DECEMBER 2012

AN UNEXPECTED GIFTGabriel appeared to her [Mary] and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!”

Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean. Luke 1:28-29 (NLT)

They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:11 (NLT)

If you have ever given an unexpected gift, you know how rewarding it can be, especially if the gift is meeting a real need. My great aunt Doris was often on the receiving end of these gifts. Her husband was a trucker and one hard winter’s night he lost

control and was killed. Aunt Doris had three children, five and under. She tried to make ends meet but without unexpected gifts from others, there was no way she could have made it. When our family would visit her years later (when I was a boy), with amazing joy she would tell us the stories of these unexpected gifts, referring to them as though they were sent directly from heaven.

In many ways, this year has been a year of the unexpected. So often when the unexpected breaks into our world, making us feel vulnerable or unsettled, we actually discover we are on the cusp of something new and growth accelerating. Think about it. An unexpected angel appears to Mary. Her world – and ours - would never be the same again.

The angel’s unexpected visit was only the beginning. The three guests and their gifts were equally unexpected. And about everything Jesus would say and do afterwards, well, that too was not what everyone was expecting.

Together at North Park in 2012, we have had unexpected opportunities to speak into the lives of people --- to journey together. Some have stepped out in faith toward Christ; others have been baptized. Every week, there have been real and beautiful stories of service to one an-other and our neighbours: a meal provided, a lesson taught, a small group led, a job given, a visit when it has been needed most, or a prayer offered. Through our partnering relationships, serious life giving hope is being provided locally and globally. Nearly every week, there are stories of the unexpected … simple stories of hope and transformation. Enter the Story, the E100 initiative, has far exceeded our hopes in creating unexpected positive influence for individuals and families, even beyond North Park.

On behalf of our entire team (pastors, administration, and facilities staff) here at North Park, it has been our joy to serve you this year. We wish you a wonderful Christmas and a blessed New Year!

May you be surprised again this year by the most unexpected gift ever given: Jesus. And filled with joy and love to give unexpected gifts to others!

Donnie Scearce, Lead Pastor

TH E

December 1/2STOMP Children’s Christmas Musical

Saturday 6:30pmSunday 9:00 &

11:00am

December 8/9Acoustic

Christmas MusicSaturday 6:30pm

Sunday 9:00, 10:15 & 11:00am

December 15/16North Park Strings

Saturday 6:30pmSunday 9:00,

10:15 & 11:00am

December 22/23North Park ChoirSaturday 6:30pm

Sunday 9:00, 10:15 & 11:00am

December 24Family Service &

CandlelightCommunion ServiceMonday 4:30, 6:00,

8:00 & 11:00pm

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A SPECIAL NEED AND THANKSDonnie Scearce, Lead Pastor, John Tyler, Elder Board Chair

“Gratitude and Generosity” are values lived out at North Park Community Church. We were again blown away on the first weekend of Dare to Give when North Parker’s took 1100 kits to help the desperately poor men, women and children here in London that are served by Mission Ser-vices! Amazing!

We are grateful to God for his faithfulness and your assistance in providing the means to make possible all the ministries of North Park. We have had another great year of being able to serve children, youth, and adults in a range of ministries, our community through various outreach pro-grams, and our partners in world missions.

As we approach the end of 2012, would you prayerfully consider a special donation to help end this year in a strong financial position?

As you may know, it was decided early in North Park’s history, that there would not be a focus on finances by passing an offering plate at every service. The only time a plate is passed is during Communion on the last Sunday of each month. As a church family, we trust the Lord to supply all the needs of this ministry. He has been faithful, and you have been generous.

There are several ways to give toward these ministries. Envelopes in the pews at each service can be placed into the boxes by the auditorium exits. The North Park website has a section entitled ‘Giving’, which shows how this can be done online through CanadaHelps.org. Some prefer automatic pre-authorized giving (the best way for monthly budgeting), and others take advantage of added tax benefits by donating securities.

Donations received by December 31, 2012 are eligible to be included in your 2012 tax receipt.

Again, thank you for your incredible generosity in supporting so many aspects of North Park’s ministry.

The Christmas Party at North Park is a very special time for the children of Lord Elgin Public School. Every year for over 20 years, we have had the privilege of hosting the students and teachers in our gym for an incredible time of singing, eating, and celebrating. Each child is treated as royalty and served a delicious Christmas turkey dinner with all the fixings. The gym and tables are decorated, North Park staff and volunteers are dressed in their Christmas attire, and for a few hours, the place is transformed into a banquet celebration that produces warm memories to last all year.

Our desire is that all the children would indeed feel loved; and that they would experience the joy that Christmas represents. It takes more than 100 volunteers to see this event through; this service is a reflection of the generosity of our community at North Park. Each child receives a gift bag, and as part of the event, we collect hats and mitts for the school to provide for the kids to keep them warm in the cold winter months.

Many of the children that attend this event are from disadvantaged and struggling families, where Christmas can be a time of stress rather than a joyful time of family, food and gifts. Our Christmas Party is talked about all year long and is truly a happy event. Teachers have told us that even the children who struggle with major behaviour issues are able to “act like angels,” laughing, singing and responding to the joy in the place. It is a retreat and celebration that is enjoyed by volunteers, teachers and children alike.

The date for the party this year is Wednesday, December 12. We are hoping not to be snowed out, like what happened in 2010! For specific needs, please see the sign up sheets in the gym (available until December 9). Thank you in advance for praying, giving and serving in this day of love for these precious children. Through the ministry of the Life Resource Centre, care and service is provided to the families of these children all year long and we value the great relationship we have with Lord Elgin School.

LORD ELGIN CHRISTMAS PARTYDavid Cottrill, Director of Community Outreach

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CHRISTMAS 2012 AT NORTH PARK

On the weekend of December 1/2, we have the STOMP kids choir performing the Christmas musical, “ A Rockin’ Royal Christmas.” Jay Ravillos will be leading us in Christmas worship. Speaker: Peter Maddocks. Childcare is available for birth – age 3.Saturday December 1 at 6:30 pm; Sunday December 2 at 9:00 & 11:00am*Please note there are only 2 services on Sunday On December 8/9, we will be reflecting upon the beauty and simplicity of the manger with an acoustic set of Christmas worship led by Kelly Morrison. Speaker: Donnie ScearceSaturday December 8 at 6:30 pm;Sunday December 9 at 9:00, 10:15 & 11:00am

On December 15/16, we will be examining the extravagant gifts of the wise men. Worship and music will be led by the North Park Orchestra. Speaker: Matthew EckertSaturday December 15 at 6:30 pm; Sunday December 16 at 9:00, 10:15 & 11:00am

On December 22/23, we will be celebrating and raising our voices with the shepherds and angels as we join in and sing with the North Park Christmas Choir. Speaker: Donnie ScearceSaturday December 22 at 6:30 pm; Sunday December 23 at 9:00, 10:15 & 11:00am

On Christmas Eve we will have 2 Family Services (4:30 & 6:00pm) and 2 Candlelight/Communion services (8:00 & 11:00pm). The Family Services will be 45 minutes in length and include classic Christmas songs and a telling of the Christmas story; all ages are wel-come. The Candlelight/Communion services will be 1 hour in length and will provide a blend of Christmas carols combined with Scripture readings of the Christmas story. It will end with the celebration of communion. Monday December 24 at 4:30, 6:00, 8:00 & 11:00pm*Please note there is no childcare at these services

We invite you to join us every weekend leading up to Christmas and for our traditional Christmas Eve services. Our team has been planning and working hard for this special time. In a world that desperately needs a break from the craziness that can sometimes surround this season,

come and invite your family and friends to join us as we celebrate together some aspect of the simplicity and joy that surrounds the amazing true Christmas story.

- Donnie Scearce, Lead Pastor

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Plan to invite friends and family to join us for this kick off to the Christmas season during our weekend services at North Park on December 1 at 6:30pm and December 2 at 9:00 & 11:00am.

(Please note there are only 2 services on December 2. Childcare for this weekend is available for birth - age 3).

STOMP KIDS CHRISTMAS MUSICAL

PROPERTY OPPORTUNITIES IN 2012Wanda Silvester, Director of Administration and Operations

As you have observed, we have been active on and around our property this year. With the City’s plan to widen Fanshawe Park Road, came a few opportunities for North Park that were truly “once in a lifetime.” The city sanitary and storm water systems were being brought out to our prop-erty for the first time. Connecting to both systems provided significant advantages to North Park for the long-term and assisted us in meeting Ministry of Environment requirements. It would never be easier or less expensive for us to hook into the city systems than during this construc-tion. Fortunately, North Park had designated funds through the years to capital reserve and there was approximately $230,000 available for us to seize this opportunity.

We have taken the first step of completely connecting to the sanitary system. You may have noticed a strip of construction and then new asphalt in the parking lot, which is where the sanitary pipe is now running into the building. We are no longer using our septic tanks, but are connected directly into the city sanitary system.

The next step will be connecting to the storm water system. We anticipate this project will need to take place sometime in 2013 or 2014. We look forward to taking advantage of this opportunity, as it will alleviate the flooding issues in our parking lot. We are prayerfully considering options on financing this project and will be presenting those to our church family when we know more details.

While this project has required the use of our capital reserve funds, it certainly has been one that is providing us new and exciting opportunities to pray, dream, and plan about what we might do with our property in the coming years at North Park!

CLOTHING DONATIONSDavid Cottrill, Director of Community Outreach

We appreciate the donations of clothing and household goods that the kind people of North Park provide for the families that the Life Resource Centre serves. Many of our clients are on very limited budgets, and we want to make sure they have access to affordable clothing for their families. Once a month, while the London Food Bank Neighbourhood Depot is open at the Life Resource Centre, we open up one of our portables where clothing and items are made available for very reasonable prices. In this way, those without sufficient resources are accommodated. This new for-mat has been well received by our volunteers and those needing the items.

We ask that clean, gently used clothing and household items are brought to North Park and placed in the blue collection bin. Please also keep in mind that our demand is for seasonally appropriate clothing and shoes. Items that we cannot use will be passed on to other service providers to assist their clients. If you have items for donation and you are unsure if they are needed, please email david.cottrill@northpark.ca.

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North Park is excited to announce our second annual Local and Global Church Conference on Saturday January 19, 2013. In 2012 we hosted Steve Corbett, author of When Helping Hurts, for a day of input on the topic of “Helping without Hurting”. Steve inspired close to 500 people who attended from all across Ontario to gain insight on how to make a positive difference in local and global communities. It is in that spirit that we invited Dr Bob Lupton to North Park for this important day in January 2013.

Dr Bob Lupton has invested the past 40 years of his life in inner city Atlanta. In response to a call that he first felt while serving in Vietnam, he left a budding business career to work with delinquent urban youth. Bob and his family sold their suburban home and moved into the inner city where they have lived and served as neighbors among those in need. His life’s work has been the rebuilding of urban neighbourhoods where families can flourish and children can grow into healthy adults.

Bob is a Christian community developer, an entrepreneur who brings together communities of resource with communities of need. Through FCS Urban Ministries – a non-profit organization which he founded – Bob has developed three mixed-income subdivisions, organized two multi-racial congregations, started a number of businesses, created housing for hundreds of families, and initiated a wide range of human services in his com-munity. He is the author of six books: (Theirs is the Kingdom, Return Flight, Renewing the City, Compassion, Justice and the Christian Life, and Toxic Charity). Bob has a PhD in Psychology from the University of Georgia. He serves as a speaker, strategist and inspirer with those who seek God’s Shalom in the city.

Bob will be sharing principles on how Justice and Dignity are the two key components of kingdom initiative within any community, whether local or global. Justice and Dignity are the hallmarks of the church and it is only through the church living up to its role that these two values can come alive.

The day will include workshops from important voices such as Dr Joanna Quinn, head of the Africa Institute at the University of Western Ontario. Dr Quinn has spent years studying the conflict in Northern Uganda, completing her PhD research on traditional methods of justice as a tool for transformation. Her influence is widespread among students on the UWO campus and as a follower of Jesus she is empowering young leaders to give their lives to kingdom values through skilled social justice initiatives around the world. Dr Quinn acts as an advisor to North Park’s work in Africa.

With Justice and Dignity The Church Local and Global is designed to inspire and equip people who have a passion to reach our under-resourced neigh-bours both locally and globally. The workshops will be practical and case study centred, hosted by practitioners who are wrestling with real issues in real settings. Watch the North Park website for more information and registration details.

Update on The Global Strategic Fund | North Park has maintained a vibrant commitment to the world from our very beginning. We have created the Global Strategic Fund as a specific tool for building missions partnerships around the world.

In 2003 we began a partnership with Pioneers Canada with the goal of seeing the church planted among a people group in Asia known as the QST. 2012 was a significant year for us in that we sent three new leaders to the region, making a total of four on the ground. Seven years of faithful initiative and the seeds of the kingdom are emerging among the QST. In 2010 we began a second partnership along the Thai Burma border with IJM and OMF, with the goal of advocating justice for the oppressed and marginalized. We are seeing that work take root and make a positive difference.

We set a target of $90,000 for 2012 and are close to the target. As you consider your year-end giving, pray about putting us over the top so that we can plan with confidence for 2013 - simply write “missions” on your designation. Contact us a missions@northpark.ca to learn more about the Global Strategic Fund.

WITH JUSTICE AND DIGNITYRon Burdock, Director of Global Outreach, David Cottrill, Director of Community Outreach

COMMUNITY LIFECHILD DEDICATIONSNovember 3/4Deandre Pimentel Asumio – Parents Bladymer & JenniferEmily Grace Boland – Parents Joseph & SamanthaEmma Patricia Clark – Parents Jason & LauraMaeve Evangéline Fortin – Parents Conlan & DeniseOlivia Anne Hurst – Parents Rob & SarahJulia Lilianna Jadischke – Parents Marcus & ClaudiaAnna Joy Janzen – Parents Chris & JuliaBrinley Grace Kajan – Parents Daniel & DanaZoe Isabel Kropf – Parents Mike & TammyElla Grace Lansdell – Parents Nathan & KatlynKhloe Ann Lauzon – Parents Christopher & StaceyQuintin Samuel Pranger – Parents Matt & RachelLaine Nicole Robinson – Parents Chris & AmyGriffin James Robinson – Parents Chris & AmyAaron William Ruddach – Parents Steve & SarahLloyd David Sterling – Parents Dave & AllisonJacob Eric John Verbeek – Parent JoanneSailor Blue Andy Verbeek – Parent Joanne

DEATHSRoy Brooks (October 26) – Husband of Riette Brooks Fraser Goodmurphy (October 26) – Son of Michael & Catherine GoodmurphyCornelia Been (November 13) – Mother of Al Been

BAPTISMSElizabeth Bignell (November 10) Stephanie Cook (November 10) Christopher Zarola (November 10) Jennifer Rovillos (November 11) Amanda Wereley (November 11)

WEDDINGSAmy Cahill & Nathan Kuenzel (October 19)

To the many generous givers at North Park,

Thank you so much for having the vision for what a week at camp could do for the kids in your ex-tended church family and then for getting behind that vision with your amazing financial sup-port. We so appreciate your partnership with us. We celebrate with you the changes in kid’s lives for

the kingdom of God!

- From all the staff at Joy Bible Camp

So many at North Park have developed the life-giving habit of regular Bible reading this Fall as we have journeyed through the Old Testament together. Because of this, we don’t want to lose momentum as we wait for the New Testament readings to begin in January, when we will enter in the second phase of “Enter the Story”. As such, we have put together a great set of readings for December that will lead us through the

life of Jesus. These readings include prophecies about his birth, prophecies about his life and ministry and some readings about his character and purpose. We believe that these will greatly enhance your understanding of Jesus and will guide you into a rich Christmas experience.

Although these readings won’t directly follow the message series, they will help prepare your heart for the Christmas season.

Genesis 12:1-3; Matthew 1:1-17 Isaiah 7:13-16; Matthew 1:18-24Micah 5:2-5; Matthew 2:1-12Jeremiah 31:15-25; Matthew 2:13-23Isaiah 40:1-31; Matthew 3:1-12

Isaiah 9:1-7; 23:5-6Isaiah 42:1-17Isaiah 49:-1-26Isaiah 53:1-12Isaiah 61:1-11

Matthew 11:25-30John 13:1-16Matthew 11:1-4Philippians 2:1-11Hebrews 2:5-18

Mark 10:35-45John 6:35-40Ephesians 1:3-14Ephesians 2:1-22Revelation 5:1-14

WEEK OF DECEMBER 3 WEEK OF DECEMBER 10 WEEK OF DECEMBER 17 WEEK OF DECEMBER 24