Our mission is Sojourners Forming Family

We believe all people are sojourners. Their journey takes them toward whatever their hearts desire most, and thus, humanity sojourns through the world seeking to fulfill these longings. But we also believe Augustine is right when he states, “Thou has made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.” Humanity, it seems, continues to sojourn because our longings don’t fulfill our engrained desire to be known and loved by the very one who created us—to be absorbed into the family of God through Jesus.

This is the context where The Cairn wishes to bring the Good News. In a world of innumerable paths to take, we want to mark the way of Jesus as the way to life. We want to be the signpost (a cairn) along the way for sojourners to taste and see how good, true and beautiful God and his family are. As we do this, we long to see fellow sojourners forming family through Jesus (Joshua 4: 19-24; Psalm 107:1-9; Acts 1:8; 2 Corinthians 2:14-17)

Core Identities (Who we are) give shape to everything we do. In Christ, we are…

Family

God has gone to great lengths to adopt us into his family, and we belong to him as his children. We relate to him as a good father, and we trust his love as he cares for us.

Together we are a diverse family of brothers and sisters growing in affection for one another. Our diversity enhances our family life as we walk in love with one another: eating, celebrating, working, and playing together.

In a world of loneliness, we are the hospitality of God. We invite sojourners and neighbours to experience the beauty of God’s family in our homes, around our tables, within our friendships, and in the church. (Mark 3:31-35; Ephesians 2:12-19)

Worshippers

God made humanity for worship and has placed himself in our hearts as the object of our glory, love, and enjoyment.

Together we gather to reorientate the compass of our hearts toward him through fellowship, prayer, singing, communion, and the scriptures. In this, we stir one another up to love and worship him in all of life.

In a world of endless idols and misdirected loves, we reflect the majesty of God and the sufficiency of loving him. We display to the world whom we were made to worship and how joyful that reality is. (Matthew 22:37-39; John 4:23-24; Acts 17:23-31)

Ambassadors

God has begun a kingdom through Jesus in which we are citizens and ambassadors. As his subjects, we submit all of our lives to furthering his good and gracious rule.

Together we are a foretaste of the kingdom as we usher in hope and the good news by being present in our neighbourhood and living kingdom habits that are counter-cultural, subversive, and beautiful.

In a world under the influence of darkness we are an embassy of light. God is making his appeal to the world through us as he sends us to extend his rule and seek the common good. (Matthew 5:14; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Philippians 3:19-21)

Cultivators

God created humanity with a task to cultivate and reflect his goodness on the earth. Through Jesus, he graciously restores that work to us for his glory and the common good.

Together we relearn our original vocation as we seek the flourishing of Canmore. We prayerfully identify areas of brokenness and discern how to be a blessing through faithful presence, love, and service.

In a world fallow and overgrown with injustice and abuse, we are God’s stewards sent to cultivate flourishing for our neighbour, our community, and the creation. (Genesis 2:15; Luke 13:6-9; Galatians 6:9)

Storytellers

God is the author of all history and is writing the story of redemption. This story of grace engages our imaginations and gives us purpose as participants. 

Together we remind one another of this grand story and live as characters in it. Through words and creativity we retell the good news to sojourners and ourselves in order to behold God at work.

In a world looking for a story to belong to, we proclaim the greatest story of history. We share this story with those around us so that Jesus might captivate them and wrap up their stories in his. (Psalm 107; Mark 16:15-16; Acts 1:8)

To hear sermons related to mission and identities please hit up our Vision series.