Sign Up Now for Thursday Book Club on Flourishing Congregations
The EFC Book Club is a new opportunity to meet with an author and other readers to discuss a book and what it means in our lives and ministries. On Nov. 18 we will explore what it looks like for a congregation to flourish, based on Signs of Life: Catholic, Mainline, and Conservative Protestant Congregations in Canada (Tyndale Academic, 2021). Even if you haven’t read the book, you will still benefit from the dialogue. Join co-author Joel Thiessen of Ambrose University, engage in a live Q&A and take part in breakout group discussion. Register at TheEFC.ca/BookClub. (Event lasts 90 minutes, starts at 7 p.m. Eastern.)
New Faith Trends Podcast Series
Faith Trends Podcast is launching this month as an initiative of the EFC’s research department to better connect research with its ministry implications for the Church in Canada. Our vision for the podcast is to highlight Canadian researchers, both established and emerging, and provide a platform for their work. We want to help build a bridge connecting researchers to ministry practitioners who might benefit from their work. You can listen to an introduction and the first episode now.
Crisis in Creation Care: Faith Today Article
The United Nations Climate Change Conference has just wrapped up in Glasgow, Scotland. Read this Faith Today article by climate change scientist Katharine Hayhoe on why and how Christians should care. Aussi disponible en français.
Get more unique Canadian Christian journalism like this by signing up at FaithToday.ca/SubscribeFree.
Join Us for a Canadian Nationwide Prayer Event Nov. 23
The EFC and ten prayer networks are planning an online prayer event. We will worship and pray together for the renewal of the practice of prayer, that it may lead to fruitful community and mission in Canada through local churches. Our text is John 15:7-8. Please join us and invite others in your network for this Zoom 90-minute Canadian nationwide prayer event starting at 11 a.m. Eastern. Register at TheEFC.ca/NationwidePrayer.
Be Kind to Your MP Campaign
The EFC is encouraging Canadian Christians to reach out to their newly elected (or returning) members of Parliament with a friendly greeting this month. Learn more.
Reconciling Blog: Moving on from November 11
Beyond November 11, let's commit to ongoing remembrance of all who have been impacted and continue to be impacted by war and the evil that comes with war, write Greg Reed and friends in the latest installment of our Faith Today website series on reconciling. Beyond remembrance, they remind us, we are called to be blessed peacemakers.
EFC Vice-President to Speak to CBOQ
EFC Vice-President David Guretzki is speaking on November 20 to the Trent Valley Association of Baptist Churches (Central and Eastern Ontario) at their fall ministerial rally. This is a regional gathering of Canadian Baptists of Ontario and Quebec.
Now Hiring: Major Gifts Officer for Eastern Canada
The EFC is seeking a major gifts officer to work in Eastern Canada (Ontario and Maritimes). We recently revised the position description (Oct. 20, 2021). Get details on this full-time position at TheEFC.ca/Jobs.
New EFC Weekly Prayer Prompts
This week’s prayer request is about euthanasia and assisted suicide. Pray for opportunities to care for and support our neighbours who suffer; for those who feel life is not worth living and for those who are suffering; for our culture to be life-affirming; for all of us to recognize that God is sovereign, and that autonomy is not the ultimate good; for strength and wisdom for health care providers and institutions.
You can learn more on this topic at TheEFC.ca/Euthanasia. Each week at we rotate through a prayer request from each of these five areas: Sanctity of Life, Care for the Vulnerable, Church and Mission, Family and Community, Religious Freedom. We also list an EFC affiliate group to pray for.
This week, we highlight Shalem Mental Health Network, which develops new, innovative partnerships between communities and professional mental health services—using the strengths of each to effectively meet real mental health needs.
Covid 19 and the restrictions have a significant impact on our lives. The EFC continues to offer new Friday@4 pandemic-focused prayer suggestions each week at TheEFC.ca/Covid-19.
Looking to Hire or be Hired?
Faith Today's website currently has online classified listings for pastor positions in the Ontario cities of Uxbridge, Erin, Port Hope and Toronto as well as New Glasgow, N.S., a donor care rep, young moms program leader, chief financial officer, an accounting/finance associate, a major gifts officer, professors of counselling psychology and environmental science, and also some part-time positions (manager of agency collaboration, youth ministry leader, student life advisor). Check it out or post your help wanted ads at faithtoday.ca/classifieds.
→ Exploring the Jesus-Centred Way in a Polarized World (Jesus Collective), online, Nov. 17
→ Canadian Indigenous Realities and the Church (Ray Aldred/FFTH), online, Nov. 17 and Dec. 1
→ Preparing Him Room: An Advent Workshop (Renovaré), online, Nov. 18
→ Congregational Flourishing EFC Book Club with Joel Thiessen, online, Nov. 18
→ Called: Global Conference for Women in Leadership (Women Together), online 2hrs/day, Nov. 18-20
→ Tips from Winners of Christian Communicator Awards (CCCA), online, Nov. 19
→ Restore Conference (Renovaré Canada), online, Nov. 19-20
→ Crieff Hills Women’s Retreat, Puslinch, Ont., Nov. 19-21
→ EFC Speaker at Ontario Baptist Group (CBOQ), online, Nov. 20
→ Gather Rise Women’s Conference, Mississauga and online, Nov. 20
→ Share the Light Online Conference (Share the Light), online, Nov. 20
→ Julian of Norwich, A Companion for Our Times (The King’s University), online, Nov. 22
→ Canadian Nationwide Prayer: Abiding in Christ for Fruitful Community and Mission (EFC/ten other prayer networks), online, Nov. 23
→ HR Practices and Consulting Services Info Session (Cdn. Centre for Chr. Charities), online, Nov. 24
→ On Bringing Love (Imago/Intriciti), online, Nov. 24
→ Lessons from a Church Engaged with Muslims in their Neighbourhood (LMT), online, Nov. 24
→ Ending Poverty Together Workshop (Food for the Hungry), online, Nov. 27
→ EFC Presentation at Red Deer Church (Living Stones Church), Alberta, Nov. 28
→ Married to the Minister: Being Well in Good Times and Bad, online, Nov. 29
→ Soul Care in Age of Disconnection (The King’s University), online, Nov. 29
→ Married to the Minister: Being Well in Good Times and Bad (JFM/Karen Stiller), online, Nov. 29
→ Entrepreneurial Leaders Organization National Forum (ELO), online, Nov. 30
→ EFC Speaker at Kingston Church, Kingston Dec. 5
In Case You Missed It
→ EFC Civic Engagement Kit (newly revised info on how, why and when to contact government)
→ How to Become an Intergenerational Church (Faith Today article)
→ Faith Today’s Guide to 2021 Charity Gift Catalogues