December 15th, 2024 News
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MOUNTAINVIEW NEWS
Join us Sunday morning at 10 am or anytime throughout the week. Intern Pastor Brady De Boer continues our Advent Series “In The Fullness of Time” with the third message entitled “Exile: Ezra-Nehemiah”. He will be looking at the book of various passage from books of Ezra-Nehemiah (passages will be shown on screen they come up through the message).
We will walk through a retelling of the (conjoined) story of Ezra-Nehemiah as the Exile comes to an end. Will this new era of Israelites learn from their ancestors' mistakes?
LET’S BUILD SOME COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS!
(Click on the pictures to go to related webpages, links or emails)
JOYFUL GIVING
Sunday's offerings are for our Ministry Promise (a.k.a. Budget) AND for...
December 22nd P.M. – Resonate Global Mission: Formerly Christian Reformed World Missions and Christian Reformed Home Missions, we came together in 2017 as Resonate to walk alongside CRCs as they join God’s mission in their own neighborhoods and around the world.
We do this by planting churches and supporting ministry in North America as well as sending missionaries around the globe to share the good news. But sending people is only part of God’s plan for your congregation. Your church partners with Resonate as you join God’s mission in your own neighborhood and around the world. Resonate is here to walk alongside you in preparing missionaries and volunteers, calling and supporting church planters and campus ministers, connecting with ministries overseas, engaging church members and younger generations in mission work, and following the Spirit by discerning new ways to demonstrate and proclaim the gospel. Together, we help build God’s church.
December 24th A.M. – Grimsby Life Centre is a ministry that is committed to providing help for the physical, social, and mental well-being of those in crisis. This loving care is demonstrated through on-going counseling, support and care. All services are free and confidential, and we depend solely on donations from individuals, churches, businesses, and fund-raising events. Thank-you for your support and prayers.
December 25th A.M. – World Renew – The Gift of Christmas: Next week, we celebrate the gift of Jesus, who left his heavenly home to offer us the hope of eternal life with Him. Your gift for World Renew this season gives hope to people who live with poverty, disaster, and injustice worldwide. Put families in need on your Christmas list this year by giving generously in the World Renew offering. Holiday travels? You can give at worldrenew.ca/gifts or call 1-888-975-3769. Your Mountainview Deacons also invite you to join the 2024 Giving Tree Project from World Renew! (Tree in the foyer).
Choose an ornament from the Giving Tree or online at worldrenew.ca/gifts
Complete the order form at the back of the gift catalogue OR give online at worldrenew.ca/gifts
Place cheque/cash and card/form in offering vase OR give online at worldrenew.ca/gifts
Canada Post Strike - With the holiday season upon us and the Canada Post strike affecting mail delivery, we want to make it easy for you to support your favourite ministries! You can still make your year-end gifts quickly and securely online at crcna.org, by calling us at 888-827-5272, or through The Bridge App. If your donation was sent in the mail during the strike, we will confirm its receipt as soon as we can after the strike is over. Strike or no strike, your support makes all the difference for our ministries —thank you for making this season one of hope and generosity!
Help us Make Double the Impact with Rose City Kids We are excited to announce our $200,000 match campaign. It 2X the support for the 700 children and youth God has placed in our lives to serve. At RCK, we believe in sharing the love of Jesus with each child who walks through our doors. With your help, we can keep providing a safe place where kids experience God's love, and grow in hope for a brighter future. Campaign Nov 1- Dec 31, 2024. Questions? Contact Barb Donker (905-788-9800) or office@rosecitykids.com/www.rosecitykids.com.
From Grimsby Life Centre Ministries - We wish to express our heartfelt thanks for the incredible generosity we receive from our community year over year. Your support makes such a difference in the lives of those we serve at GLC. Due to the Canada Post strike, to help ensure your donation reaches us, we can arrange a pickup to send a year end financial contribution to our ministry. You can also donate via e-transfer. Visit: www.grimsbylife.org. Please don’t hesitate to call us at 905-309-0944. Thank you again for standing with us and making our work possible! We wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Cairn Christian School staff and students want to wish you a blessed Christmas celebrating Christ's birth! Thank you for your prayers, donations, and support in 2024! As we near the end of the calendar year, amidst a postal service disruption, we continue to rely on your support to achieve our mission. To see more about how God is working in our schools daily and opportunities to help make Christian Education affordable and accessible, see our latest Compass Newsletter. https://simplebooklet.com/thecairncompassfall2024
Other…
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
& OPPORTUNITIES
A few devotional options and preparatory activities for the Advent Season:
CRC Network: Advent Resources Round-up
Thrive: Colab of World Renew, Resonate, and CRCNA Social Justice -sign up here for Advent Justice-based devotions 2024 (previous years are also here).
Indwell - has again developed a series of five Advent devotionals — this year they're written from the unique perspectives of 5 Indwell staff! Sign up now at indwell.ca/advent.
Canadian Bible Society: 2,000+ years ago, a Baby born in a manger brought hope to the shepherds, reminding them that God had revealed Himself through Christ. Today, in the midst of life’s challenges, that same hope, peace, joy, and love are available to us. This Advent, join us on a journey of waiting for His presence to transform our lives and discovering the gifts of the season. LEARN MORE
Right Now Media has Advent (& Christmas) Studies and devotionals for adults, kids and families. Check out our Mountainview Page for some ideas or search under “Advent” and “Christmas”.
SOCO Beach Project Update: If you are a young adult between 18 - 29, check out this summer opportunity (May - August) to deepen your faith and live in intentional Christian community, all while having a summer job in beautiful Port Dover. In this week's newsletter, reflect on Ruth's story about the "it just so happened" moments of our lives. Be part of this ministry with a year end gift! Link: https://mailchi.mp/southcoastbeachproject/soco-update-december-12-8566413
The Young Adult Winter Retreat (YAWR) is back again at Maranatha CRC, Woodstock! We encourage all young adults ages 18-30 to join us for this weekend of faith-based discussions, service, fellowship, and funtivities! Pastor Stephen Terpstra (First CRC Iowa) will be leading us in a series of discussions on engaging community. Date: January 24-26, 2025, Theme: Engage. Early bird registration: $60. Grow in faith, build lasting connections, and have fun! Follow us: Instagram (yawinterretreat) or Facebook (Young Adult Winter Retreat). Email: ya.retreat.team@gmail.com. Register at: https://forms.gle/pz9Bw8ReB1mg3Djm6 (Reg. opens Dec 1st).
On Sunday December 15 at 3pm — the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra and the Bach Elgar Choir come together for Handel's monumental work Messiah, led by HPO Music Director James Kahane as Conductor at St. Catherine of Sienna Church on the mountain. This performance promises to uplift and delight audiences during the festive season. Tickets can be purchased at HPO.org. Tickets can also be purchased directly here: https://www.hpo.org/handels-messiah-2024/
Dutch Christmas Hymn Sing – Immanuel CRC and Grace Community CRC invite you to a Nederlandse KERST SAMENZANG held on Sunday Dec. 15th at 3pm at Grace Community CRC, Ancaster. Put it in your calendar, and plan to join! The hymn sing will also be live-streamed. For more information contact John VanderLaan at 905-648-3170 or Femke Visser-Elenbaas at visser.elenbaas@gmail.com.
A Unique Mission Trip for Teenagers - Join a group of teenagers from multiple countries on a trip across three Central American countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Guatemala) to learn more about these countries' histories and learn how local ministry leaders are working to meet the needs of communities in difficult realities. This is a great opportunity to grow in your faith and understanding of mission! Learn more and apply online at www.resonateglobalmission.org/encounter
The January Series - The January Series of Calvin University returns January 20 through January 31. From Paralympians to historians, adventurers, and innovators, we have a topic for you to deepen your curiosity. Join us in the Covenant Fine Arts Center on campus or online. Information can be found at www.calvin.edu/january-series
Feeling overwhelmed with anxiety, stress or loneliness? Want to talk to one of our psychotherapists or counsellors? We are here to help ! Please call 905.309.0944. We will be answering the phones Monday - Friday daily between 9am – 4pm. Sessions typically run about an hour. All of our services are free and confidential. Sometimes we all need help!
Has ALCOHOL OR DRUGS taken over your or a loved one’s life? Family Outreach Ontario can help. There are literally thousands of Christian recovering addicts out there… you may be sitting beside one in church next Sunday. Confidentiality guaranteed. Visit our web site for more info at www.familyoutreachontario.com, contact us at 905-933-3994, or e-mail us at info@familyoutreachontario.com.
NEWSLETTERS FROM OUR MINISTRY PARTNERS
Links are available on our website under
“Community Connections” - “Partnerships”
Paper copies can be requested from the church office.
DENOMINATIONAL NEWS
ReFrame Ministries Provides Devotions, Podcasts, and Blogs - Start a new Biblical habit with resources from ReFrame Ministries. DEVOTIONS including the Today devotional offer short daily meditations and scripture. Kids Corner includes devotions, especially for children and guardians. PODCASTS help you dig into scripture with Groundwork, explore pop culture and Christianity with Think Christian, or energize your church communications with Church Juice. BLOGS offering spiritual advice for parenting, dating, and more are available in new posts from Family Fire. Learn more about the spiritual habit of praying with ReFrame’s prayer ministry.
Groundwork: Jesus: Our Everlasting Father - Isaiah continued to reveal the nature of the Messiah when he called him the “Everlasting Father.” Join our Groundwork conversation as we study Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 63:15-16, John 14:6-14, 1 John 1:1-4, and 1 John 3:1-3 to better understand how this revolutionary title reveals the nature of Jesus and discover the comfort and belonging offered to us in Jesus, our Everlasting Father. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Kids Corner: Advent Week 3: The Baby - Check out this week’s kids’ devotion at www.kidscorner.net/. In Luke 2:11-14, the long-awaited Messiah has come. The prophecy from the prophet Isaiah has happened. On that blessed night, the hope God promised so many years ago was born into the world. He came as a baby - not just any baby - he was the Son of God. Check out all the great content at kidscorner.net, like the Bible Story Podcast The Journey of the Wise Men.
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - This coming week marks the winter solstice—the “longest night” of the year. For many, the Christmas season can be a particularly difficult time. How might God be calling you to minister to people who struggle? How might you remind them that the dark of night will gradually give way to the light of day? Brought to you by Thrive: crcna.org/Thrive
Introducing The Postma Post! - Stay connected with Al Postma, ED of the CRCNA in Canada, as he shares updates, reflections, and key highlights about the incredible work God is doing in our communities. Through this new email, you’ll receive updates like highlights from the Canadian Board meetings and insights into our strategic goals—delivered right to your inbox. Sign up today: crcna.org/canada/postma-post
Stories & Strategies: Strengthening the CRC in Canada - Are you interested in learning more about ministry happening in CRC churches? Join the Canadian Ministry Board for stories (and best practice learnings from those experiences) and how they might be applicable to your local church context. We look forward to discussing these ideas with you alongside other church members & leaders. Join us virtually on January 25, 2025 (11am-1pm ET). More at crcna.org/Canada
Family Fire - Family Fire is an online community exploring Spirit-led family, marriage, parenting, in-laws, blended families, and intimacy. Find encouraging articles and devotions at familyfire.com. Subscribe for regular email updates and connect with our Family Fire community on Facebook.
JOBS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Shalom We Are hiring at Shalom! Working at Shalom is a great opportunity to share your gifts and talents in a wonderful workplace and to become involved in the community! We take pride in offering the best possible care and making Shalom home for our residents. Become part of the team! We are always accepting resumes for potential future hiring.
Sunday Service Volunteers/ Accompanist needed for 2025! Meaningful worship opportunities are important to our residents and us! Our residents love to make a joyful noise unto the Lord and we are in need of accompanists to assist them for Sunday Services / Wed. am sing songs. Can you accompany on either the piano or organ, or help with ushering residents to these services? If so, it would be very appreciated. Please contact Brooke at volunteercoord@shalommanor.ca or at 905-945-9631, ext. 1115.
Position Opening: NewGround Coordinator - Through its NewGround program, Diaconal Ministries Canada (DMC) partners with deacons and churches, offering grants, coaching, and other resources to help them start or grow a local community ministry. Overall, its mission is to help churches build strong connections with their local communities, offering practical and spiritual support to the marginalized and under-served populations. We are currently seeking a part-time NewGround Coordinator (18 hrs/week) who will provide ongoing development and administration for this vital program. To read the full job description, visit DMC's website now: www.diaconalministries.com/our-team/careers-opportunities