Thanks to some of the feedback we received through our recent survey, this past weekend we rolled out our latest revision of the StoneRidge bulletin, and… so far so good. Some of the changes:

• Larger font size (for easier readability)
• Same size paper (just a different cut and fold)
• Color printed on one side only
• More room for notes (dedicated back page)
• Condensed tear-off flap removed and replaced with new Connection Card

The new StoneRidge Connection Card.

The Connection Card is the biggest change / improvement. It allows you to connect with us, whether it’s your first visit here or if you’re updating your existing information, and it provides a connection with our Prayer Partner Line, if you have any prayer requests – emergency/crisis or otherwise. (Prayer requests can also be emailed to prayer@srfconnect.com at any time.)

Now, since we’re stuffing each bulletin with a Connection Card every week (we no longer have the luxury of pockets in the backs of chairs for us to place them in), our concern was that we don’t want to be wasteful. We want the Connection Cards back - whether they’re completed, or unused. But let’s be realistic – like Pastor Victor said on Sunday, if you stick your gum in your Connection Card, uh… we don’t want it back.

Green baskets were (and will be) placed at the Welcome Centre, the Community Table (at the back of the auditorium), and at the bottom of the stairwell on your way out, for you to place unused Connection Cards, and you came through for us! A huge number of Cards in excellent condition came back, and we really appreciate it. The even better news was a handful of completed Connection Cards came back to us, which is already a big improvement over the old tear-off style.

Keep up the great work, StoneRidge Connectors!

Janna Fox, Guayaquil, Ecuador

Janna Fox was in town this weekend and gave us some insight into one of our five cities we partner with through our Missions programs – Guayaquil, Ecuador. Guayaquil is a city with a population of over three million people, so it’s a slight change from her home town of Fall River. Janna serves Christ in Bastion & Campamento el Faro de Esperanza (Lighthouse of Hope camp).

In between services, while ensuring everything was going smoothly with regards to the technical side of things (wireless headset mic, her PowerPoint presentation we were running, etc.), Janna commented, “I’m not used to all this technology!” It wasn’t a complaint; more like pointing out the fact that she now had more things to possibly go wrong and therefore add to the potential stress of public speaking. But things went smoothly, and she was great. A natural at public speaking, and an informative look into where she’s currently serving Jesus. Her comment stuck with me, and made me think how we so easily take things for granted here.

Great to have you here, Janna, and we hope to see you again in the not too distant future.

Geoff Moore - Compassion (photo by Samantha Armour)

Yesterday, Geoff Moore sang some of his songs and spoke about his involvement with Compassion, and their sponsorship program designed to help release children from poverty, during the morning services.

Geoff was a natural fit for us, and his message must have had an impact, because 40 children were sponsored thanks to you, our StoneRidge people.

A bonus for Geoff – since he was here during Thanksgiving weekend and he hails from Flint, Michigan, this year he gets to celebrate twice.

Be sure to check out Geoff on his facebook page, and tell him thanks for stopping by – it was the only open weekend he had and the timing worked out perfect. Thanks, Geoff!

Halifax Regional Police K9 Unit

Our parking lot gets a lot of use, so it’s always interesting to see who’s out there. Today the Halifax Regional Police K-9 Unit was here running through some of their training exercises.

I was told it was okay to take some pictures, but where I was crouched down and holding a dark object I had to be careful not to make any sudden moves that might look suspicious (to the police dogs). The advice I received was, if one of the dogs decides to head in your direction, don’t take off running. (Like I could even outrun a wiener dog these days, let alone a police dog.)

The training went well, everyone got in a little work and play time, and I still have all my limbs. A good day.

Thanks to Constable Jason Meisner and everyone else in the K-9 Unit (see photo) for allowing me to hang out this afternoon. We appreciate all you do.

L to R: Grace Brewster and Elayne Killam - Gardeners Extraordinaire

Grace and Elayne took a break from their gardening just long enough to pose for the camera and answer a few questions.

For example, did you know that tussilago farfara, commonly known as coltsfoot, is a very nasty weed that doesn’t seem to go away?

I didn’t. I just thought they were called dandelions.

Grace also informed me that although she and Elayne are doing their very best to remove these particular weeds from our parking area landscaping, the roots go deep, and they’ll be waiting to simply spring up again as soon as they’re finished.

Reminds me of the parable of the farmer scattering seed.

Where are you putting your roots down? And how deep are they?

Thank you, ladies, for your hard work, and for keeping our grounds looking beautiful.