9 Regional Gatherings under our corporate – FMCIC-belt. This past weekend was in Regina. We enjoyed visioning and praying together.
3 different types of chili to choose from – thank you Northview FM! And Thank You Northview for your enthusiastic participation in the worship and sermon! Good reminder that we should participate in sermons – not just evaluate and criticize them!
369 days since I officially started in my new role. June 1 was my one year anniversary. I am often asked how it is going. I end my first year and begin a new one encouraged. I am encouraged by the support of the BOA and NLT. I am encouraged by the warmth of all of you, and the very good questions that your leadership teams are asking about yourselves. The big question being, of course, “what does it mean and look like to accept responsibility for our community?” I am encouraged by your notes and calls telling me that you are praying for my family and I.
35 Prayer Point Persons is all that we have signed on so far – that’s a little discouraging. Pastors please make that happen today. A Prayer Point Person will be the National Prayer Team’s contact. The National Prayer Team will help you build prayer teams, mobilize our nation into focused prayer, and support your church in developing prayer ministry, including working with, identifying, and commissioning your intercessors into ministry. Send your names right away to Ken Roth at ken@chapelridge.ca
1 more person that Jesus would like you and your church family to pray, care, love-on so that that they have the opportunity to know Jesus through you. We have the moral obligation to introduce our communities to our Father. Not only the moral obligation but the new vocation given us by Christ’s redemptive work (N.T. Wright’s very good discussion The Day the Revolution Began). Church, 1 more person today…
3 times Jesus mentions lost-ness in Luke 15. Three “lost” stories in a row is noteworthy. I mean when Jesus tells us something once that is a big deal, but three times surely is something very important! Numbers are significant in the Bible: 3, 6, 7, 40… A number can be a Biblical tool that demands the believer to, “pay attention to this”. Three is often the stuff of Trinity, and the heart of God. Three times in Luke 15 Jesus mentions lost-ness and our response, which is God saying: ‘pay attention to this as this is my heart.’
Leadership Team Questions (or for you / family):
- Have we identified those with the gift of intercessory prayer in our church family? Have we commissioned them officially into ministry and do we support them with resources, training and space?
- What does it mean that we have a “moral obligation” to tell people about Jesus?
- What do you imagine (better yet, read Wright’s book) is meant by us being given a “new vocation” as a result of Jesus’s redemptive work?
- Who is our Prayer Point Person and have we sent Ken the name?
- Read Luke 15 together (actually we should read this ‘regularly’ together). Three times Dr. Luke tells us about lost-ness. Discuss each parable. Do we as a church family embrace fully the heartbeat in Luke 15?
The Central Ontario-East GTA Regional Gathering at Wesley Chapel FM Church is taking place Saturday June 16, 2018. To register click here for the form: https://fmcic.ca/wp-content/uploads/Wesley-Chapel-Registration-Form-2018-1.doc
The Manitoba Regional Gathering at Victoria Inn Hotel & Convention Centre, Brandon, MB is taking place Saturday June 23, 2018. To register click here for the form: https://fmcic.ca/wp-content/uploads/Manitoba-Registration-Form-2018.doc
- CENTRAL ONTARIO- EAST GTA @ Wesley Chapel FM Church [Ontario] – June 16, 2018 *NEW*
- 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 – Church Growth: Things We Should Always be Thinking Of : https://fmcic.ca/things-we-should-always-be-thinking-of/ New
News & Stories Blog – Everyone Benefits from Internships: https://fmcic.ca/everyone-benfits-from-internships/
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: Jeff and Jan Steckley – Contemplative practice, second half of life & the art of starting: https://www.newleafnetwork.ca/podcast/ep-53-jeff-and-jan-steckley-contemplative-practice-second-half-of-life-the-art-of-starting/ New
Faith and Finances Website: http://faithandfinances.ca
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
Rev. Mark Earle (Lead Pastor at Cross-Walk Community Church, Burlington, ON) – appointed Network Leader of the SW Ontario Blend Church Network formerly led by Rev. Peter Tursa, effective May 30, 2018
Rev. Adam Kline (Wesleyan Church ordained minister) – hired as Lead Pastor at Marmora Free Methodist Church, Marmora, ON, effective June 1, 2018
Pastor Misa Mochinaga (interim pastor at Wesley Chapel Japanese FMC) – approved as Ministerial Candidate and appointed as Lead Pastor at Wesley Chapel Japanese Free Methodist Church, Scarborough, ON, effective May 31, 2018
Rev. David Moriarity (Lead Pastor at Cornerstone Community Church, Almonte, ON) approved for ordination
Rev. Brent Steeves (Lead Pastor at New Horizons Community Church, Sarnia, ON) approved for ordination
Ordination and Commissioning Services Schedule
Cathleen Getchell, Kingston, Ontario – ordination service on June 10, 2018 at 3:30 pm, Kingscourt FM Church, Kingston ON
Dave Moriarity, Almonte, Ontario – ordination service on October 28, 2018 at 4:00 pm, Cornerstone Community Church, Almonte, ON
Brent Steeves, Sarnia, Ontario – ordination service date and time TBA
FOUNDATIONAL COURSES
Heart of Canadian Free Methodism:
November 2-4, 2018 in Ontario (location TBA*)
Wesleyan Theology:
June 7-9, 2019 – location TBA*
(also available online through FMC-USA: http://fmcusa.org/leadership/courses/)
Théologie de Wesley
6 au 8 juillet 2018 à l’Église Méthodiste Libre de Rosemont, Montréal, QC
Personal and Church Stewardship
6-week online course – start date TBA
6-week online course (FRENCH) – Fall 2018
Culture and the Missional Church:
*NEW* Course starts October 9, 2018
Advance online engagement: Oct 9-Nov 1 / In-class: Nov 2-3 at a local FM Church in Ontario (TBA)
(deadline to register – October 4)
(*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
Asbury FMC, Perth, ON
Caistor Centre FMC, Caistor Centre, ON
Centennial Chapel FMC, Kamloops, BC
Madoc Wesleyan/FMC, Madoc, ON
Odessa FMC, Odessa, ON
Thunder Bay FMC, 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 (deadline to apply in brackets)
Melfort FMC, Melfort, SK (June 12)
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)
Dunnville FMC, Dunnville, ON (Tom Gurnick – Interim Pastor)
Richmond Hill Chinese & English Churches, Richmond Hill, ON
West Springs FMC, Calgary, AB
Weyburn FMC, Weyburn, SK
PASTORS IN TRANSITION
Glen Coates
David Greene
Kim Henderson
Jason Johnson
Fred Merritt
Jay Mowchenko
Derek Spink
Randy Williams
Grant Wolfe
Mary-Elsie Wolfe
Wesley Wood
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
Youth Pastor – Malvern Methodist Church
Summer Intern – Wawota FM Church
Worship Coordinator – Arlington Woods Free Methodist Church
Office Administrator – Arlington Woods Free Methodist Church