February 22nd, 2026 News
VISIT THE ‘EVENTS’ TAB TO VIEW OUR CALENDAR
MOUNTAINVIEW NEWS
Join us Sunday morning at 10 am in person or online. Pastor of Pastoral Care Jolene Veenstra will begin our Lent Series “The Passion Story - Journey to the Cross” with a look at Matthew 26:1-16 - “I Love to Meditate on Your Law.”
On the first Sunday of Lent we're going to kick off Lenten Guided prayer together. We'll start with an introduction to Lectio Divina, locating it in scripture and in our cultural/historical traditions. Then we'll switch into contemplative mode and try this practice together. Hopefully we'll have some meaningful moments to share with one another afterwards over coffee. Just as a heads up, this will feel different. Rather than trying to listen to the preacher, we'll be trying to listen to the spirit as we meditate on God's word.
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:
March 1st – Benevolence: Your contribution to Mountainview’s Benevolent Fund provides assistance for those in need in our church family and in our local community. These include basic needs such as food, clothing, housing and schooling. A church and community of our size has many varied needs within it. Please continue to support our ministry of Benevolence.
To the Congregation of Mountainview CRC (Grimsby, ON): World Renew extends our gratitude for your support and commitment to Christ’s call to mercy and justice. Your congregation’s gifts of $46,533.75 in 2025 are contributing to a larger impact—one that reached 720,633 participants in 1,449 communities across 30 countries worldwide in 2024-25. Your generosity is providing families with access to essentials like medical care, education, food, and crisis support, while also strengthening long-term efforts for communities to thrive. Thank you for helping families experience God’s love and find a hopeful future. Explore more stories at worldrenew.ca.
Run to Renew 2026 - World Renew is pleased to invite you to the very first "Run to Renew" event on Saturday, June 6, 2026. Participate in the "Moon in June" race in Burlington, Ontario, and help raise funds for World Renew's Running Club programs in Africa. This event aligns with Global Running Day on June 3, 2026, offering a great way to connect through fitness and community while supporting those affected by poverty. Race lengths include 1K, 5K, and 10K—an opportunity for all fitness levels, including those who prefer to walk. When you join with World Renew, you will receive 20 percent off your race registration fee! Ready to participate? Email info@worldrenew.ca to sign up today.
Support 'The Banner' Sunday, March 1 - Our congregation is encouraged to support a 160-year-old member of the CRC! 'The Banner' is the official magazine of the CRC and is available for free, in print and online, to every member of the denomination. A special offering will be taken next week to help continue the journalistic ministry of this historic magazine. Discover how you can get it and best support it at: thebanner.org/signup
Other…
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
& OPPORTUNITIES
You’re Invited to Prayer & Praise Night at Smithville CRC Sunday, March 1 @7pm. We’re going to be singing and praying our concerns and love for our great God!
We are once again hosting our annual Euchre Night this year on March 7@ 7:00pm. Brand new to the game or a seasoned professional, this event is for you. It’s a progressive style tournament, so you don't have to come with a partner. There will be snacks, prizes, and a lot of fun playing euchre. Best Part: All money raised supports programming for youth in Lincoln. Cost: $20/person. Location: 3874 Victoria Ave, Vineland. Details linked here. Contact Peter peter.j@yfclincoln.com for more info.
The annual Inter-Classis Safe Church Conference will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026 from 9 AM – 3 pm at Waterloo CRC.
At a time of history when truth is being challenged and when power is being abused, join us for a time of learning and discussion. Our plenary speaker will be Dr. James Watson who will be joined by speakers Cathi Watson, Dr. Stephen Vander Klippe, and Julia Rathbun. For further information and registration go to https://crcna.regfox.com/2026-classis-huron-safe-church-conference. This conference is for all ministry leaders and those interested in making our churches safe places to work, volunteer and worship. For additional information, contact Pastor Carel Geleynse (Classis Huron Safe Church Coordinator) at carelgeleynse20@gmail.com. We would love to see you at the conference!
Choose Life Niagara Annual Dinner: Saturday, March 7, 5:00 p.m. at Club Roma in St. Catharines. Abortion survivor, Lauren Eden, will share her powerful story of discovering the truth of her survival, finding healing, and learning that God's purposes are never thwarted by human plans. Join us for dinner, fellowship and an inspiring guest speaker. Details and tickets ($60, Students $30) available at ChooseLife.ca/Events or call 905-684-7505.
'Pro-life 101' Teen Night: Choose Life Niagara, in partnership with St. Alexander's youth leaders, invites teens to join us for a 'Pro-life 101' evening with Katie Somers on Sunday evening, February 22 from 7:00-9:00 pm at St. Alexander Church in Fonthill. We will learn facts and apologetics on abortion, play games, and spend time socializing with other pro-life youth! Please register here (chooselife.ca/events) or email info@chooselife.ca for more info.
Hope Canadian Male Choir is excited for their March Easter concert series ‘Worthy is the Lamb’: Thursday March 12 – Copperlight, Stratford; Friday March 13 – Ancaster CanRef Church, Hamilton; Saturday March 14 – Pathway Bible Church, St. Catharines. Directed by Martin Mans, the choir will be accompanied by Martin Zonnenberg on piano and André Knevel on the organ, and will feature Josh Overbeek and Menze Feenstra, our choir’s tenors. For tickets visit: hopecanchoir@gmail.com, call/text 226 338 5459 or visit hopecanadianmalechoir.com. Tickets also available at the door. Start Time 7:30 pm; doors open 7:00 pm.
You are invited to join us for our annual Fundraising Dinner Weekend. The dates are Friday, March 13 & Saturday, March 14. It will once again be held at the beautiful West Niagara Agricultural Centre (7402 Mud St W, Grassie). Silent Auction at 5pm and Dinner at 6pm. Our guest speaker this year will be a representative from Hope and Healing International - one of our trusted distribution partners. Seating is limited. A free will offering will be taken. All proceeds go towards NCG’s Operating Expenses. Reserve seats at www.niagaragleaners.org/events/. Donations for our Silent Auction are appreciated. They can be dropped off at the Gleaners any weekday morning. Questions? Please contact ncgdinners@gmail.com.
Join us Easter long weekend (April 2 – evening, and April 4 – daytime) for Safe Families Niagara’s first-ever Hockey Tournament Fundraiser! This fun, family-friendly event will feature team competition, opportunities to volunteer, a family skate, and plenty of action on and off the ice. Teams of 10–15 players are invited to register. Local businesses and community partners are also encouraged to participate as sponsors—an excellent way to support families in our community while gaining local visibility.
For more information or to register a team, volunteer, or learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact Danica at niagara@safefamilies.ca or call/text 289-257-4846. We hope you’ll join us for this exciting weekend in support of local families!
Tickets are now available for the Hosanna Choir & Mattaniah Christian Male Choir concert at FirstOntario Concert Hall (1 Summers Lane, Hamilton) on Saturday, April 4 at 7:30pm. The choirs will be accompanied by Ryan Vandenberg (Organ), Andre Knevel (Organ), and Naomi Noorduyn (Piano) and the 16-piece Scott Harrison String/Brass/Percussion Ensemble. Tickets are $25 & $35, and can be purchased through the choir’s website (www.hosanna-choir.org). Questions? Contact Wendy den Hollander at 905-628-1211 or at hdenhollander@yahoo.com.
Awake to Praise Choir: This spring, we will hold 3 concerts at the Vineland Free Reformed Church: Friday, April 10 at 8:00 pm and Saturday, April 11 at 5:00 & 8:00 pm. Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, March 11, at 7:00 PM. We respectfully request that no infants or children under 5 attend to ensure a peaceful and enjoyable experience for guests and musicians. All ticket purchasing as well as more information can be found on our website - www.awaketopraisechoir.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
Focus on the Cross - Lent is a season to focus on the hope of Jesus Christ. Receive a free Today devotional email series to help you refresh, refocus, and renew your faith during Lent. Or download the ebook! Subscribe at todaydevotional.com/lent.
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: In the Garden of Gethsemane: Jesus Prays, Judas Betrays, and Jesus is Arrested. - As Lent begins, let’s prepare our hearts in this season by following Jesus to Golgotha and studying the biblical events that comprise the traditional stations of the cross. Join Groundwork as we begin our journey by studying Matthew 26:31-56 to reflect on what happened to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and consider the effects of his prayer, betrayal, and arrest for Jesus and for us. Listen now at Groundworkonline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Check out this week’s Kids Corner Devotion, “Faithfulness: Never Give Up,” at www.kidscorner.net. God is always with us and shows us what true loyalty looks like, no matter what we face. Discover how his never-ending love can help us become faithful, kind, and trustworthy friends to others! Prepare for Easter with all the great content at kidscorner.net, like Kids Corner’s Lent Devotional.
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - Today is the first Sunday of Lent. The forty days of Lent bring to mind the forty years of Israel’s sojourn in the wilderness and the forty days of fasting that preceded Jesus’ public ministry. During Lent, Christians around the world reflect on the weight of sin, the cost of salvation, and the love that motivated Jesus’ earthly sojourn and sacrificial death. This year during Lent, find an object that reminds you of the wilderness (like a small stone or a container of sand) and place it in plain sight. Whenever you see it, pause and remember the depth of Jesus’ love and how far he went to rescue you from sin and death. 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.
Today is Justice and Hope Sunday! - This year, we focus on Intercultural Ministries, celebrating God’s diverse and unified family. Intercultural Ministries helps CRC churches become places of belonging, unity, and flourishing for people of all backgrounds. Learn more at crcna.org/intercultural
Call for Nominations to the Canadian National Gathering - The 2026 Canadian National Gathering is creating space for a diverse and well-rounded group of participants from across Canada, representing different regions, generations, and experiences. Nominations are open to any member of a CRC in Canada. If someone comes to mind, please nominate them! This is a meaningful way to affirm their gifts and invite them into something that will have a lasting impact on our wider church community. Learn more and make a nomination: www.crcna.org/canada
JOBS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Cairn Christian School Seeks Executive Director - Cairn Christian School, a Christian elementary school system operating campuses in southern Ontario (Smithville and Stoney Creek) is seeking an inspiring Executive Director to begin August 1, 2026. Application deadline is February 28, 2026. To learn more about this position, please reference: https://bit.ly/cairned
Smithville Christian High School is seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Financial Administrator to join our team. This is a 3 day week, part-time role. This position is vital in ensuring the financial health of our school, managing budgets and overseeing accounting processes. Our website has more details about the job opportunity. https://smithvillechristian.ca/smithville-christian-high-school-job-opportunities/
As Shalom Manor & Gardens expands operations into Hamilton (operating as Faithstone Manor & Gardens), we are seeking Primary Care Physicians to provide care to our long-term care and retirement home residents. This will involve weekly visits to the home at a time that works for your schedule (with flexibility for vacations/illness), and some after-hours phone support for urgent medical issues. You would work in a team consisting of a full time Nurse Practitioner, and other Physicians. We are seeking individuals who align with the mission, vision, and values of the organization, and who respect the sanctity of life until natural death. We have a strong need for this type of candidate, so please prayerfully consider this opportunity. If you are looking for more information about this opportunity, or wish to put your name forward, please contact the Chief Nursing Officer, Celeste Pols at cpols@shalommanor.ca / 905-945-9631 ext. 1133.
We're Hiring! Please consider joining our staff of professional journalists by applying for the Editor-In-Chief of The Banner! Do you love and consider yourself in touch with members of the Christian Reformed Church? Are you a discerning and effective communicator interested in highlighting the many good things happening in our denomination but also willing to help readers find their way through the challenging issues? The application process requires an editorial-length sample of your writing that would resonate with The Banner's audience. The editor-in-chief will be responsible for the content of The Banner, particularly for theological review, denominational relevance, and reader service to fulfill the magazine’s mandate as determined by synod. Apply at crcna.pinpointhq.com
Hiring! The Director of Thrive will provide overall direction and leadership for Thrive, ensuring that strategic planning, fiscal management, programming, resource development, staff care and development, achievement of goals, and administrative functions are effectively carried out. The Director will ensure the overall implementation, assessment, and success of Thrive’s mandate serving churches in both Canada and the US. This is a full-time, hybrid position based in Burlington or Grand Rapids. Apply by March 23: crcna.pinpointhq.com
We are seeking a committed follower of Jesus to serve as a Part-time Faith Formation Coordinator at Faith Church. The person we hire will work closely with Pastor Cara, alongside our other staff, elders, deacons, and volunteer leaders. They will work about 20 hrs/wk and must be willing to become a member of Faith Church. He or she will help people at Faith, from youngest to oldest, to grow in faith and pursue spiritual transformation. We pray for the Spirit’s guidance as we seek someone who will grow our capacity to fulfill our vision. Deadline: Friday, March 13. More info: https://faithcrc.ca/now-hiring/