February 2010
A few of things to take note of..
1. We're studying Ecclesiastes Sunday mornings. I hope you'll make being at church a priority this week and every week. We need to be together in these winter months and Solomon's journal has so much to say to us.
2. Our short-term missions team is in Rama, Nicaragua through Feb. 14th. Chuck Rickman is doing such a great job leading these teams. Pray for him and the team and stay current with them through their blog. (Follow the link on the front page of the web-site).
3. Our response to the earthquake in Haiti. Check out the info below and on the front page of the web-site.
4. February is retreat month for our youth. Jr. Highs Feb. 12 - 14 in Richmond Hill, Sr. Highs at Teen Ranch Feb. 19-21. Pray for Paul Fletcher and all those involved in our student ministry as they head out on these weekends.
5. Our Church Board meets Feb. 15th. They will re-organize for a new season after Council meeting and will be considering incorporation and re-viewing church ministry job descriptions as well as receiving reports from the Pastoral Team. Pray for them as they lead your church.
6. Our conference is in the process of reviewing it's structure and ministry as we consider the prospect of engaging a new Bishop. I have been part of a task force working on this and we have presented the paper "BIC 20/20 Vision" as a way forward and for dialogue across the conference. Please take time to read it over. It is available in the lobby at the church.
7. As part of the incorporation we are in the process of putting together an updated job description and policy manual outlining how we function as a church. This has been long overdue. One of the things we have found out as we have worked through this process, which we sincerely apologize for, is that the recommendation to the last Council to rescind the recess rule for Church Board members, was in fact a redundant recommendation. The recess rule had already, in fact, been rescinded in 1993. Once again our apologies for this.
Hope you are having a great month. Spring is coming! Husbands don't forget February 14th. The Leafs managed to fleece Calgary and now we have Phaneuf. There is hope!
Blessings
Charlie Mashinter
Responding To The Earthquake in Haiti
February 2010
Thanks for your amazing response to the major earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12. As you know, Haiti is considered the poorest country in the world with an average per capita income of $790 per year (less than $2 per day). As you also know, our church has been strategically involved in Haiti through our partnerships with the Mission Of Hope and Tytoo Gardens Orphanage. Diana Wiebe from our congregation serves at the Mission of Hope, Pete & Dorothy DeKlerk have been involved at Tytoo Gardens orphanage, and several from our church have been involved in the past as part of short-term mission teams working at the Mission Of Hope. As the extent of the devastation has become clearer to us now we continue to mobilize for relief as Mennonite Central Committee (our other key partner) puts it "With Compassion, Generosity and Creativity". You are doing this by making relief kits, buying or stitching blankets, giving up something so you can give more (one 13 year old in Kitchener had a birthday party and in lieu of gifts suggested everyone bring him a blanket for MCC), praying, e-mailing notes of encouragement, staying informed, and by giving now almost $30,000 to this need as a church family. The blessing is truly in the giving. Keep at it! Way to go!
We believe that God's heart is breaking for the people of Haiti and that we serve a God who can bring good out of bad. We pray for a new day for Haiti as the world awakens to the plight of this nation. God has not left Haiti "stranded" and neither will we. We want to be part of an "astounding" response of love in Jesus name.
Thank you for your heart for missions, as we mobilize to help Haiti. Please continue to pray for the people of Haiti and the relief workers aiding them.
In Christ's Love,
Pastor Charlie Mashinter
