Second Sunday of Advent – can you believe that there are only 13 sleeps until Christmas?! Today I prayed for each pastor as they (you) tell the Christmas story in this season. I pray God’s rich anointing on you, and for Holy Spirit to open ears and hearts of those who are present to hear and be responsive to the Gospel.
Karlene and I celebrated this second Sunday of Advent with the Freeway FM church family. It was encouraging to meet people who were very new to the faith (and excited about baptism and membership!), and people not in the faith but who “enjoy very much” Pastors Dale and Dani.
I wrote Pastor Dale this morning in order to reflect on the good experience Karlene and I had. I wrote something to the effect that sometime in the near future, FMCIC will discuss the new “scorecard” for our denomination (i.e. how we measure growth and health) and I assume that Sunday morning attendance will not be on it. I have a hunch that what will be on the scorecard will [continue to] be: baptisms, memberships, the number of people we are intentionally “discipling”, prayer initiatives and the initiatives each local church creates or participates in that mobilizes the Body of Christ in their community.
In the afternoon we drove to Vennachar Ontario, in order to celebrate Pastor Laurie Lemke’s Commissioned Minister ordination. The room was full. I especially want to acknowledge our pastors who drove as far as they did in bad weather to be there. It seemed that many members of her network came, and Greg Langille drove from Bracebridge to be there! It was a special and sacred event.
Nice and short today because I know that you are busy! Thank you pastors for your prayerful investments in making the most of this Advent season in order to tell the Christmas story. Thank you leaders and congregants for also telling the story to your friends and family, and prayerfully asking who you should invite with you to Advent services. Thank you for praying for eyes and ears to be open as Christmas music is everywhere! Thank you for praying for your pastors and leaders. Merry Christmas!
Church Health Survey
For all those who have already completed the Church Health Survey – thank you! If you have not yet done so, please take time to complete the 16 question survey. Just a reminder that at least three people should fill out this survey – Lead Pastor, Board Chair, and Delegate. If you would like more people (staff or leaders) to participate, that would be great but we would still like three of you to respond to the survey at this time.
Here is the link to the Church Health Survey
SAVE THE DATE – 2018 REGIONAL GATHERINGS
MEDIA CONNECTIONS
Church Health Thursdays – 7 Ways Smartphones Have Changed People At Your Church:https://fmcic.ca/7-ways-smartphones-have-changed-people-at-your-church/New
News & Stories Blog – Finding The Good Inside the Church – Story of a Not Done: https://fmcic.ca/finding-the-good-inside-the-church-story-of-a-not-done/ New
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 Podcast: Learning Party Talks – Mark Groleau: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-50-learning-party-talks-mark-groleau/
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FMCIC
Do you know someone who would like to receive CliffsNotes? They can now sign up through the website at:https://fmcic.ca/cliffsnotes-signup/
PHOTO GALLERY
Laurie Lemke’s Commissioning Service
FM Ministry Centre Christmas Party
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rev. Dyan Mouland – appointed as Lead Pastor at Cornerstone Free Methodist Church in Prince Albert, SK, effective January 1, 2018
Ordination and Commissioning
None
SCHOLARSHIPS
The next deadline is February 15, 2018 to apply for the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for the winter semester of 2018. More information is available at this link:https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES
Heart of Canadian Free Methodism:
June 1-3, 2018 in Western Canada (location TBA*)
Wesleyan Theology:
June 1-3, 2018 in Ontario (location TBA*)
(also available online through FMC-USA: http://fmcusa.org/leadership/courses/)
Personal and Church Stewardship
6-week online course – begins January 29, 2018
Culture and the Missional Church:
Next course date and location TBA*
(*these locations will be selected based on where the majority of the participants reside – so please register early!)
Registration is online for all courses at this link: https://fmcic.ca/foundational-courses/. Those tracking for credentialed ministry should take the Heart course first and then Wesleyan Theology if possible.
CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Harrowsmith FMC, Harrowsmith, ON
Rustle FMC, Kingston, ON
Sault Ste Marie FMC, Sault Ste Marie, ON
Church Profiles available
Contact Susan DePlanché in the Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – [email protected] or 289-228-1225.
None
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)
Asbury FMC, Perth, ON
Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON (Mary Lee DeWitt-Transition Pastor)
Centennial Chapel FMC, Kamloops, BC (Vern Frudd-retiring May 31, 2018)
Dunnville FMC, Dunnville, ON
Grapeview FMC, St. Catharines, ON (Dan Sheffield – Transition Pastor)
Madoc Free Methodist/ Wesleyan Church
Marmora FMC, Marmora, ON (Adam Kline- Interim Pastor)
Melfort FMC, Melfort, SK
Odessa FMC, Odessa, ON
Tabernacle de la Grace, Montreal QC
Thunder Bay FMC, Thunder Bay, ON (Andre Korstanje retiring July 2018)
Warkworth FMC, Warkworth, ON
West Springs FMC, Calgary, AB
Weyburn FMC, Weyburn, SK
Functioning with approved local arrangements
Avonlea FMC, Avonlea SK
Campbell’s Bay FMC, Campbell’s Bay, QC (Orville White)
Church On The Hill, Orillia ON
Cordova Mines FM Fellowship, Cordova Mines, ON
Dryden FMC, Dryden, ON
Eglise Chrétienne Méthodiste Libre de Le Gardeur, QC (Duplan Auguste Lython)
Enterprise FMC, Enterprise, ON
Killarney FMC, Killarney, MB (Raymond Riglin)
Markham FMC, ON (K.K. Leung)
Richmond Hill Chinese & English Churches, Richmond Hill, ON (K.K. Leung)
Roblin FMC, Roblin, MB (Heath Butler)
Surrey FMC, Surrey BC (Nathaniel Prakash)
theStory, Sarnia, ON
Timmins FMC, Timmins, ON (Lewis Byer)
Wesley Chapel Japanese FM Church, Toronto, ON (Misa Mochinaga)
Wyevale FMC, Wyevale, ON
Yarker FMC, Yarker, ON (Ken Babcock)
PASTORS IN TRANSITION
Glen Coates
Roxanne Goodyear
David Greene
Kim Henderson
Jason Johnson
Fred Merritt
Jay Mowchenko
Derek Spink
Grant Wolfe
Mary-Elsie Wolfe
Wesley Wood
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Associate Pastor – Trulls Road FM Church
