August 24th 2025 News
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MOUNTAINVIEW NEWS
Join us Sunday morning at 10 am in person or online. Pastor Erick Schuringa presents the 8th message in our Summer Psalm Series. Focusing on Psalm 91 “A Psalm of Protection”
This week's psalm gives a variety of images of safety that illustrate God's presence and care. These are wonderful hopeful pictures that seem to ignore the realities of tripping and falling which most of us experience. What is that about? This morning we will also partake of the Lord’s Supper.
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:
August 31st A.M. – Cairn Christian School: Our Cairn Christian School sites in Smithville and Stoney Creek work to inspire Grade K-8 students to love, learn, and lead together in God's world. This offering provides vital support in achieving this mission, enabling students and families the opportunity to access an amazing Christian Education, and communicates our love for their students. Thank you for your support and prayers.
Please Note: Year End Ministry Promise Updates
will be in your weekly emails under JOYFUL GIVING
World Renew Disaster Response Services (DRS) - Are you someone with time on your hands that is passionate about service towards God’s kingdom? It’s not too late to repair homes in a disaster-impacted community this fall by volunteering with World Renew DRS! Contact Diana Marquez, our Volunteer Program Manager, at dmarquez@worldrenew.net or 616-224-0701 for more information.
Hope Beyond the Headlines - Media outlets often move on quickly after covering the initial impacts of conflict, natural disasters, and other devastating events—leaving behind stories of loss, displacement, and communities struggling with hunger, poverty, and hopelessness. Yet God’s promise in Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that He has plans for a hope and a future. World Renew, together with our Christian partners and as a member of the Integral Alliance, continues to walk alongside communities long after the cameras are gone—helping restore hope and rebuild lives. Now participating in the third Neglected Crises campaign, World Renew is calling for collective action to support people affected by long-term, complex, and overlooked crises—in Madagascar, Sudan, Haiti, and beyond. Your gift can help extend God’s hope to places where suffering persists long after public attention fades. Learn more or give today at: worldrenew.ca/globalfoodcrisis
Support The Banner Magazine - The Banner’s annual fundraising campaign continues! More than just an award-winning magazine, The Banner is a journalistic ministry dedicated to informing, inspiring, and connecting our CRC community. Available to you in both print and online, this vital resource is made possible by the generous support of individuals like you. Help meet the ambitious $500,000 goal for the 2025 campaign by giving today! thebanner.org/donate
Other…
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
& OPPORTUNITIES
SOCO Beach Project Update:
Read about the last week at SOCO and the participants' final reflections...you'll be encouraged! Check out the SOCO house for small group retreat or family rental space in beautiful Port Dover from late August to early April - with special rates for young adult ministry groups. Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/southcoastbeachproject/soco-update-august-21-8570734
It’s not too late to be a sponsor or a golfer in the annual Swing for Students Golf Tournament, supporting Cairn Christian School and Smithville Christian High School. Scan or click to register to golf or to be a sponsor – we need lots of both! https://bit.ly/SwingforStudents2025
If you’re a returning golfer and you refer a new foursome, you’ll receive a beautiful new golf umbrella. The 2025 tournament will be held Saturday, September 13, at Whisky Run Golf Club in Port Colborne. The students would love to have your support.
Join us for the Rose City Kids Golf Tournament - You're Invited to tee up for a great cause! Support the life changing ministry of Rose City Kids by joining us for our annual Golf Tournament September 25 or 26. Location: Riverview Golf Club in Pelham. Start time: 12 pm lunch (1:00 pm -tee time). Cost: $150/player or $600/foursome. Includes golf, cart, meals, prizes and more. To register or become a sponsor: Visit: www.rosecitykids.com or Gerry Vermeer 905 714-4141 or Nath Anjema 905 892 5350 x230. Come golf for a cause- and help us continue to bring faith, hop and love to the next generation.
Volunteers Needed- Partner with Rose City Kids - "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me" Matthew 18:5. Rose City Kids is growing- and so is the need for more helping hands and loving hearts. Were currently looking for volunteers to join us in serving over 700 children and youth through weekly programs, tutoring, mentorship, house visits and more. Whether it's helping on a Saturday afternoon, tutoring, or connecting with our youth on an evening- you can make a difference. This is more than volunteering. It's ministry. It's relationships. It's planting seeds of hope and showing kids what the love of Jesus looks like in action. Located in Welland, Rose City Kids in on the front lines of reaching children and youth who desperately need to know they are seen, loved and never alone, If you are looking for a place to serve outside the walls- this is it. To learn more or get involved, contact carla@rosecitykids.com; www.rosecitykids.com.
Calvin University 150th Anniversary Events - Calvin University is celebrating its 150th anniversary and you're invited to join us in marking the occasion all year long! Check the calvin.edu/150 website for details on many events going on at Calvin throughout the anniversary year. Some ways we're celebrating include Celebration Weeks on campus, Calvin On-the-Road events to 30 cities, an Anniversary Worship Celebration in March 2026, and a 150th Anniversary Hymn Text Contest.
Hymn Text Contest - Calvin University will host an Anniversary Worship Celebration in honor of its 150th year on Sunday, March 29, 2026, at the Calvin University Covenant Fine Arts Center for community worship. You can help us celebrate by participating in our 150th Anniversary Hymn Text Contest! The planning committee invites hymnwriters to submit a hymn text to be sung at the worship service; submissions must be sent via email by November 1. The winner of this contest will receive a $1,500 award.
Cambodia Discovery Tour - Join World Renew from November 14 to 24, 2025, for a journey into Cambodia’s vibrant culture and the inspiring work of local communities pursuing lasting change through partnership and hope. This is an opportunity to witness God’s love in action—experience deep connections, hear powerful stories, and see how lives are being transformed. Registration is limited and closes September 14. Learn more and register here: https://bit.ly/2025cambodiainfo
The wheels on the bus are starting to go round-and-round! Join the nine teams made up of fifty-six walkers for The Grand Parade, at Shalom Manor, on Saturday, September 20th! Funds raised will be used towards a wheelchair accessible bus. This resident suggested request will allow them to safely go on more outings to local parks, shopping, bowling, the Mum Show and more! Check out the following link: Grimsby (Shalom Manor) - The Grand Parade 2025 to see how you can get those wheels moving!
Grimsby Life Centre Fall Benefit Banquet & Silent Auction – Donations Needed! We’re excited to be planning our Fall Benefit Banquet and Silent Auction, happening on October 24 at Winona Vine Estates! As we prepare, we’re looking for donations of new or antique items. Have a duplicate bridal shower gift? Something beautiful that’s been sitting unused? This is a great opportunity to re-gift for a great cause! To donate, please contact the office at 905-309-0944 or drop items off during office hours.Thank you for your continued support of this important event!
Feeling overwhelmed with anxiety, stress or loneliness? Want to talk to one of our psychotherapists or counsellors? We are here to help ! Please call 905.309.0944. We will be answering the phones Monday - Friday daily between 9am – 4pm. Sessions typically run about an hour. All of our services are free and confidential. Sometimes we all need help!
Back by popular demand! Diaconal Ministries Canada and Resonate Global Mission are pleased to partner up for the Moving Forward in Faith Conference, happening again this year on November 14 & 15, at King's Christian Collegiate in Oakville. This year's theme is The Church Released. Workshops promise to be practical and helpful, covering topics like prayer, mission, ministry with youth and young adults, and more! We highly recommend coming with your entire ministry team! REGISTRATION WILL OPEN IN EARLY SEPTEMBER. Save the date and get your team ready to attend! Visit: https://www.resonateglobalmission.org/moving-forward-faith
Hearts Exchanged - Deepen your understanding of reconciliation with Indigenous neighbours through Hearts Exchanged this fall. Engage in honest dialogue about colonialism, learn from Indigenous perspectives grounded in scripture, and become a catalyst for reconciliation within your community. Sign-ups are now open! crcna.org/hearts-exchanged
Addiction to alcohol and/or drugs; how bad is it? Is “that bad” a skid row drunk, losing your family, home, job…….??? “That bad” is irrelevant -- what is relevant is help before it gets “that bad”, for yourself and your loved one. Knowledge is the beginning of wisdom. We are available to share our experience, strength and hope. Confidentiality guaranteed. 905-933-3994 or www.familyoutreachontario.com.
Family Outreach Ontario Christian Addiction Support Services (FOO) - FOO is a group of committed volunteers dedicated to educating and supporting the friends and families of those struggling with addiction, as well as offering direction and hope to individuals caught in the cycle of addiction. Our mission is rooted in faith and compassion, serving as a live body of believers called by God to walk alongside others in times of need. We are currently seeking passionate individuals to join our Board of Directors. If addiction and recovery are topics close to your heart, we invite you to consider lending your time and talents to this important ministry. Please contact Harry Gelderman for details: Harrygelderman1@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: God Longs to Restore His People - Amidst all the judgment in Hosea, God reveals the tender ache of a father’s heart, and we find powerful images of restoration. Join Groundwork as we study Hosea 11 and 14 and discuss how this ancient prophecy still calls us back to the heart of God and offers us a roadmap for restoration. Listen now at Groundworkonline.com and subscribe to Groundwork's weekly emails for future episodes.
Kids Corner Devotions: School -- Do It With All Your Might - Check out this week’s kids’ devotion, “School -- Do It With All Your Might” at www.kidscorner.net. A new school year can feel exciting and a little scary, and that’s okay! Whatever you do—learning, helping, or being kind—do your best like you're doing it for God, and he’ll help you along the way. Check out all the great content at kidscorner.net, like the Kids Corner Bible Story Podcast Series.
Thrive Faith Formation Tip - In the book Unsettling Truths, theologian and professor Soong-Chan Rah writes: “Repentance is not just sorrow and confession, it is the turning around of wrong behavior towards right and just action. Repentance from sinful corporate behavior therefore requires systemic change.” Write down how you are going to pair your acts of repentance from “sinful corporate behaviors,” like racism, with acts of systemic change this week. 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 Are hiring at Shalom! Working at Shalom is a great opportunity to share your gifts and talents in a wonderful workplace and to become involved in the community! We take pride in offering the best possible care and making Shalom home for our residents. Become part of the team! We are always accepting resumes for potential future hiring. Please send your resume or any questions to hr@shalommmanor.ca to see if a career with Shalom is a good fit for you!