March 8th, 2026 News
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MOUNTAINVIEW NEWS
Join us Sunday morning at 10 am in person or online. Pastor Erick Schuringa continues our Lent Series “The Passion Story - Journey to the Cross” with a look at Matthew 26:31-35, 69-75 - “Peter’s Denial”
Peter shows us both our ability to boldly state our convictions and to fall far short of them. Following Jesus calls us to be very honest about our limitations and very thankful that Jesus knows. Let us enter into the honesty of this part of the story. During our service this morning we are also privileged to witness God’s covenant in Baptism.
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:
UPCOMING OFFERING: March 15th – EMI – Kathleen & Colin Wassenaar, serving with Engineering Ministries International (EMI) in Phnom Penh- Cambodia - EMI is a nonprofit Christian development organization made up of architects, engineers, surveyors, and construction managers who use their skills to serve the least reached worldwide. We design hospitals, schools, water systems, and many other facilities that enable our Christian ministry partners to fulfill their calling and transform their communities. Together we are designing a world of hope. Stay in Touch with the Wassenaars: send them an email if you would like to receive their monthly updates @ kathleen.wassenaar@emiworld.org; colinwassenaar@gmail.com, or check out their blog that contains more photos and stories: thewingsofdawn.wordpress.com.
World Renew is pleased to invite you to the very first "Run to Renew" event on Saturday, June 6 - Participate in the "Moon in June" race in Burlington, ON and help raise funds for World Renew's Running Club programs in Africa. This event aligns with Global Running Day on June 3rd, 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. Join with World Renew to receive 20 percent off your race registration fee! Ready to participate? Email info@worldrenew.ca to sign up today.
Help Vulnerable Families in the Middle East - As conflict escalates in the Middle East, multiple people have been killed or injured, and many families are facing urgent need after fleeing from their homes. World Renew is preparing to respond in Lebanon through a trusted Christian partner while we continue to monitor the situation across the region. Join us in praying for lasting peace, and please give to support vulnerable families at worldrenew.ca/middle-east-conflict, by calling 1-888-975-3769, or by mailing a cheque made out to World Renew, with “Middle East Conflict 2026” in the memo line, to: World Renew, 3475 Mainway, PO Box 5070 STN LCD 1, Burlington, ON, L7R 3Y8.
Thank You for Giving to ‘The Banner’ – Many of our churches took up a special offering for The Banner -- the official magazine of the CRC. It has been keeping congregations connected and informed about what is happening in the denomination for over 160 years. Thank you for giving! If you missed the opportunity, you can still give directly to support this unique journalistic ministry online at thebanner.org/give
Other…
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
& OPPORTUNITIES
Looking for a family to Room and Board, from Monday pm until Friday pm, March 18 - middle of May. A Female Student from a Christian family has a teaching placement at the West Niagara High School. If you have some space in your home and a spot at your kitchen table, please consider helping this young woman out. Please contact Veronica DeBoer if taking in this student for a short period of time is possible for you.
Prepare your Heart for Easter - with the Discover Your Bible: Easter study. This 6-lesson series traces Jesus’ journey, connecting Old Testament promises with New Testament eyewitness accounts. Great for families, small groups, or personal study. Try it free: visit our website to download a sample of Lesson One and experience again the power of Christ’s sacrifice. resonateglobalmission.org/globalcoffeebreak
Beyond the Headlines: Faith, Community, and the Stories that Shape Us - Join a new justice education series from Thrive, World Renew, and the Christian Reformed Centre for Public Dialogue. This four-part series explores immigration, food justice, climate justice, and gender justice through a biblical lens—equipping participants to recognize harmful narratives, understand root causes, and take meaningful, faith-informed action. Learn more and register today: tinyurl.com/yrhe9a6b
SOCO Beach Project Update - This newsletter covers the joint spring break trip for disaster relief in North Carolina, organized by Mohawk College Campus Ministry & SOCO in conjunction with World Renew. Support our mission to equip young adults with your donations. Info on how to donate is in the newsletter. https://mailchi.mp/southcoastbeachproject/soco-update-march-5-8574306
Wolters Centre Natural Sciences and Mathematics Lecture - Join us on March 9 for a free public lecture hosted by the Wolters Centre, featuring Dr. Channon Visscher.
Visit Redeemer – Next Campus Visit Day on March 18.
Musical Showcase - On March 18 at 7:30 pm, join us for a free musical showcase by students and faculty in the Redeemer auditorium.o Grand Opening of H. Evan Runner Reading Room - Join us on March 27 at 11 am in the Redeemer library for the public grand opening of the H. Evan Runner Reading Room, featuring a ribbon cutting, refreshments and remarks from Dr. Al Wolters.
Spring Concert: Christ's Death - Our Life - On March 27, come and enjoy a concert of sacred choral music at Redeemer's annual Spring Concert. Presented by the 60 voices of the Redeemer University Concert Choir with guest instrumentalists, under the direction of Dr. Roger Bergs. Tickets go on sale March 4 at the Redeemer Box Office.
Senior Art Exhibit - Join us on March 28 at 7 pm in the Redeemer Art Gallery for this year's Senior Art Exhibit, featuring artwork by fourth-year Redeemer students.
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.
Celebrating 150 years of Calvin University - Hamilton event: Calvin University is celebrating 150 years of God's faithfulness, and we're bringing the celebration to Hamilton! Join us on Wednesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. at The Gasworks for an evening of Inspiring campus updates, meaningful connection with alumni & friends, heavy appetizers & beverages, a joyful celebration of Calvin's legacy and future. $10/pp. More information and registration available at Event info & Registration.
You are invited to an evening with ARCADY as they present Handel's Messiah at Grace Community CRC in Ancaster on Friday, March 27 at 7:30 pm. Handel's Messiah was originally intended for the Easter season. The first Messiah performance, held during Lent in April 1742, featured an intimate chamber ensemble who also form the chorus, a tradition continued by Arcady. The result is an intimate, chamber-style performance and word clarity that brings the audience especially close to the performance. Tickets are $46, available through arcady.ca or by calling 519-428-3185. Contact John VanderLaan for more info: 905-648-3170/john_vdl@hotmail.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
You’re Invited to Cairn Christian School's Board Dinner 2026 – Woven Together
Join us on April 25th, 6-9pm at Smithville Christian Reformed Church for an inspiring evening celebrating how God is weaving our school community together in faith, learning, and love.
Our annual Board Dinner will feature a delicious meal, meaningful stories from our community, and a plant sale (details coming soon!). It’s a special opportunity to gather, give thanks, and invest in the continued growth of our school.
Reserve your tickets here!
Would you consider partnering with us as a sponsor? Details here! We hope you’ll join us for this meaningful night together!
Paul’s Missionary Journeys in Turkey & the Seven Churches of Revelation (Oct 9-19, 2026): Visit ancient sites connected with Paul’s First, Second, and Third Missionary Journeys as well as the seven churches to whom John wrote the Book of Revelation. Join Jeff Weima, professor at Calvin Theological Seminary and leading biblical scholar, for this inspirational biblical tour. Contact Dr. Weima at 616-328-3110 or weimje@calvinseminary.edu.
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: Jesus: Judged, Beaten, and Crowned with Thorns - At the fifth Station of the Cross, we reflect on Jesus before Pilate, and at the sixth, we witness Jesus endure mocking and beating from Roman soldiers as they placed a crown of thorns on his head. Join Groundwork as we study Mark 15:1-15 and John 19:1-3 for a Lenten reflection on Jesus’ suffering and persecution, and what it means for his followers. Listen now at Groundworkonline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Check out this week’s Kids Corner Devotion, “Lent: Washing Stinky Feet” at www.kidscorner.net. In John 13, Jesus washed his disciples’ feet—a humble act of service that surprised everyone. He demonstrated that love isn’t just about words; it’s about doing for others, even in unexpected ways. Prepare for Easter with all the great content at kidscorner.net, like Kids Corner’s Lent Devotional.
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - Annual Day of Prayer (March 11) - On the night of his arrest, Jesus asked his disciples to stay with him, watch, and pray. Prayer is a discipline that requires the dedication of our precious time and attention. It is also a practice through which Jesus invites all disciples to experience sweet communion with him. Today is the CRCNA’s Annual Day of Prayer. This week set aside intentional time to pray for your local church, our denomination, and the worldwide communion of saints. In your prayer ask Jesus to draw you and all believers to himself, that we may be one (John 17:20-23). 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.
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
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/
Christian Stewardship Services (CSS) is seeking a faith-driven Ontario Stewardship Consultant to help individuals and families steward God’s gifts through Biblically grounded estate and gift planning. This ministry-focused role involves meeting with donors, providing estate planning guidance, and strengthening Christian organizations through legacy stewardship. Hybrid (home-based or Cambridge, office). Salary, RRSP contributions and comprehensive benefits. Visit: Csservices.ca/posting. Apply to , send your resume to Maynard Wiersma at maynardw@csservices.ca.