Messenger Summer 2014

The Messenger Summer 2014

Art and the Spiritual Life

Content: AGM Summary Art as Spiritual Renewal

By Julia Sandstrom From Jeff’s Desk Haiti Update Poetry Pastor as Artist, Artist as Pastor

By Kirsten and Steve Waldschmidt Paintings Church Planting Update Photography Variety in Worship

By Bill Hamm Trellis Foundation Update

p. 2 p.3 p.4 p.5 p.6-7 p.7-8 p. 10-15 p. 16-17 p. 18-20 p. 21 p. 22

110th AGM Summary | 2014 | Erickson, BC & Winnipeg, MB Superintendent’s Report Encouraged delegates to listen for our values of biblical, devotional, connectional, and missional during the meeting. These are the values that allow us to be Rooted and Built Up – the theme for this AGM. New Staff: Sally Carlson Larson is the new financial officer for the ECCC and Monica Doerksen is the new bookkeeper.

Gerald Froese is resigning from his position as Director of Church Vitality in June. We thank him for his service.

Start & Strengthen Churches Vitality pathways are available for established churches.

This work will continue after Gerald Froese moves on from the director position.

Tim and Di Keener are former missionaries to France. They will be planting an ECCC church in Montreal starting this summer. $3,450 was given in offering to help the Keeners move.

Unedited Spirituality is a church in Calgary that is affiliating itself with the ECCC.

Make & Deepen Disciples Love Mercy, Do Justice & Serving Globally CHIC is an opportunity for high school student AND for We continue to work in Haiti. We have added new adults who want to serve. Corinne Stoter is the ECCC partners like Food for the Poor and continue a CHIC Liaison. feeding program through a local Baptist church.

JAM was cancelled for 2014, but we will go back to the Support continues for Congo through World Vision, Kernels drawing board to see what discipleship experiences of Hope, and a new partnership with World Hope. can be provided for Junior High students.

Two groups went to Ecuador in the last 12 months: one Adventures in Leadership was a great success in 2013 and from Nelson Covenant and one with Andy and Jenell Pluim. is scheduled to happen again in 2014.

Trellis Foundation is now established and is taking grant appli- Our partnerships in Israel and Palestine grew with two trips in cations for a May 31st deadline.

2013.

Resourcing the Mission The 2013 financial statements were approved.

The 2014 budget was approved.

Keith Broad and Amanda Watchorn were added to the Leadership Board. Rich Drinovz and Linea Lanoie were approved for a second term on the Leadership Board.

Sally Carlson and Colin McClure complete their time on the Leadership Board. Our thanks to them.

Develop Leaders North Park University is offering an increased discount to Canadian students from the ECCC. The AGM approved the Ordination to Word and Sacrament of Eric Hedberg and Samuel Williams. First time Ministry Licenses were granted to Preston Pouteaux (Chestermere) and Marc Vandersluys (Malmo). A license for theological students was granted to Deana Verge (Edmonton).

Art as Spiritual Renewal By: Julia Sandstrom I was recently given a wonderful gift of three weeks ministry leave. My regular ministry responsibilities were put aside for a few weeks in order for me to enter a dedicated time of restoration and renewal. When I was considering what to do with the time away from the ECCC, I immediately thought about painting. Somehow, in the process of paint meeting canvas, I find myself experiencing the creative presence, peace, and love of God. It really shouldn’t come as a surprise. We are made in the image of God after all and God is creative to the core. Not only did he create all that we experience in creation – sun, moon, stars, grass, flowers, ocean, dirt, animals, other people – he also continues to create. I’m extra mindful of this as my body works overtime nurturing a little life. In February, my husband and I will get to meet this creation that is a gift of God’s ongoing creative work in the world.

God is the source of all creativity that is good, beautiful, and true. We honour him in our creating. I used to think that I didn’t come from a very creative family. However, when I started to experiment with painting, I realized that just wasn’t true. My mom has a history of painting, she just hadn’t done it much while we were growing up. (I’m happy to say that retirement has allowed her the time to create some amazing work.) My dad makes wonderful wooden toys including baby rattles, toy cars, dump trucks, and more. My sister is a pastry chef by training and there is no denying her creations are delightful. Once I realized how much creativity there was floating around me I discovered I was the one not exerting my creative energy. It was time to start.

As I began to paint I found that the harder I tried the worse the outcome. God has given some the gift of precision in artwork. He has given me the gift of abstraction. If you know me, this is pretty much the opposite of my personality. I am detail oriented, a perfectionist, and a controls person. I think this is why I find so much joy in abstract art though. It allows me to experience God and myself in ways that are freeing and downright playful.

I forgot this about myself when I started my first ministry leave painting project. We had just finished AGM and the theme of Rooted and Built Up was still rattling around in my mind. The verse from Jeremiah 17:7-8 was reverberating within: “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and it’s leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.”

With these verses as inspiration I set out to paint a scene of a tree planted by a river. After working away for several hours, I sent a photo to my mom and asked for her feedback. She gave me a few tips to make the perspective better, but then she said “It’s not really you.” And she was right, I was trying to paint like I thought I should paint: controlled, precise, and recognizable.

The next day I set the painting aside and started with a new canvas. This time I told myself to just paint – paint “like me”. I had spent so much time away from my easel that I forgot for a time what painting “like me” looked like. I had let the false idea of who I was “supposed to be” take over whom God has made me to be. We do this to ourselves all too often. It is easy in ministry to think I should preach like her or have great relationship skills like him. It is easy in life to think I should parent like him or have her skill set.

Living into someone else’s strengths will only leave us with disappointing results and the feeling that “It’s not really you.”

The second painting turned out far better than the first and I’m happy with the end result. It’s a reminder to me not only of Jeremiah 17, but also a reminder to live into the person God has made me to be.

In this edition of The Messenger we take a look at the role of art in the spiritual life. My story is one in which the creating of art was an act of worship.

The process itself taught me something of great value. Some of us are creators of art while others may consider themselves consumer. I encourage all of us to remember that we are co-creators with God in any number of things we do each day. Several people contributed poems, photographs, and paintings to share. Enjoy the richness of God’s gifts to the ECCC in these pages.

From Jeff’s Desk Superintendent So what exactly is the point of the ECCC Annual Conference and AGM? Do we really need it to transact important business as a charity in Canada? While Canada Revenue gives us a simple “yes, absolutely” the answer is much richer to our family of churches.

Yes with some value added; the historic value of our connectional DNA! We find ourselves in a time when many denominational families are looking at ways to reduce the number of meetings. One Canadian denomination has a phone call AGM every other year to satisfy CRA. Our own ECC family in Chicago has just tabled a constitutional change that would allow (not mandate) for a meeting to be every other year; this in response to less than 30% of ECC congregations sending delegates. In the midst of this we found ourselves with 100% of member churches sending delegates and due to the split location had a record number of delegates in total. The key is not the wonderful programming, controversial legislative matters or spellbinding staff reports (available online in case you missed them). The key is the total commitment on the part of churches, pastors, Leadership Board and staff to lean into our connections as a denominational family.

As leaders we want to move the Annual Conference to even more emphasis on connections. This year we began our first gathering of local church leaders. The time was facilitated by local church leadership without the presence of ECCC staff or pastors. Our hope is to enrich these kinds of self-resourcing times at future Annual Conferences along with deeper attention to providing resource people who address needs that are expressed at the local ministry level.

One can’t reflect on the nature of our meetings without addressing the issue of cost. In our planning sessions we always try to think through cost issues. One of the reasons we have resisted going to a hotel/conference centre is because of the automatic extra costs of simple things like coffee breaks where everything must be purchased. When our local churches host, their hospitality helps keep the cost of meetings at a more manageable level. Further, each year the local host churches work hard at providing meal options that are both enjoyable and affordable. The movement to a split meeting every-other-year is primarily about travel costs and accessibility. In a survey of delegates over 25% said that they would not have attended the meeting if it were in the other location! Finally, it is important to note that the leadership has made the conscious decision to not see the Annual Conference as an income generator.

Many non-profits use these gatherings to add to the bottom line; we feel this may actually decrease connections, which is the higher value for this event.

If you are looking to connect I want to invite you to consider the 111th Annual Conference and AGM to be held in Strathmore, Alberta next May 28-31; it’s gonna be good!

Update on Haiti The ECCC has had a long relationship with Haut Limbe, a community in the north of Haiti located about 40 minutes from Cap Haitien. At one time we had over seven teams from Canada travel to work primarily on the construction of a medical clinic and small inpatient hospital facility.

While we have tried hard to consider cultural issues and best practices for global ministry we watched somewhat helplessly as the internal relationships at the Ebenezer Clinic deteriorated. Ultimately, Dr. Manno, our primary contact over the years, was asked to leave the clinic by the board.

In seeking to find a way forward we could take one of three paths. First, we could do what many outside groups have done and simply move on to another new partnership. The length of relationship makes this option untenable. The second would be to “fix” the situation using best practices that we would use if we had an issue within our own denomination. Again, this is neither workable nor proper. It would take dignity away from these partners. [A helpful YouTube video done by LifeChurch is called Helping Without Hurting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a339VZRE3CM ] Finally, and the option we are taking, is to stay in relationship and to look for opportunities to support our local partners as they solve issues that are presently blocking our ability to fully engage with them. To this end we are supporting three specific ministries: diabetic treatment done by Dr. Manno, the Sarepta Food Program (food for elderly) administered by the women’s group at Haut Limbe Baptist Church, and we are involved with a feeding program for young children in the Petit Anse area. In each of these we have good partnerships and can feel confident regarding the accountability at both ends.

We are hoping to reengage through the sending of groups later this year or early next year. We will work through Merge Ministries and Tammi Biggs who is an ECC Missionary living in the Dominican Republic. If your church would like to begin a conversation about such an experience please contact Jeff Anderson (jeff@covchurch.ca).

Mark your calendars:

Recent Transitions:

2014

Sally Carlson to Hope Community Covenant Church, Associate Pastor and to ECCC, Financial Officer.

October 6-8 ~ Pastor/Spouse Retreat, Canmore, AB October 17-19 ~ ALIVE, Canmore, AB

Jeremy Duncan to Kensington Commons Mark Hill from Minnedosa ECC.

2015 Tim Keener to Montreal Project January 26-30 ~ MidWinter, Denver, CO February 24—March 6 ~ Ecuador Mission Trip May 28-31 ~ 111th AGM, Strathmore, AB

Poetry Unplugged ?

Pattric Sieppert Strathmore, AB I close the lid, and walk away; Leaving my computer, for another day.

It beeps and chimes, and calls me back; So much to do, I can barely keep track!

My anxiety is high, there is so much to do; Just trying to get by, trying to make it through.

I finally walk away, and make it through the door; Trying to remember, what I'm put here for.

So I go to my vehicle, still in haste; To go some where, I can slow my pace.

I feel a tiny nudge, on my heart; That perhaps today, I should go to the park.

I sit on a bench, to rest a while; And when seeing a lonely person, to share a smile.

We greet and chat, and talk and share; And soon I see, the reason I'm there.

But all too soon, it's time to go; To say our goodbyes, and hit the road.

Who knows what seeds, were sown today; I just have to listen, and to obey.

As I head to my vehicle, I can't help but grin; For the opportunity, to be used of Him. "You're Unplugged!", the world would say; Because I'm off, of electronics today.

But I'm "Plugged In", to the one-in-three; The true source, of power for me.

Is your life crazy, busy - head in a spin?

Stop, take a second, check - where are you plugged in?

Wind of God Jim Fenton Saskatoon, SK Wind of God blow!

Caress my face bringing refreshment renewal life.

Blow gently when I need healing.

Blow strongly, make me hang on, when you need to move me or get my attention.

Blow like a whisper bringing a sense of peace and tranquility.

Blow as I feel the warmth and intensity of the Son’s love.

Wind of God blow!

Never be still in my life.

Wind of God Blow!

Praise and Worship Pattric Sieppert Strathmore, AB The music starts, the praise begins, I feel it starting at my chin.

On and on the music goes, I feel it now all the way to my toes, I love the way the music flows!

It cleans away the dirt and dross, And heals me of the hurt and loss.

It fills my heart up to the brim, And the praise renews my walk with Him, And the praise renews my walk with Him!

The Rusty Gate Deborah Walters Sarnia, ON

Notice Deborah Walters Sarnia, ON

I sit crumpled at the rusty gate Tired and worn Should I try again?

I want to see You Even if it is out of the corner of my eye.

I want to notice you.

I know if I see you, If I notice you.

I will be different - Changed I want to notice You. In the wind on my face.

In the heavy lady pushing her grocery cart, searching for what she needs.

I know you are there, Present.

I want so much to see You, To hear you, In the voices of my friends, in the barking of my dog, in the brewing of my coffee In the washing , soothing rain of even my shower.

You restore and speak.

If only I would stop and hear Pay attention In the simple In the everydayness You are here, If I would only be hear.

Let my ears and heart be present and soft toward You. Help me notice, Help me pay attention.

You speak freely and generously But I must be intentional in the listening.

So help me I pray It is You I long for.

You the giver of all wisdom and comfort.

You are the One who noticed me first.

You are the One who notices me every day, Every hour Every minute Every breath From the beginning breath to the last.

How I long to notice You.

I sit crumpled at this rusty gate, I have given much effort to force my entry It is necessary.

My heart tells me so.

For where I stand is dim and dull Where I stand is dry and tired.

And so am I .

I sit crumpled at the rusty gate and peer with longing At light and hope.

At new, and refreshed I am barred And I long for entry.

I have tried my weight against it It will not yield I have forced and pushed Strained and sweat.

Still, It will not permit.

I have given my best thought, I have not surrendered, but fought Still my might and wit are no match.

A heap now, I sit frustrated, perplexed With out hope, But yet not with out longing.

There must be a way There must be a most powerful way But then I recall..

There is a key, I have yet not tried.

I remember ,.. ..how could I have forgotten?

I rise again and lift my voice.

Thankful word spill from my heart and off my lips.

Thankful , powerful words.

The rusty gate must relent Thankful words, more mighty than I and all my force and thought and will.

Wide open swings the formidable foe.

It beckons me enter and welcomes me home.

Pastor as Artist, Artist as Pastor By: Kirsten and Steve Waldschmidt Kirsten grew up playing piano and singing in worship services since she was 13 or so. She enjoyed writing songs to encourage people’s connection with God. Steve was playing guitar for worship since his teens and studied theatre partly so that he could lead worship through drama like Curt Cloninger, who had impacted him at CHIC’91. Covenant Bible College (and Paul Lessard’s mentoring) increased our hunger for the Church to embrace the arts and artists more fully.

During the early years of Hope Community in Strathmore, we were newly married and in university, studying music composition and theatre, respectively. We experimented with engaging all our senses in worship under Pastor Rob Peterson’s coaching. We tried baking bread during a service, live painting, and a drama centred on the scent of silage. Feeling called by God to clarify our art and our theology, we went to gradute school at Regent College. We found significant mentors in professors like Donna Dinsmore with her approach to worship leading as creative tension, Loren Wilkinson and his earthy imagination, Maxine Hancock and the power of wordcraft, Jeremy Begbie’s theology (understanding who God is) through the arts, and Darrell Johnson’s conviction that we incarnate the presence of Jesus.

Our time at Regent was crucial for our sense of vocation. God called Kirsten to be a pastor. Her arts thesis project was an amazing experience of growth through her avant-garde music composition and yet what surfaced even stronger was a call to walk alongside people as a pastor. At the same time, Steve was wrestling with internal unspoken expectations that being called to ministry should mean a call to pastor. He says (with a smile) that he had to go to seminary for four years to hear God tenderly say, “Being a pastor has always been your idea. I’ve called you to to be an artist.” He took what felt like a huge risk to embrace his calling as artist, seeking to be a pastoral presence along the way.

As artist and as pastor, both are callings to be part of God’s expanding Kingdom – to join Jesus in announcing and incarnating the new world order of God’s gracious reign in every realm of life. Sometimes that means incorporating art to enrich our Sunday morning worship. Other times it means advocacy for those who don’t have voice. Other times it is about making something beautiful and powerful just because – and that glorifies God. As we write this article, it sounds like we do very different things. But that isn’t true. Kirsten pastors with the bent of an artist and Steve approaches being an artist in a pastoral way.

Practically speaking, as a pastor, it is handy to be ‘artsy’ as well as having an ‘artist in residence’. Steve’s theatre design experience brings a unique perspective to being thoughtful about the worship space. What do we see in the space? What story does the visual ‘scene’ tell about who we are, about what God is saying to us? What do we want to communicate through image? The same is true when it comes to other art mediums – wordsmithing a sermon is crucial for clarity and for honouring the power of language itself, Scripture reading comes alive when approached as dramatic reading, music selection and quality of musicianship also matter. Sometimes these things are very noticeable to the community and other times it is probably more subtle.

We both plan worship as an act of storytelling. Kirsten plans with whoever is leading worship to shape the storytelling for that Sunday. Sometimes that is with Steve. (With three little kids in the background - keeping things interesting!) Each week we are telling one part of the Big Story – God’s overarching story of creation and redemption, from Genesis to the consummation in Revelation. How might we tell this part of the Story well with what we have at hand in our community? Is there space for creative surprises? Are we discovering our own stories within God’s Big Story? How are we inviting our community to respond to God this week?

In 1998 we started Tapestry, an annual arts concert and gallery event, hoping to make a venue for artists in our church community to share their work and to encourage those who don’t see themselves as “creative” to reconsider that assumption. The purpose of Tapestry is threefold: to release the creative gifts God has knit into us, to share our artistic work for the common good and God’s glory, and to cultivate imagination and craftsmanship for the sake of Jesus’ kingdom. Artists are asked to read a short letter about creativity and God’s kingdom. Each participant then writes a short statement about the significance of the piece being submitted (or their art medium) in their life with God. These submissions are posted alongside the visual works in the gallery and in the performance programme.

We have hosted about ten Tapestry events since then and we know the tradition has spread to a few other churches. While editing our original letter for artists this year, we noticed that in 1998 we were commenting that it seemed like the North American Evangelical Church did not have a whole lot of room for the experience of art. Sixteen years later – as artist and pastor – we would have to say the church absolutely does have room for art! There is a hunger for artistic expression and the richness that it brings to our experience of life and our relationship with God. There is a delight in art, a deepening that is happening, and a celebration of creativity. Other than making us feel kind of old - it is so exciting to notice this shift and movement over the years!

We wonder if the related movement that God might be inviting us to is a renewed sense of welcome for artists themselves in the Canadian Covenant. People who might be new to church ‘lingo’ and church ‘expectations’ - and who see things very differently. This is a diversity we will both be challenged by and flourish in. Art continues to nurture and deepen, to question and delight us. It informs our ministry and enriches our lives. Thank God that, in making us in his image, we – His children around the world – could catch some of His creative genes!

Kirsten and Steve Waldschmidt attend College Park Covenant Church in Saskatoon, SK. Kirsten is the pastor and Steve serves with his artistic gifts.

Painting: New Mercies, Steve Waldschmidt, acrylic on canvas Photo: Exterior Cross at Hope Community Covenant Church, Strathmore, AB, designed by Steve Waldschmidt, powder coated steel

Paintings

While we Hounur the Past, We Cannot Live There Judy Nelson, Oil on Canvas, 24”x45” Norquay, SK

Out of the Believer's Heart, Julie Drew, Oil and Ink on Handmade Paper and Canvas. 30”x 15”, 36”x 18”, 30”x 15” The painting is based on Ezekiel 47 and John 7:37-39.The water flows from the temple and where it goes it brings life. In John, the water, living water (Holy Spirit), flows out of the believer's hearts. As the Spirit works through us, in us, surrounding us with His love, we are part of the bringing of life to the world around us. Although it may be difficult to tell from this photo, the dry desert part of this painting is handmade “onionskin” paper and the lower land area is a yellow “Cottonwood seed” paper, both of which I made and used for added texture.The rough edges end at the bank of the river.

Risked Natalie Salimen Rude Encaustic, mixed media, 23 kt gold leaf, 24”x24”

Risked embodies the following statement: “That by embracing a holy insecurity, betting it all on God, fear is neutralized and in turn we become our true selves.”

Larry / John / Annabel Preston Pouteaux, Chestermere, AB Watercolour on paper, 10�x14�

I painted portraits of people in my congregation to help them see themselves as people made in the image of God, and thus participants in the mission of God in the world. It was a transformative experience for myself as a painter and pastor as I helped my friends seem themselves in new ways.

Crimson Passion Heather Lockhart. Mixed Media, 16”x20” Sarnia, ON

Praise Alecia Stevens Prince Albert, SK

Church Planting Update

Faith Could Move You Encaustic by Natalie Salimen Rude

By: Glenn Peterson

A few years ago my imagination was gripped by a piece of art. Actually, it was the combination of the piece and its title- “Faith Could Move You”. Jesus was fond of word-pictures, and He often referred to “little things” that made big impact.

Light a candle in a dark room and all eyes are drawn to its glow. Sprinkle a few grains of salt over the surface of your meal, and experience the flavor coming alive! Gently stir a tablespoon of yeast into warm milk and its powerful fermenting action begins. Plant a mustard seed in your garden and watch it spread like wildfire. Have a little faith and move a mountain!

As we consider the size of the continued task in front of us of helping to start twenty churches, it could be overwhelming; however, when we embrace the principle of “small things” in Christ we have great hope. Across the nation, new congregations are being birthed. Small pinpricks of light are appearing in the darkness. As planters engage their communities and neighbourhoods and begin to build relationship, the savory influence of their “salty” lives is being felt.

Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. ” Matthew 17:20 (NIV)“

Would you pray with us and for us as we continue to fan the flames on this fledging work of God. We continue to be reminded that “Faith Could Move You”: both in the sense that faith in who God is and what he does will move us forward in our shared work, but also that we are moved and changed in the process.

Covenant Church Planting Canada Updates We are really excited by the growing number of projects that we are involved in as a community of churches. As you read this, new projects in Calgary and Montreal are beginning! Here are some snapshots of our shared church planting efforts: Lake Ridge Community Church continues to faithfully serve and care for the community of Chestermere, Alberta in its fourth year.

Significant challenges in securing a Sunday morning gathering place are being matched by significant opportunities for outreach and being a blessing to their neighbours. In many ways, Lake Ridge is at its best as they respond to the needs around them with compassion, care, and mercy. Pastors Evan Dewald and Preston Pouteaux serve and lead a committed and growing community of servant leaders. They are seeing people beginning to follow Jesus and are being a blessing to those around them. To see more of what’s going on at Lake Ridge, check out their website (lakeridgecommunity.com) or find them on Facebook.

Avenue Community (www.avenuecommunitychurch.com) in Toronto, Ontario continues to grow and develop into a thriving multiethnic community. Through intentional outreach, small groups, prayer nights, and weekend worship, Pastor John Cho and his team are encouraging their community to grow “with God and with people”. Pray for and with them as they transition into their new location on August 10th and into the fall.

Holy Community Covenant Church in Winnipeg, Manitoba continues to look for intentional ways to be the Body of Christ in and for their neighborhood. They gather together on Sunday evenings and continue to see new people connecting to their community. Pray with Pastors Gavin Jensen and Julia Sandstrom and Holy Community as they look for a place to meet on Sunday mornings, develop new relationships, and faithfully serve Jesus in the West End of Winnipeg. See what’s happening at HCCC (holycommunitycovenantchurch.com)!

Kensington Commons (http://www.commonschurch.org) is what happens when a growing young church with a vision to plant meets an established community with a vision for more fully serving their neighborhood. Over the last 6 months, an emerging church plant in Calgary began discerning with Kensington Road Church about ways they might partner and mutually $2,000 per month help one another live out God’s call on their lives. Their new church The black and white reality of starting our work in Montlaunches September 7! We celebrate the faithfulness of Covenant work real is that Tim and Di Keener need to raise $2,000 per in Calgary and look forward to continued faithfulness, mission, and life! month for housing.

Our fifth and newest project is currently being launched in Montreal!

Could you or your church help?

Parlez vous francais?! The Keeners, recent missionaries in France, are in the process of relocating to Quebec. This initial season of ministry is deWe are looking for individuals and churches who will signed to pave the way for future Covenant Church ministry in Québec. specifically support this project with prayer and financial The goals of this project are to: resources.

Discern how God is at work in Montreal Network with local churches and believers Questions contact: Glenn Peterson Gain ministerial experience in the Québec context (glenn@covchurch.ca) or Tim Keener Be a pastoral presence to the community (tim.keener@me.com) Inventory possibilities for future partnerships and ministries Keep your eyes open for updates and ways to follow this nouveau project!

WE NEED OUR HELP!!!

That headline might sound strange, but it’s meant to highlight the fact that our shared work of starting churches is in fact, OUR work. How is God inviting you to help support the work. Here are some ongoing possibilities: Pray. Luke 10, “ask the Lord of the Harvest to send more workers...” Pray for Canada. Your province. Your community. Turn your hearts, minds, and imaginations to this great work of God. Visit. If you live within a couple hours of one of our plants, make time to visit them.

Encourage your local church to support our shared work of church planting: We are thankful for the vision and commitment of established churches over the years that have released staff and people to start new communities. We’re also thankful for the ongoing stories of support - churches that are putting church planting in their budgets, churches that have supported planting through initiatives like Man on a Bike, and communities that are looking for ways to encourage the spread of the Gospel.

Give. Personal financial support is an extremely significant way you can be involved in church planting in Canada. We need your help to resource this mission. We’re asking for your generosity to continue to sustain this shared work of starting churches.

Thanks for reading this update. Have you been moved to help in some way? Big or small, God is inviting us all to expand His Kingdom in Canada.

For ongoing updates on Canada Covenant Church Planting Projects, please check out our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/CanadaCovenantChurchPlanting). For further information, questions, or ways to support our shared work, please call Glenn Peterson (403.934.7638).

Man on a Bike is headed to Alberta!

Dave McIntosh will once again take to the road in an effort to raise awareness, encourage new connections, and support church planting. Starting at the British Columbia border on August 31, he’ll visit Covenant churches in southern Alberta over labor day weekend before turning north and arriving in Saskatchewan on September 6. Pray for Dave and Trudy as they continue their adventure of purpose. Donations from this year’s ride will be supporting Avenue Community and our new project in Montreal.

Photography

September Long at Buck Lake, Carolyn Kuerbis, Breton, AB

Fair are the Meadows, Jim Fenton, Saskatoon, AB

Variety in Worship By: Bill Hamm Rosebud, Alberta, population 100, has a thriving arts school where most of its teachers are permanent residents. As a result, the local congregation (the only one in our hamlet) is made up of farmers, teachers, artists, students, tradesmen, and more. It's a beautiful mosaic (not melting pot) of people who are free and accepting of each other and their worship style preference. Here is why I think we have come to this level of acceptance: We have an odd way of leading worship. We have a group of lay people who take turns leading, and are responsible for the whole service. We consult with the pastor to see if there are special guests or presentations, and then design the service from there. A sampling of our leaders:  There's Leah - who grew up the daughter of an Anglican minister, and shares from her experience with liturgy. She loves it and we all buy in. She will organize the Advent Sunday services and because she has some Jewish heritage, she has lead several Seder services.  There's Ray - a local farmer who played sax with his dad in a dance band back in the day. He loves the worship songs of the 70s. He really does love them with all his heart. We buy in 100%.  There's Paul & Heather - a married couple who came to study music and acting at RSA. They share their own music as well as the current trend of new worship music. They love it and share it with skill.  There's Bill (me) - who has a degree in choral conducting and loves traditional hymns, but also plays guitar in a bluegrass/ folk group and can lead contemporary songs and sometimes plays trumpet along with his sons on trombone and tuba.  There's Doug & Carolyn - now well into their 80s, they no longer lead, but for decades they led traditional hymns with a fervor and heart that professional singers could learn from.  There's Randall - a visual artist who wrote a play about the disciple Thomas and has toured it extensively. He performed it in our service as the sermon.  There's Angie - a graduate actor from RSA who for her final project for graduation memorized the book of James and performed it as the sermon on a Sunday morning.  There’s Jeany - who loves the Bible and is skilled at putting it on its feet.

Our leaders have often combined a mix of styles and songs in one service. There might be a traditional hymn sung with piano followed by a contemporary worship set. Some of us who have the skill to do so may lead entire services with no instruments at all - completely a cappella. I was introduced to Taize services about 14 years ago, and still lead them monthly at RSA. These are contemplative services with an emphasis on prayer and silence as well as music which is repetitive and meditative. I have also led them at Rosebud Church, so we have learned to be comfortable with silence.

Our congregation has no idea who is leading from one week to the next, or what kind of service they will get, so they've learned to accept it all. We have given up nothing. We have retained traditional music and also embraced innovative ideas. We've retained many types of worship styles and the congregation receives it all. This is why: 1 - The pastors of the past 20 plus years have welcomed it. They are leaders who say yes.

2 - The seniors in the congregation have encouraged the variety including what is new.

3 - Lay members have given their all to prepare interesting services.

4 - The congregation is made up of real people who have nowhere else to go, so we learn to accept.

From time to time I’ve tried ideas that didn’t really work and I feel like it must have been a dud worship service. However, I then get people coming up to me afterwards who were blessed by the service. Go figure. And sometimes it just doesn’t work out how you thought and you say, «Well, I tried something and it fell flat this week.» We learn from our experiences. I suspect that a service which doesn’t quite hit the mark bothers us much more that it bothers God. There’s always next week. Try again.

I applaud Rosebud Covenant Church as a beacon of inclusion and acceptance. I exhort congregations to involve many people in worship leading and design. Highlight lay peoples’ strengths and interests, and let them lead. You can have it all.

Bill Hamm is the Music Director at Rosebud School of the Arts (RSA) in Rosebud, Alberta, just over an hour NE of Calgary, where he attends the Rosebud Covenant Church.

Photograph: Orthodox Church, Natasha Westerhoud, Norquay, SK

In May the Trellis Foundation board received nine grant applications totaling $55,094. This year the foundation had approximately $45,000 to hand out in grants. In the end seven grants were approved for a total of $32,950. Trellis is excited to be a catalyst for biblical, intentional, and innovative discipleship in the following churches and ministries.

Lighthouse Community Church, Sarnia, ON—Enhancement of Vacation Bible School Program $1,000 was granted to Lighthouse Community Church to enhance its existing VBS. Faith Covenant Church, Winnipeg, MB—Internship Program $8,000 was granted to Faith Covenant Church to support its internship program. Faith has a history of training up pastors and this grant allows them to do that with greater impact and over a longer timeframe.

Minnedosa Evangelical Covenant Church, Minnedosa, MB—Women in Ministry Soul Escape Event $500 was granted to the Women in Ministry group of Minnedosa ECC. The funds will be used to help cover the cost of a one day Soul Escape Event.

Kensington Commons Church, Calgary, AB & Hope Community Covenant Church, Strathmore, AB—Discipleship Journal $4,250 was granted to a joint application between Kensington Commons Church and Hope Community Covenant Church for a discipleship journal. The discipleship journal will be used at both churches for a year of teaching.

Sanctuary Covenant Church, Edmonton, AB—Community Outreach $5,000 was granted to Sanctuary Covenant Church to assist their summer outreach programs. These programs include a variety of community outreach events and classes.

Faith Covenant Church, Breton, AB—Youth Ministry Intern $7,000 was granted to Faith Covenant Church to begin hire a youth ministry intern. This program seeks to develop leaders in ministry and make intentional investment in the youth program of the church.

Additional Grants One additional grant was awarded with conditions. The organization is working hard to meet the conditions outlined for them by Trellis Foundation. We will announce the recipient of this grant in the future.

Trellis Foundation is accepting grant applications for an October 31, 2014 deadline. Approximately, $12,000 in funding remains for 2014.

For more information see the website: trellisfoundation.ca

Trellis Board: Kirsten Waldschmidt, Shauna Jean-Jacques, Audra Reinhardt, David Johnson, and Larry Peterson

THE GREAT INVITATION: CHRIST INVITES US TO LIVE IN UNION WITH HIM Come and learn about the great invitation found in John 15. Gordon Smith will teach on the unique location of the words of Jesus in John 15. He will also explore the remarkable call of union with Christ and how our loving one another is an essential counterpart to union with Christ. Lastly, we will explore the fruit of that union which is joy.

Guest Speaker: Gordon T. Smith (PhD; Rev) is the president of Ambrose University and Seminary, in Calgary, AB., where he also serves as professor of systematic and spiritual theology. He has published a number of books, including two in 2014: Called to Be Saints: An Invitation to Spiritual Maturity, and Spiritual Direction: A Guide for Directors and Directees (both with IVPress). Gordon is married to Joella and they have two grown and married sons.

Registration until Aug. 15th □ Couple $330

□ Individual $275

Registration until Sept. 15th □ Couple $380

□ Individual $325

Registration includes hotel and three meals (two breakfasts, one lunch) Program only participation (no meals) □ Couple $100 □ Individual $50/ ALIVE Mission Statement: To provide an opportunity for adults of the Covenant Church and friends, to connect and experience Christian community through worship, fellowship, study, and encouragement related to our journey with Christ.

www.covchurch.ca/alive

PO BOX 23117 RPO McGillivray WINNIPEG, MB R3T 5S3 Ph: 204-269-3437 Fx: 204-269-3584 office@covchurch.ca www.covchurch.ca

The Messenger is a publication of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada.

Editor: Julia Sandstrom

Staff: Jeff Anderson, Superintendent/President Julia Sandstrom, Director of Ministry Support Glenn Peterson, Director of Church Planting Sally Carlson, Financial Officer Monica Doerksen, Bookkeeper

Cover Image: Chosen Royalty Heather Lockhart Mixed Media on Canvas, 30”x 40“ Sarnia, ON