What anchors us as a community? In this series, we're exploring the foundational ideas that shape our journey together at Commons Church. We embrace intellectual honesty, cultivating a safe space where tough questions are welcomed and authenticity is valued. We're driven by spiritual passion, recognizing the depth and mystery in faith that inspires us daily. With Jesus firmly at the center, we navigate life guided by his teachings on compassion, justice, and inclusion. Join us as we unpack practices like peacemaking, the transformative power of volunteering, and the unique rhythms that bind us as a vibrant, loving community, firmly grounded in Christ.

Take a second, and make a list of the things you do to shape your spirituality.

Chances are that some your answers are obvious. Liturgy. Mindfulness. Lectio divina. Alternatively, some of them might be more idio syncratic. Long walks? Intermittent fasting? Four day work weeks? Whatever building blocks we use, the truth is that we can always get better at attending to life’s sacredness.

We’ve asked the teaching team to choose a favourite book off their bookshelf and tell you why it matters to them. We’ll cover great fiction, fiery theological texts, and classic nonfiction.

It’s so much more than a grade seven book report. We’ll talk about wisdom, passion, and curiosity. We’ll talk about how the written word plays a big part in what it means to be faithful and still open to new ideas. We’ll make it fun.

Colossians is a fascinating study in contrasts. This series will explore the relationship between the cosmic vision presented by the writer and the practical, down-to-earth advice offered to the readers.

Easter plops us into a world that is supposed to feel brand new. We’ve just experienced resurrection, after all. Shouldn’t the world be all white daisies and blue skies? Well, yes and no.

Together we rehearse Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, his death on Good Friday, and his resurrection on Easter morning.

For thousands of years, poets, seekers, and practitioners have tried to uncover what it means to encounter God. With words. With silence. With gratitude. With lament.

Few characters rival David in the Hebrew bible’s long list of heroes.

He rises from obscurity, subdues Israel’s enemies, survives death threats, and eventually takes the throne.

In a world where we are inundated with how-to videos, aisles of self-help books, and instructive TikTok personalities telling us how to heal our trauma and take care of our skin, it can feel like we’re doing everything wrong.

As we enter the Advent season, let’s approach Jesus’ life from a new angle. Not simply his birth, but all the stories that come before his public ministry.

Jesus taught primarily in parables. Short pithy stories that surprise us with Jesus' unique perspective on life. These parables centre around three main concepts. Kingdom, Grace and, wait for it... Judgment.

As pastors and friends, this is a question that emerges in conversation pretty regularly. We all have doubts about what we believe, questions about whether our beliefs are well-founded, and we struggle sometimes to find the rhythms and habits that support the faith we want to foster.