The Salvation Army Spryfield Community Church and Family Resource Centre

Click on the picture to hear Andre Rieu's, "Old Lang Syne".

HAPPY NEW YEAR’S! We hope 2009 has been a year of growth and excitement for those who have journeyed with God. Tonight as the clock strikes midnight, let’s (as Robbie Burns would say) “take a cup kindness” (remember with appreciation) the memories of our friends and loved ones. Perhaps 2009 has been a year marked with sadness and personal tragedy? Let’s take a moment to remember our friends and family who have passed on before us.  Perhaps 2009 has been a year marked with happiness and personal fulfillment? Let’s remember these highlights tonight as we pray in the new year.

I wish everyone a very happy new year, and I pray that in 2010  you’ll experience new points of grace in your relationship with God. If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, maybe 2010 can be the start of something new?

Merry Christmas from the soldiers and adherents of The Salvation Army Spryfield Community Church and Family Resource Centre. Have a blessed day as you contemplate with friends and family the meaning of the incarnation.

Thank you Lord Jesus for your coming to earth as a lowly babe of Bethlehem! We look forward to your glorious return!

Written by Lawrence (Larry) Sinclair

This section is slightly different than the previous ones, as this time I’m going to express how my faith is protecting me from the bad things that cancer brings. You all know the horror stories of treatment making patients violently ill and nausious and not able to cope with their ill feelings. Well, I’d like to set your minds at ease. With the new drugs they have out, there has been no nausea, vomiting, dizziness, weakness, or extreme pain. None of the like. My journey has been fairly easy and acceptable, so far. The only things I’ve been going through is basically the anxiety, uncertainty, and of course being extremely tired all of the time. But for that amount of discomfort, I’ve been lucky and of course my faith has, I think, protected me from feeling too ill. The horror stories that other people have gone through are not necessarily true to all, anymore, because I’ve been spared all that. If the rest of my cancer journey goes the way it has so far, then I can handle anything that comes my way.

There are so many things that I want to pass on to you all, but it all boils down to my faith, hopes and prayers. I know that I have a long way to go and many uncertainties to encounter, but my journey is never alone and I can conquer anything coming my way, as can any of you out there; Just believe and you will see. As an added feature to this article, I invite anyone to contact me, or even comment on this website, I will answer to be sure.

1. PRAYER: Lord and Savoir, Christ divine;

Reign within this heart of mine;

May my witness ever be;

Always, only Lord for Thee.

2. God speaks to those who take the time to listen and He listens to those who take the time to pray.

3. Our greatest strength is often shown in our ability stand still and trust God.

4. PRAYER :My heart is filled, dear Lord, with love;

So let it show in words and deeds;

And help me share, in all my ways;

The overflow of others needs.

5. Just live your life before your Lord; It matters not what others do; Your actions will be weighed by Him; Who metes out judgement just and true.

6. PRAYER :When through life’s darkened maze I go;

And troubles overwhelm my soul;

Oh, grant me Lord the faith to know;

That You are always in control.

7. Though tragedy, heartache and sorrow abound; And many a hardship in life will be found; Just put all your trust in the Saviour of Light; For He can bring hope in the darkest of night;

8. Lord, give me courage to rise above fear; Even of danger because You are near;. I would be faithful to face any foe; While I am walking with You here below;

9. Sometimes our plan does not unfold; The way we thought it would; But God is always in control;To use it for our good;

10. When rough the path from day to day; When sorrows fill our eyes with tears; Our choice to find our hope in Christ; Can lift our soul and calm our fears;

I truly hope that I can be of some use to some of you fellow Christians out there. My musings and thoughts have ulterior motives, and that is to console me in my troubled times, but also to be of assistance to anyone going through what I am, and that means YOU! I fully intend , with the help of Christ, to conquer this disease and fulfill my life’s goals, which are nowhere’s near completed, because there is too much unfinished business and doing the right things in store for me yet.

My aims and ramblings are genuine for a person in the autumn of my life. In the autumn of life, I felt a quiet peace that I never noticed in my youth, and my colorful bloom deepned in hue. I suspect the snow will come one day, in the “winter of my soul”, and the wind will carry my blossoms to another shore. But I will discover the lilting song of a bluebird and yellow daffodils, for You will be there to take my hand, and lead me to the warmth of Your eternal spring.

***Larry Sinclair is a member of our congregation here at Spryfield Community Church and is a tireless advocate for our Canadian Forces Veterans.***

Spryfield Floor Hockey Team members pose in their new jerserys and equiment donated by the GAP

Sometimes in life the best presents are the unexpected ones. We received an unexpected present when a representative from the parent store that owns ‘Old Navy’ contacted us and said that they’d like to outfit our floor hockey team.

And so last Thursday, Patrick Whitty presented our team with their new jerseys and new goalie equipment. Thank you so much to our friends at Old Navy who reached out to help us. In case you’re wondering if there’s a catch – there isn’t. The jerseys simply say “Spryfield Floor Hockey” and nothing else. Sometimes we falsely assume that corporations are only in it for the money. But in this case, the corporate community has come alongside us to help us in our mission and ministry.

The kids love their new gear and uniforms. Look for them at a gym, courtyard, (or pretty much any paved surface) near you.

Michael Scott, Jim, Pam, Dwight, Toby…oh, sorry, wrong ‘offiice’.  This past Thursday, the real office staff of Spryfield Community Church got together for our first annual Christmas Party. It’s been a blesssed (but incredibly hectic) few weeks around here, and we as a staff needed to take some time away from the office, and remember the reason why we’re doing all of this in the first place.

So, Ministry Coordinator Tina Fluke, Settlement Coordinator Marie Kettle, Katimavik volunteers Kristin and Sarah, and the Corps Officers all got together for a ‘pre-Christmas Christmas dinner’ (say that five times fast).

In the busyness of the Christmas season, take an afternoon or evening, turn off the TV, shut down the computer, unplug the phone, and spend some time with those who are important to you. For those of us who give ourselves away to others in ministry during the Christmas season we need these moments to rebuild ourselves, because when God’s people gather together, He is in our midst.  Whether that’s at home…or in the ‘office’.

The real 'Office' cast: Tina, Rob, Kristin, Sarah, Hannah, James, and Marie.