Review of the Semester

Click on this photo to see a bigger version of it. Clockwise from top: Music video in the woods; Tim Tam Slam; Malagash retreat; Christmas party; Walk in Her Shoes campaign; Young Adults Bible study; crepes; Malagash retreat; Anti-slavery week

Well, the semester is over and I am in the library (as is everyone else, it would appear), studying mathematical economics but taking this brief break to reflect on what has happened this semester in the IVCF group here at Acadia and how I saw God in life. When I think back to the things that happened, I am extremely thankful! I have probably mentioned most of these in this blog before but I am just going to go over some of the things that happened that I am really thankful for; my highlights. Not all of these are Acadia Christian Fellowship events, but they are all things that fostered Christian community on campus!:

• A bonfire in frosh week
• Anti-slavery week
• A worship night in the chapel including ACF, the gospel choir, young adults group and the chapel!
• Bible studies happening around campus
• Retreat at Malagash
• A speaker from Wycliffe at large group
•  Prayer group every Tuesday morning
• A Tim Tam slam after large group one week
• Hosting a potluck
• Making a music video in the woods
• The ACF Christmas party
• Raising money for our IVCF staff worker, who is pregnant with her first child
• Studying together
• Trips to the crepe place 

I was just thinking, when people look at our community, how does it reflect God's Kingdom? Are we representing it well?  This semester, we have been studying parables in Luke, and often, Jesus says "the Kingdom of God is like...." It is like a mustard seed that seems small and insignificant and first and then grows into an expansive, life-giving plant. It is like yeast that is spread into three measures of flour. It is like a seed that a farmer sows on the ground and grows out of good soil, and bears fruit.
 And, I hope, it is like us. This is what I think people would see if they are on the outside looking in. I hope we continue to be like this and to strive to be a community like this:

• A joyful group of people who look for any opportunity to celebrate
• People who REALLY like singing and making music together
• People who take time to care for others if a friend needs prayer or other assistance
• People who are honest and vulnerable and trust others with their struggles
• People who happily welcome others to join the party
• People from all different cultures and backgrounds
• People who like crepes a lot
• People who go all out to be nice, whether it is filling a piggy bank for our ICVF staff worker, making someone feel special on their birthday, or writing encouraging notes to one another
• People who genuinely want to do what God wants

I love the things God has been doing in this community this semester! I pray He would continue to help our community thrive. He has been so good to us!