Elim Saskatoon
419 Slimmon Road S7V 0E3 Saskatoon, SK, Canada

"Jesus is better" is the theme of the New Testament book of Hebrews. It’s a letter written to a group of Christians who were being buffeted by persecution, hardships, and challenges to their faith. Some were wondering if it was worth it to follow Jesus while some were drifting from the commitment to Jesus. Join us this week, whether online or in-person, as Pastor Marvin begins a new preaching series that will take us through Hebrews.

This past weekend, Pastor Marvin spoke on the triumphal entry of Jesus on Palm Sunday. What is the significance of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey? In what ways will other kings in our lives disappoint us or oppress us? In what practical ways do we demonstrate that Jesus is our king in our day to day living?

Have you been thinking about getting baptized? We'll be having in-person baptisms on May 2nd, so call the church office or contact one of our pastors to get more information.

"Teaching is something that I have been called to do; I know this is where God has put me. As a Kindergarten teacher, I feel honoured that parents trust me with their children and privileged to have a part in their life. Even though I can’t explicitly talk about my faith in the public school system, I can show the love of Jesus and be His hands and feet in my classroom. Being a safe person and creating a place where kids can safely explore and feel truly loved is really impor...tant to me. At the beginning of the school year, COVID made it challenging to do my job in a way that was engaging and developmentally appropriate for kindergartners. It’s been a lot of cleaning, sanitizing, and teaching my students how to do things safely. I’ve learned to find a balance between being encouraging and supportive to the kids without feeling like I’m the mask-police all day long. And thankfully, they’ve been open to learning how to do things in a new way. There’s been a lot of COVID anxiety this yearI try to encourage other teachers by listening and having an open door for those who need to talk. With parents, I try to be understanding and work with them to help them feel comfortable. Some of my students’ parents have been really encouraging to metheir words of appreciation have made a huge difference. It’s reminded me of the importance of speaking up when I think someone is doing something wellit could be exactly what they need to hear at that time. Throughout this school year, I’ve felt reaffirmed that teaching is what I’m supposed to be doing, it’s just one of those times that is extra tricky. I’ve had to be a lot more creative to find that middle ground of doing what is right for my students’ learning while working within the current guidelines; but I’ve found ways to incorporate the important things in a way that keeps kids safe and comfortable. It’s been a chance to reflect on what I believe is important as a teacher. Through it all, God reminds me that this is what I’m supposed to be doing and He gives me strength to keep doing it." Morgan Gordon #ElimPorchPics

We're back in-person! Registration opens every Sunday at noon for the next weekend, but registrations fill up quick so make sure to register as soon as you can! Register at https://elimchurch.churchcenter.com/registrations

Did you miss our Good Friday or Easter Sunday service? Or need more encouragement in the middle of the week? You can find both of our services on our YouTube channel here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj9jt1ZJ5QtnwaZ7kp7YX_Q

Our services are all still available online. Tune in at our website: https://www.elimchurch.ca/onlineservices Or YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj9jt1ZJ5QtnwaZ7kp7YX_Q

"I began the Alpha course at Elim shortly after my mom got diagnosed with cancer; I was in a very dark place. The second I welcomed the Holy Spirit into my life, I felt God’s peace and presence. I started attending Elim sporadically. I would walk into the church by myself, but I always felt like I was home. People at Elim have been praying for me since the first time I stepped foot in the building for Alpha and I feel those prayers. The people at Elim have changed my life. A...bout a year and a half ago, my mom was still getting treatment for cancer and my dad was taking care of her. But then my dad got sick with cancer too. It moved really fast. My sister and I had this crazy schedule as we tried to work and take care of both of my parents at the same time. I felt like I was in the eye of the storm. I was watching everything happenbut I was in a calm and peaceful place. It was oddly serene; I saw pain everywhere I looked, but there was just peace and comfort over me. I could sense God holding mea calm in my heart that otherwise wouldn’t be there. My dad passed away in December 2019 and I moved in to care for my mom. When the pandemic hit, I was laid off from both of my jobs and my mom’s health went downhill. By the summer of 2020, I was a full-time caregiver for my mom amidst the pandemicit was really stressful. She passed away that July. I was with my parents, at their bedside, as they passed away. My parents fought so hard, but within 8 months I’d lost them both and I didn’t know what to do. My parents were everything to me. Even with the grief, I never went back to the darkness I felt before I asked Jesus into my life. This time, I had hope. Through every sadness, every emotion, His peace has stuck with me. There were moments when I just sat with God, closed my eyes, and saw His arms around me. Having faith through all of this is bringing me closer to God. I’ve never felt God as muchevery day I feel Him more." Diane Mourot #ElimPorchPics

This Sunday is Palm Sunday. It marks the day when Jesus is welcomed into Jerusalem as king. By the end of that week he has been killed. His kingship was misunderstood. Join us this weekend as Pastor Marvin teaches on the nature and implications of Jesus’ kingship. Find our services online Saturday at 6:30PM or Sunday at 9AM/10:15AM on our website and Youtube channel.

"When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it." Mark 16:911 Easter at Elim Online premieres tonight at 6:30 and tomorrow at 9 & 10:15. Head to www.elimchurch.ca/easter!

We're grateful for our Elim family. What are you grateful for? Tell us in the comments

Who's excited for Easter Weekend? Head to www.elimchurch.ca/easter to find out everything you need to know about Easter at Elim. Check out our stories for some behind the scenes videos!

We want optionsthe more the better. And yet, Jesus reduces life and eternity down to two options and two corresponding destinies: the wide road leading to death and the narrow road leading to life. Join us this weekend for our Upstream series where Pastor Marvin unpacks Jesus’ high stakes, life or death words. Don't forget to check out one of our online services Saturday at 6:30PM or Sunday at 9AM/10:15AM on our website and Youtube channel.

We at Elim love local businesses. Comment your favourite local businesses Scroll through the comments to find new places to shop ands show your Local Love!

Pastor Marvin spoke this last week about the "Golden Rule". How does the idea of going upstream (against the flow of culture) impact your daily life? Take some time to think about how you’d like to be spoken of, spoken to, forgiven, and extended grace from others. Apply that to the way that you speak of, speak to, forgive, and extend grace to others. Contact someone today who you know needs encouragement.

"I grew up as a pagan in an idol worshipping home, but God in His infinite mercy and grace whisked me out of that environment. He took me out of the darkness of this world into His marvelous light. The first time I had an encounter with Christ, I knew He was LOVE personifiedLove entered my spirit. Christianity is not just religion, it’s a loving relationship with our Creator. He is so loving and filled with love indescribable for us all. God is the centre of my life and that... is my passion. My father could not understand me being a Christian because he thought only old people went to church. He would not allow anyone who worshipped Jesus to live in his house. So when I was 14, my father disowned me and threw me out of the house because of my faith. I told him, If you refuse to father me, God is going to Father me. And God has been faithful. From the bottom of my heart, there is nothing in this world that I am more passionate about than Christ and His death for us on the cross of Calvary. I’m a child of God and my identity is in Christ. Knowing that He loves me so much helps me go through daily life’s challenges. Christ is the centre of our home. As a family, we like to pray and study the Bible together. Every morning when we wake up, we do our devotions. We pray and spend time together with Godthat’s where we draw our strength. All through my journey, from Nigeria to Canada, God has provided everything for us. I can’t be grateful to God enough. When our family arrived in Canada, we didn’t know anyone. We had no family or friends here. But God brought people into our lives to support us the way a family does. He provided finances for us to buy a housewe owe it all to God. He has done beyond anything we could have ever thought or imagined. And, although He’s done so much, He’s still doing much more. All to the Glory of His Majesty!" Omoruyi Osatohanmwen

No matter how old you are, if you have big questions about faith, Elim Young Adults is tackling some real heavy hitters like the problem of suffering and evil, hell, and miracles in their new series Up at Night. They premiere at YA (and on YouTube) on Tuesday nights, and then Pastor Luke digs deeper into the topic in the weekly podcast following. Head to https://elimya.com for more information. If you're a young adult, make sure you're following www.facebook.com/elimyoungadults to stay up to date with what’s going on.

Don't forget to tune into one of our services on our website or YouTube channel! Website: https://elimsaskatoon.online.church/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj9jt1ZJ5QtnwaZ7kp7YX_Q

We are excited to announce Elim’s very own Christmas Convoy! This year, we wanted to find a way to bring joy and light to our community in a safe way. Our Christmas Convoy will make its way through surrounding neighbourhoods with 20 vehicles decked out in Christmas lights and gear. We have a few spots left for people who have a tendency to go crazy with Christmas decorating! If you’re one of those people, head to elimchurch.ca/convoy and sign up!

If you would love to partner with Erdo by providing a gift for a child or family in need, donating through their online is a great opportunity! Check out there website for more information!

We will not be having an 11:45 service this week, but would encourage you to join us for the 9AM in person service or the 10:15AM as space allows. We would also ask you to tune in for our online service on Saturday at 6:30PM and Sunday at 9AM and 10:15AM on Facebook and Youtube. For further questions or inquiries please email us at [email protected].

You can help make a difference at Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation! This Christmas, our church is collecting cash donations for Christmas hampers, school supplies and gifts for students at Ahtahkakoop Christian Academy. Would you consider helping us reach our goal? You can give online by going to our website www.elimchurch.ca and designating your donation to our alms fund. After submitting your donation, please send us an email at [email protected] to confirm that your donation is sp...ecifically for Christmas at Ahtahkakoop OR you can send a cheque to our office by making it out to Elim Church and adding "Christmas at Ahtahkakoop" in the memo. By giving, you are supporting our mission partners Alec and Janice Sasakamoose as they continue to reach and disciple their community for Jesus! Thank you for helping us by giving financially to our church-wide effort! Cash donations will be accepted between November 14th and November 21st.

I got really sick with a cold in early September and went for a COVID test as the symptoms were questionable. Even though the test came back negative, I was still symptomatic and couldn’t go to work as a dental hygienist. My husband was away at work for 2 weeks, so I was single parenting as I was trying to recover. I was not allowed to go into my 2 year old son’s daycare to drop him off, even though he was healthy, so he was with me all day. On top of all that, I was 14 wee...ks pregnant. I couldn’t go anywhere or do anything that needed to be done even go to a doctor’s appointment. I was frustrated and angry. Although life felt unfair, I got to point where gratitude overtook me. I felt the Lord bringing so many things to my attention that I am already thankful for. Jesus was my rock. He was the only thing that I could count on consistently for peace. I vented repeatedly to my Jesus about how I was feeling. I didn’t sugar-coat my feelings; I just laid it all out there. He taught me a lot about casting my cares upon him and resting in his promises. My relationship with the Lord is not complicated. When I speak to him, I just refocus my attention for a moment and tell the Lord how I feel. I dwell on who I know him to be. My response from God is never audible but is sometimes a particular thought, or in this case just a change in energy, and a not-from-this-world coping ability! Worship music also does a lot for me. When I can find a song that speaks to me and really focuses me in on Jesus, I’ll listen to it on repeat, day after day. It’s amazing how God uses music. During my illness I ended up feeling so much reassurance and peace. More peace than would come from my own means. I’m not a get-up-early-devotion person. And although my bible reading and daily prayer habits are not where I want them to be, I know He will ALWAYS be there when I am ready. I love that we don’t have to be perfect to come to him! I’ve learned a lot about who Jesus is throughout my life that pulls me through hard times. I remind myself He’s on my side and He cares about everything even the things I think are too small. ~ Deb Yakasovich Photo Cred: Megan Tuomi * Porch Pics aims to highlight the everyday lives and stories of people who call Elim home. If you would like to participate in an upcoming installment of this initiative, please email [email protected] for more info.

I love relating to people from different countries. The diversity of opinions and the ways that different cultures see the world is incredible. I lead the ESL bible study at Elim; right now we are going through the book of John. It’s a mix of people who are interested in learning English but also interested in learning about the Bible. Some are believers and some are not. When we meet together, God brings the Bible study alive. Believers bring valuable insights and non-belie...vers bring important questions it makes the discussion so much richer. I used to come with the idea that I was at the group to bless the students. But it’s a mutual blessing; every week I come away having learned something from them. I also love supporting people when they’re going through difficult times. One of my gifts is shepherding people relationally. A few years ago, I felt a prompting, almost an urgency, about stewarding those gifts well. God led me to go to school for Counselling. Going through the Counselling program has been transformative for me. God has changed my character so much and widened my perspective. He’s impacted the way that I look at the world and how I interpret my space. I’ve come to value diversity even more. God has made us all different and He values the different ways we look at things. This past summer, I started my own private practice Jenna Zhao Counselling. I’ve been learning as I go and there’s a lot of uncertainty. But God is leading me forward one step at a time. And, just like with faith, He’s bringing the pieces together. ~ Jenna Photo Cred: Megan Tuomi * Porch Pics aims to highlight the everyday lives and stories of people who call Elim home. If you would like to participate in an upcoming installment of this initiative, please email [email protected] for more info.

Join in in this week's discussion!