CliffsNotes – March 6, 2018

This weekend I experienced my first Regional Gathering as Bishop. I won’t say much because it’s only the first of 10! Thank you Una Church for hosting. Their worship team didn’t just lead in a few songs to get us started – no, they led us in worship! It’s a very sweet thing to worship with brothers and sisters beyond your own local church. Together we get to remember that we are a part of something big in Canada and all over the world.

Remember you can bring as many people as you want to the Regional Gathering. Everyone is welcome to attend!
Heads-up churches: you will leave wishing that you had brought more people with you!
Bramalea FM Church brought 23 people with them to the South/SW Ontario Regional Gathering – though it’s not a competition.

On Sunday Karlene and I worshiped with the Holt FM church family. At the end of the service Pastor Matthew invited their board forward in order to bless Karlene and myself. A board member prayed and then someone in the congregation spontaneously started singing “Be still and know.” The whole congregation joined in and blessed us with a song – they sang over us and it was very special moment. This brought to memory when each of our children were born, we prayed for life-verses for each of them. Karlene would then sing those passages over our kids each night at bedtime for year. This was more than a neat memory trick to help them remember a Bible verse. This was us blessing them with ourselves (our time, and Karlene’s gift of music) and with a specific promise for them from God.

Boards, leadership teams, have you ever shared with each other the Bible verses that have become meaningful in your life? They could be verses from the past or ones that have significant resonance with your life at this moment (this is a great board exercise by the way). Have you prayerfully considered how to bless someone together?

A “blessing” comes out of focused prayer, asking our Father about a Word, a promise, or an action that He would want for the person you are praying for. Once you are confident that you have heard, you offer the blessing very humbly. For instance, “I have been praying for you and I think maybe this is blessing God might have for you. Pray about it. Test it out.” If it is a monetary gift or perhaps a gift of your time then again offer it humbly saying “we were praying for you and this amount came to mind – hope it helps.” God activates the blessing, that’s His department. We are agents – this is part of the authority and value God has for you!

Thank you Holt for the blessing and of course the awesome luncheon!!


ANNUAL REPORT 2017 – Now Overdue!
If you have not yet submitted the annual report please do s0:

English:http://www.formsite.com/reports/form141/index.html?1406294972546
French:http://www.formsite.com/reports/form144/index.html?1420832672433


2018 Regional Gathering

LOCATIONS & DATES

  • QUEBEC @ Rosemont FMC, 3553 rue Jean-Talon Est, Montreal [Montreal] March 17, 2018
  • EASTERN & CENTRAL ONTARIO-EAST @ Wesley Acres, 1391 Wesley Acres Road Bloomfield, ON [Bloomfield]– March 24, 2018
  • NORTHERN ONTARIO @ St. Joseph Island FMC, 1589 Hilton Road, Hilton Beach ON [St. Joseph’s Island]  April 7, 2018
  • CENTRAL ONTARIO – NORTH & EAST GTA @Wesley Chapel, 2385 Warden Ave, Scarborough, ON [Toronto] – April 14, 2018
  • NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO @ Dryden FMC, 261 Van Horne Avenue, Dryden, ON [Dryden] April 28, 2018
  • BRITISH COLUMBIA @ New Heights Community [Mission] May 12, 2018
  • ALBERTA @Westpark Church of the Nazarene, 3920 57th Ave. Red Deer, AB [Red Deer]  May 26, 2018
  • SASKATCHEWAN @ Arlington Beach Camp [Cymric] June 2, 2018
  • MANITOBA @ Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre, 3550 Victoria Ave, Brandon, MB [Brandon]  – June 23, 2018

Please see the website for more details – https://fmcic.ca/regional-gatherings-2018/

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

PHOTO GALLERY
South/SW Ontario & West GTA Regional Gathering


MEDIA CONNECTIONS

Church Health Thursdays – Research on Suicide in Our Churches and 3 Reasons Churches Must Be Concerned about Mental Health: https://fmcic.ca/research-on-suicide-in-our-churches-and-3-reasons-churches-must-be-concerned-about-mental-health/ 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: Anna Spray -Table Church: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-51-anna-spray-table-church/
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca
Facebookhttps://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/


ANNOUNCEMENTS

Rev. Christopher Walls (FMC-USA ordained minister) – appointed as Lead Pastor at Sault Ste Marie FMC, Sault Ste Marie, ON, effective March 1, 2018.

Ordination and Commissioning Services Schedule
None


SCHOLARSHIPS

The next deadline is October 15, 2018 to apply for the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for courses taken during both the pring/summer and fall semesters of 2018. 

October 15 is also the deadline to apply for the annual Special Scholarships. 

Here is the link for both types of scholarships:  https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/

FOUNDATIONAL COURSES

Heart of Canadian Free Methodism:
June 1-3, 2018 at Hampton FM Church, Saskatoon, SK

Wesleyan Theology:
June 1-3, 2018 at Holt FM Church, Mount Albert ON
(also available online through FMC-USA: http://fmcusa.org/leadership/courses/)

Personal and Church Stewardship
6-week online course – start date TBA
8-week online course (FRENCH) – begins April 9, 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
None


Church Profiles available
Contact Susan DePlanché  in the  Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – [email protected] or 289-228-1225.

Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON (deadline April 3)
Melfort FMC, Melfort, SK (deadline March 20)
Madoc Wesleyan/Free Methodist Church, Madoc, ON (deadline March 20)
Marmora FMC, Marmora, ON (deadline April 3)
Thunder Bay Free Methodist Church, Thunder Bay, ON (deadline March 20)
Warkworth FMC, Warkworth, ON (deadline March 20)

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)
Centennial Chapel FMC, Kamloops, BC (Vern Frudd-retiring May 31, 2018)
Dunnville FMC, Dunnville, ON (Tom Gurnick – Interim Pastor)
Grapeview FMC, St. Catharines, ON (Dan Sheffield – Transition Pastor)
Odessa FMC, Odessa, ON
Richmond Hill FMC (English & Chinese), Richmond Hill, ON
Tabernacle de la Grace, Montreal QC
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 (Charles Tanner)
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)
Roblin FMC, Roblin, MB (Heath Butler)
Surrey FMC, Surrey BC (Nathaniel Prakash)
theStory, Sarnia, ON (Joshua Walters)
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 of Next Generations  – Trulls Road FM Church
Director of Youth Ministry  – Trulls Road FM Church
Youth Pastor – Malvern Methodist Church
Associate Pastor – Barrie FM Church