Claim OwnershipFriends Church Calgary Weekly Message
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© 2026 Friends Church Calgary Weekly Message
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This is a recording of the weekly Sunday Message presented by Friends Church, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
113 Episodes
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Speakers: Vince Klassen Many of us grew up in a Christian tradition that left a mark (even if we didn’t grow up in it, the influence of the Christian tradition has snuck into us from the people around us). Sometimes it was subtle. Sometimes it was loud. Shame around sex. Guilt about desire. Fear about who we are, how we love, or whether we even belong in a church at all. Sadly, this list could go on forever. And that is still in us: the leftover voices, rules, and fears that still foll...
Speakers: Vince Klassen Taking Water its in this thing called (transcendent) We Recently I had an experience that’s stayed with me. I was running with a group near the Talisman Centre by the river. It was –10°C when we noticed a man standing under the bridge. At first, no big deal—until I saw he was wearing only a t-shirt. Then I noticed he had just one shoe. I felt the pull to keep running. To assume there was a reason he was there. That someone else would help. I’ve been in moments like tha...
Two Sundays - the end of an era, and the beginning of the next. This Sunday, Vince’s on the Hotseat. Ask him those questions you’ve always wanted to ask - but maybe never had the chance or nerve to. Bryce (aka Bad Boy with a Heart of Gold) is back in the host chair, putting your questions front and center. He’ll be hitting him with real questions submitted by you—no topic off-limits, no question too bold. We’re talking theology, life, relationships, doubts, weird Bible passages, chur...
Speakers: Bryce Lokken & Jeff Jarvis Two Sundays - the end of an era, and the beginning of the next. This Sunday is Jeff's Last Sunday at Friends Church so you can ask him whatever you've always wanted to know about him. Bryce (aka Bad Boy with a Heart of Gold) is back in the host chair, putting your questions front and center. He’ll be hitting him with real questions submitted by you—no topic off-limits, no question too bold. We’re talking theology, life, relationships, doubts, wei...
Speaker: Jeff Jarvis Deep down, most of us already know at least one change we long to make. Yet as Vince has been unpacking, it’s often not a lack of desire or effort that holds us back—but unseen forces within us that cause us to hesitate, resist, or quietly pull away. If you’ve ever felt caught between what’s stirring in your deepest self and the inner voices that question, warn, or overwhelm you, you’re not alone. This week, we’ll explore how to recognize and respond to those subtle...
Changing is hard—really hard. But it isn’t impossible. Last week we explored why New Year’s resolutions (and most attempts at change) fail: our internal systems are designed to keep us exactly where we are. For many of us, that realization was eye-opening. So the next question is obvious: what should we actually change? Which goals lead to real health—and which are driven by the Parts of us that keep us stuck? Going to the gym six days a week sounds healthy… but is it? Or is it fueled by sham...
Big holidays spark motivation. New Year’s especially. And yet… most resolutions fade fast. We joke about it because we’ve lived it. But why do they fail? And more importantly—how do we finally make them work? This week we’re talking about what really derails resolutions (hint: it’s not willpower) and how to harness this season’s momentum toward real, healthy change. Join us as we begin a roadmap to Evolve into the people we want to be. To donate to this podcast and support the making of more ...
Over the years, Christian traditions have built different walls around their castles of faith—each convinced they’ve got it right, and everyone else has it wrong. It’s strange, really, that so many walls exist around the same story. But when we read the Bible closely, we discover things happening outside those walls—stories and actions many traditions would call unacceptable. There’s one sitting right in the Christmas story itself. So what do we do with that? Do we ignore the biblical accou...
The shepherds were the last people anyone expected to be part of the story—they were living on the margins, working the night shift while everyone else slept, never invited to the events around them. Outsiders And yet… they’re the first ones invited. In the middle of the darkness, they’re the ones who hear the news. The ones who run toward something they can’t fully explain. The ones who show up—curious, uncertain, hopeful. This Christmas, we’re turning our attention to them—the ones...
Every year, we gather the remarkable stories emerging from our community—stories of people “Taking Water,” showing up with compassion, generosity, and a willingness to invest themselves in the lives of others without expectation. These stories highlight everyday individuals living out quiet courage, humble service, and extraordinary impact. Join us again this year for a morning of inspiration as we honour those who have embodied this spirit in meaningful and memorable ways. Come hear the sto...
Walk into any cathedral in the world and chances are you’ll feel something. For me, it’s often a sense of Something More. After a conversation with an architect in our community, I’m realizing just how much our spaces shape us—how they influence our sense of spirituality, our connection to Something More, the Divine, "God.” But many of us move through our lives without using our spaces intentionally. This week, we’re going to begin exploring how to design the kinds of spaces—big or s...
This Sunday, I’m having an honest conversation with someone who’s facing a reality most of us try not to think about: our time on this earth is limited. Every week, someone somewhere says goodbye to someone they love—and it’s never easy. Even thinking about our own mortality can feel scary. But throughout history, spiritual traditions have suggested that facing this truth can actually bring clarity and depth to our lives. This weekend, we’re exploring the unexpected gifts that wrestling with...
Across cultures and centuries, people have turned to certain natural substances in search of something beyond themselves — healing, meaning, perhaps even an encounter with the divine. Now, modern science is circling back to explore what ancient wisdom seemed to already know and it's wild!! What might the latest research be revealing about potential roles psychedelics can play in one's spirituality? Join us this Sunday for an open, thoughtful conversation that just might expand how you see ...
Speaker: Jeff Jarvis How often do you let yourself truly enjoy life’s pleasures? Do you ever feel guilty for spending time or money simply to delight in something good? I’ll admit—sometimes I do. Throughout history, the topic of pleasure has been a bit awkward within traditional Christianity. Many of us were warned about “the desires of the flesh” and told that things which excite the senses could lead us astray. And yes, sometimes they do. But deep down, we’re wired with a longing to exper...
Speaker: Vince Klassen There’s one thing in life that ranks right up there with death and taxes - change. This past week we shared that Friends Church will be changing too, with Jeff stepping away to pursue a new career managing a golf resort (fun fact: his formal training is actually in Turf Management!). So what do we do with change—especially when it’s not the change we wanted? How do we make peace with it, or even grow from it? How do we navigate it when everything in us says its wrong...
This week we announced the resignation of one of our Lead Pastors - Jeff Jarvis. We spent some time learning what is next for Jeff and his family and where Friends Church 2.0 came from. Finally, we looked at the core of Friends Church found in each of us that calls it home. Please see below the letter from our Board Chairperson and Jeff's letter of Resignation. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out. Here's to the next chapter of the Friends Churc...
Through this series, we’re taking an honest look at the Bible. So far, we’ve set aside our assumptions and begun seeing it as a Wisdom text rather than an owner’s manual—one that honors its Ancient, Ambiguous, and Diverse origins. This week, we’ll focus on the Bible’s Diversity and explore a key question: what does it really mean for the Bible to be “inspired by God”? Does the Bible claim that for itself? And if not, how might that change how we see and value it in our lives? Join us this wee...
Many of us grew up in faith traditions that took the Bible’s rules very seriously. For some, breaking one meant rejection or judgment — sometimes even exile from family or community. Some biblical laws still seem to make deep sense today. Others… not so much. So how do we tell the difference in 2025? Can we really choose which spiritual laws still apply? Join us this Sunday as we wrestle with these honest questions and explore what wise, compassionate faith looks like in our world today. B...
Many pick up the Bible expecting a rulebook or instruction manual for life—only to be puzzled by its ancient language, strange stories, and even some contradictions. This week at Friends, we’re exploring why this “Instruction Manual” expectation of the Bible can create problems. Instead, we want to show you a way of using it that actually works: not by giving us ready-made answers, but by training us to read the moments we’re in to discern real wisdom for today. Donate to Friends Church To d...
The Bible has been called many things: The Word of God.Inspired scripture.A holy book.An owner’s manual for life.A roadmap.A moral compass.A revelation of Jesus Christ.God’s self-disclosure.But these are all ideas—metaphors. So what is the Bible, physically?Where did it come from?What is it made of?How did it become the book we hold today?This week we launch a new series: The Bible: Much Assembly Required. We’ll start by unpacking what the Bible actually is, so we can begin building (or rebui...
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Today's testimonies brought me to tears. ❤️