oct 17 6.30 - 9pm Girls & Guys Night TBA

Oct 24 6.30 - 9pm Super Hero Bowling Meet at Gateway

Nov 7 6.30 - 9.30pm OUTBREAK Gateway

Nov 146.30 - 8.30pm CHAOS: Grade 6-9

Gateway8.30 - 10pm The Lounge: Grade 9-12

Nov 21 6.30 - 9pm XLR8 Arcade Gateway

Nov 28 6.30 - 9pm Girls & Guys Night TBA

Dec 5 6.30 - 9.30pm OUTBREAK Gateway

Dec 12 6.30 - 9pm Christmas Party GatewayThere will be no youth on October 31

Info: facebook.com/YouthX

LR8 // pastordrake@

gateway.ac



• Adventservices-7th&14that10am

• TheBIGChristmasParty!-21stat9:30am&11:15am

• ChristmasEve:Candles&Carols-24that5:30pm&7pm

• TheEndofYearCommunionService-28that10am

Christmasat gateway

christmas eve: candles & carols

his has become a Gateway tradition, as well as a very popular and busy service

for the whole family to enjoy together.

Experience the magic of Christmas during this atmospheric candle-lit carol service and evening of worship. We will also be taking an offering for the Mustard Seed this night.

It’s one of the highlights of our year!

the gateway chorus

n amazing choir/coral group - who share the same name as us, and often

use our venue for rehearsals.

This will be the very first time they perform at Gateway.

The Gateway Chorus will be leading a time of Christmas Carols and traditional songs at our BIG Christmas Party.

the big christmas party!

njoy free festive food & drink at our biggest party of the year! A fast-paced,

multi-media celebration of Christmas - with music, performances, a TED-style inspirational talk, and video segments on the big screen.

A separate, awesome kids party - for all Elementary & preschool children.

The launch of our exciting next message series: Power for Living.

It’s going to be Edmonton's best Christmas service! (well, we think so).

E T A

Datesdecember


DATE DAY TIME EVENTse

pt

14th Sunday 9.30am & 11.15am Carnical Sunday // Ink Blots Introduction

21st Sunday 10am Ink Blots Part 2

28th Sunday 10am Ink Blots Part 3

oc

t


8th Wednesday 7pm The Academy - Taster Night

12th Sunday 10am Thanksgiving



29th Wednesday 7pm The Academy - Taster Night

no

v

2nd Sunday 10am Guest Speaker - Michael Hardin

4th Tuesday 7pm The Jesus Driven Life with Michel Hardin

5th Wednesday 7pm The Jesus Driven Life with Michel Hardin

6th Thursday 7pm The Jesus Driven Life with Michel Hardin

9th Sunday 10am Rememberance Day with Michael Hardin

16th Sunday 10am Pastor Drake Farmer

23rd Sunday 10am Vision Sunday // Backstage Pass

30th Sunday 10am Healing Service

dec

7th Sunday 7pm Advent 1

14th Sunday 10am Advent 2

21st Sunday 9.30am & 11.15am BIG Christmas Party

24th Wednesday 5.30pm & 7pm Christmas Eve

28th Sunday 10am Healing & Communion Service

fall/winter 2014 events calendar


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Gateway Magazine // Fall 2014

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Transcript of Gateway Magazine // Fall 2014