CliffsNotes – January 23, 2018

On Sunday Karlene and I worshiped at Rice Road FM in Welland. We were warmly greeted and it seemed to us that they were doing the same to each other. Hospitality is both a gift that God gives certain people (those gifted with hospitality are the people whose houses you enter and immediately feel like you are home) and something the church needs to excel in. Jay Mowchenko, Lead Pastor at Weyburn FM Church, sent out a very good response last week (January 15) about welcoming guests into your church family (I can forward it to anyone who wants it). I have heard Jay speak about this and it would be worth your while to pick his brain in order to do a hospitality diagnostic on your church family (sometimes we are very friendly but only to ourselves).

I found even the décor and layout were welcoming at Rice Road! Entrance-ways speak volumes about your church family culture – what does your entrance way ‘say’? Invite a few neighbours (preferably “nones” or “dones”) to do you the big favour of walking through your Sunday morning worship space. Challenge them to be ruthlessly honest about décor, entrance way, foyer, clutter, signage, quality of posters, sanctuary feel, and layout.

Welland had two rooms that Karlene had not seen before in a local church: a mini sticks room, and a sensory room. Rice Road had this big unfinished room in the basement and someone had sanctified imagination! Tuesday nights they fill up that room with children. The room is divided into 4 very cool mini stick courts with hockey boards, lines and nets! In another corner they had an “octagon court” – which involves many people in a small space and a fast moving ball – a fun game but also a good way to have a board meeting!

A “sensory room” is “a therapeutic space with a variety of equipment that provides students with special needs with personalized sensory input. A sensory room helps these children calm and focus themselves so they can be better prepared for learning and interacting with others.” Again this is the stuff of accepting responsibility for your community AND sanctified imagination. Pastor Matt has made a connection with a professor who will help them further develop the room and perhaps even provide training! Incidentally, the room has cost “nothing” according to Matt. I’m sure Pastor Matt would be open to talking to you about this.

Finally, Karlene and I were very well fed after service – a feast!


ANNUAL REPORT 2017
Please submit your Annual Report and Network Leader Evaluation on or before February 20, 2018.
English:http://www.formsite.com/reports/form141/index.html?1406294972546
French:http://www.formsite.com/reports/form144/index.html?1420832672433


SAVE THE DATE2018 REGIONAL GATHERINGS


PHOTO GALLERY
Rice Road FM Church- Ministicks and Sensory Rooms


MEDIA CONNECTIONS

Church Health Thursdays -Leadership Challenges in Church Revitalization: https://fmcic.ca/leadership-challenges-in-church-revitalization/New
News & Stories Blog – A Church with Mission in mind – Interview with Greg Elford :https://fmcic.ca/a-church-with-mission-in-mind-interview-with-greg-elford/
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: The Story Behind the Story- William Paul Young: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-50-story-behind-story-william-paul-young/
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca
Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/FMCIC


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ANNOUNCEMENTS

Rev. Carl Bull – appointment status changed from “Transition Pastor” to “Associate Pastor” at Harrowsmith Free Methodist Church, Harrowsmith, Ontario, effective January 23, 2018.

Pastor Robert Boutilier – employed as the “Lead Pastor” at Harrowsmith Free Methodist Church, Harrowsmith, Ontario, effective January 23, 2018.

Ordination and Commissioning Services Schedule
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
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.

Melfort FMC, Melfort, SK

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 (Hanford Branscombe-Interim Pastor)
Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON
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)
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
Harrowsmith FMC, Harrowsmith, ON (Robert Boutilier)
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)
Yarker FMC, Yarker, ON (Ken Babcock)


PASTORS IN TRANSITION
Glen Coates
David Greene
Kim Henderson
Jason Johnson
Fred Merritt
Jay Mowchenko
Derek Spink
Chad Vankoughnett
Grant Wolfe
Mary-Elsie Wolfe
Wesley Wood


EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Associate Pastor – Trulls Road FM Church