This past Sunday - Harv and I were in Ottawa for the weekend and attended the church, my son, Ben pastors. It’s called Resurrection Church - a local church that is part of a larger group of churches that belong to the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA). Ben and Jen planted the church from scratch almost ten years ago and now it is thriving with over 200 people attending - so many young families and children.

It’s always a joy to attend Ben’s church - always a thrill to hear him preach - always a thrill to see him so loved and appreciated by his congregation.

Resurrection church celebrates communion - also called the Lord’s Supper - every week. I really love their practice of doing this. Ben and three of the elders stand at the front and every person who wants to and is qualified to receive communion, files to the front and Ben or the elder gives out a piece of bread and a glass of wine or grape juice. I usually have Ben give me the bread and juice and each time he says - “Mom - Christ’s body was slain for you. Mom - Christ’s blood was shed for you.” It makes it so personal and meaningful. I cry a little each and every time.

When Ben and Jen planted Resurrection church ten years ago - Ben wrote this description of what a church planted and church plant is.

We believe that God, in Jesus is making all things new. So, that changes how money is spent, how food is eaten, how kids are treated, how a city is built and how one thinks about their neighbourhood. In short, Christianity is not simply a belief system (though it includes that), it is a whole new way of living.

Consider the following a snapshot of a few of the ways Resurrection church will seek to embody true Christianity in Ottawa.

#1. A community not just for Christians but also for those who don’t believe in Jesus. What we mean is that we are serious about helping Christians grow in their faith, but we don’t stop there. We want to be a place for people who are curious about the Christian faith. We want to take doubt, questions and difficulties seriously and honestly.

This takes shape in a few ways -

we will intentionally work to love our neighbours and befriend the people who live in our neighbourhood
we will help our kids understand the gospel
we will point to the gospel as the way into and the way forward in the Christian life
we will make space in our services, small groups and community life for people who don’t believe what we believe
we will love people for who they are not for what they believe

#2. A community not just for itself, but for Ottawa. Too often, communities and companies exist only for their shareholders and their own interests. In contrast, we hope to be a community that seeks the good of the city. We want a great church but we also want a great Ottawa.

This takes shape in a few ways -

- we will help Christians understand their vocations and become better teachers, lawyers, politicians and bureaucrats to serve the city

- we will serve people who can’t pay us back but need help

- we will invest time, money, and energy into institutions and groups outside of the church

#3. A community that is part of the gospel movement. We are not the last great hope of Ottawa and we don’t plan to be the last church planted in Ottawa. We think for Christians to really serve and love a city, it will take a whole movement of churches and groups working together.

Therefore, we plan to invest our time and money into other churches, other church plants and people who want to see God's kingdom come in Ottawa.

Their slogan is “A church for the convinced and unconvinced, the bored, the burned, the cynical, the religious, the irreligious, and the spiritual.”

At the conclusion of the service I chatted with a few of those who attended that morning - a new lady who began attending this summer. She told me how welcome she felt at Resurrection Church - how much she has enjoyed the singing and the sermons - how at home she already feels - how Ben’s visit to their home has encouraged her. I spoke with a young mom - who remembered from a previous visit that I was Ben’s Mom. Her words blessed my heart as she acknowledged that she and her husband were constantly encouraged by Ben’s preaching and teaching. Still two or three others approached me and made my heart sing as they spoke of Ben’s leadership.

3 John 1:4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”

Congratulations to Ben and Jen, the elders and deacons and members of Resurrection Church as they soon celebrate ten years of ministry in Ottawa.