MMM | Issue 3

Welcome to another edition of Monday Morning Musings.

Hey, The River got some great coverage in the Edmonton Journal over the weekend. In case you missed, I thought I'd put it on MMM for your perusal.

Movie clips help worshippers find God
Don Retson, edmontonjournal.com
Published: Friday, January 18
EDMONTON - Shelby Stollery isn't usually in the habit of gripping her seat when she attends church.

But the 18-year-old University of Alberta student was sitting at the edge of her church seat last Sunday as she watched film clips from the Leonardo DiCaprio thriller Blood Diamond.

Stollery is passionate about movies. Even if she's cooled a bit on worship in recent years, she was thrilled when a friend told her about a church where the pastor is a film fiend like her.

Each January, Pastor Bruce Gritter of The River Community Church holds a movie series called God In The Movies. Last Sunday, church-goers were treated to clips from Blood Diamond, which depicts events in Sierra Leone in 1999, then listened as Gritter provided insights connecting events in far-away Africa with our own lives in the First World.

Many churches like The River are reaching out in new ways to connect with first-time visitors. Film, which can be profoundly spiritual, is sometimes that vehicle. At The River, as elsewhere, clips from popular movies help people to find God in the dark, or at the very least, help people to discover God's love for each of us.

On its website, The River notes that most Canadians don't have a high view of "church."

"In fact, when someone mentions the word, you think 'boring' or 'irrelevant.' At The River, we'd like to change your mind about church."

It has succeeded with Stollery. Since she first started attending the church in December, Stollery said she's enjoyed "the vibe" of the church's contemporary worship band and the warm, welcoming folks she's met there.

Stollery was looking forward to see what Gritter serves up Sunday when the featured movie is Amazing Grace. "The way he speaks and what he's saying is very powerful and really connects with you."

For Gritter, what's "cool" about the movie series is that folks who haven't been raised in church and aren't up on Bible talk don't feel at any disadvantage. They're on the same footing with everyone who enjoys movies.

A former student of film, Gritter said he tries to choose meaningful movies and also different types of movies. He puts a lot of research into each of the five featured films.

"These messages usually take me longer than any of the other," said Gritter, who wants to make the church experience for visitors compelling but also biblically faithful.

Spiritual cinema is a hit at a growing number of churches, especially among New Thought churches like the Centre for Spiritual Awareness.

The church, at 7621 101st Ave., subscribes to Spiritual Cinema, and each month receives copies of films dealing in some fashion with stories of hope, love, inspiration and transformation.

Rev. Patrick Cameron, senior pastor at the centre, noted that stories have been told since mankind first began gathering in community. The theatre experience, he said, is one of the few opportunities where people can sit together in a darkened environment and share their stories and connect in a common emotional experience.

"Our stories help us find meaning, inspiration and self-discovery," said Cameron, who as a former actor had speaking roles in such movies as Lethal Weapon and The Goonies.

"We celebrate and identify with the characters that we observe overcoming obstacles and challenges, and in the process discover the resources of character that allow us to achieve and create and fulfil our unique purpose and destiny."

MMM | Janurary 14th

Welcome to another edition of Monday Morning Musings….

Part of our vision as a church reads to be a “world transforming community”. I still remember writing that part of the church’s vision 5 years ago and thinking, “that sounds really ambition, almost portentous”. However, over the years, I believe God has used our commitment to that part of our vision to do some amazing things. Lots of money and time has been donated for strategic causes, missionaries and missions teams have been sent out, the Riverbend/Terwillegar community has been served in substantial ways, various individuals have found healing through our recovery ministries, and much more.

This week, God gave me still another opportunity to sense the world transforming effect that The River is having and can have. I had a chance to sit across the table from our MLA, the honourable Dave Hancock. Over coffee, we had a great conversation and he expressed some real interest in the work we’re doing at The River. I first got to know Dave through the volunteer work I do with TRAC (Terwilligar Riverbend Advisory Council). However, his wife really connected with The River last May when we did a message entitled “Finding God in the Legislature”. For those of you who don’t remember, we set the gym up like a mini legislature and we had MLA Ron Prins in for an interview. After that, Dave pulled me aside at a TRAC meeting and told me how much his wife appreciated that service. Since then, he and I have had a chance to talk on several occasions.

Over coffee on Friday, we talked about some of the exciting new initiatives we’ve got going at The River. In particular, he wanted to know more about the parish nursing program we’re getting off the ground. Being the Minister of Health, he was very interested in how the government could partner with a local church to promote health in a community. We talked about how both of us had the same interest—helping people and bringing life to the community God had called us to.

As I left, I thanked God for the opportunity to talk to Dave—to learn from him and hopefully to influence his work in positive way. It was another tiny piece of the transforming work that God is doing through The River. May He keep on doing it.

Blessings all…

Monday Morning Musings

Happy New Year Everyone!

One of my New Year's resolutions this year was to revive something I did when The River was still in its infancy; that is, I wrote a blurb every Monday morning called, "Monday Morning Musings". It was me reflecting on the challenges and opportunities involved in church planting in Edmonton. Over time, I stop writing the piece as other forms of communication (i.e. Currents) emerged at The River.

However, over the last few months I've felt the need to communicate more personally with Riverites. Part of the reason is that because we've grown so much, I just don't get a chance to talk to people and share my heart as regularly as I'd like to. When The River first started out, Sharon and I tried to invite as many people over to our house for coffee or lunch just to talk and get to know people, but that's becoming more difficult now. So I thought I'd try to create a friendly on line conversation. Hence, the revival of MMM.

Here's how I envision this. I'll send this out on Monday morning. If you've already got too much to read, feel free to hit the delete button. I won't be offended. If you enjoy it, great! Then after I send this out, I'll post what I've written to my blog which you can access from our website. If something I said strikes you or you want to disagree or you just want to talk, feel free to post to my blog so that other Riverites can read and enjoy some of your thoughts.

For my first entry, I thought I'd share a little story about God's provision. Over the years, I have been continually amazed at how God has provided for us as a church. I am so grateful. This Saturday, He reminded me again that He still has His eye on us. Before set-up on Saturday, I went out to purchase a popcorn machine (the one you saw in church on Sunday if you were there) for our God in the Movies series. Over the Christmas break, I looked into renting a machine, but it was ridiculously expensive. So, I'm standing in Home Outfitters and they only have one $400.00 popcorn machine left-the floor model. So, being a good Dutchman, I ask the gal if we can get a discount since it's a floor model. She goes in the back to ask her manager. So, I'm standing there minding my own business and this guy comes up and he says, "Hey, I've got 8 gift card that I got for Christmas. For every $50 you spend you get $20 back. I can't use them. Are you interested?" I say, "ABSOLUTELY!" and I proceed to tell him that he's really giving to a church as that's the reason I need the popcorn machine. As a result, he's even happier about his offering. As I'm standing in line to pay, I realize that he gave me 8 gift cards-not 1 or 2 or even 3, but 8! I mean who walks around with 8 gift cards and gives them away. This is the exact number I needed to maximize our discount on the popcorn machine. I thought to myself, "God, you're amazing. I love how you show up in the little things!"

Anyway, keep on keeping on!