In my neighbourhood, it was a lousy weather weekend. Several of our churches had to cancel services and special events. We also had to make the very difficult (but right) decision to cancel the Regional Gathering scheduled at Wesley Chapel. It’s Spring?!?
Today, I’m attaching an article from The Globe and Mail that your Study Commission on Doctrine is discussing: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-medically-assisted-death-allows-couple-married-almost-73-years-to-die/?click=sf_globefb
I think that this would be a very interesting case study for your leadership team to discuss. It is a clash of worldviews, where ours (FMCIC and Evangelicalism) will be terribly misrepresented by the prevailing culture’s spin doctors, to sound unloving, unromantic, uncaring, non-progressive, archaic and dismissible.
Of course the spin doctors are unknowingly under the evil influence of “rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). Therefore, our first response has to be focused Luke-18-widow-like-persistent-prayer and Ephesians-6-armour-of-God-prayer for our country. As we pray, we need also to speak truth. Our children and youth need to hear from us – I’m sure there will be children’s books (if there aren’t any already) that will be written to help children cope with why Grandpa and Grandma are choosing to “fly away” together (the language used in The Globe and Mail article for “die”). Our young adults, not-young-adults and seniors need to hear our Good and Loving Father speak into this slippery slope Canadian discussion.
I’m hoping that one of you will write a children’s book about Jesus helping us cope with suffering and end of life issues. A book that celebrates life, is loving, romantic, caring, relevant and essential.
The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada already has good resources about euthanasia and highlights issues that our medical professionals are having to deal with. Did you know that med schools have already begun to screen candidates by asking these types of value questions in the admissions process (views on abortion, euthanasia, etc)? This means that Evangelical Christians, orthodox Jews, Muslims and other faiths will be disqualified ‘soon’ for believing in the sanctity of life?!
On our watch church!
The Northern Ontario Regional Gathering at Dryden FM Church is taking place Saturday April 28, 2018. To register click here for the form: https://fmcic.ca/wp-content/uploads/Dryden-Registration-Form-2018-1.doc
LOCATIONS & DATES
- 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 @ Northview Community Church [Regina] June 2, 2018 *REVISED*
- 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/
MEDIA CONNECTIONS
Church Health Thursdays -How to Help Your Kids Fall Deeper in Love With God: https://fmcic.ca/how-to-help-your-kids-fall-deeper-in-love-with-god-3/New
News & Stories Blog – Everyone Benefits from Internships: https://fmcic.ca/everyone-benfits-from-internships/ 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: Kevin Makins – Holy Shift: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-52-kevin-makins-holy-shift/ New
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/
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Port Rowan Free Methodist Church, Port Rowan, Ontario, has gone into transition.
Ordination and Commissioning Services Schedule
None
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
6-week online course (FRENCH) – start date TBA June 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.
SCHOLARSHIPS
The next deadline is October 15, 2018 to apply for the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for courses taken during both the spring/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/
CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON
Dryden FMC, Dryden, ON
Madoc Wesleyan/Free Methodist Church, Madoc, ON
Marmora FMC, Marmora, ON
Thunder Bay Free Methodist Church, Thunder Bay, ON
Warkworth FMC, Warkworth, ON
Church Profiles available
Contact Susan DePlanché in the Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – susan.deplanche@fmcic.ca or 289-228-1225.
Centennial Chapel FMC, Kamloops, BC (May 1)
Melfort FMC, Melfort, SK (May 8)
Odessa FMC, Odessa, ON (May 8)
Preparing Profiles
(If you are interested in seeing the profile for any of these churches, please contact Susan in the Leadership Development Office [susan.deplanche@fmcic.ca 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)
Dunnville FMC, Dunnville, ON (Tom Gurnick – Interim Pastor)
Grapeview FMC, St. Catharines, ON (Dan Sheffield – Transition Pastor)
Port Rowan FMC, Port Rowan, 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
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
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
Cadet Chaplain – Vernon, BC
Summer Intern – Wawota FM Church
Worship Coordinator – Arlington Wood Free Methodist Church
Bookkeeper – Wesley Chapel FM Church