December 4th, 2022 News
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MOUNTAINVIEW NEWS
Join us at 10 am Sunday morning via live-stream or in-person, or at any time throughout the week. This Sunday we receive our message in the the form of a drama entitled “Born for You and Me.”
It's the year 30 A.D. and some folks are talking about this new rabbi, Jesus, and wondering if he is the same Jesus born 30 years ago in a stable. Enjoy the story as Mountainview's intergenerational actors tell it!
We as a church are once again partnering with our neighbours to provide a COMMUNITY ICE RINK. We are currently in the planning stages and reaching out to all who would like to be involved. Would you be willing to support the project?
1. By signing up to lend a helping hand. Pick a day or time of day to help out! We need a person each day of the week to...
a) OPEN/INSPECT between 8-9 am
b) and a CLOSE/INSPECT between 8-9 pm
c) and an Afternoon Inspector @ 4 pm (ish)
d) Also needed are people to sign-up to be on call to help shovel or flood the rink
To sign up text, email or call Alice 905-516-4211 (cell); aposthumus@mountainviewcrc.org
2. With a financial donation to help cover expenses such as a tarp, fencing, lights, straw, water, insurance. How can you donate?
a) E-transfer: treasurer@mountainviewcrc.org
b) Online: https://crc.etadvance.com/churches/mountainview-crc/donate (select cause ‘Community Ice Rink’)
c) Drop a cheque off at the church make sure to indicate your donation for the “Community Ice Rink”
Questions? Please reach out at any time to… Pastor Erick ericks@mountainviewcrc.org or Alice aposthumus@mountainviewcrc.org
ADVENT REFLECTIONS AND DEVOTIONS
"Prepare the Way" - Free Advent Email Devotion – A series put together by World Renew, Resonate, and CRCNA Social Justice that features reflections from people with CRC ministries around the world during Advent 2022. Sign up to receive the emails every Mon., Wed., and Fri. in Advent at crcna.org/advent
The Network has a great article titled, “Five ways Families Can Explore Waiting and Hope this Advent Season. Please check it out HERE. One suggestion is the Faith Formation - Jessie Tree below.
The Faith Formation team encourages and equips churches and individuals to practice lifelong faith and missional discipleship. We listen, provide consulting and resources that fit your unique context, and we walk alongside you and your church as you encounter the challenges and opportunities of growing in resilient, intentional, holistic faith. One way we do that is with Seasonal Family Devotionals such as : Jesse Tree: God’s Big Advent Story.
Finding Hope, Peace, Joy & Love – The Canadian Bible Society - Our exclusive series of videos and devotions by Canadian guest authors explores how the presence of the Christ child helps us find hope, peace, joy and love.
Christmas Hope and the Women in Jesus’ Family Tree - is a five-part Bible study podcast series and ebook from Groundwork exploring the stories of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. Through their experiences, we hear the message that no matter how broken we may feel, Jesus Christ came into our world to conquer sin, the root cause of our brokenness. Get it when you subscribe to Groundwork at groundworkonline.com/christmashope
This year Focus on the Family is delighted to offer you a free Advent devotional download to help you and your family get ready for Christmas. This PDF devotional has daily readings to help you and your family grow in your faith, explore the four Gospels, and go beyond the Nativity scene. You’ll also enjoy a cut-out and colour-your-own Nativity scene. You can sign up right now for your free PDF Advent devotional by going to https://FocusOnTheFamily.ca/Advent. Advent starts on November 27 this year so download your devotional today and prepare for the celebration of Christ’s birth!
Welcoming the Promised One – From Advent Meditation to Christmas Celebration – How to we prepare our hearts for the coming Christ? What does “God with us” mean for the church today? Join writers from CT’s 2022 Advent devotional, The Promised One, as they share reflections on the expectations and ultimate joy of this sacred season. Register HERE for the webcast or to receive a link to the recording.
Seminary Now (InterVarsity Press) offer a free resource to enter this season of hope. Christians throughout the world take time during Advent to reflect on how they may better welcome Christ into their homes and hearts in light of the state of the world today. Join the Seminary Now family in worship and reflection by meditating through the Great Expectations video series!
CLICK ON PIC TO PLAY YOUTUBE PLAYLIST
Hello Friends, I now have moved on to full-time fundraising for my new position with Global Aid Network, and am living in Owen Sound with my parents. I will be visiting Grimsby from Nov. 7-11 as well as Nov 21-25 in order to continue my ministry meetings. I'd love to meet with you and tell you about the exciting work that GAiN is doing in Ukraine. You can email me at Tyler.couperus@globalaid.net and also read my newsletter at TylerCouperus.com. I hope to hear from you soon, Tyler C.
JOYFUL GIVING
This Sunday’s Collection is for our Budget and for: Benevolence
UPCOMING OFFERING: December 11th A.M. – Shalom Manor & Gardens is a special Christian, non-profit long-term care home and retirement centre, serving seniors mostly of Dutch descent who belong to the community of Reformed faiths. Limited government funding does not allow the services our seniors require that meet our expectations and standards. Your gifts will enhance immediate resident care, programs, and debt load.
Dear Mountainview CRC, Thank you so much for your financial support for Safe Church Ministry. Because of you, we have been able to increase awareness about abuse through our webinar series, books studies, and abuse prevention resources. Your support further provides support for regional Safe Church coordinators and safe church teams across the denomination. Finally, we have been able to provide counsel and resources to churches in order to help them respond to situations of abuse in ways that promote healing and justice. Your donations make all this possible. May God richly bless the ministry of your church in the year to come! From our team at Safe Church, thank you!
- Amanda Benckhuysen, Eric Kas and Becky Jones
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Our DEACONS’ CORNER IS is posted on our website…
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS & OPPORTUNITIES…
Please note: World Renew’s Giving Tree, upcoming Alpha adventures, the Community Rink and Tropical Plant Christmas Drop Off under church news on the first page. Also, COME SEE OUR FLOAT, along with many others, IN THE SANTA CLAUS PARADE this Saturday evening.
SoCo Property & Summer 2023 Applications: Help SoCo create a legacy of transforming young adults for Christ and his kingdom. We have a potential property, and need the funding to purchase it. With your financial support, we can get a permanent SoCo home! Read more about it in the link below. If you are interested to learn more about how you can partner in this exciting endeavour, contact Pastor Willemina at info@southcoastbeachproject.org. If you are a young adult or know a young adult, check out the SoCo Beach Project for summer 2023. Applications for next summer's project 2023 are open! Here's the link to the latest newsletter.
We are so excited to be able to host a Young Adults Winter Retreat (YAWR) after a few years of not having one - we can’t wait to see what God has planned! We will be sending out another email including registration information and all the details around the event soon! Facebook:”Young Adults Winter Retreat” www.facebook.com/YARetreat; Instagram: @yawinterretreat
Who: Young adults ages 18-30ish
What: A weekend retreat for young adults.
When: Friday January 20 - Sunday January 22, 2023
Where: Maranatha CRC, Woodstock, ON
In Partnership with Edu-Deo and our Belize Bound Co-Impact team we will be going to Belize in February to work on a Presbyterian Day School in Cristo Rey. We will be helping to build some much-needed additional classrooms. Please pray for: safety, the plans that we are making, out team, the lives of those in Belize whom we hope to enrich as well as our families while we are away. We are required to pay for the supplies we will use while working there. So, on January 7th, we are planning a Bowling for Belize Fundraiser at Splitzville Bowling Alley in Stoney Creek. We are looking for teams for this event. It is sure to be a great afternoon of fun and fellowship. See attached flyer for info.
LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS: Shalom Manor and Gardens is currently looking for volunteers to assist in a variety of ways, such as helping at Meal Times, helping in the recreation department, and visiting and forming connections with residents one on one. If you are looking to spend your time in a meaningful way and make a difference in the lives of others, then this opportunity is for you. If you are interested in joining our Shalom family as a volunteer, please email Kristen at volunteercoord@shalommanor.ca or call at 905-945-9631 extension 1115.
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!
NEWSLETTERS FROM OUR MINISTRY PARTNERS
Links are available on our website under
“Community Connections” - “Partnerships”
Paper copies can be requested from the church office.
LOCAL DENOMINATIONAL NEWS
Advent At-home Faith Formation Tip - During Advent, we light the candle of Love. Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection were all characterized by love. In return, we are to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.” Consider how your family or household might do those things more fully in the coming year. (Tip from Faith Formation; bit.ly/CRCFaithFormation)
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. Connect with our community on Facebook.
Groundwork: Zechariah, Elizabeth, and John the Baptist: Preparing the Way for Jesus - Just like we prepare for Christmas, God prepared the world for salvation. Join Groundwork as we study Luke 1:5-25, 57-66 to witness how Zechariah, Elizabeth, and their son, John the Baptist, prepare the way for Jesus’ birth and allow their message to prepare our hearts again for Jesus’ second coming.Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Advent: God Brings Peace- Check out the kids’ devotion at https://kidscorner.net. Look for ways you can be a peacemaker this Advent season. If you have any friends or family members who haven’t trusted Jesus, tell them about how he came to earth to bring peace between us and God. You can also find ways to make things easier, less worrisome, or less lonely for people in need. Listen now at kidscorner.net. Check out all the new content.
Canadian National Gathering 2023 - Every three years, representatives of Christian Reformed churches and classes across Canada gather to discuss, pray, listen, and plan next steps for ministry at a congregational, regional, and national level. The next Canadian National Gathering will be held May 25-28, 2023 in Ottawa, Ontario, on the campus of Algonquin College and will focus on Indigenous justice and reconciliation. Representatives from every classis across Canada are invited to participate. If you are interested in attending to represent your area, please talk to someone who is attending the next meeting of your classis. For information, go to www.crcna.org/canadian-national-gathering
Awake to Praise Choir, directed by Erik VanDyk, will perform at Vineland Free Reformed Church. Friday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 pm Saturday, Dec. 10 at 5 pm Saturday, Dec. 10 at 8 pm Tickets will be sold on www.awaketopraisechoir.com on November 25 at 7 pm. We'd like to remind you that NO tickets will be sold at the door, but only through this site, so please bring your printed or downloaded tickets to the performance. Ticket proceeds will cover our costs, with the net proceeds going to Roots Niagara. There will not be a free-will offering during the performance.
JOBS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Smithville Christian High School is in urgent need of an educational assistant to join our instructional team to facilitate the learning of one student. The EA will contribute to a distinctly Christian classroom environment where the gifts of all learners are celebrated and nurtured. Qualification as an EA or experience with special needs learners is an asset but not a requirement. Please contact Ted Harris, (tharris@smithvillechristian.ca) ASAP with questions or to apply.
Become a Lead Cook with World Renew DRS! - Do you enjoy caring for others by cooking for them? Consider a ministry opportunity by becoming a Lead Cook DRS volunteer! While volunteers are working hard on reconstruction sites, there are others working hard in the kitchen, cooking to nourish bodies which are rebuilding hope for disaster survivors! If interested, email Diana at dmarquez@worldrenew.net with questions.
Part-Time Positions available at Diaconal Ministries Canada:
Diaconal Coach needed - Diaconal Ministries Canada has a network of Coaches across the country who work with CRC deacons, guiding them in their role as they engage with their local communities, promote stewardship, and do justice and love mercy. We are currently looking for a new coach in Classis Niagara! Coaches receive training and support as well as a modest salary and an expense budget. Contact Mark, at mvanderwees@crcna.org or 647-854-8596 or visit our website: diaconalministries.com/diaconal-coaches/
Job Opening: Office Assistant – (part-time, up to 18hrs/wk) at our Burlington Office. Option to primarily work remotely. Visit diaconalministries.com/our.../careers-opportunities/ for more information.
Job Opening: Financial Coordinator – (part-time) at our Burlington Office (up to 25 hrs/wk). Option to primarily work remotely. Visit diaconalministries.com/our.../careers-opportunities/ for more information.
Cairn Christian School is looking for a Bus Driver. Join our team of amazing drivers! Single route, private school, small company. Driver rates recently increased. Routes are available in Grimsby/Stoney Creek, Fenwick and Vineland (all terminating in Smithville). Please contact Kevin for more info or to apply. - khuinink@cairnchristianschool.ca or 519-546-9159
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. How can you become part of this excellent team? Visit our website. Contact us at hr@shalommanor.ca for more information.
Shalom Manor Long Term Care Home is hiring! We are looking for people to join our team in the following roles:
• PSWs: full-time & part-time permanent lines
• RPNs: full-time night line; part-time afternoon line; casual staff
• Dietary Aides: part-time with a 10:30AM-2:30PM and a 4-8PM schedule available
• Life Enrichment Assistant: 2 positions, working 12-8PM, Week 1: Mon, Tues, Sat, Sun and Week 2: Wed, Thurs, Fri
• Recreation staff: 4-8PM shift available; casual staff
• Infection Control Attendant: 2 temporary positions, working 10:30AM-6:30PM, Week 1: Mon, Tues, Sat, Sun and Week 2: Wed, Thurs, Fri
CRCNA Position Openings - The Christian Reformed Church has immediate full-time openings. For more details and to apply visit www.crcna.org/jobs
World Renew, Canada Jobs - World Renew is hiring a Human Resource Manager and a Project Manager for the International Disaster Response team in our Burlington, Ontario. For more information regarding these positions, please go to https://worldrenew.net/careers