CliffsNotes – April 2, 2019

Another weekend, another Regional Gathering: Wonderful Albertans!

On Friday I had supper with a motivated church board and their new pastor – they actually almost forgot to say grace, but they assured me that this was not reflective of their corporate prayer life.

On Saturday night and Sunday I was with the warm and welcoming Genesis House church family. I enjoy very much their habit of spending a few minutes at the end of the service to interact with the message with questions and comments. Pastor Andrew’s invitation into communion included time to prepare. I mean he gave couples, friends and family time to actually check in with each of quietly. I turned around to see families leaning into each other talking, and praying. It was quite beautiful. Thank you Genesis House!

Question: When we send out a prayer request, or something comes to you from your church family prayer chain, what do you do with that? Is it a quick prayer as soon as you read the request? Do you tend to forget about it? Do you intercede? What does “intercession” look like? Merriam-Webster defines “intercede” as “to intervene between parties with a view to reconciling differences.” Jesus’ death on the cross was the greatest act of intercession in human history. Paul wrote, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people…” (1 Tim 2:5-6). And Romans 8:26 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” He models it.

His intercession looked and looks like sleepless nights, fasting, wilderness, tears, frustration, love, sweat, time and then moved into suffering, beatings, pain, determination, grit, crying out from the cross forgiveness and death… All to reconcile us to God. My intercession seldom looks like what Jesus did or does. Has your leadership team ever interceded like Jesus for your local church? Has your church stepped emotionally and spiritually into the prayerful reconciling responsibility that we are called into? Have you interceded for your community, because that’s part of the how to accept responsibility for your community?


ANNUAL REPORTS

Attention:  Pastors and Delegates!

We have received 104 Annual Reports so far, but that means we are missing approximately 35 Annual Reports. If you have not yet completed your report please do so as soon as possible!

You will find the Annual Report on the home page of our website at fmcic.ca.
Annual Report in Englishhttps://fs1.formsite.com/reports/form141/index.html?1406294972546
Annual Report in French: https://fs1.formsite.com/reports/form144/index.html?1420832672433

This year we have included a guide (pdf) to help you understand and complete the Annual Report. We trust that we will be helpful to you in completing the form.

Attached you will find a template (in pdf) to help you gather information from your treasurer (and others) and to note yppreciate your filing online if possible, but you can fax or mail your report to the Ministry Centre as well – [email protected] / 905-848-2603

Please note:  Network Leader Evaluation – each person who attends Network meetings should file.
The Lead Pastor’s evaluation of the Network Leader will be included with the Annual Report, all others can file through this link: Network Leader Evaluation

Please keep in mind that we ask for the same statistics every year for the Annual Report, so a system should be in place to gather this information.  Every church and church plant must file a report.

FMCIC Annual Report Guide
Annual Report 2018
Annual Report 2018 – FR


2019 REGIONAL GATHERINGS 2019 Regional Gathering Locations and Dates – PDF
Regional Gatherings are all about connecting! Our intention is to see Free Methodist leader and lay people meeting together as a movement for both an “informative” and “formative” gathering.  We hope to see you there! https://fmcic.ca/regional-gathering-2019/


MEDIA CONNECTIONS

Church Health Thursdays – The ‘Boring’ Basics of Church Revitalization: https://fmcic.ca/the-boring-basics-of-church-revitalization/
News & Stories Blog – Who is Reading What in 2019?: https://fmcic.ca/who-is-reading-what-in-2019/
the conneXion – a Free Methodist theology blog: 3 Minute Theology 2.5: Knowing the Bible Inside Out: https://fmcic.ca/3-minute-theology-2-5-knowing-the-bible-inside-out/
New Leaf Network: Learning Party stories – Andrew Benson: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-64-learning-party-stories-andrew-benson/
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca


ANNOUNCEMENTS

No new announcements this week

Ordination and Commissioning Services 
No scheduled ordinations this week


FOUNDATIONAL COURSES  https://fmcic.ca/foundational-courses/

Register online through the link above

Lay Ministers tracking for credentialed ministry and those transferring ordination credentials into the FMCiC need to take the following two courses for full credit – and if possible, the Heart course first and then Wesleyan Theology.

Heart of Canadian Free Methodism:
May 31-June 2, 2019 – Peterborough FM Church, Peterborough ON
November 1-3, 2019 – western Canada-location TBA*

Cours sur le Coeur du Méthodisme Libre Canadien
12 au 14 juillet 2019 à Montréal à l’Église Méthodiste Libre de St-Henri

Wesleyan Theology:
May 31-June 2, 2019 – Weyburn  Free Methodist Church, Weyburn, SK
November 1-3, 2019 – Ontario-location TBA*
(also available online through FMC-USA: http://fmcusa.org/leadership/courses/)

Ministerial Candidates tracking for Commissioned or Ordained Minister are required to take the following two courses for full credit.  Those who are already commissioned or ordained are required to either audit these two courses for 1 Continuing Education Unit (CEU) each or take the two courses and complete the assignments for 3 CEUs each.

Culture and the Missional Church:
*NEW* Western Canada course starts October 7 (deadline to register – October 1)
Oct 7-31 – advance online engagement

*LOCATION ADDED* Nov 1-2 – two-day class in-person at Lakeview Free Methodist Church, Saskatoon, SK

Personal and Church Stewardship:
5-week online course (FRENCH) – start date – TBA
6-week online course (ENGLISH) – start date – TBA

(*locations are selected based on where the majority of the participants reside – so please register early!)

2019 SCHOLARSHIPS   https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/

October 15 is the deadline to apply for the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for any courses taken during either the summer and/or the fall semesters of 2019. The 2019 application forms and instructions are now available to download from the link above.

October 15 is the deadline to apply for the annual Special Scholarships for courses taken during 2019 – apply online from the link above

CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS (CEUs)   https://fmcic.ca/introduction-to-continuing-education/

Ordained and Commissioned Ministers (except retirees) are to annually report Continuing Education Units (CEUs) acquired during each year.  Check the link above for information on CEUs, the report form and a list of examples of many different types of life-long learning that can be applied as CEUs.
Note:  For those who attended the fall Minister’s Conferences, add 6 hours of CEU credit when you send in your annual CEU report. 

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CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON

Church Profiles available
Contact Susan DePlanché  in the  Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – [email protected] or 289-228-1225 (deadline to apply in brackets)
– None available at this time

 

Preparing Profiles

(If you are interested in seeing the profile for any of these churches, please contact Susan in the Leadership Development Office [[email protected] or 289-228-1225] and the profile will be emailed to you as soon as it becomes available.)

Athens FMC, Athens, ON (Angel Valentin-Transition Pastor)
Hampton FMC, Saskatoon, SK
Madoc Wesleyan/FMC, Madoc, ON
New Horizons Community Church – Sarnia, ON (Kim Henderson-Interim Pastor)
Queensway FMC, Niagara Falls, ON
Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches, Richmond Hill, ON (Abbs So and Shadow Lau-Interim Co-Pastors)
Smiths Falls FMC, Smiths Falls, ON


EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Life Guards – Smoky Trail Native Bible Camp
Intern Job Position – Maple Grove Christian Retreat Centre
Youth Pastor – Malvern Methodist