January 11th, 2026 News
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MOUNTAINVIEW NEWS
Join us Sunday morning at 10 am in person or online. Pastor Erick Schuringa will reflect on John, chapter 9 with a message entitled “Healing and Helping Without Hurting.”
John 9 tells the story of a beautiful miraculous healing of a blind man. Around that event, however, there are all kinds of messy things going on that show how we can be hurtful even in the midst of trying to be helpful.
This morning we will also be privileged to celebrate the Lord’s Supper.
LET’S BUILD SOME COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS!
(Click on the pictures to go to related webpages, links or emails)
JOYFUL GIVING
Sunday’s offerings are for our Ministry Promise (a.k.a. Budget) AND for...
Upcoming Offering:
January 18th A.M. – GEMS stands for Girls Everywhere Meeting the Saviour and is a relationship building club which was established more than 40 years ago. The ministry of GEMS continues with the purpose of bringing girls into a living relationship with the Lord. This is done through bible study, singing, crafts, games, and fun outings with dedicated counsellors and junior counsellors. Your donations help us to mentor and nurture girls in our church and surrounding community, in their walk with God.
Go Deeper in Faith Through a Trip with Resonate - Come on a journey with Resonate Global Mission—starting in Grand Rapids, Michigan, through Guatemala, and ending in Costa Rica as we visit stops along the route of people on the move. Together we will learn from their faith, hear their stories and connect them to our own, and learn to better love our neighbors as ourselves. The trip is April 17-28 with an application deadline of January 31, 2026. Learn more and let us know you're interested at www.resonateglobalmission.org/move
Other…
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
& OPPORTUNITIES
SOCO Beach Project Update: In this week's newsletter, have a chuckle as you watch the video of the year end Polar Bear Plunge Campaign - all proceeds strengthen SOCO's mission. Recruitment for this summer's SOCO 2026 has begun – and Jan 12th is the deadline for first consideration (and rolling applications thereafter). This week's newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/southcoastbeachproject/soco-update-final-appeal-dec-2025-8573326
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!
Family Outreach Ontario invites you to an information evening on Friday, January 16 from 7:30 - 9:00 pm, at the Can. Reformed Church of Dunnville (109 Inman Rd.). Our Executive Director, John Kowtecky, will present An Overview of Addiction. It will be an evening you will be sure to remember. A Q&A period takes places after the discussion followed by refreshments and opportunity for talk with Mr. Kowtecky or other Family Outreach members. A collection will be taken to cover our costs.
Open House and Celebration of Learning – On Tuesday, January 13, 2026 from 7-9pm we will meet, tour, discuss, listen to students, and explore Smithville Christian High School together with a mini chapel, information session and classroom visits. Questions? Call 905-957-3255 or email admissions@smithville christian.ca New families please register on our website so we know to expect you! www.smithvillechristian.ca
Safe Families Niagara Guest Speaker – January 14 | 7:30 PM Special invitation to anyone who works with children, youth, or families! Safe Families Canada – Niagara invites you to an evening with Sean Elliot at Bethany Christian Reformed Church (1040 Balfour St, Fenwick). Sean will share his personal journey as a former youth in care alongside research from his publication, Navigating Higher Education: Factors Contributing to Former Foster Care Youth’s Graduation from Post-Secondary Education. His message will highlight key success factors in overcoming crisis, including the vital role of mentors and supportive communities. All are welcome! We’d love to know if you’re able to join us—please email niagara@safefamilies.ca to help us plan accordingly.
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 would like to 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 us in a series of discussions on the importance of Christian friendships. The retreat will take place from January 23 to 25, 2026, with the theme “The Gift of Friendship.” Early bird registration is $60. Registration opens December 1st, 2025. Don’t miss this chance to grow in faith, build lasting connections, and have fun! For more information or the registration link, follow us on Instagram (yawinterretreat), Facebook (Young Adult Winter Retreat), or email us at ya.retreat.team@gmail.com
Attention all highschool students and young adults!! You are invited to our Youth Conference on Friday, January 23 @7:30 pm. The cost is free so bring out all your friends and let’s make this an evening of fellowship, learning, and praise! Wilf Bout will be speaking on the theme: “True Friends Speak Truth: What are you speaking about with your friends?” Location: Vineland Free Reformed Church (3685 King St.) For questions or interest in musical contribution contact vfrcyoungpeoples@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/I4i8mu
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: Grace is the Root, Our Works are the Fruit. - If we are saved by grace, what is the purpose of our works? Join Groundwork as we study Ephesians 2:1-10, Titus 2:11-14, Philippians 2:12-13, and Romans 6:1-4 to learn how the apostle Paul clarified the relationship between grace and works and gain a deeper understanding of how God’s grace and our works cooperate in our faithful journey of growing in Christlikeness.Listen now at Groundworkonline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Check out this week’s Kids Corner Devotion, “Joy is Better Than Happiness” at www.kidscorner.net. Discover how choosing joy can make every day brighter, even when things don’t go your way! Learn how God helps us find real joy that lasts longer than just being happy. Check out all the great content at kidscorner.net, like KC’s The Bible in One Year Plan.
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - Galatians 3:28 reminds us of the profound unity we share as believers in Christ, regardless of our backgrounds or perceived differences. As members of God’s diverse yet unified family, we are called to live into the vision proclaimed in this verse. This week, as we commemorate the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—a faithful advocate of this very vision—consider how you and your family or friends might actively embrace and embody this unity by building relationships with families of different racial and cultural backgrounds. 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.
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/
Wellingstone Christian Home (Hamilton, ON): Hiring! Full-time Superintendent – This is a full time, live in position with a provided unit. This role is ideal for a couple who are detail-oriented with strong interpersonal skills and experience in property maintenance and repairs. Duties will include cleaning all common areas and coordinating some repairs. A percentage of weekends and statutory holidays will be worked. Learn more and apply before January 31, 2026 at employment@wellingstone.ca. All applications and resumes are appreciated, only candidates invited for interviews will be contacted.