EFC Webinar: Reopening Churches: Sharing Ideas, Advice and Experience
As provincial governments gradually lift restrictions on public worship gatherings, join us for our interactive EFC webinar on June 3 at noon Eastern Time. We will speak with churches east and west, large and small, along with other experts to help us all as we enter this new phase of COVID-19.
Our host Karen Stiller will chat with guests including EFC President Bruce Clemenger; Dr. Kami Kandola, chief public health officer for the Northwest Territories; Dan Godard, lead pastor of Victory Church, Moose Jaw, Sask.; and Troy Matchett, pastor of Église de la Grace/Grace Church, Bouctouche, N.B.
During the webinar, you can type in questions and comments and get live answers from our guests. You can also send questions ahead of time by email if you like. Register now for this webinar to get a reminder email, or find a link on Facebook. Or you can also simply join us at the start at www.TheEFC.ca/Live.
World Refugee Sunday
Around the world, over 70 million people have no place to call home. World Refugee Sunday, held on two consecutive Sundays (June 14 or 21) is commemorated by the Refugee Highway Partnership in cooperation with the World Evangelical Alliance to raise awareness of and prayer for the situation of refugees and internally displaced peoples around the world.
We invite you to participate in remembering those who are persecuted and oppressed globally. Since in-person gatherings are presently restricted, we suggest you find opportunities for individual prayer, reflection and response, or incorporate items into online church services. You can find additional information and resources on our website.
New Podcast: Youth Ministry in COVID-19
What does youth ministry look like during COVID-19? In our latest podcast, Sid Koop of Truth Matters Ministries helps us tackle the big questions of doing things very differently in this strange time.
Dispatch from WEA Global Ambassador: Hope in Crisis—Episode 3
“Hope is not that which we fabricate to give us security or to make us optimistic, rather it links us into the mind and will of the Father.” Read the latest instalment in the Hope in Crisis series from World Evangelical Alliance Global Ambassador Brian Stiller, or listen to the podcast.
Print Magazine Subscriptions Now Free in Canada
Canadian print subscriptions to our award-winning magazines Faith Today and Love Is Moving are now free as of May 1, 2020! Find out why Christians across more than 40 denominations have trusted our periodicals for more than 40 years. Existing subscribers will be automatically transferred to the new free subscriptions. If you don’t already get our print magazines, sign up today at www.faithtoday.ca/subscribefree.
Online Classifieds for the Christian Community
Want to reach Canadian Christians with your help-wanted or classified advertisement? We can feature your message at www.faithtoday.ca/classifieds and at Christianity.ca for 60 days for only $10 per line (average line = six words). For even wider exposure, you can also include it in our next print issue of Faith Today for an extra $12 per line. Contact ads@faithtoday.ca for details.
Getting Reconciliation Rolling
How do we live in a world of violence and fear? What does it mean to be Christian, to be the Church here and now? These issues are tackled by Johannes Reimer & Phil Wagler in the latest blog from The Peace & Reconciliation Network of the World Evangelical Alliance.
The Virus and World Religions
How have world religions responded to the coronavirus? Faith Today columnist James Beverley looks at the surprisingly similar responses and notes that despite conspiracy theories and bigotry, the pandemic has also brought theological reflection and examples of human kindness.
Support the production of more Canadian Christian journalism like this by donating to the EFC or advertising with us.
→ Plan to Protect webinar: Understanding abuse, online, May 27
→ Canadian Council of Churches Pentecost prayer service, online, May 30
→ Day of Prayer for Christian Camps, May 31
→ EFC webinar: Re-opening Churches, online, June 3
→ CCCC webinar: Ministry work and your mental health, online, June 3
→ NAIITS Symposium Online (annual Indigenous theology conf.), online, June 4-6
→ The Big Give 2020, nationwide, June 6
→ Ending Poverty Together Online Workshop (FHC), June 11
→ The Word Awards, YouTube and Facebook, June 13
→ Preaching with the Church Fathers Online Course, June 15
→ World Refugee Sunday, June 14, June 21; World Refugee Day, June 20
→ Watercooler Break for Communications Workers (CCCA), online, June 19
→ National Indigenous People’s Day, Canada-wide, June 21
→ Christian Communicators Awards of Merit 2020, Zoom and Facebook Live, June 26
Publicize your event for free on our calendar and we will also share it in this email newsletter.
An Online Seminary Course? Why Not?
Online course registrations are now open for many seminaries and Christian postsecondary institutions. Several are listed on our online calendar (TheEFC.ca/Calendar). Be sure to check the website of your preferred institution for more learning opportunities. Or visit www.checonline.ca to search a database of Canadian Christian online courses and choose for example from 118 undergraduate courses available in summer 2020.
In Case You Missed It
→ The Blessing - Canada (video performance by worship teams from churches across Canada)
→ The EFC’s curated collection of pandemic resources for churches (contributions welcome)
→ Disney, COVID-19 and a moment for peace and reconciliation (new blog series)
→ Walking in the Shadow of Death (Faith Today article)
→ Spiritual Disciplines with Carolyn Arends (EFC podcast)
→ Letter to Federal Ministers on Funding for Anti-Trafficking Programs
→ Submission on Proposed Calgary Bylaw Banning Conversion Therapy