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Dearly Beloved,

Have you ever used GPS? (or maps on your iPhone)

It sure is helpful, especially when driving through a new area or getting to somewhere you've never been before. 

If you've used GPS or the map on your phone to get you somewhere, you'll be familiar with the concept of "rerouting." Sometimes, as you are driving, something you couldn't have anticipated is ahead of you, perhaps an accident or some new construction, and then in that moment, your GPS reroutes you to get you to where you're intended to go. 

This month, we are in the book of Galatians as a church (I hope you'll read Galatians 5 before Sunday!), and Galatians 5.25 invites us to "keep in step with the Spirit."  What a gift to be given His Spirit, to be His presence alive in us, and to be our GPS — guiding us where we're intended to go.

So how does God guide us? 

I'm often brought back to the story of Philip in Acts 8. The story crescendos with Philip sharing the good news of Jesus with the Ethiopian Palace Official and his immediate conversion and baptism. God led Philip toward that moment in three interesting ways. It seems there may have even been some rerouting along the way! 

God led Philip: 

  1. Supernaturally. Vs 26 says that an angel spoke to Philip (quite supernatural!) and told him to "go south to the road ... that goes to Gaza." Sounds pretty clear, doesn't it!? I've got to admit, though, if I was Philip, I would have arrived at the conclusion that I'm supposed to go to Gaza. Philip never ends up in Gaza. Isn't that interesting. Sometimes God might use 'destination' language to guide us in a particular 'direction' — and His purposes occur not in arriving at said destination but while moving in the direction He has sent us. Fascinating. 
  2. By His Spirit. Vs 29 says that "The Spirit told Philip, 'Go to that chariot and stay near it.'" Also clear. If I was Philip, I might think that since that's the last clear thing I was directed to do, that's the only or the last thing I'm to do. But that's not the end of this story.
  3. Silently. Would you agree that God led Philip to get into the chariot and share Jesus and baptize the Ethiopian Official? It's interesting to note that scripture offers no record of God speaking to or directly leading Philip to actually do that. Why? Perhaps this is because sometimes God leads us silently. Sometimes God positions us in a moment and knows that, once there, we will realize exactly what we're to do. What a gift to have His Spirit as our GPS! 

Earlier this week, we sent an email to our church family to share an update about this Easter and some 'rerouting' we have been experiencing. I hope you were able to read it. It was sent to the whole group of Members and Regular Attenders who are listed on our database. If, for some reason, you did not receive it (please let our office know you'd like to be added: office@cpclife.com), here is that update. I know it's a little lengthy and that most have already read this, but we do want to be sure that we communicate widely.  

***

Dear CPC Family,
 
We wanted to write to you today with an important update on some significant changes to our Easter 2026 plans. While this news comes with mixed feelings, the real hope that springs from Easter itself, as well as the fact that Jesus IS alive and everyone needs to know, keeps us very excited for this Easter.   
 
Background

  • As most would know, last year’s Easter service at Sid Williams far exceeded our expectations. We were over capacity, and their staff had to turn away people for fire code reasons.
  • Over the past year, we have been planning for this year’s Easter to have ample room for more people.
  • As we have talked about this year, we are also taking steps of prayer, experimentation, and preparation for a future third CPC Sunday morning service at a second location.
  • These factors led us to line up a second public venue in the community for this Easter, with the plan to do one service at the Sid Williams and one at the second location, in alignment with our desire to reach ‘elsewhere’ in our community. Planning has been well underway for this.
  • Very recently, we were put in a position where plans had to change. The second venue reached out to us with repeated apologies to inform us of a significant oversight they had made, which meant our Easter booking would no longer work this year. This was very disappointing.
  • Given the timeline, we did not have the ability to find another suitable second location, so our efforts turned to exploring the feasibility of doing two Easter Sunday morning services with Sid Williams.
  • After exhausting every possible angle, we were informed this also could not work. While disappointing, this was understandable given the short timeline and their need to coordinate many additional staffing and behind-the-scenes details on short notice for a long-weekend.
  • Our leaders and teams have explored nearly every other imaginable possibility in order to ensure we have ample room for Easter. Given the small window of time that remains to adequately prepare well, this has led us to make a significant change. 

Easter 2026

  • We have had to cancel our booking at the Sid Williams, and we will be running 3 Easter Sunday Morning Services, all held at CPC (8 am, 9.45 am, 11.30 am).
  • We are sad to miss the opportunity to make use of public venues this Easter and for Easter to be the next step in further establishing our efforts to explore and prepare for a future third CPC Sunday morning service at a second location.
  • However, we ARE excited to know we have space for you and everyone you invite who doesn’t know Jesus yet! We ARE excited to still be having fun and dynamic children’s ministry with special activities and prizes here at CPC. And we ARE excited to have other great elements that make our Easter services and setting here welcoming and engaging as they proclaim our risen Lord!

What about?

  • Easter 2027? Planning for Easter 2027 has already begun, and one of our required venues is already a confirmed booking with a deposit paid. We learn from this year, and we are taking extra steps to mitigate against similar surprises next year as best as we can.
  • Donations Given toward Easter 2026? If you gave a special gift toward Easter with our original plans in mind and would like to have that donation returned to you or redirected elsewhere, please contact accounts@cpclife.com. (You do not need to feel bad for doing this. We understand!)

Giving that remains for Easter 2026 will be used for this Easter. While no longer carrying the same venue and equipment rental costs, a special budget is still required for the purchase of Bibles to give out, for the children’s programming, hospitality, and production.
 
Additionally, anything received outside of what is needed for this Easter can be given by CPC toward other local Easter outreach efforts and also forwarded toward Easter 2027.

  • Helping? A new need we want to explore would be having 4 people serving on a “Parking Lot Team” at either 9.15-9.45 or 11-11.30 to help with traffic flow and parking between services. If you could help on one or both of these shifts, could you let our office know office@cpclife.com. Additionally, there are some other new needs that arise now that we’ll be doing three services here. If you are on some of our other serve teams, stay tuned to hear more from your team leaders or our office. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you have any comments, questions, or concerns, please respond to let us know.
 
Can we ask you to join us in doing two things?

  1. Pray! For this Easter. For the gospel to ring out from CPC. For hearts to be open and receptive. For the children’s components. For all our serve teams, pastors, and leaders. For Jesus to be glorified!
  2. Invite! Who are 3 people you can think of right now that Jesus may be calling you to invite? What if one of them said yes!? What if all three do?! We are less than three months removed from our Christmas Eve outreach services, where well over 700 people came. There are many more to be reached here in the Comox Valley with the best message on Earth – Jesus is alive, He loves them, and can change their life forever! 

Onward,
 
Pastor Mike & Laura
and the CPC Pastors & Leadership Council

***

Let's continue to keep in step with the Spirit, and although there's been some rerouting, may this coming Easter be similar to Philip's experience and feature surprising conversions that lead to baptisms! 

Amen? 

Pastor Mike 

Ps: As we hope you know, this Sunday evening is our AGM. Members have already been sent our 2025 Annual Report, but we want to be sure that anyone in our church can celebrate what God is doing, too, by seeing our 2025 Annual Report here.