CliffsNotes – September 3, 2019

The End of Summer Vacation…

The person who did the announcements at the service Karlene and I led at Wesley Acres this past Sunday, said that “camp and summer are now over!” We all laughed and then groaned as we realized that she was right! She proceeded to describe the wonderful and meaningful summer they had experienced at the Acres. After the service was over, many of the packed-out Labour Day crowd met outside under a huge new cross that the camp erected. Former Bishop Gary Walsh, who is now the Executive Director of Wesley Acres explains the significance of the new structure:

“Wesley acres leaders are interested in branding our space as the home of a Christian ministry. Clearly, it is a vacation destination and we want to add the unique characteristic that this ministry exists to advance Christ’s kingdom. This 35 foot cross makes a statement to every person entering as well as the people on the lake or on the south shore. As was prayed at the time of the dedication service, we hope the very sight of this cross will be a means of grace to those who enter and a constant reminder to those who design ministries here”.

This summer David and Jennifer Wright organized a youth event that connected Quebec youth to Ontario youth. Pastor Philippe was the key organizer in Quebec. This event was also helped along by the very generous gift from our Canada East Free Methodist Women’s Ministries. They chose to bless our ministry to and with Quebec by donating all proceeds from this year’s Spring-O-Rama event. Thank you ladies, this has been received with great love and appreciation. The hope is that now some of the Quebec youth will participate in an Ontario youth event in the Fall.

It is my prayer that FMCIC will lead Canada into many forms of reconciliatory opportunities.

Below is summary and testimony of the summer event:

Rapport du projet XChange (Pasteur Philippe)

Depuis plusieurs mois que nous organisions ce projet d’échange et de connexion entre jeunes de différentes églises méthodistes libre anglophones et francophones. L’idée était de rassembler des jeunes à Montréal pour quelques jours (du 14 au 18 aout), afin de les encourager dans leur foi chrétienne, à leur permettre de vivre une expérience de connexion avec d’autres cultures et de partager l’espérance de Jésus par différentes activités de mission ou d’évangélisation.

Des jeunes (entre 15 à 25 jeunes selon les activités) de différentes églises anglophones de l’Ontario, ainsi que des jeunes d’église francophones du Québec, se sont rassemblés pour vivre cette première expérience d’interconnexion dans l’Église Méthodiste Libre de St-Henri, Montréal avec le pasteur Philippe Reichenbach.

Différentes activités ont été proposées durant ces quelques jours :

  • Des enseignements préparés par le pasteur David Wright sur le thème « Découvrir Jésus dans notre communauté et au-delà », ainsi que des temps de partage et de prière pour encourager les jeunes dans leur cheminement chrétien;
  • Une soirée de louange dans une église avec des jeunes de plusieurs églises de Montréal;
  • Une participation à la célébration du culte du dimanche matin dans deux églises différentes;
  • Des visites dans la ville pour connaître la culture québécoise et une belle soirée dans le Vieux-Port de Montréal pour terminer la semaine;
  • Une activité d’entraide avec une mission chrétienne dans le quartier (Mission Grand Berger);
  • Une activité de mission auprès des commerçants de la rue Notre-Dame pour les remercier dans le développement du quartier et de se faire connaître à eux en tant qu’église;
  • Une sortie d’évangélisation dans un parc avec différentes activités proposées (Dîner BBQ, animations diverses, sports, etc.).

À travers ces activités, nous avons pu voir comment que les jeunes venant de différents milieux, ont pu se connecter ensemble malgré la barrière de la langue. Nous avons pu encourager les jeunes à s’ouvrir à d’autres personnes ou cultures, de comment être un témoignage auprès des personnes que nous rencontrions et comment partager notre espérance en Jésus.

Ce fut une belle expérience, qui est le commencement nous le croyons, d’un mouvement de connexion entre les jeunes du mouvement méthodiste libre à travers le Canada, afin de continuer de faire grandir nos jeunes dans leur foi chrétienne et d’être un témoignage puissant de l’Évangile de Jésus-Christ !

Voici un témoignage d’une participante à ce camp XChange / Here’s a testimony from one of the participants in this year’s youth Xchange:

What I expected: I was expecting all separate groups who came together to keep to themselves. During other experiences in mixing youth groups, those who already knew each other stayed together and did not make an effort to meet new people. Especially with the language barrier, I was not really expecting to be welcomed into others groups.

What happened: Everyone was very welcoming. Even on the long car ride here when I was with people I had never met, we were talking together and becoming friends. Once we got here and the other groups started arriving, we slowly started mixing more and more. The time that it really struck me, was when we went to a youth group with another Montreal youth group. When we arrived, we didn’t know where to go or what to do and stayed in a big group at the back. The other youth group then came up to us with huge smiles and shook our hands, looking genuinely happy to meet us.

What I thought: I was overjoyed to see everyone happy to meet each other, even when a lot of us couldn’t speak the same language. I think having this community made it so much easier to work together both at the missions store and at the community barbeque. Through our bible studies we learned some of the important parts of discipleship and being with and working with others was one of them, and it was amazing to actually see it in action.

 


MEDIA CONNECTIONS

Church Health Thursdays – Random Things Collide: https://fmcic.ca/marcs-random-things/New
News & Stories Blog – Building Bridges into the Community with Robotics: https://fmcic.ca/building-bridges-into-the-community-with-robotics/ 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 Network: Ep 69 – the Neighbourhood Series – Evan Garst: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-69-the-neighbourhood-series-evan-garst/
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca


ANNOUNCEMENTS

Pineview Free Methodist Church, Cloyne, ON, is now in transition

 

Ordination and Commissioning Services 

Belinda Leibel – Commissioning Service at Northview Community Church, Regina, SK – September 22, 2019 at 5:00 pm

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. 

____________________________________________________________________________________________

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)

None 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)
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 and Young Adults Ministries Director – Barrie FM Church
Youth Pastor – Malvern Methodist