I sat in a window seat of an airplane recently and watched with fascination as the wing of the airplane flexed up and down, something like a bird's wing. Now I know planes don't fly like birds with flapping wings, but the sight of the wing rising and falling a little can become nerve racking. What if the wing falls off? My assumption would be that the wing should remain rigid.

  But a rigid wing is disaster in the making, as well a wing that flaps like a bird wing.  The airplane wing has a designed integrity.  Integrity is a word used by engineers to describe the range of motion between being rigid and flexible. Being too rigid is no good and being too flexible is also too risky. There's to be a balance.

  Churches have the same tension of creating integrity. Being faithful to the gospel, without being too rigid; but also being flexible in ministry but not to the point of becoming all things to all men and so compromise the Lord's vision for His Church. Being too rigid creates legalism and a cult-like atmosphere. Becoming too flexible will make for nothing and everything - a who cares? atmosphere.

  So, what we need in church leadership are men and women (young and old) who help define integrity. Council and congregation work together to find the range between the two extremes. So, we speak to each other in hope of finding common ground, because of a common love for this Body of Christ, here in this place, called First CRC.

Pastor Bernie DeJonge

HOME MISSIONS - 40 Days of Prayer

- 40 days of prayer: Nov. 15--Dec. 25: With Advent approaching, CRC churches from across Central and Eastern Canada , will join for 40 days of prayer focusing on the theme “Come Lord Jesus!” With a desire to reach every household, the theme verse is “All the men of Judah with their wives, children and little ones stood before the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 20:13 A daily prayer guide has been distributed to each local church and everyone is invited to join this prayer journey.

Life @ First

Interim ministry and long-term ministry

• First Church is being blessed by the interim ministry provided by Pastor Bernie. It is hard to believe that he has only been among us for two months, providing pastoral care and quality worship leadership. It seems we have known each other “forever.”
• Pastor Bernie is providing much needed healing and pastoral leadership during our time of vacancy. He is helping us rediscover ourselves, both individually and as congregation. He is showing us who we are, as Christ's image-bearers, and he is providing a focus as we move forward as a unified congregation. He is ministering among us for at least a year, perhaps longer. Only God knows how ‘interim' this ministry is going to be.
• As Pastor Bernie has indicated, he is serving as a bridge between Pastor Jack's ministry and that of a new permanent minister. Today, it is hard to imagine life beyond Pastor Bernie.
• Council is dealing with that reality. A small committee of three has been working on our church profile, that necessary document sent out to prospective ministers. Council also intends to appoint a Search Committee in January which will consist mainly of congregation members. That committee will spend several months talking about just what kind of minister First Church needs, developing a list of potential ministers, receiving and reviewing their profiles, listening to them preach, and then eventually suggesting a name to Council. As we know from experience, that process could take a year.
• While the congregation continues to delight in Pastor Bernie's ministry, it will be necessary for that small group of men and women to do that painstaking work of finding someone to become our next permanent minister. Pastor Bernie acknowledges that his task is to “prepare the way.” The time will come – and only God knows when – that the congregation will realize it is ready and eager and equipped to move forward with a new minister. The Search Committee needs to be ready for that moment.

Keith Knight

Congregational meeting

Wednesday, November 25

Beginning with dinner provided by Youth Group.

Approval of the 2010 budget.

A focus on our future.

Activities

DISTRICT LUNCHEON!!

District 2 will have luncheon on Sunday, November 22, after the morning service.

DISTRICT LUNCHEON!!

District 7 will have luncheon on Sunday, November 29, after the morning service. You will be called with more information. Hope to see you all there.

Ladies Volleyball

Monday night at 7:00 p.m. in the gym. There is no commitment to be available every Monday night so come any Monday night that works for you. Just show up with your running shoes (no black soles) and plan to have some fun. If you have any questions, please call Ruth Kuipery in the evenings or the church office at 519-822-7720.

Coffee Break

COFFEEBREAK  is held on Wednesday mornings from 9:15 - 11:15.  Wednesday, November 18 we will begin a 4 week study "Becoming a Woman of Excellence" by Cynthia Heald.  So ladies come and join us for a morning of fellowship and learning together.  Nursery provided.

Men's Life

Every Thursday morning at 10 a.m.

JOIN US FOR YOUTH Group

Wednesday evenings at 7:30! Call the church at 519-822-7720 for more information.

College and Careers:

Are you a young adult, either at the university or in a career, and you are looking for a place to belong? Email or call Marijke VanAndel at mvanande@uoguelph.ca 519-830-3027.

The Prayer Ministry Team

invites everyone who is interested to an informal evening of connecting together. On Friday November 20th, 2009 from 7:30-9:00 pm.

Evelyn De Mos-Wiebenga will give her personal testimony.

This will be an evening of inspiration and encouragement.

Knight Small Group

The Knight small group meets tonight at the home of Eldon and Phyllis Lehman to watch and discuss the third in the Charles Price sermon series on Genesis.. The group typically meets the second and fourth Sunday of the month.

Seniors Christmas Dinner

The deacons are inviting all Seniors to our annual Seniors Christmas Dinner to be held in the

Church auditorium on Saturday November 28, 2009 with punch and fellowship at 5.30 and

dinner at 6.00 pm. Hope to see everyone there.

In His Service Your Deacons

CALENDAR of EVENTS

NOVEMBER 2009

Beginnings Pregnancy Care Centre is having a "Heart to Heart". (Don't worry men.you won't be missing the hockey game for it 'cause.this night is for women only!) Ladies get excited about a night full of good fellowship, great music, client stories, and scrumptious desserts!!! This 2nd Annual Women's Dessert Night Fundraiser will be taking place Friday November 27, 2009, 7:30 pm at Emmanuel Canadian Reformed Church which is located at 8037 Highway #7 East, Guelph .

In order to get in you need to bring something that can be used for a new mom's or new baby's gift basket, so have fun shopping! There will also be a freewill offering taken. To reserve seats (there are no tickets) call either Jane Moore at 519-837-1986 or Deanna Linde at 519-837-9029.

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SPECIAL CHRISTMAS MUSICAL EVENING

For an inspirational musical evening come and join us for our Christmas Concert. The Guelph Men's Choir will perform their Christmas Concert in our church on Sunday Dec. 6 at 7:30. For more information look in next week's newsletter.

PLAN AHEAD AND MARK YOUR CALENDAR:

Sunday School corner:  All Sunday School children will be involved in a Christmas play along with some youth group, Gems and others which will be part of a Candlelight Service on Sun. Dec. 20th at 4:30 pm.  Parents - mark your calendar! Some children will be given parts to memorize and others will participate in singing. A 20 min. practice will take place following the morning service on Dec. 13th and 20th. If your child has a speaking part, Mary-Jane Oussoren will be contacting you soon.  

Following that service, children will have an opportunity to decorate Christmas cookies and everyone is invited for hot cider and light lunch.  Invite your friends and neighbours to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas with us! In Sunday School we have all been memorizing the 23rd Psalm. Ask your child to recite it with you.

 How are the toonies for Kits 4 Kids coming along? Are children able to do chores and then in turn fill the toonie card for our neighbours in Kenya ? If your card is full, bring it to Sunday School.  We will collect the cards by Dec 13th!
 Thank you for your prayers and support!

Marg Elgersma/Mary-Jane Oussoren
Sunday School Superintendents

Council in brief

November 4

• 2010 budget goes to the congregation - Council devoted an hour going over the proposed budget for 2010. About one half of the congregation took part in the pledge process. It was pointed out that a pledge is just that; an indication of how much someone plans to give. If one's economic situation changes and it is not possible to give as much as is pledged, that is perfectly alright. After amendments, Council decided to present the budget to the congregation.
• Congregational meeting and dinner on Nov. 25 - Council approved the agenda for the congregational meeting and also accepted the invitation from the youth group to host a dinner beforehand. The budget and agenda will be in the mailslots today.
• Communication Coordinator's job description. The communication coordinator's job description was approved. Among those tasks: See to it that the decisions and actions taken by council, consistory, deacons and the various committees of the church are clearly communicated through the newsletter and on the website. That matters of special interest to council and the congregation are relayed in a timely manner from the pulpit by those in leadership positions. That effective communication between ministries, committees and ministry leaders take place through regular meetings, effective use of the website, display boards, and print publications.
• After the retreats - Pastor Cecil Van Niejenhuis presented a written report to the congregation and to council in August with a number of recommendations. Some of those – a congregation retreat – have already been acted upon.
• Council agreed to have this report on the agenda for the next couple of meetings. Council also agreed to create a ‘report card' to be filled in by the congregation next June which will provide a check list on how the congregation and council are doing on various issues.
• Search Committee in the new year - A “pre-Search Committee” of three people was appointed several months ago to begin to draft a church profile and to also present council with a potential list of Search Committee members. In their report to Council, Harry Vande hoef said that the committee is “not detecting any sense of urgency within the congregation” to call a minister. There seems to be a lot of appreciation for the ministry and pastoral care provided by Pastor Bernie. Council did recognize that it does take several months for a Search Committee to get off the ground and to gather minister profiles, etc. Council asked the pre-Search Committee to present a slate of potential names for the Search Committee to the January meeting.
• Deacon Alan De Jager resigns. Council “accepted with regret” the letter of resignation from Deacon Alan De Jager due to family and other church obligations. He will continue to serve on the Board of Stewards.
• Coordinating committees and mission statements. Council accepted a recommendation and offer from John Vanderkamp to work with the various committees and ministries to “streamline operations around a central mission statement”. As council and congregation becomes more focused on a more specific mission statement, that focus should flow through the various committees and ministries. John Vanderkamp will meet with various ministry leaders and work with clerk John Bell over the winter months.

DENOMINATIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

BACK TO GOD HOUR RADIO -   Visit www.BacktoGod.net for local stations and times. You can also download our podcast. No station in your area? Can't listen on line? Call or email to request a CD to be sent to you.

KIDSCORNER - Go to www.kidscorner.net for stories, devotions, puzzles and more.

CRC PRAYER LINE: Your prayers help transform lives and communities worldwide! Did you know that you could receive weekly specific prayer requests and updates via the CRC Prayer Line? Call 1-888-CRC-PRAY or visit us on the web at www.crcna.org/pages/prayer_requests.cfm to receive current prayer requests for the mission agencies and ministries of the CRC. Sign up to receive the weekly email Prayer Line update.

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FIRST CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
822-7720
Church email: crc-guelph@sentex.net
Pastor’s email: pastor@sentex.net
Web presence at: www.sentex.net/firstcrcguelph