This Sunday we offer a warm welcome to Wanda Wagler-Martin.  Wanda will speak on “Loving Ourselves and Each Other into Wholeness”.  Wanda operates a counselling, coaching and companioning practice in Kitchener-Waterloo and brings to The Gathering wisdom, guidance and many years of experience in guiding people into God’s hope and love.  We hope that you will join us.

Next Sunday, May 7th, our morning worship focus will be on ‘El Roi’- The God Who Sees Me.

Following our morning worship service you are invited to join the TAB Workshop. 

The workshop aligns with our desire as a church to be agents of God’s Peace and Justice in the Chandler Mowat community and in our own families, school communities, neighbourhoods and workplaces. 

The workshop is for youth and adults. We are deeply grateful to MCC for generously offering this workshop to our congregation at no cost. 

Training Active Bystanders Workshop (TAB)
Sunday, May 7^th –1:00-3:00pm at CMCC
following our morning worship service.   

Lunch is provided for participants.

Childcare is provided. 

TAB empowers bystanders, which means each of us, and gives us the competencies we need if we decide to take action when we witness something we feel is unfair, or wrong, or troubling. TAB helps participants to:

• analyze situations where harm may be occurring
• recognize when they are bystanders
• evaluate the consequences for everyone involved
• interrupt harm doing and generate positive actions by others

Everyone is encouraged to participate in this meaningful and practical training. 

Please sign up for the workshop by emailing Ruth at (click here) by May 1^st.  Please indicate if you require childcare.

The Gathering Church has WONDERFUL youth, and we would love for you to have the opportunity to get to know them better and see this group in action!  Shhhhh (it's a surprise) -- we will be holding a surprise progressive supper event for the youth as part of their end-of-the-school-year celebration.  We are still looking for two volunteers who would host the youth group and leaders (up to 16 people in total -- and we enjoy each other so don't mind being squished together, eating on the floor, etc.) in their homes for either an appetizer/salad course or main course.  On Saturday, June 17th from 4:30-8:30 pm, the youth will travel from home to home to have each course of their meal. 

If this sounds like something you would like to participate in hosting or have any questions about, please let Meredith (meredith.bigham@gmail.com) know by May 7th.  And thank you for keeping this a secret from the youth!   

As a faith community we continue to participate in Snack Attack on Tuesday afternoons with the House of Friendship. It is wonderful to be amongst the children and youth of the CM community, to listen to their stories and be present to them. You are welcome to join on Tuesday afternoons.

May 1, 8 pm - 9:30 pm at The Space
May 15, 8 pm - 9:30 pm at The Space
May 29, 8 pm - 9:30 pm at The Space

Sunday June 11^th —Gathering Church “Praise, Play and Potluck”.  Join us at Hidden Acres Camp from 3:00 to 7:30pm for a time of outdoor worship, activities at the camp and a potluck meal together. 

We will not be meeting for morning worship.  Please join us at Hidden Acres.

August 25th to 27^th—The Gathering Weekend Camping at Hidden Acres.  Join us as we spend a weekend together at the beautiful Hidden Acres Camp.  Together we’ll enjoy play, worship, campfires, laughter and fellowship.  There are options to camp or to stay in a cabin, to come for the weekend or to come for a day.  More details to follow. 

This weekend, our denomination, MCEC, is joining for their AGM. You are  welcome to join some sessions via live stream - the link is below.

Please join in praying for God's presence, guidance and hope as many churches join together this weekend.

Livestreaming is available for MCEC's Friday night public intercultural worship service and for Saturday's Annual Church Gathering. Streaming begins at 7:00 pm on Friday and at 8:45 am on Saturday.  Connect at www.mcec.ca

We are currently accepting applications for Cabin Leaders, Lifeguards, Cooks and more. Apply to be part of our enthusiastic team of young people seeking to make an impact this summer!

For more information or to apply go to www.hiddenacres.ca or contact Emily Taylor at emily@hiddenacres.ca

Greetings in this season of spring! The buds emerging, grass turning green, and flowers blossoming are glimmers of hope that the dark days of winter are behind us yet again. Every year this cycle repeats, and we see signs of life and new growth where before there was bare dirt or branches. It feels like The Gathering Church is also in a season of new growth and life. It's such a blessing to worship together on Sundays and to encourage each other in community.

We are happy to share that our congregation is in a hopeful financial position this spring. A bit of context for those who are new to TGC: In the past couple of years, our congregation had approved "deficit budgets" with the intention of using cash reserves as necessary. Even though our congregation and giving patterns changed significantly following the pandemic, our savings from years of plenty allowed us to continue our regular programming, caring for the spiritual and practical needs of our congregation and the Chandler community despite the uncertainty and unpredictability of pandemic living.

It is with gratitude and praise that we share our financial update from Q1. Our budget for 2023, as approved at the AGM, is $188,405. At the end of Q1, we have received 22% of our budget through donations, and our donations are keeping in close step with our expenses. We continue to have cash reserves to carry us through shortfalls in giving as needed throughout the year.

• 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 Meredith Bigham if you would like to arrange an alternate way of giving (click here).

Check out our virtual bulletin board! You'll find various community events, activities and opportunities.

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.