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A Letter From Japan
August 26, 2023
Below is a letter from Ronald Ho on behalf of our missions team to Japan. You can learn more about our partnership with Ibaraki Bible Church in Japan by watching the video here. You can also see videos of our teams trip this summer by clicking here and here.
Dear Tapestry
From sermon writing, lending books, fundraising support, engaging the congregation, puppets, newsletter plugs, announcements, and most importantly prayer, thank you for all the support! We truly could not have done it without your help.
We were able to work ...
COVID-19 Update on Worship Gatherings
December 03, 2021
NEW COVID UPDATE
As you may already know, the Provincial Health Officer has introduced two new restrictions that impact religious gatherings. The new orders include: Masks are now required for religious gatherings. All individuals over the age of 5 are now required to wear a mask for indoor worship gatherings. There is an exception for those eating and drinking as part of a ceremony, so we will continue to partake in communion as normal. Masks will be available in the lobby for those who require one. 50% seating capacity restriction ...
The Tapestry Church Re-Opening Plan
September 10, 2021
Welcome home.
It has certainly been an unusual and unprecedented 16 months. Although this pandemic has greatly affected the manner in which we have done church, it has not stopped us from still being and doing church together. Church is about more than a building or a service; Church is about a people. Throughout this year, we were still able to gather, pray, and worship together through on-line video and streamed services, “zoomed” small groups and cohorts, socially-distanced outdoor gatherings and walks, and for the last month, reduced ...
Love Yourself
March 29, 2021
As part of Lent we’ve invited you to enter into practices centred around “The Jesus Creed”:
‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:29-31)
In this season we are reminded that God’s love transforms us into people who are beloved to love. Each week we emphasize a different part of the Jesus Creed. In this ...
Love Your Neighbour
March 22, 2021
As part of Lent we’re inviting you to enter into practices centred around “The Jesus Creed”:
‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:29-31)
In this season we are reminded that God’s love transforms us into people who are beloved to love. Each week we emphasize a different part of the Jesus Creed. This ...
Love God With All Your Strength
March 15, 2021
As part of Lent we’re inviting you to enter into practices centred around “The Jesus Creed”:
‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:29-31)
In this season we are reminded that God’s love transforms us into people who are beloved to love. Each week we emphasize a different part of the Jesus Creed. This ...
Love God With All Your Mind
March 08, 2021
As part of Lent we’re inviting you to enter into practices centred around “The Jesus Creed”:
‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:29-31)
In this season we are reminded that God’s love transforms us into people who are beloved to love. Each week we emphasize a different part of the Jesus Creed. This ...
Love God With All Your Soul
March 01, 2021
As part of Lent we’re inviting people to enter into practices centred around “The Jesus Creed”:
‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:29-31)
In this season we are reminded that God’s love transforms us into people who are beloved to love. Each week we emphasize a different part of the Jesus Creed. This ...
Love God With All Your Heart
February 22, 2021
As part of Lent we’re inviting people to enter into practices centred around “The Jesus Creed”:
‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:29-31)
In this season we are reminded that God’s love transforms us into people who are beloved to love. Each week we emphasize a different part of the Jesus Creed. This ...
Lent 2021: Dust To Love
February 19, 2021
Jesus was once asked, “What is the most important commandment?” And he responded with what has been called “The Jesus Creed” (for a great study on this, check out Scot McKnight’s book The Jesus Creed):
‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:29-31)
In this season of Lent we are reminded that God’s love ...
The Ritual of Morning Coffee
January 25, 2021
“My strength returns to me with my cup of coffee and the reading of the psalms.” – Dorothy Day
If somebody asked me to sum up my daily spiritual practice, that above quote by the great social activist and writer Dorothy Day would work.
In this reflection I want to walk you through my morning rhythm, and invite you to adapt anything that matches your own rhythms. I am a coffee drinker, but of course you can substitute coffee with tea or something else.
I begin my mornings like this:
I wake up. I go to the bathroom. I drink a cup of ...
How We Almost Burned Down the Sanctuary
January 18, 2021
A confession: we almost burned down the sanctuary on December 26, 2020.
Okay, maybe the sanctuary wasn’t completely at risk, but there was a small accidental fire caused by a certain someone (let’s call him…Jim Toosma).
As we were lighting the Advent candles and got to the Christ candle our lighter ran out of butane. And we were in a hurry. It was one minute before our Tap Nights livestream service started. That’s a combustible combo trying to light something on fire in desperation and hurry.
After failed attempts of using another ...
The Surprise of New Wine
January 08, 2021
There is this wonderful moment at the end of Anne Rice’s novel Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana. It’s a fascinating book written from the first-person perspective of Jesus. The book ends at the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11). Jesus’ brothers don’t believe that he changed the water into wine but he disciples believe he did. And an argument erupts:
“Now, that I do not believe,” declared my brother James. “Cleopas, did you witness this yourself, what they’re saying, that all the wine being ...
Pregnant
December 22, 2020
“And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!” - Luke 1:41-42
“People always say that pregnant women have a glow. And I say it’s because you’re sweating to death.”
– Jessica Simpson
During Advent, I often wonder about Mary’s pregnancy. Creator God - transcendent, sovereign over all things - lovingly planted as a seed by the Holy Spirit in the fertile ...
Optical Illusions
December 11, 2020
Through our backyard, we have a peek of Garry Point Park. I often look out to savour a glorious sunset…or you know - watch a huge cargo ship go by. Whenever I see a freighter through the narrow space between our trees, it looks incredibly massive - ready to plow over everything in its way. Watch out, kite flyers! Look out, little terrier! But walking in the park, a ship the same size seems nothing compared to the surrounding expanse of sea, land and sky.
A few weeks ago, Dr Henry announced new restrictions as the number of COVID cases ...
PSALM 2020, "The Promised Land"
November 27, 2020
As part of the Psalms Cohort we were invited to write our own psalms. This psalm is the fruit of the process.
PSALM 2020, "The Promised Land" of Michael, a member of the Cohort of Psalms, learning to pastor in the midst of a global pandemic. LORD, our God, we long for the Promised Land.
Because what a wilderness wandering. This pestilence––pandemic––has wrecked havoc. Remember your pilgrim people, who like our ancestors, journeyed through the desert in search of home. We are parched LORD. Our bones waste away under the heat of ...
Hit Pause
November 02, 2020
One of the strangest things about humans? Our denial of being human.
We prefer to see ourselves in two extremes - as machines made for functional utility, or as gods of unlimited capacity and power. In both cases, rest is pointless, unnecessary.
But what God invites us to see, right from the Creation narrative, is that we are neither. Not machines, not gods. We are dust, yet God-breathed and created in his image. Human.
In this same narrative, God also shows us rest as an intentional, essential aspect of creation. Rest as the ...
On Crayons and Meaning
October 20, 2020
“What are you drawing, Jackson? Is it a desert? A beach?” My friend Chrissy watched as her three-year old moved a single crayon over the 8.5 x 11 printer paper, tongue out, fist clutched, set on maximum coverage.
He looked up, all crinkled nose and furrowed brow.
“No, mama! It’s brown!”
Brown indeed.
Humans create and interpret meaning all the time - often completely unconscious of it. Red octagon - STOP, yellow triangle - YIELD. Upwards thumb silently whispers, “good job!” Scribbles become the Sahara.
In Thinking Series - a ...
A Psalm of Thanks-giving
October 09, 2020
Lord
of squirrels burying nuts
of spiders weaving gossamer thread
of sun rising-setting
dna replication
glycolysis
homeostasis
i brush my teeth
make lunch
pull on socks
pupils constrict-dilate
heart beats in pre-ordained rhythm
You
my breath
my light
_____
Lectio divina: Meditate on Psalm 100 Memorize Psalm 100:3
What are you thankful for today? Write your own Psalm of Thanksgiving
Karen Shaffer is the Pastor of Faith Formation at Tapestry Richmond Photo by Timothy Eberly
In Person Gatherings
October 03, 2020
In the past seven months, the pastoral staff along with the Board of Elders, have continued to pray and seek God for wisdom and discernment in our response to this pandemic. Although the circumstances and regulations continue to evolve and change, two guiding principles in our discernment remain as follows:
The health of our congregation and love for our neighbours is of the highest priority. Thus, we desire to follow diligently the public health guidelines of our Provincial government. We encourage our entire Tapestry Church family ...
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