ONMB Newsletter | June Issue
Greetings Friends,
I’m sure you can still recall your feelings back in March when our province suddenly shut down. It was surreal and an unprecedented moment in our lives. Remarkably we have been adapting to a new way of living and serving. The doors may have been closed but the church remains alive and well. Today, June 12th, and three months later, the process of reopening has begun. In particular, churches in every region across Ontario may again offer services (up to 30% of capacity). How do we respond? Should we rush to reopen? What questions should be foremost on our minds? If we do embark on this new opportunity in the next few weeks, how do we ensure it will be safe? What are the guidelines we must follow?
Please join your colleagues for a Team of Teams Zoom Call on Tuesday 1:00 – 2:15pm to discuss and reflect. We are gathering the best resources to help you in this moment (they are on our website). Given the diversity of our contexts and the multiplicity of opinions, we need much wisdom and grace in this moment.
ONMB Pastors' & Leaders' Day of Prayer
June 18, 9-1pm
The pandemic has brought to light much in our souls; dependencies, fatigue, strength, resilience, doubt and more…much that Jesus offers to pick and carry for us and much that He has to say to us.
This virtual retreat is designed to bring us to Jesus in order to unburden, to join his Passion, and to re-join His resurrection. The format of the retreat will move between times together in prayer exercises and sharing, and time alone with God.
Ingrid Reichard will offer 3 areas of prayer as a focus for each segment. Each segment will involve some alone time and some together time.
Please join the meeting in a place where you are not likely to be disturbed and where you can walk outside on your own.
10:30 am – 11:30 am – Unless a grain falls to the ground and dies it cannot produce life – dying
11:30 am – 1:00 pm – The Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you – resurrection
RSVP to klee@onmb.org to receive the Zoom link.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” James 1:2-5
Ed Willms,
Executive Director
