Glimpses Into the College Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church Community MAY 3, 2014 VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 Pastor’s Corner—The Christian Loophole There is a dangerous dissonance pervading the way we live out our faith as Seventh-day Adventist Christians. The formulaic expression, “My sins have been covered by the blood of Jesus,” or “I am covered by the blood of Jesus” reveals subconscious sentiments of contempt relating to the sacrifice of Christ that can only be explained by an unintended negligence with regards to its teaching. We pray for our sinful conduct, irreverent behavior and debauchery to be covered by the blood, as though the blood of Jesus is some sort of alternative to righteous living or moral transformation. That we can say, act, think, feel, and be any way we want and qualify it with the blood as a means to justification. Abhorrently abused, it is no longer seen as that which changes us from the inside out, but rather that which absolves us from Christian responsibility. A loophole to holiness, it has become a way around living up to who God has created us to be, as well as an excuse for settling for the way things naturally are. But there is a profound difference between being covered by the blood of Christ and being cleansed by the blood of Christ. For one can be covered and still not cleansed. The Bible teaches us, that before Jesus died on the cross, God in his forbearance passed over (literally “neglected” or “disregarded”) the sins previously committed (Romans 3:25). Which means, even though ancient Israel had the sanctuary with its sacrificial system as a means to make atonement for sin, it still wasn’t good enough. God had to “pass over” or “disregard sins.” The sins were “atoned” for, which in the Hebrew really translates to “covered over,” but they had not been removed. For when we read in the book of Hebrews we are told that it is impossible for the blood of goats and bulls to take away sins (Hebrews 10:4). Thus, there was still a need for the sin to be carried away from the sinner, cleansing him. One example that comes to mind is a bar of soap. The purpose of soap is not to cover up what is dirty, or even to make what is dirty smell clean. The purpose of soap is to remove the dirt. When we wash our hands the soap traps the dirt, holds it and carries it down the drain. In the same way the blood of Jesus traps the sin, holds the sin and carries it away from the sinner making him or her clean. It is not enough to simply have our carnal behavior and fleshly proclivities covered by the blood, we must also be cleansed by its power. For in the same way the earthly sanctuary served as a means by which sins were covered for a time, is the same way the world today has been covered by His sacrifice. “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world“ (1 John 2:2). However, when Christ returns, if we are found beneath his covering to still be unclean, never having been transformed by its power, then the gracious covering which we now embrace, will be of no use us. For the Bible declares and he who is filthy, let him be filthy still (Revelation 22:11). The blood of our Savior is more than a cloak, for there is no need to hide in darkness what has been made new. My dear brothers and sisters, “We walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7). Jesus wants to cleanse us, He wants to change us, and He wants us to experience that life giving resurrection power. He is not content with our playing it small. We are more than what we have become. He knelt down in front of Peter and said, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with me” (John 13:8). When we, with a sincere heart and a humble spirit, allow Jesus our King to kneel down and cleanse us, it will always result in a change in our person. For how can we ever be the same again? Perhaps one reason why we continue to live defeated lives is because we don’t really believe that the blood of Jesus can cleanse us, change us and give us power to walk uprightly. So we settle for a covering instead. Let us stop hiding among trees, with fig leaves for clothing, covering our naked selves. Instead, let us behold and embrace the Lamb standing as if it had been slain. (Revelation 5:6). Pastor Shantel Inside this issue: CHCS News 2-3 The Following 4 Parkland Pathfinders 5 Adventurers 6 ABW News 7-8 PAA News 9 CUC Events 10 GLIMPSES Page 2 College Heights Christian School News The students at CHCS have been kept busy with a variety of activities the last few months. There was a lot of excitement over the Winter Olympics as students cheered on our Canadian athletes, and were thrilled to participate in our own CHCS Winter Olympics. Everyone was divided into four countries that were chosen by the students - Jamaica, Finland, France, and Russia. The students then created flags, songs, and banners for their country. On the day of the athletic events, students participated in a wide variety of races - from pairs "figure skating"(one person pushing another student standing on a wheeled platform), to the biathalon (a foot race, then dropping marshmallows into a target). The best part of the day was the amazing team spirit - the whole school would be clapping and cheering for the first and last student to cross the finish lines. There have been several field trips - Reynolds Museum, swimming lessons, Canyon ski hill, Lake Louise ski hill, Youth Theatre Production, and the list goes on. We were excited to see the return of the Scholastics Book Fair in March, along with the guest appearance of Clifford the Big Red Dog. In order to encourage reading during the month of March, students were entered into a draw for each book they read during the month. The winners received Book Fair gift certificates. $1600 worth of books were sold, giving CHCS $750 in Scholastics product to use in classrooms. The Student Council decided that they would like to host a CHCS talent show, which was a huge success. The amount and variety of talent in our school is astounding! The two hour program consisted of students playing instruments, doing gymnastics, acting, telling jokes, and presenting optical illusions. There were a few short skits, a mime act, groups of students singing, and a grand finale put on by the staff that had the students rolling in laughter. It was wonderful to see the result of hours of practice and teamwork turn into a great afternoon of entertainment. Submitted by Jai Dubyna VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 Page 3 CHCS—A Leader in Mathletics Recently our school introduced a new web-based math program called Mathletics to augment regular classroom instruction. I love it and my students have caught the fire as well. On May 10 & 11, I had a "Mathletics Marathon" with my students to try and earn as many points as possible in a 24 hour daily contest on Mathletics. On the homepage of the Mathletics website there is a Hall of Fame which displays the top 100 students in the world and the top 100 students in Canada. This marathon was designed to inspire my students to do nothing but Mathletics and to see if we could top our country and possibly the world. And we did! We scored so many points in this short period of time that the distributor, 3P Learning Company in Canada, took special notice of our school. This resulted in an e-mail from our Mathletic school representative who wondered what was going on. I responded and shared a few of the ideas that I've been doing to implement Mathletics with my students. A few weeks later, I received an email from the marketing manager stating that we were awarded the Mathletics Master class for the month of April. This recognition is displayed on their blog and in the newsletter that gets sent across Canada to all Mathletics users. We also received a trophy for this honour. In addition, the marketing manager requested that I write some of my implementation ideas down so that she could post them on her blog. She thought they were worthwhile and shared them with the CEOs in Canada, USA and the UK. There are a couple of major reasons why I think this has been so engaging for my students. First, they are allowed to bring their own electronic devices to class. This prevents me from having to book the computer lab at school and we can access Mathletics at any time. Secondly, it has built positive attitudes towards math because of the wonderful recognition students get by reaching different personal goals. Mathletic certificates are wonderful. We also have a cool bulletin board at our school that recognizes the efforts of each stu- dent; we call it the “CHCS Hall of Fame.” This board provides a common point of interest and some “friendly competition” among the students at all grade levels. I truly love the excitement Mathletics has brought to our school. When students are having fun learning, it’s the best kind of fun! Submitted by Steven Gabrys GLIMPSES Page 4 The Following “The Following” was a series of meetings prepared by Pastor Joseph Augustin and his team. The messages were especially for the youth group, ranging from ages 9-15. The meetings took place on Thursday through Saturday evenings, followed by games at College Heights Christian School on Saturday nights. The meetings went for three weekends in a row, were held in the Lacombe Memorial Centre, and were quite successful. Each evening the meeting would start with singing and questions that may have come up from the previous meeting. The presentation itself was an ongoing story that continued throughout the series. The story was about a young boy whose life had more than its fair share of struggles. After telling the story, Pastor Joe would apply the boy’s experiences to what Jesus did for us and His undying love for you and me. The stories were very interesting, and the youth came every night to find out the answers to the unexpected endings. The reason for holding this series, “The Following,” is that we want people to draw close to each other, as well as to grow to love Jesus and hear about what He really is trying to do for each of us. Thanks for the great food too! I really enjoyed the series, and was very glad that I was able to participate in the event! Submitted by Hadassah Heimann VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 Page 5 Pathfinders—Fundraising for Oshkosh Camporee, Forever Faithful The Parkland Pathfinders are working hard to earn the needed funds for attendance at the upcoming camporee. Forever Faithful is the theme of the event planned for August 2014 in Oshkosh, WI. Please stop by the CHCS gym tomorrow morning between 9:00-10:30 for a delicious Pancake Breakfast. Bring your bottles for recycling, also in support of the Pathfinders! These activities will be taking place at the annual CHCS Gigantic Garage Sale. We have been busy making perogies for fundraising purposes as well. What an event it is when all of us amateurs get together with a few “pros” to tackle this job! If you are interested in purchasing some of these perogies, please contact any Pathfinder, or Belinda Bader. Amidst all this hard work, we are still remembering others. The following are pictures of work done on our outreach project for April. Submitted by Belinda Bader & Julie Grovet Baby Dedication, Carsyn Blair on April 19 What a joy to celebrate the dedication of Carsyn Blair! Pastor Ron lead out in this special service on the Sabbath of Easter weekend, as family gathered together. On left: Travis and Lorine Blair, along with Carsyn and her siblings Cassidy and Cyler. Submitted by Tanya Huether GLIMPSES Page 6 Adventurers—Fun in Service and Learning As usual, Adventurers are very busy with fun and service. Since our last report, we've learned how to be wise stewards, how to be safe during times of natural disaster, around the home, in a fire, on the street and what to say when we call emergency services. We've also studied the history of the Olympics and had fun creating our own version. We participated in some community service by visiting shut-ins and collecting garbage from the roadside. Finally, we learned about nature by studying rocks, insects, animals and their homes, what it means for something to be endangered or extinct and how we can stop that from happening. The Club year is rapidly drawing to a close. We only have a few more requirements to finish. It has been an awesome year watching the children and their families work together and grow through serving one another, their church and their community. We look forward to doing it again next year. We want to thank the church family for your support and prayers. Submitted by Donelle Clarke The Moving Van is Coming While we are enjoying camp meeting this summer, Pastor Joseph and Sarah Augustin will be moving to Michigan so that he can enrol in the Master of Divinity program. Adding to the turmoil of moving, Sarah s trying to prepare a CD with some of her (and our!) favourite songs – before July! Please pray for peace and guidance amidst these challenges. If you would like to encourage them, please contact Sarah at 403.598.3781, or email: [email protected]. Sabbath Highlights “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” “On the Desk” CUC Ladies Soccer VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 Page 7 A Better World Celebrates 24 Years On April 12, 2014, A Better World (ABW) Canada hosted their annual Humanitarian Day program. There were many visitors, donors, and trip attendees present to celebrate the work that has been accomplished over the past 24 years. There were a lot of inspiring stories shared throughout the event. Sabbath School and the afternoon program highlighted individuals who personified C3 – Compassion, Commitment and Courage. The first guest, Anke Jenkins, shared her story of sickness to restoration and her determination to make a difference. She plans to move back to Africa in the near future to continue her work at Jipe Moyo Nursery School. The second phase of this project includes raising funds to build a classroom that will be dedicated in memory of Sam Klukas who died suddenly at the tender age of 2 years. His legacy will live on through many preschool children in this rural part of Kenya. Lindsey Pluimer highlighted her change from a pro basketball player to an individual who founded a humanitarian organization in California, “With My Own Two Hands”. She shared how her life dramatically shifted from being self-centered to having a passion to help others. ABW partnered with her foundation to help St. Ann’s Orphanage in Kekopey, Kenya. With My Own Two Hands raised funds and built a new permanent home, for the orphanage, after the eviction from their previous location, and ABW built a classroom block. The last participants of C3 were also the recipients of the ABW Citizen Award for 2014, Melissa Farahat and Kelly MacVicar. Their passion to be more involved in humanitarian work started with the idea of delivering bicycles to a remote community in Kenya. The challenges and obstacles were significant; however, their dream was partially realized when ABW was able to deliver 200 bicycles to students in Grades 6 to 8, in cooperation with KONA bikes. The intent was that these bicycles would be loaned throughout the year to students who have to travel the farthest to get to school. Melissa and Kelly continue to raise funds for this project. Pastor Dan Cochrane from the CrossRoads Church in Red Deer shared a message, entitled “Everyday Heroes,” during the church service. His message expressed the importance of making a difference in the lives of other individuals through the little actions that we do as “everyday heroes”. During the morning services, as well as for the afternoon program, Ihana Youth Choir provided a vibrant collection of musical selections. A wonderful catered lunch was organized for attendees after the morning services. This provided an opportunity for individuals to reconnect with fellow travelers as well as listen to progress reports on various projects around the world. Another exciting development presented that day was the introduction of the revised/improved ABW logo and website. Many hours went into making the distinctive logo and creating a more user-friendly website. This annual celebration was a wonderful event to highlight various projects as well as thank the church for their ongoing support of A Better World. From that day’s offerings alone, a total of $34,740 was raised to make this “a better world.” Submitted by Angela McKenna GLIMPSES Page 8 ABW—Neighbours, 2014 Signature Project Nyah is a beautiful, happy little eight-year-old girl who was born with a unique chromosomal disorder. She is cared for by her parents, Todd and Angela, and her eleven-year-old brother, Jacob, who has become an expert on her care. Nyah uses a wheelchair and other pieces of medical equipment that are difficult to use in a standard home. The family has already had to build accommodations such as a wheelchair ramp, and hoists on ceiling tracks above Nyah's bed and in the bathroom. As Nyah grows older and heavier, caregiving activities such as bathing her are becoming more difficult, requiring upgrades to equipment and a major renovation of the bathroom and other areas of the home. Unfortunately, Todd was recently seriously injured in a workplace accident that has left him unable to work, and the family is struggling financially. Neighbour's signature project for 2014 will be to fund and complete renovations to the home, to ease the burden on the family. The renovations would include at least the bathroom, doorways, and the living room, but could extend beyond these areas. Please consider how you could get involved in this project. If you can contribute, please contact Ronda Ziakris at 403.350.7180 or [email protected]. Submitted by Rhonda Ziakris Outdoor Social at J.J. Collett Nature Area A group of about 20 individuals took advantage of the pleasant weather (+9° C was a welcome relief compared to the -26° C the previous week!) and enjoyed a Sabbath afternoon at J.J. Collett Nature Area on March 8. Many of us thought this was the start of spring! The majority of the group hiked, and we appreciated the variety of conversation as we ambled along the trails. After our walk, we stopped at the gazebo for an energy boost with some refreshments, brought by Tena and Jack Zazulak. While we sat around and devoured the snacks, we were able to get better acquainted with one another and learn names of people we have seen at church but not officially met. By the time the sun went down, it was rather cool again and we headed for the warmth of our vehicles. This casual social event was a good reminder of the wonderful Creator, and of fun-loving church members we have here at the College Heights SDA Church. Submitted by Marcia Hill VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 Page 9 Parkview Adventist Academy News With April showers being replaced by occasional snowflakes, spring still seems like a long way off. Nevertheless, PAA students are barreling toward the end of the 2013-2014 school year and the calendar doesn’t wait for anyone to catch up! When students return from Spring Break (April 25-May 5) there will only be 12 school days until graduation weekend, and 38 days until the end of the school year. In that short time, there are year-end parties, class trips, PAA Days and final exams – along with all kinds of planning for next school year. Two new graduates of CUC’s education program, Katrina Knopp and Melinda Purviance, have recently concluded their Practicum teaching experiences at PAA. Miss Knopp was working with Mr. Landon Sayler and Mr. Del Spenst, teaching Biology 20, Chemistry 30, and Math 20-3; Mrs. Purviance has been teaching with Miss Kristy Grovet in English 20, CALM 20, and Religious Studies 25. Both Practicum teachers were great additions to our program, and we all enjoyed the experience. Mr. Rod Jamieson, PAA’s Athletic Director, has been working very hard to support Adventist athletes in our community. Students like Austin Holly and Andrea Laskowski, who both recently represented PAA in Central Alberta Schools Athletic Association (CASAA) 2014 Senior Bowl at Red Deer College, have benefitted greatly from PAA’s commitment to Sabbath observance and teamoriented training. On April 7, PAA made an important application to CASAA. This association includes all high schools in Central Alberta, both public and private. In this application, PAA requested all play-off games be adjusted around our Sabbath hours. Traditionally, these games are scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays. PAA has been laying the groundwork for this motion for several years with our skilled and sportsmanlike regular-season league play. One of the case studies used to support this request was the willingness of CUC’s athletic league, the Alberta College Athletic League (ACAL), to make such an adjustment in their playoff schedule. The motion was tabled until September, when a decision will be made based on Mr. Jamieson’s submission. He is preparing an alternate schedule for tournament times that does not interfere with classroom hours. Prayers are appreciated, for this and other future plans, as well as for our students as this school year comes to a close. Submitted by Katelyn Ruiz PAA dorm students display their new hoodies! GLIMPSES Page 10 Showcase Extravaganza Part of the joy of belonging to a university college church congregation is reaping the benefits of the students’ hard work and the faculty members’ instruction over the past year. April is traditionally the culmination of many hours of practice, particularly in the Music and Athletic Departments. A wide variety of events were recently available for our enjoyment. The final Evensong of the school year on Sabbath evening, April 5, focused on God's gift of Spring through readings and prayers, by Dr. Denise Herr, and musical selections by CUC students. This combination of words and music reminded the listeners of the beauty and delight of the new season. Immediately following this program, the CUC and Community Band Concert, directed by Mr. Leo Ganson, took place in the Administration Building Chapel. Their repertoire included traditional band/show tunes which got your foot tapping and hands clapping. The next major performance was the Choral Union’s spring concert on Friday evening, April 11, under the direction of Dr. Wendolin Munroe, in the College Heights SDAd Church. The concert featured several student soloists as well as a special appearance by Josh Friend, who may be Canada's lowest bass singer. Dr. Haynal interviewed Friend, a pastor at the First Christian Reformed Church in Red Deer, who teamed up with Proclaim for two gospel numbers. Both the traditional and the contemporary selections were effective in preparing us for the Sabbath hours. The next evening (April 12), director Mr. Cristian Neacsu led the Canadian University College Chamber Orchestra in their annual Concerto Concert, which featured student soloists performing excerpts from major orchestral works. The soloists were Aaron Boscanin (violin), Pablo Montes (bassoon), Rhanda Bonet-Graham (soprano), Seth McMillan (viola), Heidi Baumbach (violin), David Benjamin (trumpet), Taylor Lakusta-Wong and Maison Leitch (two pianos) and Candace Anderson (harp). This unique repertoire certainly showcased the musicianship of each performer. As part of their degree requirements, music students must present a recital in each the junior year and senior year. Over the last few weeks we were blessed with exceptional performances by Cody Shearer (piano/junior), and the following seniors: Amanda Baber (clarinet), Jason Biel (organ), Aaron Boscanin (violin), Sydney Lakusta-Wong (piano), Pablo Montes (bassoon) and Antoneil Roca (piano). We will miss many of these talented students on the hilltop next year. We wish them the very best as they pursue their careers. The Physical Education department also had a popular year-end performance that attracted school and community fans. The Acronaires, under the direction of head coach Mr. Ron Schafer, presented their home show, “Circus in a Box,” to packed houses for two performances (April 11 & 13) in the CUC PE Centre. Using a large, square stage in the centre of the gym, Stacy Hunter (VPSS) served as the Ringmaster, and led as the Acronaires wowed the audience with a daring, action-packed show of tumbling, gymnastics, cheer stunting, and acrobatics. Sunday’s performance included a special feature, “Hot Diggity Dogs,” as well as performances by the Junior Acronaires. If you were unable to attend any of these programs or want an encore performance, many of them are available on LiveStream at the CUC website www.cauc.ca/. Check it out! Submitted by Marcia Hill, with some information and pictures from the President’s Blog VOLUME 8, ISSUE 3 Page 11 Celebrate Spring with Earth Friendly Cuisine Dietitians of Canada & The Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics have position papers endorsing a Vegetarian diet for it’s nutritional adequacy. If well planned, even a Vegan diet will not only meet needs during infancy, pregnancy and peak athletic years; it can reduce chronic disease in the areas of heart health, blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and cancer.1,2 Key nutrients for vegetarians include protein, iron, zinc, calcium, Vitamins D & B12 and Iodine. Compare your diet to the following food guide and if you are unsure whether you are consuming an optimal diet, ask your doctor to refer you for a free nutrition assessment by a Registered Dietitian. 1. CDN J Diet Prac. & Research (2003), 64:62-81. 2. J Am Diet Assoc. (2009), 109: 1266-1282 This article and the following chart were submitted by Diana Lakusta-Wong. More details are available, but were not included here due to space limitations. Please contact Diana if you are interested additional information. The following is the new Vegetarian Plate Food Guide, recently released by Adventist Health Ministries. GLIMPSES Page 12 College Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church Celebrating Baptism, Elliot Chokka 6915 Maple Drive Lacombe, AB T4L 1Z9 Phone: 405.782.6131 Fax: 403.782.7779 Email: [email protected] We were happy to celebrate with Elliot Chokka as he was baptised. Pastor Adam Deibert was happy to support Elliot through this very important event. GLIMPSES is prepared by Julie Grovet , Editor/Design Marcia Hill, Assistant Editor Communications Team: Tanya Huether, Ellen Bell, Sheila Clark Church Photographers: Darrell Huether and Laurence Wong Thank you the various contributors for the articles and the pictures! The special day was April 5, 2014. We’re on the web! chsda.ca We are growing Christians offering meaningful fellowship through spiritual leadership and nurture. Our Vision Worshipping God in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24) Caring for our neighbours. (Matthew 25:31) Seeking the lost. Luke19:10) Feeding the sheep. (John 21:17) Equipping the saints. (Ephesians 4:12) Adventists believe a Trinity of three persons--the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit--make up one God. God made salvation possible when Jesus, the Son, came to earth as a baby in Bethlehem and lived a sinless life in accordance with the Father's will. When Jesus was crucified for the sins of the people of the world and arose from the dead on the third day, victory was won for everyone. SAGE Alberta Upcoming Events This year there will be no less than three opportunities to share in the fun and fellowship of campouts with other SAGErs. Why not mark each one on your calendar now ? Crimson Lake - September 1 to 4. Loop G at Crimson Lake Provincial Park is the perfect site for our Golden Heritage Club RV campout. We’ve established a tradition of arriving there on the afternoon of Labour Day, this year it will be September 1, and enjoying a variety of activities and great meals. Miquelon Lake - September 7 to 9 (Sunday through Tuesday). SAGE Alberta has reserved Group Area 7, the same commodious site we had last year, providing powered sites and a nice toilet block with hot showers. Sheep River Provincial Park - September 14 to 17 (Sunday through Wednesday). Another SAGE Alberta RV camp at the Sandy McNabb Group Site A. This mountain location in Kananaskis Country is directly west of Okotoks, south of Calgary. There are lots of recreational opportunities in this area, and the group site has nice facilities with powered sites. Look for more information about these RV opportunities at the SAGE exhibit during Alberta Camp Meeting. Submitted by Keith Clouten ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yellowknife Coach Tour: Don’t miss your opportunity to visit Yellowknife during a 7-day coach tour, June 11-17, 2014, to coincide with the Yellowknife Adventist Church anniversary and homecoming celebrations. The tour cost of $670.00 will cover coach transportation, 6 nights in comfortable hotels, 2 meals daily, and 3 days in Yellowknife for visits to area sights and participation in weekend events planned by the Yellowknife Church. There are still several seats available. This tour is sponsored by SAGEAlberta. Brochures are available in the church foyer on the table by the parent’s room. To book a seat, please contact Darlene Reimche at 403.342.5044, ext. 206. Submitted by Ellen Bell
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