Preparing for Sunday
Last week was the Western Ministers’ Conference. Tuesday night was about decompressing and preparing for Wednesday. Wednesday and Thursday were very good days, but I can’t tell you anything about it yet because the Eastern Conference is not until next week! Please pray for our leaders.
Here is the link to the agenda:
English: https://fmcic.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019-Ministers-Conference-revised.pdf
French: https://fmcic.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019-Ministers-Conference-FR.pdf
How do you prepare for Sunday morning corporate worship? Do you wait until you arrive to the service and the kids are finally in the “back” in Sunday School? Do you actually prepare? We give each other an hour or so a week to be together with our Father, and I wonder if we are maximizing our time? I mean the national statistic has been that committed church goers attend 1-2 times per month, which is approximately 24 times (or hours) per year, minus vacation, sickness and “something else planned”, that is generously 20 hours per year that we give each other on a Sunday to be with our Father together. We don’t even give us a day per year! So what could we do to prepare?
- Sabbath a little more Biblically and start at sunset the night before. Taking that time to begin to “Sabbath” by examining ourselves, meditating, resting, fasting perhaps, worshiping, getting a good night sleep so service isn’t the sleep time…
- Make sure all relationships are right: “are we good honey?” is a good checkup question. Scripture mentions leaving your gift at the altar in order to first be reconciled.
- Pray all week long for pastor, worship team, prayer team, children’s ministry team, and all the guests that will attend.
- Come early enough to visit, and leave late enough to visit. Church life is not well served by us arriving late and then leaving as the pastor is doing the benediction!
- Family (I’m using this word as a verb!): meet new friends and welcome them into this house. Pay attention to the people in the foyer who are not speaking with anyone. Hug. Smile. Pray. Serve.
- Tithe: have it ready or prayerfully offer your gift out of prayer.
- Fully engage: be fully present by choosing not to think about your afternoon meal or plans; don’t let your personality limit you in engagement (i.e. if you need prayer, even though you are shy go forward. Or even if you are self-conscious about your singing voice, SING!); take notes and open your Bible; if there is a luncheon, stay; if there is a luncheon stay and help clean up!
Or is it possible we don’t give each other enough time together with our Father?
MEDIA CONNECTIONS
Church Health Thursdays – Random Things Collide: https://fmcic.ca/marcs-random-things/
News & Stories Blog – Building Bridges into the Community with Robotics: https://fmcic.ca/building-bridges-into-the-community-with-robotics/
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: Ep 70 – the Neighbourhood Series – Erinn Oxford: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-70-the-neighbourhood-series-erinn-oxford/
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca
PHOTO GALLERY
Western Ministers Conference
Belinda Leibel’s Commissioning Service
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rev. Ron Mullin – Lead Pastor at Cedar Street Community Church, Simcoe, ON – transitioning to retirement, effective October 31, 2019
Cedar Street Community Church, Simcoe, ON – now in transition
Ordination and Commissioning Services
James Pedlar – Ordination Service at Wesley Chapel Free Methodist Church, Scarborough, ON – September 29, 2019 at 4:00 pm
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:
November 1-3, 2019 – Northview Community Church, Regina, SK
Wesleyan Theology:
October 25-27, 2019 – Holt Free Methodist Church, Mount Albert, Ontario
(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:
Western Canada course starts October 7 (deadline to register – October 1)
Part One: Oct 7-31 – advance online engagement
PLUS
Part Two: Nov 1-2 – two-day in-person class 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 attend 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
Hampton FMC, Saskatoon, SK
New Horizons Community Church – Sarnia, 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)
Athens FMC, Athens, ON – deadline to apply – October 21
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.)
Cedar Street Community Church, Simcoe, ON
Campbellford Free Methodist Church, Campbellford, ON
Crossroads FMC, Salmon Arm, BC (Vern Frudd – Interim Pastor)
Lakeland Community Church, Spiritwood, SK
Queensway FMC, Niagara Falls, ON
Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches, Richmond Hill, ON
Smiths Falls FMC, Smiths Falls, ON (Rev. Aaron Birtch – Transition Pastor)
The Journey (a FM church plant), Ridgeway, ON
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Youth Pastor – Malvern Methodist
