Dear Gathering Church,

I know that we are grieving the death of “our” beloved Clare and that we are carrying great sadness for Gloria and her family. The family is grateful for all the love and support of many.

Funeral details for Clare have not yet been made. We will let you know as soon as we know, allowing you to attend the visitation and/or funeral if you are able. 

This Sunday, we will gather for morning worship at 10:30 at CMCC. We will worship God through song, scripture, prayer and reflection and also spend time in creating cards of sympathy for Gloria and offer blessing over the cards that we will deliver to her. Rocco will be bringing leadership to our service on Sunday.

Many of you have inquired about my time of vacation and mini sabbatical. Thank you for your kindness. With the Board’s blessing, I am going to delay my time off to be present to Gloria and her family and to you The Gathering Church. This is where I want to be right now as we grieve as a church family.  

Gloria is being encouraged and buoyed by the many prayers and blessings she is receiving. She wants you to know that she is reading each message but is not able to reply at this time. She also has requested no visitors just for these early days. She is surrounded by the love and care of her family.

We as her church family will offer meals and practical care in the coming weeks. We will invite you into this once the best time for this kind of support is known. Gloria sends her love to The Gathering and acknowledges our sadness at Clare’s death.

Today I phoned the CMCC front desk to let them know. When I told the front desk staff the sad news, she burst into tears. So many loved and were loved by Clare. As we pray for each other I invite you also to pray for the Chandler Mowat community. Clare was a faithful and loving weekly presence to the children and youth and at our Community Suppers. The CM community joins us in grieving.

We trust that Clare is in the loving arms of God. That he has heard “well done my good and faithful servant” and that he is worshipping God whom he followed and served so faithfully. May we find comfort in the everlasting love of God.

I am praying with you and for you in our time of sadness.  I encourage you, as you are able, to share the many memories of Clare with one another. He was a blessing.

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.  Psalm 46

May you know God’s abiding Peace

Catherine

Join us this Sunday as we join to worship together at CMCC at 10:30.

Join us next Sunday as we meet for 10:30 worship at CMCC.

Over the summer months, as rhythms change—some to a more full schedule, others to times of vacation and slower rhythms, let’s continue to be a people of prayer and encouragement to one another. Please pray for The Gathering Church—for individuals and our faith community. For our children and youth who are out of school. Please pray for the Chandler Mowat community and for our global community. 

Let’s encourage one another through emails, texts, hospitality and words of encouragement.

Let Your Light Shine

We are invited to read this prayer outloud with palms open to receive. Read it slowly. Let your requests be made known to God.

As the sun rises, Lord, Let your light shine on me.

Destroy the darkness about me, Scatter the darkness before me, Disperse the darkness behind me, Dispel the darkness within me.

Let your light shine on me.

As the sun rises, Lord, Let your light shine on me.

The warmth of your Presence, The brightness of your love, The radiance of your joy, The shining of your hope.

Let your light shine on me.

As the sun rises, Lord, Let your light shine on me.

Your light to guide, Your light to lead, Your light to direct, Your light to brighten.

Let your light shine on me.

This summer we will continue to offer rest for the many people who serve on Sunday mornings.  

Sunday August 31^st is our Jubilee Sunday. We offer this Sunday as a time of rest, reflection and anticipation of the new beginnings in September. We will not meet for morning worship.

The Gathering has reserved cabins and campsites at Hidden Acres Camp for a weekend of church camping, fellowship and worship the weekend of August 22 to 24.

In the past, this weekend has been a time of playing, enjoying creation, building up our relationships and worshipping God in the great outdoors.

To help us plan, would you please let Catherine (catherine@gatheringchurch.ca) know if you plan to attend. This can be a tentative plan. Having a general sense of numbers will help us with our reservation at HAC.   

Once again this year, we will join as a faith community to offer new back-to-school clothing for the children of Chandler Mowat.  We’re grateful for Jenny-Lee’s leadership and commitment to leading us in blessing the children in this meaningful way.

This year we’ll pack and deliver the clothing on SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 7^th.  Please save the date to join in this time of expressing God’s love to many.

Gathering Summer Camp
August 22 to 24

Women's Retreat
September 26 to 28
HAC

Our Vision and Care team members serve the church through offering prayer, care and wise leadership around our vision.  The Vision and Care team members are:  Marlene Hoekstra, Frank Hoekstra, Gloria Lebold, Doris Maiolo, and Alisha Nafziger.

The Leadership Board brings prayerful leadership to our faith community, meeting monthly to ensure we fulfill our mission and vision and faithfully oversee the many areas of ministry of The Gathering. The members of the Board are: Wazir Ally,  Craig Nafziger and Chris Pot.

• E-transfer to donations@gatheringchurch.ca.
• Cheque or cash in the white donation box at CMCC.
• Online through the donation button on our church website. (Part of your donation will cover processing and admin fees.)
• Please contact Marlene Hoekstra if you would like to arrange an alternate way of giving (click here).

Click  here for the regular MCC (Mennonite Central Committee) Newsletter.

Please submit any bulletin announcements for next week to Ruth at office@gatheringchurch.ca by Thursday at noon.