December 28th, 2025 News
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MOUNTAINVIEW NEWS
Join us Sunday morning at 10 am in person or online. For this first Sunday after Christmas Pastor Erick Schuringa will reflect on “Seeing Simeon and Accessing Anna.” He will be looking at the story as told in the book of Luke, chapter 2, verses 25-26.
The story of Simeon and Anna is made for the week after Christmas because that is when it took place. It is also a grand story because this captured moment in the temple is part of their long life journey of waiting on a promise of hope.
LET’S BUILD SOME COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS!
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JOYFUL GIVING
Sunday’s offerings are for our Ministry Promise (a.k.a. Budget) AND for...
Upcoming Offering:
UPCOMING OFFERINGS: January 4th 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.
Thank You for Giving!
- Thank you for sharing God’s love with people experiencing need in the World Renew offering this season. Your gift is providing help and hope for families who are facing poverty, disaster, and crisis today. Do you want to give to show love to our global neighbours as we enter the New Year? You can go to worldrenew.ca/gifts Thank you for renewing hope with us!
We are excited about our $200,000 match campaign- an incredible opportunity to see your generosity doubled to bless children and youth in our community. With your support, we can continue providing a safe place where kids experience God's love, learn Biblical truths, and grow in hope for a brighter future through meals, mentorship, and faith-based programs. Campaign: Nov 1- Dec31; www.rosecitykids.com. (Ways to give: e transfer (office@rosecitykids.com), cheque, cash, credit card) Questions? Barb Donker (905 788 9800) or office@rosecitykids.com
World Renew Nicaragua Young Adults Trip - Young adults (18–30), join us in Nicaragua from February 13-22, 2026! Experience God in another culture, while you explore poverty, international development and the global church through the lens of faith. Discover the impact of World Renew's work, witnessing how Nicaraguans are transforming their lives through faith and resilience. To learn more about this trip and to register, visit: https://bit.ly/nicaragua2026info
Act Now! Help The Banner Meet Its Year-End Goal - Please help The Banner magazine reach its annual goal of raising $500,000 by giving before December 31. Your gift will enable The Banner to continue reaching North Americans with inspiring and insightful Reformed content for another year. Donate now at TheBanner.org/Give
Other…
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
& OPPORTUNITIES
SOCO Beach Project Update: Calling all young adults - ages 18 (one year post highschool) to 29. Recruitment for this summer's SOCO 2026 has begun - and Jan 12, 2026 is the deadline for first consideration. Join in the fun of the year end Polar Bear Plunge Campaign - all proceeds strengthen SOCO's mission, opening the door for young adults to say "yes" to an enriching summer experience. Looking for a hospitable place for a small group retreat or weekend away - check out the SOCO house. This week's newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/southcoastbeachproject/soco-update-december-18-8573031
Shalom Manor is seeking a volunteer piano or organ accompanists for Sunday church services throughout 2026. If you or someone you know is interested in serving in this meaningful role, please contact Brooke Roorda at volunteercoord@shalommanor.ca for more information. We look forward to welcoming a musician who can help enrich our worship and bless our community through music!
Members of Classis Niagara churches are welcome to join us on Sunday, January 4, to celebrate the many years of ministry Pastor Frank Engelage served as Pastor of Congregational Life at Bethel CRC and in numerous leadership roles within Classis Niagara. You are invited to stay for a soup social following worship (held next door at Dunnville Christian School). An open mic time will allow people to express their appreciation of Pastor Frank, who officially retires on December 31st. Unable to attend in person? Want to submit greetings to be read? Please share with Christopher Deklerk at Chris_deklerk@outlook.com.
Open House and Celebration of Learning – You are welcome to join us from 7-9 for a mini chapel, intro for new families, and some time to explore the school. New families: Please register on our website for we know to expect you! www.smithvillechristian.ca. Questions? 905-957-3256 or email admissions@smithvillechristian.ca
Family Outreach Ontario invites you to an information evening on Friday, January 16, at the Can. Reformed Church of Dunnville (109 Inman Rd.). Our Executive Director, John Kowtecky, will present An Overview of Addiction. Please plan to attend and tell others about it. It will be an evening you will be sure to remember. A collection will be taken to cover our costs. 7:00 pm - Doors open, Refreshments/Meet & Greet; 7:30 - 9:00 pm - Presentation and Q&A period followed by refreshments and opportunity for talk with Mr. Kowtecky or other Family Outreach members.
Cairn Christian School is hosting our annual Information and Registration Evenings for 2026/27 at 7 pm on January 19 at our Smithville campus & on January 20 at our Stoney Creek campus. Come and learn how Christian Education inspires students to live, learn, and lead together in God's world! If you know of a family that has children of school age, please pass this along and encourage them to come out to find out more.
The Young Adult Winter Retreat (YAWR) is back again at Maranatha CRC, Woodstock! We encourage all young adults ages 18-30 to join us for this weekend of faith-based discussions, service, fellowship, and funtivities! We are excited to announce that Pastor Harry Frielink from Covenant CRC in Barrie will be leading in the theme “The Gift of Friensdhip”. When: January 23-25, 2026. Early bird registration is $60. Registration opens December 1st. Need more Info? Follow us on Instagram (yawinterretreat), Facebook (Young Adult Winter Retreat), or email us at ya.retreat.team@gmail.com.
Truth, Reconciliation, and Exchanging Hearts - Calvin Theological Seminary’s Truth, Reconciliation, & Exchanging Hearts course offers a focused look at Canada’s Indigenous history and practical guidance for ministry leaders pursuing reconciliation. Deadline to apply is January 30. Learn more: https://loom.ly/I4i8muI
Niagara College Students for Life is a pro-life club starting at Niagara College (Niagara-on-the-Lake campus). This club is dedicated to upholding the value of all human life. We will meet several times a month to discuss pro-life topics, take part in fun activities, and educate others on this cause! If you are interested in joining or have questions, please register here or email studentsforlife1@gmail.com.
NEWSLETTERS FROM OUR MINISTRY PARTNERS
Links are available on our website under
“Community Connections” - “Partnerships”
Paper copies can be requested from the church office.
DENOMINATIONAL NEWS
ReFrame Ministries Provides Devotions, Podcasts, and Blogs - Start a new Biblical habit with resources from ReFrame Ministries. DEVOTIONS including the Today devotional offer short daily meditations and scripture. Kids Corner includes devotions, especially for children and guardians. PODCASTS help you dig into scripture with Groundwork, explore pop culture and Christianity with Think Christian, or energize your church communications with Church Juice. BLOGS offering spiritual advice for parenting, dating, and more are available in new posts from Family Fire. Learn more about the spiritual habit of praying with ReFrame’s prayer ministry.
Groundwork: Groundwork: Reflecting the Light of the World - On Epiphany, we recall the moment when the star appeared and guided the Magi to Jesus. This event signifies the extension of God’s family to include Gentiles. Study Titus 2:11-15, Isaiah 60:1-5, Matthew 5:13-16, and 2 Corinthians 4:1-9 with Groundwork to discover what to expect when we encounter the transformational light of Christ and how that light affects our discipleship as members of his family. Listen now at GroundworkOnline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Kids Corner Devotions: New Year. New You. - Check out this week’s kids’ devotion, “New Year. New You.” at www.kidscorner.net. Start the new year with more than just fresh goals—let God’s Spirit make you new from the inside out! His gifts of love, joy, peace, kindness, and more will help you shine like Jesus wherever you go. Check out all the great content at kidscorner.net, like like KC’s The Bible in One Year Plan.
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - As one year ends and another begins, pause for a time of taking spiritual inventory with your family, friends, or on your own. Ask questions like these: Where did we see God this year? Where did we resist growth? Where do we feel God is calling us next? Consider writing a prayer of release and a prayer of commitment to guide your transition into the new year. Brought to you by Thrive: crcna.org/Thrive
Family Fire - 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 and connect with our Family Fire community on Facebook.
Do you long to help youth and young adult ministry grow and flourish? Classis Ministry Council invites you to apply for this position by December 31st. The Classis Niagara Youth & Youth Adult Champion (CNYC) serves to empower and encourage those working on the frontline in youth and young adult ministry within Niagara. The CNYC will listen, pray, help connect, and be a voice on behalf of youth and young adult workers at the classis level. David Scholman, who currently holds this position, is stepping down due to time constraints. David has already created a strong network of youth leaders and resources in Niagara. We are very thankful for the work David has done to revitalize Youth & Young Adult ministries in the past year. This is a part-time permanent position, averaging 15 hrs/month, with annual $6,000 compensation. A job description is available at classisniagara.ca/classis-personnel/. Send applications to CMC c/o Rev. Erick Schuringa, ericks@mountainviewcrc.org.
JOBS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Cairn Christian School is looking for spare bus drivers for both our Smithville and Stoney Creek locations. If you or someone you know would like the opportunity for occasional work, and a chance to drive our kids (and some of yours), please reach out and let us know. We take care of all the training, and associated costs, so please come join our team. I look forward to hearing from you. Blessings, Gord MacCharles, Transportation Coordinator, gmaccharles@cairnchristianschool.ca, 289-456-0041
Smithville Christian High School is looking for a part-time Financial Administrator. For more information, please visit our website under job opportunities. https://smithvillechristian.ca/smithville-christian-high-school-job-opportunities/
Shalom Manor is entering an exciting season of growth and renewal. With deep gratitude for the decades of compassionate, faith-centered care provided within the Dutch Reformed community, we are prayerfully seeking a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead Shalom Manor into its next chapter. This role offers the opportunity to build upon a strong foundation in Grimsby while providing strategic leadership as we expand to a new campus in Hamilton. We are looking for a servant-hearted leader who shares our values and is committed to excellence in long-term care.
Shalom Manor is inviting qualified and experienced leaders to apply for the role of Administrator of our 144 bed long-term care home. Reporting to the CEO, the Administrator will oversee the day-to-day operations of our long-term care home, ensuring high-quality resident care, regulatory compliance, operational effectiveness and a positive environment for residents, families, staff and volunteers. This position will be integral to promoting and integrating Christian values into organizational culture and decision-making. If you feel called to lead in a faith-filled organization where faith, compassion and excellence are central, we invite you to apply. The full posting, including how to apply, is available on at this link or visit https://shalommanor.ca/get-involved/careers/
The Director of Justice and Peace position at World Renew is now live -This is a full-time, leadership role open to candidates in Canada and the US. This position will strengthen World Renew’s capacity in Justice and Peace initiatives, ensuring programming is rooted in biblical principles and aligned with our global strategy. Learn more and apply at worldrenew.ca/careers by January 2.
EduDeo Ministries: We’re Hiring a Co-Impact Program Manager - Are you a strong communicator and strategic organizer who enjoys connecting people to meaningful opportunities? Do you excel at coordinating details while also keeping the bigger mission in view? If so, EduDeo Ministries invites you to consider this role. As EduDeo’s Co-Impact Program Manager, you’ll lead and strengthen our short-term volunteer program - recruiting, equipping, and supporting teams as they serve alongside our international partners. This is a unique opportunity to invest your skills in work that has global, lasting impact. Visit https://edudeo.com/careers for more information. Applications are due on January 7.