A “Movement” is a Coordinated Effort
Pastor of Yarker FM, Ken Babcock challenged us to pray for the Ukraine. He wrote this: “So this is something I have never done before but here we go. A woman in our church was praying in the night and felt impressed of the Lord to contact people she knew across Canada to pray at 1:30 pm Sunday the 27th and asked if I could contact some Pastors to see if they would invite any people in their churches who feel compelled to do the same.”
Soon my computer lit up with pastors responding that they would be participating! Ken has now challenged FMCiC to keep this up until the situation is resolved. To the praying FMCiC woman who was obedient to God’s nudge to invite His people to pray, thank you! To Pastor Ken for following up, thank you. I know that you are all praying, so Sundays at 1:30 is an opportunity, or better yet, a responsibility we have to pray together as a movement.
For information about giving to the relief ministry in the Ukraine click here.
The very new FMCiC Worship Network met for the first-time last week by Zoom. The network is comprised of worship leaders from FM churches. The purpose of the network is to support one another, encourage each other, discuss worship (Sunday mornings, special events, and daily opportunities), and create an on-going resource list.
I asked the very beautiful leader of the network about specifics.
ME: Tell me Karlene, why is this network important, and on a scale from 1-10 how much do you love being married to me?
KARLENE: It seems to me, that we need to have a network to connect worship leaders. Most FMCiC worship leaders are volunteers, so having a space to share with colleagues who speak your language is very important.
ME: What are some of the desired outcomes of the network?
KARLENE: It was energizing to connect with like-minded leaders, who want to see the Holy Spirit move in our church families. One leader said, and we all agreed, that we pray our congregations would come to worship with “expectation and excitement”!
ME: This sounds very Free Methodist: that our people would deeply desire the Holy Spirit to be fully and FREELY welcomed into our corporate worship times. So, tell me about topics that you have planned to cover together.
KARLENE: Let me list some of the topics that worship leaders are interested in discussing. Maybe the best way to respond is bullet points:
- “Creative service structures, with absolute freedom for the Spirit”. The sentiment here was that our services should not be limited (or “stuck”) to one format.
- “Creative” includes liturgy, integrated communion services, art, multi-generational, etc.
- Engaging online attendees in worship through music
- Sharing practice routines and ideas
- Use of new technology
- An FMCiC worship-leader “circle” (to inspire, reenergize, sharpen skills)
ME: To be clear, most of those in attendance at the network meeting, were volunteer worship leaders, I believe that you were the only full-time worship director, but everyone is welcome. This means worship leaders who are paid and volunteers are welcome to engage. Now, can worship leaders still join, and how often will you meet?
KARLENE: Yes, all FMCiC worship leaders are welcome! Yes, you can still join, and our plan is to meet every other month: May, July, Sept, Nov, Jan, Mar… rinse and repeat. This provides opportunity to meet well in advance of special events, i.e Christmas and Easter.
ME: If they are interested they can contact you karlene@arlingtonwoods.ca. I noticed that you did not answer the on a scale from 1-10 question?!
My friends, I am jazzed (note musical term) that this network is up and running. Imagine the synergy of FM worship leaders across Canada, not being prescriptive, but sharing ideas, using their sanctified imaginations, BEING CREATIVE, encouraging each other through a difficult season, praying together for an outpouring of the Spirit. “Movements” are coordinated efforts after all!
Pastors, invite your lead worship leader(s) to this network. Pastors, you are also welcome if you happen to be the worship leader. Our Father is Creator God, creative by nature, who gives us a “new song” (which really is a powerful metaphor, not necessarily related to music, but certainly can be). Imagine with me, the potential of putting worship people in the same [virtual] room and invite them to ask God what He would have for us!
The answer was “10+” by the way!
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
2nd Tuesday of each month: What’s Got You Thinking?
4th Thursday of each month: Church Health Thursday
ANNOUNCEMENTS
None this week
ORDINATION SERVICES
March 20 at 2:00 pm – Alyson Lauber – Lakeview FMC, Saskatoon, SK
June 12 at 2:00 pm – Erika Mills – Blue Mountain FMC, Thornbury, ON
Date and time TBA:
Benjamin Platz – Next Church, Kingston, ON
Tyndale University’s annual Wesley Studies Symposium on April 26: \”Sisters in the Spirit: Women in the Holiness and Pentecostal Traditions\”: https://www.tyndale.ca/seminary/wesley-studies/annual-symposium
The Lorne Park Foundation (https://lornepark.org/) has generously offered to sponsor 25 in-person and 25 online registrations for this event. This offer is open to both clergy and laypersons on a first-come basis only until April 8. If you are interested, notify Susan DePlanché at susan.deplanche@fmcic.ca as soon as possible and no later than April 8 to be put on the list. If you register through Susan, do not register through the Tyndale link. Be sure to indicate whether you are interested in the in-person or online version. This event is worth 6 hours toward Continuing Education Units (CEUs).
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 3-5, 2022 – Trulls Road FMC, Courtice, ON
November 4-6, 2022, – location TBA*
Wesleyan Theology:
June 3-5, 2022 – location TBA*
November 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: http://fmcusa.org/leadership/
courses/ Wesleyan Theology [#74W] Dr. Robert Vaughan – start dates: Feb 22, Apr 19, June 7, Jul 26, Sep 13, Nov 1
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:
Date and location TBA*
Personal and Church Stewardship:
5-week online course – Start Date TBA
(* These course locations are selected based on where the majority of the participants reside – so please register early!)
2022 SCHOLARSHIPS 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.
October 15 is the deadline to apply for LSP for any courses taken during the summer and/or fall semesters of 2022. The 2022 application forms and instructions are now 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 hours acquired during each year for Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Check the link above for information on CEUs, and a list of examples of many different types of life-long learning that can be applied as CEUs.
You can now send a report online anytime you have hours to submit for CEUs. Here is the link: https://fmcic.wufoo.com/forms/continuing-education-unit-ceu-report-form/
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.
For those who took courses and/or did in-depth research and learning about how to make the changes required during the pandemic (ie how to live-stream services), add the number of those hours to your annual CEU report.
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CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Hilton Beach, ON – St. Joseph Island FMC
Saskatoon, SK – Lakeview FMC
Thornbury, ON – Blue Mountain Community Church
Warkworth, ON – Warkworth FMC
Church Profiles available
Contact Davika Dotson in the Leadership Development Office to request a church profile – davika.dotson@fmcic.ca (deadline to apply in brackets)
Oshawa, ON – The Corner Church (Free Methodist / Church of the Nazarene) [full-time] (Mar 29)
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
Harrowsmith, ON – Harrowsmith FMC (Pastor Keith Deyo-Interim Pastor)
New Westminster, BC – First FMC
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
