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FIRST QUARTER 2018 FRIENDSHIP NEWSLETTER Faith. Friendships. Belonging. A Publication of Friendship Ministries
FIRST QUARTER 2018
FRIENDSHIP NEWSLETTER Faith. Friendships. Belonging.
A Publication of Friendship Ministries
don’t we all belong together in the family of God? Don’t we all belong around that “dinner table,” laughing, crying, praying, talking about our day, and eating together?
My prayer is that as we continue to look for ways to share our lives together, we will remember that true friendship takes time, day after day, month after month, and year after year. Let’s set our minds and our hearts to look for those opportunities in every aspect of our lives: our work, our rest, our play, our worship, and yes…even our meals.
Please pass the salt.
In Him,
Tom
Tom VanWingerden
Executive Director, Friendship Ministries [email protected] 888.866.8966
For more information about TOGETHER, visitwww.togethersmallgroups.org
FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
2 | Friendship Ministries
Some of you who know me well, know that I graduated from college with a degree in Philosophy. Those of you who know me well also know that I rarely quote (or even recall) much from my studies of the famous, historical philosophers. Fortunately, there are people like theologian/philosopher Jean Vanier who help us remember some of the wisdom from the past. I recently heard an interview in which Vanier quotes Aristotle, saying:
“In order to really get to know someone, you must eat a sack of salt with them.”
When I heard this, my first thought was wow, that would be a really salty meal. But as I began to remember how to think like a student of philosophy, I realized what both Vanier and Aristotle wanted to convey: to really get to know someone, you must eat enough meals together to use up a full sack of salt. Even with my taste for salt, this would require numerous meals—multiple opportunities to come together and share food. True friendship takes time, recipes, and commitment.
I am struck by how this analogy gets at the core of what we are doing with our new Bible study, TOGETHER. Taking time together to study how God’s word applies to our lives is very important. But it is also important, as we gather for Bible study, to create opportunities for us to share our lives with one another, to come together and be engaged with each other. As people who are created in God’s image,
NEW YEAR- NEW AMISTAD GROUPS!Thanks to your contribution, we have been able to send Amistad programs to the following new Amistad groups:
ARGENTINA• 12 Friends at Iglesia Sociedad Cristiana (Christian Society Church) of General San Martin,
Mendoza, Argentina at the Bread of Heaven Foundation with Pastor and Director Juan de Dios Lucero.
• 12 Friends at Iglesia Movimiento Cristiano Misionera (Christian Missionary Movement Church) of Santa Cruz, Argentina with Sunday School Director Analia Pinto.
• 10 Friends at Iglesia Asociacion Cristiana (Christian Association Church) of General Alvear, Mendoza, Argentina with Pastor Libera Fabio.
• 7 Friends at Iglesia Cristiana Pentecostal de Victoria (Pentecostal Church of Victoria) of La Pampa, Argentina with Pastor Jaime Olivares.
• 5 Friends at Iglesia Pentecostal Siloe (Pentecostal Church of Siloe) of Mendoza, Argentina with Pastor Alvarez.
• 12 Friends at Ministerio de Capellania en Los Hospitales (Ministry of Chaplaincy in Hospitals) of Palmira City, San Martin, Argentina with Pastor Fernando Ocampo.
• Iglesia Evangelica Pentecostal (Evangelical Pentecostal Church) Ministerio Real del Padre (Our Father Ministry) of Provincia Sur Mendoza, Argentina with Pastor Jorge López.
• 6 Friends at Iglesia Refugio de Dios (Refuge of God Church) of Chapanay, Argentina with Pastors Santos y Daniela Muñoz.
CUBA • 5 Friends at Redes de Esperanza (Network of Hope) of Provincia Cienfuegos, Cuba with Pastor and
Director Emilio Ercia Jáuregui.
• 7 Friends at Fraternidad Bautista, Baptist Fellowship, of Sancti Spiritus, Cuba with Director and Pastor Osmanys Denis Perez.
First Quarter 2018 | 3
NOTAS DE AMISTADElizabeth Rodriguez Ministerio Amistad [email protected] 954.514.7960
We are still offering FREE curriculum to Canadian small groups due to your generosity during Ride for Refuge! For more details, visit togethersmallgroups.org
I’d like to tell you a wonderful story about a church in Leduc, AB. They started a Friendship Club some ten years ago, and have seen a steady increase of friends through the years. This club is well run, they have lots of mentors and other volunteers, and it’s a place where both friends and mentors love to be. When I visited them recently, thirteen of their friends were in church for a Sunday service. No, not a Friendship service, just a regular, cold January Sunday. What a blessing for the friends and for the whole congregation!
We are starting to see many of our friends become more involved with church, something that has been in our prayers for years. Thanks in part to the resources and support provided by Friendship Ministries, our churches are finally becoming true places of belonging for ALL of God’s people, no matter their heritage, their socioeconomic standing, or even their intellect.
It is your continued support, both in prayer and with your tangible gifts, that makes this happen.
Would you consider supporting Friendship Ministries with your hard-earned dollars? We promise to use them well, to help churches and communities become what God wants them to be…places of belonging, places where we can share God’s word and grow together in faith.
Is your group interested in receiving a visit from Friendship Ministries Canada staff?
Contact Heather at [email protected] for more information!
Heather DeBoer
WHY DO WE DO WHAT WE DO?
Did you know that HALF of all 224 CRC churches in Canada have a Friendship group? If you know a church that should be on that list, please introduce them to [email protected] | 800.730.3490 x 4279
E-NEWS SIGNUPwww.friendship.org/newsletter-signup
A celebration of community and belonging from a Friendship group in last summer.
FROM INCLUSION TO BELONGING By Sherry TenClay, MPA, CPPOur church has recently incorporated a set of congregational values:
• Ours are Kingdom Values because we are a new creation in Christ
• Faith is important to us. We grow in faith individually and together.
• Family is important to us. Everyone belongs and each one is valued.
• Integrity is important to us. We can be trusted to do what we say we will do, and be honest when we fail.
Articulating values is great; but it is one thing to to create a list of intentions and another to see them come to life. About a year ago, several adults from a nearby group home began attending worship with their caregivers. One of the participants chose to sit in the front row rather than in the back with his housemates. Each Sunday, Tom (not his real name) lined up his teddy bear, tiger, and books. Each Sunday we all shook hands with Tom, the teddy, and the
“REJOICE ALWAYS, PRAY CONTINUALLY, GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES; FOR THIS IS GOD’S WILLFOR YOU IN CHRIST JESUS.”I THESSALONIANS 5: 16-18
Looking for a fresh perspective, new tools, and an infusion of inspiration for your conversations with God? Released in January, this unit on PRAYER will invite you into new ways and reasons to “pray continually.”
TOGETHER is an innovative, inclusive Bible study that is designed to enable us to create a more welcoming community where all can participate fully as part of the body of Christ. togethersmallgroups.org
tiger during our greeting time. Each Sunday when he saw me walk to the front and pick up a microphone, he smiled and pulled his own microphone out of his pocket. For many weeks he lined up everything in the front pew, then sang into his microphone whenever we sang. His entire face lit up during this part of worship.
One Sunday morning, Tom stood to sing, then moved to the front, sandwiching himself between two of us. He grinned at me, laid his head on my shoulder, and lifted his microphone to his lips. Concerned that his caregivers would think this had violated some boundary, I told them how overjoyed I was to see this demonstration of moving from inclusion to belonging. Now, he’s part of the worship team in front every Sunday morning, sometimes with his tiger, and always full of smiles ready to praise God, knowing that he truly belongs.
CHURCH PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM Heartfelt thanks to these new and renewing members of our Church Partnership Program: Sustaining
Barrhaven Fellowship CRC of Nepean, ONCovenant CRC of Appleton, WICovenant CRC of Woodstock, ONCrosspoint CRC of Brampton, ONDresden CRC of Dresden, ONFirst CRC of Artesia, CAFirst CRC of Ripon, CAFirst CRC of Vancouver, BCFourteenth Street CRC of Holland, MIFriendship Bible Ministries of Willmar, MNHope CRC of Brantford, ONHope CRC of Stony Plain, ABMaranatha CRC of Cambridge, ONMountainview CRC of Grimsby, ONProvidence CRC of Grand Rapids, MIRehoboth Fellowship CRC of Etobicoke, ONTrinity CRC of Edmonton, ABWestwood CRC of Kalamazoo, MI
Growing
Anaheim CRC of Anaheim, CAAylmer CRC of Aylmer, ONBeaverdam CRC of Hudsonville, MIBethel CRC of Lacombe, ABCalvin CRC of Millgrove, ONCornerstone CRC of Chilliwack, BCEast Strathroy CRC of Strathroy, ONEbenezer CRC of Leota, MNEmmanuel CRC of Calgary, ABFirst CRC of Kingston, ONFirst CRC of Red Deer, ABFirst CRC of Sarnia, ONFriendship Club of St Catharines, ONMaitland River Community Church of Wingham, ONMaranatha CRC of Calgary, ABMaranatha CRC of Lethbridge, ABMedicine Hat CRC of Medicine Hat, ABOrangeville CRC of Orangeville, ONShawnee Park CRC of Grand Rapids, MI
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St Albert CRC of St Albert, ABStratford CRC of Stratford, ONTrinity CRC of St Catharines, ONWestmount CRC of Strathroy, ONWilliamsburg CRC of Williamsburg, ON
Expanding
Clearview CRC of Oakville, ONEbenezer CRC of Leduc, ABFaith CRC of Burlington, ONFellowship CRC of Brighton, ONGoshen CRC of Goshen, NYGrace Community Church of Oak Lawn, ILHeritage Fellowship CRC of Brampton, ONImmanuel CRC of Caledon, ONPalmerston CRC of Palmerston, ONRiverside CRC of Wellandport, ONSmithers CRC of Smithers, BCWaterloo CRC of Waterloo, ON
Global Outreach
Community CRC of Demotte, INCommunity CRC of Kitchener, ONFirst CRC of Ripon, CAImmanuel CRC of Caledon, ONPlymouth Heights CRC of Grand Rapids, MI
WELCOME TO FRIENDSHIP MINISTRIES Join us in welcoming the following groups: Friendship Group of Santa Rosa, CAGreenridge Baptist Church of Boyds, MDMountain View United Church of Aurora, COMt Pleasant United Methodist Church of Terre Haute, INNorthview Church in Indiana (Carmel Campus)St John’s Lutheran Church of Effingham, IL
SUPPORT FRIENDSHIP MINISTRIESYour financial gifts enable us to carry out the work of this ministry. Give online at: www.friendship.org/give
Mail a check to:Friendship Ministries 2215 29th Street SE, Ste. B6Grand Rapids, MI 49508WE ARE GRATEFUL
FOR YOUR GIFTS IN MEMORY OF:
Mail a cheque to:Friendship Ministries PO Box 1636, Stn LCD 1Burlington, ON L7R 5A1
Jerry Lee Bouwkamp
Paul Buursma
WE WOULD LOVETO HEAR FROM YOU:
Friendship Ministries2215 29th Street SE, Suite B6Grand Rapids, MI 49508
888.866.8966
www.friendship.org
www.friendship.org/blog
facebook.com / friendmin
@ FriendsMins
Friendship Ministries Canada PO Box 1636 Stn LCD 1Burlington, ON L7R 5A1
First Quarter 2018 | 7
HERE’S A TIP: “Minister to caregivers of Friends by bringing in a guest speaker - perhaps a yoga instructor to share relaxation and stretching techniques, or a grief recovery counselor to explore issues related to grieving.”
- First United Methodist Church of Saline, MI, published in 2006
WE NEED MORE STORIES Does your Friendship group minister in a unique way? Share your story with us to be featured in upcoming newsletters and spread the inspiration! Please send tips to [email protected].
UPCOMING EVENTSAging: Challenges and OpportunitiesApril 21, 2018 | Woodstock, Ontario
We all age, including people who have disabilities. Although this training event doesn’t necessarily have a disability focus, it will include some helpful resources for Friendship group leaders and mentors. Plus, you can stop by the Friendship Ministries booth to meet Heather and learn more about our program.
Learn more and register at friendship.org/events
Friendship FestivalMay 12, 2018 | Oakville, Ontario
Join us at Clearview Church in Oakville, ON, from 10:00-2:00 for a day of games, music, and fun! Please RSVP to Marlene ([email protected]). Learn more at We LoveOurFriends.com, or join us on Facebook at Friendship Festival Ontario.
Golf Outing 2018August 13, 2018 | Grand Rapids, MI
Save the date for our next Golf Outing at Railside Golf Club!
Friendship MinistriesPO Box 1636, Stn LCD 1Burlington, ON L7R 5A1
