Amberlea Church

Christian Worship, Contemporary Music, Groups for Kids, Youth, Adults

Member of the Presbyterian Church in Canada
1820 Whites Rd, Pickering, Ontario, L1V 1R8
905-839-1383
Church Office: Tue & Thu 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Worship: SUN 11:00 a.m.

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From Darkness came a Miracle by Guest Blogger Shelly Wedge

April 30, 2020 by Rev. Mona Scrivens

It is my honour to be a guest blogger this week. I’m a big fan of Mona’s blogs and I look forward to reading them each week. Thank you Mona for this opportunity!

First I would like to start off by saying that I hope everyone is staying safe right now.  We are living in different times that have changed our daily habits and our priorities.  All of us have had to adjust and make accommodations and are doing the best we possibly can.  

This week has been challenging for our family as we have had to deal with the passing of my stepdad in the middle of all of this. It’s hard enough in the best of time’s but as I know that others have experienced this as well it is not easy during these times and I grieve with those who have faced this as well.  

This brings me to where our faith comes in and our total trust in God. 

God has a plan for each of our lives. His plan is perfect and we need to follow his will. 

About a year and a half ago I began what I will call “my own spiritual journey. “

I had a major health crisis that changed my life forever. This crisis took me to the depths of despair. It made me question everything in my life both good and bad and stripped me down to the core of my being. 

There was no other way to go, other than up. I could not possibly sink down any further.  It wasn’t until I totally let go and surrendered myself to God that I was slowly able to climb back up. I did not do this alone and there were trials, struggles and questions every day.  

I had to take a good look a real look at myself and decide how I wanted to move forward in my life. 

With God’s help and the help of my family and friends I was able to recover.  The physical part was very difficult for me. The spiritual part was as well. I believe now that God allowed me to be incapacitated so that I had no other choice but to be still and lean on him. Being still is not in my DNA. Let’s just leave it at that.  

God taught me many lessons and that was just the beginning 

It is my privilege to share this experience with you through my book that I wrote throughout this experience. 

“From Darkness came a Miracle”

https://www.amazon.ca/Darkness-Came-Miracle-Shelly-Wedge/dp/0973899824/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=from+darkness+came+a+miracle+shelly+wedge&qid=1587831737&sprefix=from+darkness+came+a+miracle+shelly+wedge&sr=8-1

This is my journey and my hope is that you will find it inspiring.  If you are not walking close to God or are facing trials I hope you will feel lifted up and empowered to trust God to allow change in your life. 

By leaning on God, no matter what happens in our life, we are able to get through it.  God teaches us so much in trials that we could not possible learn any other way.  

I have great hope for the future.  Even with the world is as it is now, I’m grateful for my life and I’m grateful for the lessons learned every day.  

I know that God is my Father and he will never even leave me. I can never be alone because he is always there.  

If you would like to make comments or share your story or just vent, I encourage you to do this in my Facebook page.

From Darkness came a Miracle.

We can share and support one another even during these uncertain times.

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Shelly, her husband George and two children, Magenta and Jake are members of Amberlea. They have been instrumental in the creation and success of the Exceptional Families Program at Amberlea.

April 30, 2020 /Rev. Mona Scrivens

Finding God in the most unusual places!

April 22, 2020 by Rev. Mona Scrivens

If you look, you can see God in the most unusual places, wouldn’t you agree?

Over the past few weeks I have started a new Vlog (video blog) series called, “Getting to Know You”.  In this new series I have been interviewing people from our congregation. It’s been so fun.

I’ve asked them three questions:

  1. How are you doing in the midst of this madness?

  2. What are you doing to alleviate stress or anxiety?  What are some coping strategies?

  3. Where have you seen God in this?

The interviews have been via zoom and  I have been posting them once a week on our website, and Facebook page. So far you have had the opportunity to get to know, Brian Scrivens, Sandra Percy and Dave Wallace.  If you haven’t already, please check it out. WARNING: the intro song is really catchy ;)  Each week, (for as long as we are isolated), there will be a different person for you to get to know.

I have loved getting to know each of these folks in a different way, and I have loved hearing about where they have seen God in the midst of this pandemic. What they say may surprise you.

God moves in amazing, remarkable and even surprising ways. God also moves in subtle understated ways – in the quietness of a spectacular sunset; in the sound of the rain hitting the window; or even in the gift of food left on our doorstep!

Yes, God is moving even today, even in the midst of a global pandemic! There are “God moments” all around. This week be on the lookout and seize them, embrace them and receive them!

Stay safe, BE WELL and know that you are LOVED!

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Would you be willing to be interviewed?  We would love to Get to Know You!! Reach out to: revmona@amberleachurch.ca or admin@amberleachurch.ca

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Join us for Part 3 of our sermon series entitled Joyful Sound! 

Tune into to our online service at 11 am on Sunday morning on our YouTube Channel.  Don’t forget to click SUBSCRIBE :)

Or find the sermon on our Facebook page.  Don’t forget to LIKE us.

Regardless of where you find us, please do leave a comment.  Let me know how you are doing and how I can pray for you.

(Don’t forget our Zoom coffee hour on Sunday at 11:45am)

April 22, 2020 /Rev. Mona Scrivens

A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies! By Guest blogger Nancy Varga

April 16, 2020 by Rev. Mona Scrivens

Over Easter weekend, we invited people to celebrate that Jesus is risen by creating their own butterflies and hanging them in their windows for the world to see. Truthfully at our house, I did most of the creating as the teenagers in the house sighed and made hesitant faces wondering why I was asking them to do a family activity. Hopefully, your experience was a little different! Thank you to everyone who sent in a photo of their butterfly art. Together we made a kaleidoscope of butterflies offering praise to God!

All of this talk about butterflies caused me to reflect on how my experience is a little bit like theirs. During this unprecedented time, it feels like I go back and forth between being tucked away as a caterpillar in the chrysalis and emerging as a butterfly ready to fly. 

Many days, many moments, I feel safest in my cocoon.  I actively try to protect myself from the news, announcements, opinions, and the concrete physical world of people and germs. I feel protected. Sort of...  In the stillness, the voices of doubt and fear can be heard.  The voices are not new; they are just a little louder now in the quiet.  Who am I? What is my purpose?  Am I good enough? Am I doing enough? Am I loved?

There is an amazing transformation that happens for the caterpillar in the chrysalis.  Scripture tells us that I am transformed too if I look to the One who is the answer. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 I am a child of God, created by Him for His purpose.  I don’t have anything to prove, defend or be. By His grace I am a new creation.    

On some days if even for only just a moment, I feel grown enough to emerge and try a little flying. Some days that means a great something is accomplished and other times it means the voices of fear and doubt are quelled for only a minute. 

Just like the butterfly something so supernatural happens in the transformation by the One who is greater.

On those days when I am grieving and it’s hard to face the day, I worry that my children will see and only remember the mom who is burdened and weak.  

In those moments remind me to call out, “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.”Psalm 39:7

I pray that my children see beyond the cocoon and see God at work transforming my life. 

 

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

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Nancy Varga is the Family Ministry Director at Amberlea Church.

She can be reached at familyministries@amberleachurch.ca

April 16, 2020 /Rev. Mona Scrivens
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