Westminster Park Community Church of The Salvation Army
1190 Southdale Road N6E 1B2 London, ON, Canada

IMPORTANT COVID-19 UPDATE: With Ontario now in a State of Emergency, please note the following... Our building will only be open on Mondays for Food Bank between 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Our Community Dinner will also continue to be served as a take away on Mondays at 5:00 p.m. For both of these programs, please wear a mask and observe the social distance markers. Please also note that both of these programs are closed on holiday Mondays. ... For the reminder of the week, our building will be closed. Our staff will be working from home. We will be checking phone messages and emails so please feel free to contact us by leaving a phone message at 519-668-0025 or by sending us an email at [email protected]. Someone will get back to you as quickly as possible. All other programs (including Sunday Worship) will be offered online only until further notice. Stay safe!

A reminder to all families! Our friends at The Salvation Army's Ontario Divisional Youth Department are planning an online Family Fun Night TONIGHT (Friday, February 12) from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Join families from across our great province as we enjoy a time of fun and fellowship together! See the flyer for all the details. Hope to see you there!

Join us ONLINE this Sunday (February 14)... 9:00 a.m. - Kids' Worship (online only) - A time of songs, games, a Bible story/lesson and prayer based around this month's theme of "Super Fan: Cheer Each Other On", which challenges us to learn about how kindness is showing others that they are valuable by how we treat them. This week, we will learn about Jesus' call to us in Matthew 5:41 to be kinder than we have to be. Jesus wants us to go above and beyond in our kind treatment... of others so that they can see His love at work in us. 10:30 a.m. - Worship Service (online only) - This time includes songs, scripture, prayer and a message from God's Word. As it is Valentine's Day, our focus this week will be on love, specifically Jesus' call to us to "Keep It Simple: Love God, Love People...Mark 12:28-34. These services/programs are offered via ZOOM. Email invitations, which include the link to join, have been sent out. If you would like to join us, please send us a private message with your email address and we'd be happy to forward you the invitation/link.

A reminder about Messy Church: Zoom Style in February. We hope your family can join us for a Hawaiian Luau. See the flyer for all the details. If your family is planning to participate, please be sure to register by no later than Wednesday, February 17 so that we have time to prepare enough program supply bags.

"Love is not some small minded ideal that we bypass on the way to weightier theological principles. Love is PhD-level Christianity. In our pursuit of Jesus, we will spend the rest of our lives learning to love more passionately, intimately, intentionally, and transformationally. There is no higher call." (Jayson D. Bradley) Each and every day, may our love for Jesus grow deeper and our love for one another become more sacrifical.

CHURCH FAMILY CHECK IN: Grab a cup of coffee and join us online via ZOOM for an informal time of checking-in and catching up with one another on Sunday, February 21 at 6:30 p.m. The opportunity to share Praise Reports and Prayer Requests will be given as we continue to support each other from afar in these challenging days. The ZOOM link will be sent out via email a few days in advance.

With just one month left until Christmas, this is such an important reminder. As we prepare for Christmas, let's remember the wise words of the Grinch, "It came without ribbons, it came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags...Maybe Christmas (he thought) doesn’t come from a store. Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more. Many people are asking themselves what 2020, with all its difficulties, is trying to teach us. Perhaps it's that we need to stop valuing the things over the people in our lives. Our prayer for you this Christmas season is that you and your family would truly value and honour one another and that you would experience God's love for you in very meaningful ways. Merry Christmas!

What's happening at Westminster Park Community Church this week... MONDAY (February 8): 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. - Food Bank 5:00 p.m. - Community Dinner (Take Away) ... For both of these programs, please wear a mask and observe social distance markings. TUESDAY (February 9): 7:00 p.m. - Life Group (Online*) THURSDAY (February 11): 10:00 a.m. - Women’s Life Group (Online*) 8:00 p.m. - Life Group (Online*) FRIDAY (February 12): 6:00 p.m. - Ontario Divisional Family Fun Night (Online*) 7:00 p.m. - Youth Group (Online*) SUNDAY (February 14): 9:00 a.m. - Kids' Worship (Online*) 10:30 a.m. - Worship Service (Online*) *Programs marked with a * are offered via ZOOM. Email invitations containing the link to join are sent out in advance. If you are interested in participating, please send us a private message with your current email address and we'd be happy to forward you the invitation/link. If you have any questions about any of our program and services, please give us a call or send us a private message and someone will get back to you as quickly as we are able! Blessings!

Looking forward to Messy Church: Zoom Style in December. See the flyer for all the details. If your family would like to join us, be sure to register by no later than Wednesday, November 25 so that we have time to prepare enough program supply bags.

There are only a few tickets left for our Community Christmas Dinner, which will be held next Monday (November 30). Due to the ongoing COVID restrictions, meals will be available by take away only this year. Advance registration is required. The very limited number of tickets that are left are available on a first come, first served basis. Please see the flyer for all the details, including how to register as well as how pick up will work.

As we all continue to do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19, have you noticed that everything seems to take so much more time and so much more energy to do? Even the simpliest of tasks can be draining. If we're honest with ourselves, we're all tired, perhaps even exhausted right now. Let's keep in mind this promise from Jesus as recorded in Matthew 11:28, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." May we find rest as we seek the Lord today...and every day!

Ladies, mark your calendar for this exciting online event. The link to access will be available here: https://salvationist.ca/women-s-ministries/home/ We hope you can join us for this time of worship & teaching from the comfort of your own home!

What's happening at Westminster Park Community Church this week... MONDAY (November 23): 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. - Food Bank 5:00 p.m. - Community Dinner (take away only)... 7:00 p.m. - Senior Band (Sanctuary) TUESDAY (November 24): 7:30 p.m. - Life Group (Sanctuary) WEDNESDAY (November 25): 6:00 p.m. - Scrapbooking (Sanctuary) THURSDAY (November 26): 10:00 a.m. - Women's Life Group (Sanctuary) 7:00 p.m. - Naranon (Sanctuary) FRIDAY (November 27): 7:00 p.m. - Women's Fellowship: Paint Night (Online) (See Ontario Salvation Army Women Facebook page.) SATURDAY (November 28): 10:00 a.m. - Junior Youth Councils (Online) (See Ontario Salvation Army Youth Facebook page.) SUNDAY (November 29): First Sunday of Advent 9:00 a.m. - Kids' Worship (Online*) 9:00 a.m. - Worship Team (Sanctuary) 10:30 a.m. - Worship Service (Sanctuary & Online*) *Programs marked with a * are offered via ZOOM. Email invitations containing the link to join are sent out in advance. If you are interested in participating, please make send us a private message with your current email address and we'd be happy to forward you the invitation/link. All programs that are meeting in person are following COVID precautions...screening, hand washing/sanitizing, wearing masks, social distancing and contact tracing. If you have any questions about any of our program and services, please give us a call or send us a private message and someone will get back to you as quickly as we are able! Blessings!

During our Worship Service this morning, we concluded our teaching series entitled, "I Choose...", which has challenged us to be more intentional about the choices we make. This week, our focus was on "Choosing the Important Over the Urgent." There is often a big difference between the urgent and the important things that we need to do. Urgent things are often the result of a lack of planning. When we get caught up in doing the urgent, it can come at the expense of what ...is important. When we choose to focus on the important, the urgent becomes less so. In Luke 10, we read of the account of Jesus visiting the home of Mary and Martha. Martha was caught up in preparing a meal for their guest while Mary was focused on spending time with their guest. Martha chose the urgent while Mary chose the important. When Martha became upset with Mary, Jesus point out this important message..."Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her. (Luke 10:42 - The Passion Translation). Important or urgent...which do you choose? The most successful people in life don't do more but instead they do more of what matter most. In these days in which there is so much to do, let us be quick to seek God's guidance in determining and His strength in choosing between what is important over what is urgent.

Join us this Sunday (October 18)... 9:00 a.m. - Kids' Worship (online only) - A time of songs, games, a Bible story/lesson and prayer based around this week's theme of "Gratitude". 10:30 a.m. - Worship Service (in person and online) - This time includes songs, scripture, prayer and a message from God's Word. This week, we will continue our teaching series entitled, "Elijah: Living Securely in an Insecure World". Our focus will be "Seek the Lord"...2 Kings 1. ... Both of these services are offered via ZOOM. Email invitations, which include the link to join, have been sent out. If you would like to join us, please send us a private message with your email address and we'd be happy to forward you the invitation/link.

In The Salvation Army, when a member passes away, we refer to them as being "Promoted to Glory"...we grieve their presence here on earth but we celebrate that they are at home in Heaven with the Lord for eternity. This past weekend, our dear sister in Christ, Linda Frost, was Promoted to Glory. Her servant heart and unconditional love for others will be greatly missed but she is forever healed and has heard the words of her Lord, "Well done good and faithful servant!" (Matthew 25:23). Please keep Linda's family in your prayers during these difficult days!

If this was a normal year, we would be gathering as a congregation this evening to enjoy fellowship over a Pot Luck Dinner and then we would decorate the church for Christmas. As we all know, this is not a normal year and we are not able to do what we usually would. Instead, the church will be decorated in sections over the course of a few days by small groups of people. Decorating week kicked off last evening with the tree in the Sanctuary. We are very thankful to the B...urfoot/Smith family for their hard work on this big project! They used their God-given creativity to show their love and care for their church family as they made and hung just shy of 150 wooden disks on the tree. Each disk has the name of a couple or individual that is part of our church family on it. At the very top of the tree, just below the angel, hang the names of the 3 members of our church family who will be celebrating Christmas in Heaven for the first time this year. In these challenging days when we are trying to make sure that every member of our congregation continues to feel connected, this beautiful act (which was kept a secret by the Burfoot/Smith family) is such a tremendous blessing and serves as a wonderful reminder that we are truly all in this together! See more

A reminder about November's Messy Church: Zoom Style. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, this family-focused time of fun will be held online during the Fall months. See the flyer for all the details. If your family would like to join us, be sure to register by no later than Wednesday, October 21 so that we have time to prepare enough program supply bags.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE 2020 CHRISTMAS HAMPER PROGRAM... Due to the ongoing pandemic related restrictions, the Christmas Hamper Program will operate very differently this year. If you are in need of toys (children 12 and under) and/or food (and are not receiving assistance from another organization), registration must be completed online (link provided below) between November 1-December 4. An appointment will be made for a specific date, time and location for pick up. Please be sure to share this information with anyone who could benefit from this program during the upcoming holiday season.

Fall is such a beautiful time of year. The vibrant colours of red, yellow and orange as the leaves change are stunning. During Fall, the trees also teach us a valuable lesson. In order for them to support new buds in the spring, they have to shed their old leaves in the Fall. In Hebrews 12:1, we read, "...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,..." As we go through different seasons in our own lives, we need to remember to let go of what is holding us back so that we move forward into the next season of what God has planned for us.

Our Community Christmas Dinner will be held on Monday, November 30. Due to the ongoing COVID restrictions, meals will be available by take away only this year. Advance registration is required. Please see the flyer for all the details, including how to register, the registration deadline as well as how pick up will work.

There are a couple of spaces still available for iREAD+, which will run online via ZOOM for the Fall Session. See the flyer for all the details. If you are interested in registering your child, please contact Cassandra at [email protected].

What's happening at Westminster Park Community Church this week... MONDAY (November 2): 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. - Food Bank 5:00 p.m. - Community Dinner (take away only)... TUESDAY (November 3): 7:30 p.m. - Life Group (Sanctuary) WEDNESDAY (November 4): 4:00 p.m. - iREAD+ (Online*) 7:00 p.m. - Youth Life Group (Sanctuary & Online*) THURSDAY (November 5): 10:00 a.m. - Women's Life Group (Sanctuary) 7:00 p.m. - Naranon (Sanctuary) SUNDAY (November 8): 9:00 a.m. - Kids' Worship (Online*) 9:00 a.m. - Worship Team (Sanctuary) 10:30 a.m. - Worship Service (Sanctuary & Online*) This Service will include our Remembrance Day Observance. *Programs marked with a * are offered via ZOOM. Email invitations containing the link to join are sent out in advance. If you are interested in participating, please make send us a private message with your current email address and we'd be happy to forward you the invitation/link. All programs that are meeting in person are following COVID precautions...screening, hand washing/sanitizing, wearing masks, social distancing and contact tracing. If you have any questions about any of our program and services, please give us a call or send us a private message and someone will get back to you as quickly as we are able! Blessings!

What's happening at Westminster Park Community Church this week... MONDAY (October 12): THANKSGIVING DAY The Office and Food Bank will be closed in observance of the holiday. Community Dinner is cancelled for this week.... TUESDAY (October 13): 7:30 p.m. - Life Group (Sanctuary) WEDNESDAY (October 14): 4:00 p.m. - iREAD+ (Online*) THURSDAY (October 15): 10:00 a.m. - Women's Life Group (Sanctuary) 7:00 p.m. - Naranon (Sanctuary) SUNDAY (October 18): 9:00 a.m. - Kids' Worship (Online*) 9:00 a.m. - Worship Team (Sanctuary) 10:30 a.m. - Worship Service (Sanctuary & Online*) *Programs marked with a * are offered via ZOOM. Email invitations containing the link to join are sent out in advance. If you are interested in participating, please make send us a private message with your current email address and we'd be happy to forward you the invitation/link. If you have any questions about any of our program and services, please give us a call or send us a private message and someone will get back to you as quickly as we are able! Blessings!

Thanks to everyone who joined us for Messy Church: Zoom Style this afternoon! We had lots of fun as we explored the theme of Light in the Darkness. Praying that we’ll all be lights of God’s love to others who are experiencing darkness during these challenging days!

During our Worship Service this morning, we began a new teaching series entitled, "I Choose...", which challenges us to be more intentional about the choices we make. This week, our focus was on "Choosing Purpose Over Popularity". We learned that when we choose the ways of the world, we are choosing popularity and that when we choose the ways of God, we are choosing purpose. In Ephesians 2:10, we read, "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,... which God prepared in advance for us to do." (New International Version). As we make choices, may we rely on God to give us the strength and courage to live out our God-given purpose each and every day. When we choose purpose over popularity, we choose well. "Knowing that we are fulfilling God’s purpose is the only thing that gives rest to the restless human heart. (Charles Colson). Purpose or popularity...what do you choose?

Thanksgiving is Monday, October 12, 2020. Our Office and Food Bank will be closed in observance of the holiday. Our Community Dinner is also cancelled for this week. Let us take time to thank God for all of the blessings that He gives to us each and every day!

Join us this Sunday (October 11)... No Kid's Worship this morning as it is a holiday weekend. 10:30 a.m. - Worship Service (in person and online) - This time includes songs, scripture, prayer and a message from God's Word. This week, we will continue our teaching series entitled, "Elijah: Living Securely in an Insecure World". Our focus will be "The Cost of Faith"...1 Kings 21. ... This service is available via ZOOM. Email invitations, which include the link to join, have been sent out. If you would like to join us online, please send us a private message with your email address and we'd be happy to forward you the invitation/link.

Happy Halloween! While we are sad that we are not able to host our usual Trunk or Treat event this year, we are happy that we were still able to find a way to safely reach out to our community. Thank you to the members of our congregation who donated candy. Goodie bags were distributed to children through our Community Dinner (available by take away) and Messy Church (offered online) programs during this week. Each bag contained some yummy treats as well as copy of "The Pumpkin Prayer", which challenges us to remember how God loves us and allows His light to shine in and through us.

Join us this Sunday (November 1)... No Kid's Worship this morning due to Messy Church this afternoon. 10:30 a.m. - Worship Service (in person and online) - This time includes songs, scripture, prayer and a message from God's Word. This week, we will begin a new teaching series entitled, "I Choose...", which will challenge us to be more intentional about the choices we make. Our focus will be "Choosing Purpose Over Popularity"...Hebrews 11:23-28. ... This service is available via ZOOM. Email invitations, which include the link to join, have been sent out. If you would like to join us online, please send us a private message with your email address and we'd be happy to forward you the invitation/link. 4:00 p.m. - Messy Church (online only) - This time includes includes songs, crafts, games as well as a Bible lesson for the whole family. Program supplies are provided. Advance registration is required. An email, containing the ZOOM link, has been sent to all families who registered to participate in Messy Church this month.

Just a reminder that Daylight Savings Time ends this weekend. Remember to turn your clocks back by 1 hour before you go to bed on Saturday (October 31).

Looking forward to Messy Church: Zoom Style in November. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, this family-focused time of fun will be held online during the Fall months. See the flyer for all the details. If your family would like to join us, be sure to register by no later than Wednesday, October 21 so that we have time to prepare enough program supply bags.

During these challenging and uncertain days, this is an extremely important truth to keep in mind! If you are experiencing overwhelming difficulties in your life right now, try to recognize that this is just a season in your life...and seasons change. Remember this promise from God..."For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11 - New International Version).

Perhaps you're familiar with the Bible story of David & Goliath? If not, the basis premise is that God gives courage and strength to a simple, shepherd boy, making it possible for him to defeat a relentless giant. In 1 Samuel 17:45-47, we read David's confident statement to Goliath, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deli...ver you into my hands,...the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s,..." (New International Version). In our lives today, we face figurative Goliaths, those problems and challenges that just seem impossible to overcome. Just as God helped David to overcome Goliath, He will help us to overcome what seems impossible in our lives. As God fills us with courage and strength, may we confidently declare victory over our Goliaths, just as David did! See more

Just a reminder that iREAD+ is back! Due to COVID-19 and the current restrictions that we have to operate within, the Fall Session will be held online via ZOOM. Please see the flyer for all the details, including dates, times as well as how to register your child. Space is limited so be sure to contact Cassandra as soon as possible.

What's happening at Westminster Park Community Church this week... MONDAY (October 5): 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. - Food Bank 5:00 p.m. - Community Dinner (Take Away Only)... TUESDAY (October 6): 7:30 p.m. - Life Group (Sanctuary) WEDNESDAY (October 7): 7:00 p.m. - Youth Life Group (Sanctuary & Online*) THURSDAY (October 8): 10:00 a.m. - Women's Life Group (Sanctuary) 7:00 p.m. - Naranon (Sanctuary) SUNDAY (October 11): THANKSGIVING SUNDAY No Kids' Worship as it is a holiday weekend. 9:00 a.m. - Worship Team (Sanctuary) 10:30 a.m. - Worship Service (Sanctuary & Online*) *Programs marked with a * are offered via ZOOM. Email invitations containing the link to join are sent out in advance. If you are interested in participating, please make send us a private message with your current email address and we'd be happy to forward you the invitation/link. If you have any questions about any of our program and services, please give us a call or send us a private message and someone will get back to you as quickly as we are able! Blessings!

We had a great time at Messy Church: Zoom Style this afternoon! Our theme for October was The seasons change but God never changes! Thanks to all of the families that joined us! Our next Messy Church: Zoom Style will be on Sunday, November 1 at 4:00 p.m. More details to come in the near future.

Join us this Sunday (October 4)... No Kid's Worship this morning due to Messy Church this afternoon. 10:30 a.m. - Worship Service (in person and online) - This time includes songs, scripture, prayer and a message from God's Word. This week, we will continue our teaching series entitled, "Elijah: Living Securely in an Insecure World". Our focus will be "Defeating Discouragement"...1 Kings 19. ... This service is available via ZOOM. Email invitations, which include the link to join, have been sent out. If you would like to join us online, please send us a private message with your email address and we'd be happy to forward you the invitation/link. 4:00 p.m. - Messy Church (online only) - This time includes includes songs, crafts, games as well as a Bible lesson for the whole family. Program supplies are provided. Advance registration is required. An email, containing the ZOOM link, has been sent to all families who registered to participate in Messy Church this month.