Welcome to “FMCIC Sabbath- week”!
Sabbath is daily: God “sabbath-ed”, or stopped daily (read Genesis 1 and pay attention to the sabbaths):
- He reviewed and considered His day (He remembered): “it is good” implies that He wondered to Himself “is this good?” Around our family meal we played a “high-low” game where we each took turns giving the highlights of the day and the lowlights. It was a way to remember our day and not let something unresolved move into the next, to learn, and to celebrate. We would then pray into what we had discussed;
- Imagination was a part of creation – out of the imagination of God, He created! It is possible that daily He would stop and imagine, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, what He His next day would be.
- He rested daily.
Sabbath is weekly: It is naturally hardwired into us, as God instituted the daily and weekly sabbath in the time of creation. To ensure healthy boundaries for His people as they came into contact with other nations, God included the sabbath in the law (Exodus 20:9-11). It was the transition commandment, where the first 3 commandments are all about God and us, and the last 6 are all about our relationships with others. Sabbath, therefore feeds both our relationship with God and others.
Sabbath times were annual: God offered other sabbath times throughout the year, called festivals, designed to help His people remember His love, faithfulness, and their story.
God offered every seventh year as a sabbath for the land and of course the Year of Jubilee.
Sabbath is a creation rhythm that is healthy or not healthy in your life. It was designed for you, Jesus said so (Mark 2:27). It was designed to nurture your relationship with God, contribute to your physical, emotional and spiritual health, and it is about healthy relationships with others. It was, according to the prophet Ezekiel (20:12) a sign of the people of God where others would see a healthy sabbath-rhythm and its blessings, and they would want in too!
This summer practice a healthy sabbath-rhythm…
MEDIA CONNECTIONS
Church Health Thursdays – Timely Questions: https://fmcic.ca/timely-questions/
News & Stories Blog – Speaking Words of Comfort: https://fmcic.ca/speaking-words-of-comfort/
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: The 2019 New Leaf Advent Reader – : https://www.newleafnetwindork.ca/podcast/
FM VIDEOS: https://fmcic.ca/category/fm-video-blog/
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Rev. Aaron Birtch – appointed as Lead Pastor at Smiths Falls FMC, Smiths Falls, ON, effective July 1, 2020
- Rev. David Griggs, transitioning to retirement, effective August 14
- Dunnville FM Church, Dunnville, ON in transition, effective August 14
ORDINATION AND COMMISSIONING SERVICES
Leonard Bruce – Warkworth, ON – ordination service date TBA
Dani Harris – The Corner Church, Oshawa, ON – ordination service date TBA
Douglas Smith – Fellowship of Joy, St. Williams, ON – ordination service date TBA
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 6-8, 2020 – location TBA*
Wesleyan Theology:
November 6-8, 2020 – Ontario location TBA*
(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:
Course starts October 13 (deadline to register – October 5)
Part One: Oct 13-Nov 5 – advance online engagement
PLUS
Part Two: Nov 6-7 – two-day in-person class – Trulls Road FMC, Courtice, ON
Personal and Church Stewardship: (NOTE: TUITION WAIVED FOR THIS ONLINE COURSE)
5-week online course (ENGLISH) – Fall 2020-date TBA
(* These course locations are selected based on where the majority of the participants reside – so please register early! Note: Tuition payment is not required when registering for a course. Payment is due 10 days before the course begins.)
2020 SCHOLARSHIPS https://fmcic.ca/scholarships/
October 15 is the deadline to apply for the Leadership Scholarship Plan (LSP) for any courses taken during the summer and/or fall semesters of 2020. The 2020 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 2020 – 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 or the spring Regional Gatherings, add 6 hours of CEU credit for each event when you send in your annual CEU report.
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CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Queensway FMC, Niagara Falls, ON
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)
Lakeland Community Church, Spiritwood, SK (July 14)
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 FMC, Campbellford, ON
Cedar Street Community Church, Simcoe, ON
Cornerstone FMC, Prince Albert, SK
Dunnville FMC, Dunnville, ON
First FM Church, New Westminster, BC (Rev. Vern Frudd – Transition Pastor)
New Hope FMC, Bracebridge, ON
Pineview FMC, Cloyne, ON
Richmond Hill Chinese & English FM Churches, Richmond Hill, ON (Rev. Louis Leung – Interim Pastor)
Trinity Christian Centre, Dresden, ON
Whitby FMC, Whitby, ON (Rev. Vic Stonehouse-Transition Pastor)
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Youth and Worship Pastor – Weyburn FM Church
Ministry Intern – Maple Grove Christian Retreat
