![\"\"](\"https://fmcic.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/CliffsNotes-December-14-1-300x214.jpg\")
Jesus-peace is not “negative peace” or passive in any way. It is the peace championed by His servant Martin Luther King Jr., who confronted oppression and injustice. It is the peace lived by God’s servant Mother Teresa who touched untouchables, and offered them dignity. It is reflected in the peace that the anti-trafficking Set Free Movement invites us to support (an FM organization). Jesus-peace is the stuff of International Child Care Ministries which educates and feeds. It is Tearfund and their mandate to alleviate poverty, and Jesus-peace is what Ebenezer Scrooge experienced (though it is not usually only a one-night process!).
Scrooge discovered (as did Dickens in the writing of the book) that Jesus is the peace-bringer by confronting our pasts, presents and futures! Sanctification is a peace-process. In fact, I encourage you to take some time to re-read “A Christmas Carol” or watch the Alastair Sim version (or the Muppets!). Make the reading or watching a means of grace as you consider Marley’s words to you, and of course, the other rich conversations in the book.
I pray for you to experience PEACE this Christmas season, so that, once refreshed, we discover more and more what it means to be peace-bringers in 2022.
If you have not yet had the opportunity to provide your livestream link to Monique, you can still do so by sending it to her at monique.alexander@fmcic.ca by this Friday, December 17. Please include the dates you will be having service(s), as well as the service start time.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
2nd Tuesday of each month: What’s Got You Thinking?
3rd Wednesday of each month: Get the Scoop with Lisa and Alison
4th Thursday of each month: Church Health Thursday
Message from Bishop Cliff: https://vimeo.com/
Coffee with Jared: https://vimeo.com/
Mystery Beverage with Marc: https://vimeo.com/
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None this week
ORDINATION SERVICES
March 20 at 2:00 pm – Alyson Lauber – Lakeview FMC, Saskatoon, SK
Date and time TBA:
Erika Mills – location TBA
Benjamin Platz – Next Church, Kingston, ON
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES https://fmcic.ca/
Register online through the link above (Tuition payment is not required when registering for a course. Payment is due 10 days before the course begins.)
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:
June 4-6 2022 location TBA*
Wesleyan Theology:
June 4-6 2022 location TBA*
Also available:
- Tyndale University: https://www.tyndale.ca/
seminary/course/theo-0629
- FMC-USA as a 7-week intensive online course with several start dates: 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:
2022 Date and location TBA*
Personal and Church Stewardship:
5-week online course – 2022 Start Date TBA
(* These course locations are selected based on where the majority of the participants reside – so please register early!)
SCHOLARSHIPS
2022 APPLICATIONS https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/
LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PLAN (LSP):
The Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) provides financial assistance to candidates who are studying to meet the educational requirements for credentialed ministry, or for members of conference pursuing continuing education.
February 15 is the deadline to apply for LSP for any courses taken during the winter semester of 2022. The 2022 application forms and instructions will soon be available to download from the link above. Please use the application forms marked “rev 2022.”
SPECIAL SCHOLARSHIPS:
The Special Scholarships provide financial assistance to those who are members of a Free Methodist church pursuing post-secondary education to grow in their Christian faith, to those who are pursuing credentialed ministry, and to members of conference pursuing continuing education.
October 15 is the deadline to apply for the annual Special Scholarships for courses taken during the 2022 calendar year – apply online anytime from the link above. Special Scholarships are awarded in late November/early December each year.
CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS (CEUs) https://fmcic.ca/
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 or the spring Regional Gatherings, add 6 hours of CEU credit for each event when you send in your annual CEU report.
______________________________
CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Prince Albert, SK – Cornerstone FMC
Saskatoon, SK – Lakeview FMC
Thornbury, ON – Blue Mountain Community Church
Church Profiles available
Contact Davika Dotson in the Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – davika.dotson@fmcic.ca or 416-240-7845 (deadline to apply in brackets)
Warkworth, ON – Warkworth FMC [full-time] (Jan 11)
Preparing Profiles
If you are interested in seeing the profile for any of these churches, please contact Davika in the Leadership Development Office [see above] and the profile will be emailed to you as soon as it becomes available.
Campbellford, ON – Campbellford FMC, (Rev. Jurgen Rausch-Transition Pastor)
Cloyne, ON – Pineview FMC
Frankford, ON – Frankford Community Church
Hamilton, ON – Rymal Road Community Church
Hilton Beach, ON – St. Joseph Island FMC (Rev. David Griggs-Interim Pastor)
New Westminster, BC – First FMC
Oshawa, ON – The Corner Church (Free Methodist / Church of the Nazarene) (Rev. Vic Stonehouse-Interim Pastor)
Richmond Hill, ON – Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches (Rev. Louis Leung – Interim Pastor)
Sarnia, ON – New Horizons Community Church (Rev. Mary Lee DeWitt-Transition Pastor)
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
