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Greetings Gathering Church,

As summer draws to a close, the staff team and I look forward to this new ministry year at The Gathering Church. Over the summer months we have taken time to rest and refresh.  We have also spent time in prayer for you, the church and the Chandler Mowat community, planning for the new ministry year and giving thanks to God for His faithfulness to us as a people who seek to grow in our faith, serve as the hands and feet of Jesus and to follow God’s calling on our individual lives and as a gathered community of faith.

We look forward to gathering together for worship and fellowship as we begin this new season.  Each of us is encouraged to be praying for this new ministry year; inviting God to be our guide, our wisdom, our unity and our strength.  Pray for the children and their leaders as they begin a new year of learning about God, faith and each other.  Pray for our youth and their leaders as they explore biblical themes, grow in supporting one another and in their understanding of God, themselves and the world around them.  Pray for the Chandler Mowat community, this community where God has called us to settle in and bear God’s light and hope.  Pray for our church Board and Vision and Care, for wisdom, attentiveness to God and care for the growth and matters of the church.  Pray for the staff team as they lead, discern and seek to reflect God’s love and hope to the congregation and community.  And pray for each other.  God has formed us as a family of faith where we are to pray for one another, weep with one another and encourage one another.

Ellen and the Kids’ Zone team can’t wait to welcome the children.  Together they will explore the stories of the bible and reflect their meaning through creativity, song, games and crafts.  Kids’ Zone will begin again on September 20th.

The Youth Leadership Team eagerly anticipates joining together to hear about everyone’s summer and how the new school year is going.  We welcome those new to youth with joy!  The youth will kick-off the year with a Youth Retreat at Hidden Acres on September 18 and 19.  Youth will continue to meet at Shantz Mennonite Church on Wednesday nights.

Snack Attack and High Schoolers’ Suppers will begin again in September.  We seek to bring God’s love and care as well as practical resources to the community through the building up of relationships and offering healthy food.

Sunday mornings continue to be a time of worshipping God together, growing in our faith and offering care and support for one another.  Thank you to the MANY who serve on Sunday mornings, allowing us to create a welcoming sanctuary and meaningful expressions of worship.  

We begin this new ministry year with our Clothing Distribution.  On Sunday September 13th we will gather at 10:30 at CMCC to compile clothing packages for children and youth in the Chandler Mowat community.  We’ll work together, pray for those receiving the clothing and deliver the clothing with love and blessings of hope.  Please join us as together we become the hands and feet of Jesus.  We will enjoy lunch and conversation after the deliveries.

We have moved into our new office space at CRCC on the corner of Bleams and Fisher-Hallman.  Catherine and Rocco invite you to visit them at this new office space. We look forward to settling in!  

Isaiah 55:3 in the New Living Translation reads:

“Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.”

Each of us is encouraged to enter this new ministry year with our “ears wide open” to God’s Word, love, direction, hope and correction.  As we listen to God together, may we find life in abundance as God’s gathered people, The Gathering Church.

 With God’s power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine.  To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen.(Ephesians 3:20-21)

May it be so!

God’s Peace to each of you,

Catherine

Catherine and the Gathering Staff Team