Friends Church Calgary Weekly Message

Friends Church
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  • SPIRITUALITY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

This is a recording of the weekly Sunday Message presented by Friends Church, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

  1. Religion, a force for good?

    2D AGO

    Religion, a force for good?

    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 follow us, long after we’ve left those traditions behind. This isn’t about defending Christianity—or tearing it down. It’s about telling the truth: that religion is powerful. Powerful enough to wound. Powerful enough to heal. Powerful enough to keep us stuck in shame—or move us toward lives of health, connection, and purpose. If you’ve ever felt hurt by church, unsure about faith, or curious whether religion can still be a force for good—this talk is for you. Donate to Friends Church To donate to this podcast and support the making of more of these please visit https://friendschurch.ca/podcast

    37 min
  2. Our Manifesto

    FEB 8

    Our Manifesto

    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 that before—and I didn’t stop. Friends Church exists to inspire a healthy spirituality that Takes Water to the world around us. All around us. Even to that man under the bridge. It asks us to take those moments seriously—to stop and help if we can, and if we can’t, to reflect on why. Are we too busy? Is our life in chaos? Do we lack the support to support others? Is a Part of us giving a perfectly reasonable excuse to keep going? This week, as we begin exploring Our Manifesto, we look Taking Water in the eye—why we offer it sometimes, why we don’t at others, and what it means when we feel like we’re the ones who need Water. Join us—not for shame or guilt, but for a deep and honest exploration of Taking Water, and how it shapes both us and the world around us. Donate to Friends Church To donate to this podcast and support the making of more of these please visit https://friendschurch.ca/podcast

    33 min
  3. Pastor Vince on the Hotseat

    FEB 1

    Pastor Vince on the Hotseat

    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, church culture—whatever’s been on your mind. Let’s make them sweat—for all the right reasons.  Don’t miss PASTOR ON THE HOTSEAT Donate to Friends Church To donate to this podcast and support the making of more of these please visit https://friendschurch.ca/podcast

    40 min
  4. Pastor Jeff on the Hotseat

    JAN 25

    Pastor Jeff on the Hotseat

    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, weird Bible passages, church culture—whatever’s been on your mind. Let’s make them sweat—for all the right reasons. Don’t miss PASTOR ON THE HOTSEAT Bring a friend and join us in the Gym this Sunday. Donate to Friends Church To donate to this podcast and support the making of more of these please visit https://friendschurch.ca/podcast

    34 min
  5. Making Changes

    JAN 18

    Making Changes

    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 forces that surface when real change begins. We’ll consider what actually helps us move forward when willpower isn’t enough — when discernment calls for something deeper than simply trying harder. This isn’t about fixing yourself. It’s an invitation to listen more closely, to gently notice what’s happening beneath the surface, and to take steps that usher in the next chapter of your spiritual evolution. Invite a friend and join us this Sunday! Donate to Friends Church To donate to this podcast and support the making of more of these please visit https://friendschurch.ca/podcast

    42 min
  6. Change, But Healthier

    JAN 11

    Change, But Healthier

    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 shame or the need to look different?Cutting out certain foods forever—sustainable change, or a setup for quitting?It doesn’t take long to realize this: the goals we choose matter. A lot. So how do you choose goals that lead to genuine health? How do you know they’re coming from healthy Parts of you, not the ones working against you? This week, we’re sharing a new framework—developed by one of our own—who literally helps people choose the right goals for a living. Join us. By the end of this conversation, you’ll feel more confident—and far healthier—about the changes you want to make. Donate to Friends Church To donate to this podcast and support the making of more of these please visit https://friendschurch.ca/podcast

    31 min
  7. Why New Year's Resolutions Fail

    JAN 4

    Why New Year's Resolutions Fail

    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 of these please visit www.friendschurch.ca/donate Donate to Friends Church To donate to this podcast and support the making of more of these please visit https://friendschurch.ca/podcast

    35 min
  8. The "Wise Men" Cometh

    12/21/2025

    The "Wise Men" Cometh

    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 accounts? Filter them through our traditions? Dismiss what doesn’t fit inside our castle walls? I don’t think so. Instead, it’s worth reading the stories as they’re told—and wrestling honestly with what they invite into our spiritual lives - even if the stories challenge the walls we inherited. That’s what we’re doing this week: exploring the Christmas story, regardless of whether they fit inside some traditions' walls. Last week it was the exiled shepherds. This week, it’s the "wise men". It’s going to be a freeing conversation—I promise! Donate to Friends Church To donate to this podcast and support the making of more of these please visit https://friendschurch.ca/podcast

    31 min
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This is a recording of the weekly Sunday Message presented by Friends Church, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

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