I look forward to telling you about some of our (Karlene’s and my) experiences with our churches and pastors in Calgary, Okotoks (did you know that we had a church in Okotoks?!), Edmonton, Mewassin (don’t try GPS’ing there – you’ll end up in a lake!), Spiritwood, Melfort, Prince Albert, and Saskatoon (where making reference to a Rider loss to Calgary the night before is simply not a good way to start your sermon!) Today though I asked Karlene, on behalf of all of our Canadian pastors and churches, to thank our spouses and to bless our children…
In June, a co-worker asked about me my summer plans. I told her that Cliff and I would be travelling across Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario and Quebec to meet and visit with pastors and their families. She asked if I minded “following my husband around.” I laughed because I had never thought of it that way. However, I guess to people outside of church it could look like that. I explained to her that Cliff and I have always been a team. Our heart has been for the people in our congregations as well as those looking for a church family and now, particularly for the leaders of our churches. Her next question: “Well, what do you do?” What does a pastor’s spouse do? This week I would like to thank all the spouses and pastoral families for all the amazing “things” you do.
Spouses, thank you for:
- Stepping into your calling;
- Opening your heart and home to church family by making yourself vulnerable (vulnerability can lead to deeper relationships and sometimes deeper hurt);
- Using your gifts and passions to fully participate as a pastoral team;
- Understanding your full-time career, job and responsibilities both inside and outside the home as a means of supporting and making ministry possible;
- Being willing to move and re-settle whenever and wherever you are called;
- Trusting God when relationships breakdown in church: when people say hurtful things about your spouse (sometimes it’s harder for us to see someone hurt our family); or when a congregant simply moves on after you feel that you have invested so much;
- Understanding how the uniqueness of our occupation sometimes means calls at odd hours, interrupted vacations and unexpected guests;
- Relying on God for financial and other needs;
- Making sacrifices
To the children of pastoral families – you are loved more than you probably realize. You are prayed for all the time. We pray that you would hear Jesus’ voice above all the others that are trying to get your attention and that you would follow Him.
So, to spouses of our pastors, thank you for not, “following your spouse around.” Instead…May God bless you and light your path as you walk together as a family, growing deeper in His love and knowledge: understanding His desire to walk with, sometimes carry and ultimately soar with you.
MEDIA CONNECTIONS
Church Health Thursdays – The Difference Between Nice and Kind and why it matters
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: The Church in Exile – Living in Hope After Christendom – Dr. Lee Beech: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-45-church-exile-living-hope-christendom-dr-lee-beech/
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FMCIC
LifePlan Study Team Files
PHOTO GALLERY
Trevor Swanson’s Induction Service – July 22, 2017 – https://www.flickr.com/photos/fmc-gallery/albums/72157686665504946
Do you know someone who would like to receive CliffsNotes? They can now sign up through the website at:https://fmcic.ca/cliffsnotes-signup/
SCHOLARSHIPS
The next deadline is October 15, 2017 to apply for both the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for the summer and fall semesters of 2017, and for the Special Scholarships. More information is available at this link:https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES
Heart of Canadian Free Methodism:
Nov 3-5, 2017at Trulls Road FMC, Courtice, ON
Wesleyan Theology:
Nov 3-5, 2017 at First FMC, New Westminster, BC
(also available online through FMC-USA:http://fmcusa.org/leadership/courses/)
________________________________________________________
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Asbury FMC, Perth, ON has gone into transition.
CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Blue Mountain Community Church, Thornbury, ON
Dryden FMC, Dryden, ON
Pineview FMC, Cloyne, ON
Ryde Centennial FMC, Gravenhurst, ON
Smiths Falls FMC, Smiths Falls, ON
Westdale Park FMC, Napanee, ON
Whitby FMC, Whitby, ON
Church Profiles available
(Contact Susan DePlanché at the Personnel office to request a church profile –susan.deplanche@fmcic.ca)
Frankford Community FMC, Frankford, ON – Personnel Office receiving resumes until August 8
Warkworth FMC, Warkworth, ON – Personnel Office receiving resumes until August 8
Preparing Profiles
(If you are interested in seeing the profile for any of these churches, please contact Susan at the Personnel office [susan.deplanche@fmcic.ca] and the profile will be emailed to you as soon as it becomes available.)
Athens FMC, Athens, ON
Blue Mountain Community Church, Thornbury, ON
Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON (Mary Lee DeWitt-Transition Pastor)
Cornerstone FMC, Prince Albert, SK – (Dyan Mouland-Transition Pastor)
Harrowsmith FMC, Harrowsmith, ON (Carl Bull – Transition Pastor)
Asbury FMC, Perth, ON
Rustle FMC, Kingston, ON (Todd Stelmach-Interim Pastor)
Sault Ste. Marie FMC, Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Tabernacle de la Grace, Montreal QC
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 (Ousman Ali)
Cordova Mines FM Fellowship, Cordova Mines, ON
Eglise Chrétienne Méthodiste Libre de Le Gardeur, QC (Duplan Auguste Lython)
Enterprise FMC, Enterprise, ON
Killarney FMC, Killarney, MB (Raymond Riglin)
Markham FMC, ON (K.K. Leung)
Richmond Hill Chinese & English Churches, Richmond Hill, ON (K.K. Leung)
Roblin FMC, Roblin, MB (Heath Butler)
Surrey FMC, Surrey BC (Nathaniel Prakash)
theStory, Sarnia, ON
Timmins FMC, Timmins, ON (Lewis Byer)
Vennachar FMC, Vennachar, ON (Laurie Lemke)
Verona FMC, Verona, ON (Kathy Casement)
Wesley Chapel Japanese FM Church, Toronto, ON (Misa Mochinaga)
Wyevale FMC, Wyevale, ON
Yarker FMC, Yarker, ON (Ken Babcock)
________________________________________________________
PASTORS IN TRANSITION
William Crozier
Roxanne Goodyear
Kim Henderson
Dan Sheffield
Derek Spink
Wesley Wood
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Associate Pastor – Barrie FM Church
In-Program Supervisor – Little Blessings Nursery School, Whitby, ON
