RULE OF LIFE 2.0: January 17 – March 27
Romans 12:1-2 The Message
What I like about this particular Message version of the Romans 12 passage, a very familiar one to most of you, is that the Greek word “patterns of this world” is really “rhythms” or as Peterson correctly writes, “your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life”. Paul, in the letter to the Romans, is challenging you and I to resolve with great determination, to morph into a new rhythm, pattern, or everyday ordinary life! A Godly rhythm. When you spend time with the passage, you will note the beautiful dance between you, who must choose to fully engage (even sacrifice) and God who does the work of transformation, and renewing in you. In order to fully embrace the metaphor of a dance with God, picture a child “dancing” with their parent, by standing on the parent’s feet! God is the parent who will teach us to dance.
Towards this end, I am inviting you into a Rule of Life 2.0. This past year we ran our first Rule of Life. It was meant to support pastors and their local discipleship initiatives. It was meant to be used by churches to help with the development of a “deeper walk with Christ”. When we introduced it, we explained that as Methodists we are committed to disciplined engagement in spiritual disciplines and means of grace. We believe that these disciplines serve as a new “rule” or “rhythm” of life. A rule of life is an intentional way to live into a disciplined life-giving holy pattern.
The first rule of life was also a way to help FM’ers across the country connect with one another. In a season of polarization and disconnection, the rule of life provided a connection space. It proved to be a very good initiative, so much so that we are inviting you into RULE OF LIFE 2.0. Participation in this iteration does not require that you were involved in the last rule of life!
The RULE OF LIFE 2.0 will be a 10-week covenant (because you asked for 10 weeks), running from January 17-March 27, 2022. The ten-week covenant will be as follows (remember this is free):
- January 17-March 27 2022 (10 weeks)
- Triad every other week (you can create your own triad or trust us to place you in one)
- Daily Scripture encounter (Communion will be the theme)
- Daily prayer: morning (adoration), midday (“watchfulness”) and evening (“examen”)
- Weekly fast (you choose a meal or more, social media, tv, sugar, etc)
- Optional Sunday evening times by zoom with Bishop: January 30th, February 27th, and March 27th
Pastors, this is not meant to be “one more thing”! It is meant to help you. The theme, passages and exercises would make for a solid preaching series. It could also be a small group series. You could encourage your people to participate nationally or you could run this ‘in-house’. And pastors, you are absolutely welcome to join in – I heard from many of those who participated last time, how rich an experience it was. Pastors, if you send me a note, I’ll send you an advance copy of the Rule of Life 2.0.
To the rest of us: would love you to join us on the journey. Would love for you to be in a triad with another FM’er you may not yet know. The Scripture and exercises in 2.0 will help us to mine the richness of the Eucharist.
Coming to the Jesus-table together seems like the most important thing that we could do in this season – a season when many of us are finding it more difficult to be at the table with other believers, or a season we are finding reasons and excuses not to be at the table with each other at all!
We’ll be sending registration (it’s free) details out soon….
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
Pastor Zachary Wallace – approved as Ministerial Candidate and appointed as Associate Pastor (Child & Youth) at New Heights Community Church, Mission, BC, effective November 5
ORDINATION SERVICES
November 21 at 3:00 pm – Wilder Boutin – Église Vie d’Espoir, 35, av. Marien, Montréal-Est, QC
Date and time TBA:
Alyson Lauber – Lakeview Free Methodist Church, Saskatoon, SK
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.
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CHURCHES IN TRANSITION
Interviewing
Harrowsmith, ON – Harrowsmith FMC
Prince Albert, SK – Cornerstone FMC
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)
Saskatoon, SK – Lakeview FMC [full-time] (Nov 30)
Thornbury, ON – Blue Mountain Community Church [full-time] (Nov 16)
Warkworth, ON – Warkworth FMC [full-time] (Nov 16)
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)
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
