“We have seen tremendous fruit as we join together to ‘spur one another on to love and good deeds’.”

Janet Mabie
Special to Spur Ottawa

One year ago, Sequoia Community Church was anticipating a large gathering for their Christmas Eve services in Barrhaven. No one expected the extreme changes that lay ahead. Yet, with God’s direction, they found a way to continue their vital outreach and hold special preparations for Christmas this year.

“It has definitely been a main priority for Sequoia to stay connected as a congregation and reaching out to our community,” states Heather Pennington, Children’s Ministry Director at Sequoia. “We have sought the Lord continually on how best to live out our vision, provide the most fruitful resources for our congregation, and meet the needs of our community to help make His name known.”

Sequoia’s services are online, pre-recorded, and launched at 10:10 a.m.

“We added a chat feed during our service that allows people to interact and let us know they are joining us,” says Vanessa Dawson, Sequoia’s Next Generation Team Leader. “They can receive prayer, ask questions, get connected, and respond to the message.”

In late September, they began “100 Days of Impact Journey”, to take them to Christmas and the New Year. Based on Hebrews 10:23 to 25, their 100-day journey prioritized scripture, mission, and corporate worship.

Sequoia collected 5,000 pounds of non-perishable food for 2 local food banks as part of a missional challenge to the congregation. Photos by Heather Pennington.

“We post a daily promise from scripture on our Instagram, Sequoia App, and Facebook pages so together we can reflect and embrace God’s promises,” Pennington says. “Many [congregants] say how much they love waking up to a promise from Scripture each morning. Families have also been able to use the daily promise as a discussion starter.”

Each week, church leaders present specific missional challenges for the church family to participate in, such as a drive-by food drive where Sequoia collected 5,000 pounds of non-perishable food for 2 local food banks. In other challenges, the church packed more than 100 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, they blessed first responders with notes of encouragement and treats, and they served a Christmas dinner to the residents of the Barrhaven not-for-profit housing complex.

“We recognize this has been a difficult year for many people so we want to be intentional about reaching out and loving those around us,” explains Dawson. “We have seen tremendous fruit as we join together as a church family to ‘spur one another on to love and good deeds’.”

“The missional challenges have really helped our church family pay attention to the people and community around us,” adds Pennington. “It encourages us to find creative and safe ways to continue to extend the love of Jesus.”

Sequoia packed more than 100 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, they blessed first responders with notes of encouragement and treats, and they served a Christmas dinner to the residents of the Barrhaven not-for-profit housing complex. Photo by Heather Pennington.

Leading up to Christmas Eve, Sequoia held an outdoor youth event, a “Journey with Jesus” virtual gathering, and a Christmas carol gathering in the yard of Ottawa Christian School.

“The world around us looks very different, but God’s mission for the Church is the same,” says Pennington. “He calls us into relationship with Himself and wants us to help others experience His love and grace.”

Aaron Bown, a member of Sequoia, attests to that. Through the struggles of this year, he says, “I can truly say that I have experienced what John wrote about Jesus in John 1:5: ‘The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.’ I am learning that in this—the darkest of hours that I have ever lived—the light of Christ has never shone brighter.”