March 29th, 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 21:1-17, the story of Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem.
There are a wonderful mix of prophecies in action in the Palm Sunday story. We have our children with us in this service and so we will have an interactive time of trying to live into this story and it's meaning.
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 Offerings:
April 3rd – Good Friday - Resonate Global Mission: Together we help build God’s church. We do this by planting churches and supporting ministry in North America as well as sending missionaries around the globe to share the good news. But sending people is only part of God’s plan for your congregation. Your church partners with Resonate as you join God’s mission in your own neighborhood and around the world. Resonate is here to walk alongside you in preparing missionaries and volunteers, calling and supporting church planters and campus ministers, connecting with ministries overseas, engaging church members and younger generations in mission work, and following the Spirit by discerning new ways to demonstrate and proclaim the gospel.
April 5th – Easter Sunday – 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.
The Annual Banner Appeal - The 2026 funding drive for The Banner, the CRC’s award-winning magazine, has started. The Banner is delivered free in print and online, and your giving to this annual donation appeal makes it possible. To help keep this community conversation going please give online now at: TheBanner.org/Give
This Event is taking place at Mountainview!
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!
Other…
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
& OPPORTUNITIES
Come Celebrate with an Easter Sunrise Service on April 5th at 6:45am. Join us bright and early at the Firepit behind The Fort (116 West St. Smithville). Rain or inclement weather? The service will move to Smithville united Church. Bring lawn chairs. Enjoy connecting after with hot cross buns. All are welcome!
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
SOCO Beach Project Update - This week, meet the first three participants from the SOCO 2026 cohort. Calling all young adults - save the dates for Sunday Night SOCO and the SOCO Camping Retreat. Tickets for the spring fundraiser are coming soon—another performance of the one- woman show, "The Downs". Read all about it: https://mailchi.mp/southcoastbeachproject/soco-update-march-26-8574748
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.
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!
LAST CALL - Tickets are 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
"Great Lakes Christian High School Youth Rally - Registration is now open for our annual Youth Rally, a weekend of worship, fun, learning, and friends for Grades 6-12. Youth Rally is April 17-18. You can find out more about this event on our social media pages (@glchs) or on the registration page (bit.ly/GLYouthRally2026)."
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
Youth March for Life Trip: Choose Life Niagara invites high school and post-secondary students to join us on our annual March for Life trip to Ottawa! We plan to depart the Vineland Carpool lot at 5:00 am Thursday, May 14 and return at 9:30 pm Friday, May 15. Cost is $120 and includes the March for Life, the National Youth Conference, the Rose Dinner, hotel accommodations, and coach bus transportation. For more info and to register, visit chooselife.ca/events or email info@chooselife.ca.
Healing Hearts, Transforming Nations Workshop - Co-hosted by Resonate Global Mission and the CRC’s Indigenous and Intercultural Ministries, this 4-day immersive workshop will engage you in meaningful practices of healing and reconciliation, and equip you to repair and rebuild relationships in your local communities. You will experience: Personal healing and forgiveness, Tools for Intercultural teamwork, Examples of trauma-informed ministry, and Biblical frameworks to care for divided communities. Join us July 6–10, 2026, at the Five Oaks Retreat Centre in Paris, ON. Cost: $400 ($500 after May 1st). Learn more and register: tinyurl.com/yj972wxe
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.
Wisdom in the Age of AI Conference - Calvin University will host Wisdom in the Age of AI, October 8–10, 2026, a conference exploring how Christian faith can guide the wise and faithful use of artificial intelligence. With dynamic keynote speakers and a dedicated AI and Church track, the conference offers thoughtful conversation for pastors and lay leaders alike. The conference will be held in person at the Prince Conference Center on Calvin University's campus, with livestream available for people unable to attend in person. Learn more at calvin.edu/faith-and-technology
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 on the Cross - Jesus’ journey to the cross was done. But even as he hung dying on the cross, he showed compassion and mercy when he offered words of salvation to a crucified thief and established a new kind of family. Join Groundwork as we study Luke 23:39-43 and John 19:25-27 to experience the eleventh and twelfth Stations of the Cross and discuss how God continues to offer us that same mercy and belonging today. Listen now at Groundworkonline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Check out this week’s Kids Corner Devotion, “Courageous Twists and Turns” at www.kidscorner.net. Feeling scared is okay, and being brave means trying even when your heart feels nervous. With God’s help, you can face hard things and do what’s right, just like Jesus did. Check out all the great content at kidscorner.net, like Kids Corner’s Lent and Easter Collection.
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - Today is Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week, a time when we remember the final days of Jesus’ life and we reflect on the events that led to his crucifixion. Download God’s Big Easter Story: A Holy Week Journey for Families (DwellCurriculum.org/Home) for a meaningful way to walk with Jesus in the last moments of his life and to experience the miracle of his resurrection. This simple devotional guide helps people of all ages grow in faith as they reflect on Jesus’ journey to the cross—and beyond. 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
We’re pleased to announce that the Director of Communications position at World Renew is now live! This full time, hybrid role—based in Burlington, ON or Byron Center, MI—leads World Renew’s voice, narrative, and public presence. The Director oversees brand storytelling, media relations, editorial direction, and a binational communications team, ensuring mission aligned, faith rooted, and ethical content. Interested? We encourage you to apply at https://world-renew.breezy.hr/
EduDeo Ministries invites you to consider the role of Donor Stewardship Coordinator. In this position, you will strengthen our support community through donor engagement, stewardship, and thoughtful administrative coordination - helping sustain Christ-centred education around the world. Visit https://edudeo.com/careers for more information. Applications due March 30.
Bethel CRC (Dunnville) is seeking a part-time (24 hrs/wk) Director of Ministries to lead children, youth, and young adult ministries and support small group discipleship. This role works closely with the pastoral team to foster spiritual growth and equip volunteers. Position description available upon request. Please apply with your resume, cover letter, and statement of faith to bethelcrchiring@dunnvillecrc.ca by April 30.
Great Lakes is Hiring, Join our Team! We are looking for full-time and part-time Teachers in French & Physics for the 2026-27 Academic Year. To apply submit a CV, cover letter and your vision for Christian education at careers@glchs.ca by May 1st.
Great Lakes Preschool is Hiring - Start Date September 2026 - We are looking for both Regsitered Early Childhood Educators (RECE) and Child Care Assistants for our expanding preschool that works with children aged 12 mos-6years. These roles plan and implement age-appropirate activities based on the “How Does Learning Happen” framework. To apply, send a cover letter, resume and references to careers@glschs.ca