It’s Monday Again
CenterPoint (Glen McVicar) held its annual Children’s Ministry Yard Sale this weekend at the Havelock Community Hall. Children’s Ministry Director, Eleanor McVicar, shared this update, “People in the community donated an unbelievable amount of stuff and they also gave very generously. We made $1550 in the two days. It was a lot of work with the COVID-19 guidelines, but it was worth it!” This event provides an excellent connection between CenterPoint and the community and also funds the well-attended and effective mid-week kids ministry CenterPoint offers during the school year.
Caton’s Island Girls Adventure Camp was a blast this week with 61 girl campers enjoying the theme of a Grand Road Trip. Best of all,16 girls committed their lives to Jesus for the first time – PTL! The same week, Caton’s hosted Island Day Camp with 33 registered campers. Amazingly, there were 14 day campers who also gave their lives to Jesus! #spiritualfoundations
The second Family Camp of the summer has been terrific and wraps up today. Tim Guptill (The Lighthouse) brought challenging and inspiring messages to the families and staff. With 18 families on the island, it was great to connect and enjoy the beauty of nature even in the midst of COVID-19.
Caton’s Island is one of four overnight camps operating across Canada this summer (all are in NB). Director Dean Stephenson and his leadership team are deserving of high praise for the countless ways they continue to adapt to keep their staff and campers safe and healthy. CLICK HERE to enjoy this video update from Director Dean Stephenson. Great work everyone!
Nearly 200 gathered at the Beulah Tabernacle yesterday for worship. Ivan & Ruth Cameron of Woods Harbour gave their engaging testimony of Ivan’s miraculous recovery from a near fatal accident in February. Mel Norton preached an inspiring call to experience four transformational words, “I saw the Lord!”
Several Atlantic churches took advantage of the timely webinar offered by AJ Plaizier & Mark Brewer this week entitled, “Discipleship in a Pandemic.” This insightful dialog highlighted Yarmouth Wesleyan as a case study. They tackled many of the hard questions about how to lead your church to engage in a discipleship lifestyle regardless of circumstance, as Atlantic churches launch renewed discipleship pathways in the weeks and months ahead in Phase One of our 2025 Values-Driven Vision. Pandemic innovation by front-line Kingdom leaders is one of the many ways God is leading us to new levels of contextual effectiveness.
Framework (Bud Fancy) Worship Leader, Victoria Rowe, recently wrote an original worship chorus featured by People & Songs with artist Kaden Clay. CLICK HERE to enjoy the powerful challenge of “Life Bringing Symphony” God gifted her to pen. Congratulations Victoria!
Ellen joins me in expressing sincere condolences on behalf of the Atlantic District for the following two families:
- For Worship Leader Jay & Barb Muir (Kings) on the passing of her father,Ted Strong. We continue to lift you and your extended family up during these difficult days of loss. His funeral was conducted on Saturday at Moncton Wesleyan by Brent Ingersoll and Dan Lamos.
- For David & Carolyn McElhinney (River Valley) on Friday’s passing of her father the Rev. Dr. William Burbury. Dr. Burbury was ordained in 1957 into what is now the Atlantic District of The Wesleyan Church. This Facebook post by Dave (CLICK HERE) gives a beautiful overview of the many highlights of his life and ministry as pastor, counselor, and educator, including Interim President of Kingswood Universityin 1989-90. He was a godly man and effective leader whose optimism, joy, and warmth touched all those he served. Our thoughts and prayers are extended for all his children (Wanda, Carolyn, Elaine, & Warren – and their families), and especially for his dear wife, Wilma. In honour of his wishes, he will be cremated and a TBD private family celebration of his life will take place in Presque Isle, Maine when travel restrictions allow.
Points to Ponder
- When we have seen the Lord, it makes all the difference in how we see the circumstances and uncertainty around us. (Mel Norton) #morethanconquerors
- It takes confidence to be humble. I push aside my preferences because I know I’m taken care of. I can move towards others. (Crawford Loritts)
- The worldling blesses God while he gives him plenty, but the Christian blesses him when he smites him: he believes him to be too wise to err and too good to be unkind; he trusts him where he cannot trace him, looks up to him in the darkest hour, and believes that all is well. (Charles Spurgeon)
Bring Your Bubble to Beulah
Are you in need of a break? Spend your staycation at Beulah Camp this summer! We have three cottages available for that perfect getaway. Stay a couple nights or a week. Come enjoy time at the campground and unwind.
For more information or to book your 2020 Staycation:
https://www.beulahcamp.com/rentals/staycation/
“We’re all in this together!” was the theme of three powerful messages at 2020 Beulah Family Camp. Over the three nights (July 7-9), we were joined from all ten provinces, thirty-five states and eleven countries from Albania to Tunisia and from as far away as Australia and New Zealand. The services will remain online for you to enjoy and share with others on the Beulah Camp website (click here).
What if COVID-19 is the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity
for leaders to think more strategically
about doing church?
(Will Mancini)
for leaders to think more strategically
about doing church?
(Will Mancini)
- Looking for a resource to track how your church family can register for multiple service options? Save-A-Seat may by just what you need!
- Check out this incredible resource for innovating discipleship and engaging your church family during the pandemic.
- Many churches are preparing for an unexpected summer of in-person services alongside an online option. This resource from Matt Steen provides a helpful rubric in self-evaluation for five possible approaches (old-normal, simul-service, building-feeder, campus-launcher, and digital-disciple). Which one best informs your strategy as you return to weekly onsite services?
Another great resource to serve the church has been recently developed by our very own Pete Benson. A three-part video series specifically addressing the “COVID Crisis and Your Personal Finances” is freely shared for your personal use and for use within your church as you seek to empower and disciple your congregation in this critical area. CLICK HERE to access the three videos. A 10-minute preview of Part One will be sure to convince you to make use of this valuable resource with your church family.
CLICK HERE for more information about how to get involved!
Attention Church Treasurers/Bookkeepers: When your Canadian church has new staff members, the church MUST contact Helen Parker (519-703-9048; wrp@wesleyan.ca) for enrollment in the Wesleyan Retirement Plan BEFORE any contributions are sent for this employee.
Education & Clergy Development (Russ Gunsalus) continues to offer excellent resources for support of Wesleyan pastors during the rapidly shifting landscape of leadership. The most recent edition of “Thrive in 5” offers helpful insights into ambiguous loss as pandemic disruption has cumulative impact on us as Kingdom leaders. Click on the link to enjoy this article and subscribe in the upper left corner. In addition, the E&CD team provides a treasure-trove of tools for these challenging days, on their Clergy Care Programs & Resources page.
Want to know about the Atlantic District’s 2025 Horizon Storyline – Values-Driven Vision? Click here to see a one-page overview
Click here for the 45-minute video 2025 presentation
Click here for the 45-minute video 2025 presentation