photo Jill Homer

FXCA update january 2012

Happy New Year everyone!

The Fresh Expressions Canada (FXCA) Team, is a team of committed volunteers, who in addition to each following their chosen careers, also lend their significant gifts to our shared goal, “to encourage the development of fresh expressions of church alongside more traditional expressions, with the aim of seeing a more mission-shaped church take shape throughout the country.”

FXCA team member and web manager Ryan Sim,  has been busy for the last year leading reconnect, a new church community of young professionals in downtown Toronto with little or no Christian background, based out of St. Paul’s Bloor Street. The New Year sees him embarking on a new project which he describes in his blog, Adventures in Church Planting. “For the next six months, I’ve been asked to research a new church plant in Ajax, Ontario, a suburban community in the Greater Toronto Area.  All sorts of people have asked me great questions:

• What kind of research has to happen?
• What do you hope to learn?
• How do you go about building a team?
• What will the church be like, and where?
• When/where will you start Sunday services?
• and more.

So I’ve decided to start blogging, in hopes that others can follow along and support me, pray for me, challenge me, and maybe even learn something (whether from successes or disasters!).”

Another team member, John Bowen MSM coordinator, is on sabbatical from Wycliffe College this semester. Two of his projects are:

(a) Editing a book of fifteen essays by various authors on the church’s mission in Canada today. This will be published by Wipf and Stock, hopefully early in 2013. (John is the editor of  “The Missionary Letters of Vincent Donovan. 1957–1973“, also published by Wipf and Stock.)

(b) Reviewing the evaluations from those who field-tested the Reimagining Church course in the Fall, and making appropriate changes. The revised course will then be available to all who want to start mission-shaped conversations where they live.

Sue & Andy Kalbfleisch have been hard at work for much of 2011 filming and editing “A Missional Road Trip,” a 30 minute documentary  for the Diocese of Toronto. Watch it here. In addition Sue is the  Messy Church Canada coordinator, as well as coordinating Vision Days for FXCA.

The team really appreciate your support. Please pray for us as we go into a FXCA Consultation with Dave Male Feb. 1st & 2nd in Toronto.

Vital Chuch Planting Conference, Toronto, Feb. 2-4 2012

The Missional Roadmap. The conference will be taking a deliberately practical focus this year to help dioceses, parishes and teams begin new missional projects, church plants and fresh expressions of church. Watch a short promotional video here.

• dream dreams
• ask questions
• share your story
• think about what it is to be church
• find out about fresh expressions
• discover resources
• build networks and relationships

The first Fresh Expressions Vision Day to be held in Saskatchewan, will happen on Saturday February 25th in Regina. This will be a wonderful opportunity for all members of the Christian community in that city to join in a highly interactive and inspiring day. For more information and to print out a registration form click here.

The next Messy Fiesta will be held at Christ the King – Dietrich Bonhoeffer Lutheran Church in Thornhill ON on February 18th – click here  for more information. For more information about Messy Church in Canada, please contact Sue Kalbfleisch at sue.kalbfleisch@freshexpressions.ca and check out www.facebook.com/Messy ChurchCanada

That’s about it for now! Check at our website www.freshexpressions.ca for the latest news.

Please keep us in your prayers.

God bless,

Nick

Nick Brotherwood

FXCA team leader on behalf of the FXCA team

“Northern Lights,” by Christer Mattson in Turku, Finland.

december 2012  update

Hello there!

December already. I am sitting down to write the last Fresh Expressions Canada update for 2011. There is a very light dusting of snow outside. Amazing! Where did those eleven months go? Some of you  will be reading this update for the first time especially those who were at the various Fresh Expressions Canada related events over the past month or so. It has been a very busy few weeks, with trips to Winnipeg, for the National Church Planting Congress; to Fredericton, for a day with clergy, a Vision Day and then preaching at the Cathedral ; to Toronto for teaching in the MSM course and various meetings. Other members of the FXCA team have been hard at work making this year’s Mission Shaped Ministry happen, testing our new resource with the working title  Re-Imagining Church, and designing the next Vital Church Planting East conference.

Over the past year as well as talking about being a church shaped by and for God’s mission, I have found myself saying that we need to be an increasingly Jesus-centred church in order to become more mission-shaped. This always begs the question, “Well, aren’t we?” Which I think is a very good question. Of course all Christians think that we should be, and hope that we are, Jesus-centred, but if I am honest I have to admit that the reality of my life is often far from the cherished ideal. As we approach the celebration of the incarnation, God becoming one of us, God’s “moving into the neighbourhood”, as Eugene Peterson puts it, it is salutary to compare the story of that becoming with our own lives. God the Son leaving the heavenly glories to enter life in all its messiness, where others often make decisions for us, and limitations abound. God’s Son willing to enter into our lives motivated by love. How does that contrast with the way I live my life, and what motivates my choices? Not so much “comfort and joy”, more like, “ Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith.”

So we can choose to use this time to reflect on the progress of becoming more Jesus centred, and how we ourselves are being shaped by and for God’s mission in this his rebel world. Not to beat ourselves up, but to be realistic about how far we have come and how far there is still to go. At the same time remembering that, “The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!”

“Re-Imagining Church” course undergoes testing.

This brand new course is nearly finished being road-tested and the evaluations will soon be in. If early indications are anything to go by, it could be a winner! In fact one bishop who has tested the course, is threatening to give the course in three locations next year. Watch the FXCA website for news.

Some interesting events to plan to be part of in 2012!

Vital Church Planting East Conference 2012

The Missional Roadmap

Where do we go now?

February 2-4, 2012

St. Paul’s Bloor Street, Toronto, Ontario

Everything seems set for another high quality VCP conference in early February.  The speaker (Dave Male from Cambridge UK) has booked his ticket, focused and practical workshops are falling into place, and registration is up and running on the website.  There is even an early bird rate of 10% off the full price if you register by the end December. Full details are on the VCP website here.

Messy Church (MC) is growing across Canada as a wonderful fresh expression that reaches families with young children.  Messy Church aims to create the opportunity for adults and children to enjoy expressing their creativity, to gather together for a meal, to experience worship and to have fun within a church context – generally on a weekday evening.

Since April 2007, when Nancy Rowe started Canada’s first Messy Church at St. George’s Anglican Church in Georgetown ON, there are now Messy Churches in every province. Anglicans, Lutherans and United Church folks are learning about Messy Church through workshops and Messy Fiestas (a full day MC workshop) and there is now an ecumenical MC in Thorold Ontario with five denominations partnered together (Anglican, Presbyterian, Christian Reformed, United Church and Baptist) meeting in a local Community Centre.

The next Messy Fiesta will be held at Christ the King – Dietrich Bonhoeffer Lutheran Church in Thornhill ON on February 18th – click here  for more information. For more information about Messy Church in Canada, please contact Sue Kalbfleisch at sue.kalbfleisch@freshexpressions.ca and check out www.facebook.com/Messy ChurchCanada

The first Fresh Expressions Vision Day in Saskatchewan!

Regina Vision Day on  Saturday February  25th 2012.

All Saints Anglican Church
142 Massey Road
Regina SK, S4S 4M9

306.586.442

Thanks for all your prayers, comments and encouragement throughout this past year. We greatly value them, and you!

God bless,

Have a good Advent  followed by a joyful celebration of Christmas!

from the Fresh Expressions Canada Team

Ryan Sim

Thomas Brauer

Sue Kalbfleisch

Connie denBok

John Bowen

Jenny Andison

fxca november 2011 update

Hello there!

Becoming a more Jesus-centred and mission-shaped church (or person) is not something which typically happens particularly quickly or easily. It is going to take time, and therefore we need to be in this for the long haul. Of course this goes against the grain of our instant, just in time, society, which finds me moaning  about slow download times and seething with impatience. Too often I forget that God works mainly “behind the scenes” and that fact frustrates me. I want to see what is going on and I get antsy when I cannot.

As we enter the winter season of dormancy, it is easy to be fooled into thinking “nothing is happening”, and to forget that God never stops working. So we do our best to continue what we believe God has called us to do, trusting that, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”  Ecclesiastes 3:11  (TNIV)

New video of Bishop Steven Croft

Bishop Steve Croft sat in front of our camera for half an hour last June, and answered twelve of our skill-testing questions! Watch the latest one “If I am the Rector of a parish, do I have to do all this myself?”. Thanks to Andy & Sue Kalbfleisch for doing such a superb job with the videoing and editing. Thanks to Bishop Steve too for his patience with our incessant questioning.

We will be releasing a new video each week on the FXCA website. So please keep your eyes open for them!

The next two in a series of podcasts featuring all of the  plenary sessions and some of the workshops from this year’s Vital Church Planting Conferences are ready. Each month another set will be posted on this site.

Here is the podcast featuring Duke Vipperman on “Missional Coaching. ”

Jenny Andison

John Bowen

“Teaching the Faith to Beginners,” featuring Jenny Andison and John Bowen can be heard here.

My  travels

Recently I had the privilege of being asked to speak at my own diocese’s annual synod here in Montreal, on the subject of “Mission Shaped Church” (Montreal mission shaped church October 29 2011)

I will be presenting at “BREAKING OUT!/SORTIR DES SENTIERS BATTUS!” A Bilingual Conference on Mission: Nov. 7-9, Montreal. Later in the month I will be at Re:CALL the National Church Planting Congress in Winnipeg, MB. I’ll be co-presenting a workshop and enjoying the stimulating people I always meet up with at these bienniel events. Even later I will visit the Diocese of Fredericton for a day with clergy on Friday Nov. 25th and a Vision Day on the Saturday (see Vision Day section below for more information).

I am already beginning to get excited about next year’s Vital Church Planting East conference

The Missional Roadmap
Where do we go now?                              February 2-4, 2012

St. Paul’s Bloor Street, Toronto, Ontario

Plenary Speaker: Dave Male

Dave is Tutor in Pioneer Mission Training at Ridley Hall and Associate Tutor at Westcott House, both in Cambridge, UK. He is also Fresh Expressions Adviser for the Diocese of Ely. He was for seven years Vicar of the Net Church, Huddersfield, a ‘network type’ church which was one of the pioneers of fresh expressions. He is the author of Church Unplugged: Remodelling Church without losing your soul (2008) and editor of Pioneers 4 Life (2011).

Fredericton, NB are holding their first Vision Day on Saturday, November 26th. the St. John the Evangelist Parish Centre, 75 Main St., Fredericton, NB on Saturday November 26, 2011 from 9:15am to 3:00pm. Cost: $10.00 each (includes lunch). Click here for registration form.

Planning has begun for  a Regina, SK, Vision Day on Saturday 25^th February, 2012 at  All Saints Church, Regina. More details soon. Please let your friends in the  area know about this event.

Mission Shaped Intro. This excellent six-session, free to download, course, has been adapted for our Canadian context.

A new four-five session course with the working title “Reimagining Church”, developed in Canada, for Canada, and by Canadians, is undergoing testing in a variety of locations. We will report the results in future updates. For enquiries about Mission Shaped Intro email msi@freshexpressions.ca

Mission Shaped Ministry-2011

In as far as there is such a thing as a “fresh expressions strategy,” it moves from (a) missional discernment: listening to God and to the culture (b) serving whatever needs God draws to our attention (c) forming relationships in community, where a natural kind of evangelism happens (d) forming disciples and (e) shaping a worshipping community (aka a church!). This month  the focus is on (d) Discipleship. MSM coordinator John Bowen asks us to “pray that we will not only learn about discipleship, but be further formed in our own discipleship . . . and in our ability to help others grow in their discipleship. The distance sites, (Moncton, NB; St. Albert, AB; Gatineau & Montreal, QC; Burlington, Constance Lake, New Hamburg, & Tyendinaga, ON;)   as you will remember, will be meeting to watch the recording of the class at some point during the coming week. They need our prayers too!”

Contact John  at msm@freshexpressions.ca for details, or here for more details of this year’s course.

(on October 29th) hosted by St. John’s, South March Parish.  Many thanks to the hosts at St. John’s and to Lisa Chisholme-Smith (Anglican Diocese of Ottawa) who co-ordinated the event.  It was great to work with folks new to Messy Church as well as with those who already are running a Messy Church!

If you are interested in holding a Messy Church workshop or wish to receive the monthly MCeNewsletter, please contact Sue Kalbfleisch at Sue.Kalbfleisch@freshexpressions.ca

I trust that you find these FXCA updates helpful. Please let me know if there is any way in which we can help you. Please pray for the team as we continue to work together to a see a more Jesus-centred and mission-shaped emerge from coast to coast to coast.

The next time you should receive one of these updates is in early December, until then to keep up to date with FXCA follow us on the website or our FXCA Facebook page.

As the days shorten, made God’s light continue to shine brightly on your path!

God bless,

Nick Brotherwood

team Leader-Fresh expressions Canada

nick.brotherwood@freshexpressions.ca

fxca october 2011 update

Hello there!

September, with its warm daytime temperatures, (especially if you were in Saskatchewan,) shorter days and cooler nights, has come and gone. The 2011 msm course got off to a good start in Toronto and eight distance sites in four provinces. A new season of ministry is off and running. Question is, where is the energy for all this activity going to come from? Isaiah has an answer for us.

“God doesn’t come and go. God lasts.
He’s Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn’t get tired out, doesn’t pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired,
gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don’t get tired,
they walk and don’t lag behind. ” (Isa. 40. 28b-31; The Message)

Trouble is, I’ve never been very good at waiting, at least not the kind of waiting you do in “waiting rooms”. Still I’m not sure that that is the only kind of waiting Isaiah is talking about. There is the “waiting on tables” kind. That kind of waiting requires an active attentiveness, and willing responsiveness; it is more about service than passivity. I think I need to work on getting better at both kinds!
New video of Bishop Steven Croft

Bishop Steve Croft sat in front of our camera for half an hour last June, and answered twelve of our skill-testing questions! See the latest one here. Thanks to Andy & Sue Kalbfleisch for doing such a superb job with the videoing and editing. Thanks to Bishop Steve too for his patience with our incessant questioning.

We will be releasing a new video each week on the FXCA website. So please keep your eyes open for them!

The next two in a series of podcasts featuring all of the  plenary sessions and some of the workshops from this year’s Vital Church Planting Conferences are ready. Each month another set will be posted on this site. Here are the podcasts featuring plenary speaker Steven Croft.

My recent travels

I had a great time visiting Saskatchewan for the Diocese of Qu’Appelle in late September. The visit included giving two presentations to their Clergy Conference in Lumsden (popn. 1500+) on the 28th & 29th. The weather was beautiful, and they have very generously invited me back for a Vision Day at the end of next February!

In November I will be participating in Re:CALL the National Church Planting Congress in Winnipeg, MB. I’ll be co-presenting a workshop and enjoying the stimulating people I always meet up with at these bienniel events. Later that month I will visit the Diocese of Fredericton for a day with clergy on Friday Nov. 25th and a Vision Day on the Saturday. I am already beginning to get excited about next year’s Vital Church Planting East conference in Toronto February 2-4 2012, with it’s focus on training teams.

Fredericton, NB are holding their first Vision Day on Saturday, November 26th. the St. John the Evangelist Parish Centre, 75 Main St., Fredericton, NB on Saturday November 26, 2011 from 9:15am to 3:00pm. Cost: $10.00 each (includes lunch). Click here for registration form.

Planning has begun for  a Regina, SK, Vision Day on Saturday 25^th February, 2012 at  All Saints Church, Regina. More details soon. Please let your friends in the  area know about this event.

Mission Shaped Intro. This excellent six-session, free to download, course, has been adapted for our Canadian context.

A new four-five session course with the working title “Reimagining Church”, developed in Canada, for Canada, and by Canadians, is undergoing testing in a variety of locations. We will report the results in future updates. For enquiries about Mission Shaped Intro email msi@freshexpressions.ca

Mission Shaped Ministry-2011 started September 17th in Toronto.  Once again we invited clusters of three or more people to form “distance learning sites” to follow this course “where you live.” People in the distance sites of Moncton, NB; St. Albert, AB; Gatineau & Montreal, QC; Burlington, Constance Lake, New Hamburg, & Tyendinaga, ON;   watch the recordings of the session during the week following the Toronto sessions, and then have a conference phone call with a teacher  during which they are able to discuss and ask their questions. We went through the first round of this in the last ten days, and things seem to have gone pretty well. We still have a few minor glitches to iron out, but we are several light years ahead of where we were this time last year, thanks be to God!

To find out what last year’s participants thought of the course click here. Watch a video of one of those particpants here.

Contact msm coordinator John Bowen at msm@freshexpressions.ca for details, or here for more details of this year’s course.

A number of Messy Fiestas (Messy Church workshops) are being planned for the fall

New Hamburg Ontario on Saturday, November 12th from 10-3.  Click here for information and to register.

If you are interested in holding a Messy Church workshop or wish to receive the monthly MCeNewsletter, please contact Sue Kalbfleisch at Sue.Kalbfleisch@freshexpressions.ca

I trust that you find these FXCA updates helpful. Please let me know if there is any way in which we can help you. Please pray for the team as we continue to work together to a see a more Jesus-centred and mission-shaped emerge from coast to coast to coast.

The next time you should receive one of these updates is in early November, until then to keep up to date with FXCA follow us on the website or our FXCA Facebook page.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Nick Brotherwood

team Leader-Fresh expressions Canada

nick.brotherwood@freshexpressions.ca

fxca september 2011 update

Late last month the Fresh Expressions Canada (FXCA) team had a conference call to update each other about fresh expressions related things we are aware of going on in our respective necks of the woods. This is my first opportunity to share some of that with you.

Edmonton, AB, is a happening place with three Mission Days planned for the fall, and various mission-shaped and shaping initiatives taking place in a variety of settings.

In the Diocese of Toronto, five “Re-imagining Church: mission shaped” courses will run this fall, with Bishop Linda Nicholls teaching one of these five week corses. More information here. They have been busy producing a video highlighting all their missional and fresh expressions projects, it will be premiered at their synod in November. Their Reach Grants program ( “to enable local ministry that will reach people who are not currently being reached by traditional forms of church.”) has to date made seven grants to parishes!

New videos of Bishop Steven Croft

Bishop Steve Croft sat in front of our camera for half an hour last June, and answered twelve of our skill-testing questions! See the first two of them here and here. Thanks to Andy & Sue Kalbfleisch for doing such a superb job with the videoing and editing. Thanks to Bishop Steve too for his patience with our incessant questioning.

We will be releasing a new video each week on the FXCA website. So please keep your eyes open for them!

The first two in a series of podcasts featuring all of the  plenary sessions and some of the workshops from this year’s

Beth Fellinger

Vital Church Planting Conferences. Each month another set of podcasts will be posted on this site. Here are the details of the first set featuring plenary speaker Pastor Beth Fellinger.

My travels

I will be visiting Saskatchewan for the Diocese of Qu’Appelle, in late September. The visit includes giving two presentations to their Clergy Conference in Regina on the 28th & 29th. In late November I will be visiting the Diocese of Fredericton for a day with clergy on Friday Nov. 25th and a Vision Day on the Saturday. It will be great to meet new friends in both of these dioceses.

Fredericton, NB are holding their first Vision Day on Saturday, November 26th. Location to be announced

Planning has begun for  a Regina, SK, Vision Day on Saturday 25^th February, 2012 at  All Saints Church, Regina. Please let your friends in the  area know.

Mission Shaped Intro. This excellent six-session, free to download, course, has been adapted for our Canadian context.

A new four-five sessions course, developed in Canada, for Canada, and by Canadians, is undergoing testing in a variety of locations. We will report the results in future updates. For enquiries about Mission Shaped Intro email msi@freshexpressions.ca

Mission Shaped Ministry-Take Two starts September 17th in Toronto.  Once again we are inviting clusters of three or more people to form “distance learning sites” to follow this course “where you live.” The course is of most use to those groups which are planning and implementing a “fresh expression of church.”  To find out what last year’s participants thought of the course click here. Watch a video of one of those particpants here.

Contact msm coordinator John Bowen at msm@freshexpressions.ca for details, or here for more details of this year’s course.

A number of Messy Fiestas (Messy Church workshops) are being planned for the fall

New Hamburg Ontario on Saturday, November 12th from 10-3.  Click here for information and to register.

If you are interested in holding a Messy Church workshop or wish to receive the monthly MCeNewsletter, please contact Sue Kalbfleisch at Sue.Kalbfleisch@freshexpressions.ca

I trust that you find these FXCA updates helpful. Please let me know if there is any way in which we can help you. Please pray for the team as we continue to work together to a see a more Jesus-centred and mission-shaped emerge from coast to coast to coast.

The next time you should receive one of these updates is October, until then to keep up to date with FXCA follow us on the website or our FXCA Facebook page.

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Nick Brotherwood

team Leader-Fresh expressions Canada

nick.brotherwood@freshexpressions.ca

fxca june update

In the time between Ascension and Pentecost the church waits and prays. A time for making sense of what has happened, of anticipating what is still to come. A time for remembering that it is God who sets the time frame not us. A time for giving thanks for all God has done.

May and early June have been  busy times in the world of Fresh Expressions Canada (FXCA). What with a Messy Fiesta, the two Vital Church Planting Conferences (reports on Edmonton here and Toronto here), a visit from the Primate, and a FXCA consultation with Steven Croft! Quite a bit of travelling and a great opportunity to meet some of you, and find out what is happening that is Jesus-centred and mission-shaped where you live.

You might be interested in knowing that the main talks and some of the workshops from the Toronto conference are available on CD from Swordfish Digital. Email them for details at info@swordfishdigital.com

Nick Trussell: priest-in-mission

One person I had the chance to catch up with during my travels is Nick Trussell, a “priest-in-mission” (aren’t they all?) in the Diocese of Edmonton. Over lunch he filled me in about the Mission Days they run, which help people develop language around God’s mission in their own lives. You can find out more about Mission Days, and see what three parishes came up with at their respective days, here.

During the two conferences we were able to record interviews with various people which we look forward to sharing with you over the coming weeks. Watch the FXCA website to see these videos as they are posted.

It looks as though I will be visiting Saskatchewan for the Diocese of Qu’Appelle, in late September-early October. The visit is likely to include a Vision Day on Saturday October 1st.  Please let your friends in the Regina area know about the date.

Work is ongoing on revisions to Mission Shaped Intro. This excellent six-session, free to download, course, to make it even more useful in our Canadian context. Expect more details in our FXCA September Update, or email msi@freshexpressions.ca

Mission Shaped Ministry-Take Two starts September 17th in Toronto.  Once again we are inviting clusters of three or more people to form “distance learning sites” to follow this course “where you live.” The course is of most use to those groups which are planning and implementing a “fresh expression of church.” Contact msm coordinator John Bowen at msm@freshexpressions.ca for details, or here for more details.

A number of Messy Fiestas (Messy Church workshops) are being planned for the fall

• Saturday October 29th at St. John’s Church, Kanata, ON
• date/location TBA Kitchener-Waterloo area-in planning-stage with a Lutheran church hosting

When details become available we will post them on the Fresh Expressions website www.freshexpressions.ca

If you are interested in holding a Messy Church workshop or wish to receive the monthly MCeNewsletter, please contact Sue Kalbfleisch at Sue.Kalbfleisch@freshexpressions.ca

I trust that you find these FXCA updates helpful. Please let me know if there is any way in which we can help you. Please pray for the team as we continue to work together to a see a more Jesus-centred and mission-shaped emerge from coast to coast to coast. Have a wonderful summer.

The next time you should receive one of these updates is September, until then to keep up to date with FXCA follow us on the website or our FXCA Facebook page.

May you experience all the energy of Pentecost!

Yours in Christ,

Nick Brotherwood

team Leader-Fresh expressions Canada

nick.brotherwood@freshexpressions.ca

may2011 update

Easter greetings!

Jesus’ words to the disciples on the evening of the first Easter day, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you,” ring down the ages and provide a template for our lives as his followers today. We are sent people. People sent by the risen Jesus. Sent in the same way as he was sent. People called to live Jesus-shaped lives. Quite a challenge isn’t it?

I guess that’s why Jesus immediately follows this startling news, by breathing on them and saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit…” There is no way we can be Jesus’ people without Jesus’ Spirit living in us. We need the Spirit to open our eyes, direct our attention, reveal to us what God is up to in the world and how we might join in.

May is going to be a busy month for those of us involved in the mission-shaped conversation here in Canada. Two Vital Church Planting conferences, in Edmonton and in Toronto, bringing together practioners as well as interested people to energise one another sharing stories of what God is doing where we live. All the members of the Fresh Expressions Canada team will be at one or other of these conferences, (some of us will be at both!) Please come up and say “Hello.” We would love to meet you and hear your story.

Canadian, Beth Fellinger, CRC Church Planter is one of our main speakers. Watch a video featuring Beth here.

Bishop Steven Croft, from Sheffield, England, is our other main speaker. Watch an interview with Steven here.

If you possibly can, register for one or other of these excellent conferences.

Click on the images below for more information.

Vital Church Planting Conferences 2011

Sandwiched between these two conferences there will be a Fresh Expressions Canada Consultation in Toronto, May 30-31. Please pray that God will lead and guide us as we meet, to see where we are, to find out where God may want to take us, and to discover how we might get there! Especially, that we would pay attention, and act obediently.

msm Canada 2010-11

one participant’s experience

The first mission shaped ministry course to run outside the UK finished at the end of March, with over forty students in Edmonton, Lethbridge, Winnipeg, Niagara, Toronto, St. John, and Barbados taking part! The second msm Canada starts in Septemember, with planning already well under way. Find complete information including dates for 2011-’12 here. Contact msm coordinator John Bowen at msm@freshexpressions.ca

mission shaped intro courses continue to be offered in a variety of locations. Work is ongoing, both in the UK and here in Canada, on reviewing and revising the course. Field testing and refining of a Canadian prototype continues. We will keep you up to date with developments! Email msi@freshexpressions.ca for more information or to give your feedback of your experience with the course.

Messy Fiesta – Sat. May 28th Burlington ON – From 10 to 3: click for details

Thanks for reading this far!

God bless, Nick Brotherwood, team leader Fresh Expressions Canada

www.freshexpressions.ca nick.brotherwood@freshexpressions.ca

Fresh Expressions Canada (FXCA) is an initiative of the Wycliffe College Institute of Evangelism with the Anglican Bishop of Montreal.

january 2011 update

Happy New Year!

Just last Friday, members of the Fresh Expressions Canada team and some friends, met via an internet enabled audio conference call on Skype. We were in Edmonton, AB; Ancaster, Hamilton, Toronto, & Ottawa, ON; Montreal, QC; and New Wes Valley, NL! We spent two hours talking and planning for the coming year, with many great ideas to support our aim of seeing a more mission-shaped church take shape across the country.

One important topic was  what do we mean by a “mission-shaped church”. We could have spent the whole two hours on that one, but one thing that emerged clearly was that to be a mission-shaped church it was necessary first to be a Jesus-centred church. Steve Croft (who incidentally will be the main speaker at both of this year’s Vital Church Planting Conferences) writes, ” We are navigating through a time of great change and to navigate well we need to rediscover Jesus Christ as the compass and centre of the Church’s life… We need as a Church to reflect the character of Jesus to our society… We are called as a Church to do what Jesus did: to build up the Christian community and to change the world. It is neither one nor the other but both… We will only have the strength to change ourselves or others if we are deeply rooted in Jesus.” (from “Jesus’ People”, London, Church House Publishing, 2009, p. ix)

At the beginning of a new year it is important to ask the questions that naturally flow from Steve’s four critical observations. To what extent is Jesus Christ the compass and centre of our church’s life? To what extent do we as a church reflect the character of Jesus to our society? Are we engaged in doing what Jesus did: building up the Christian community and changing the world? To what extent am I deeply rooted in Jesus?

The Fresh Expressions Canada  team recognises the validity of these questions, and invites you to join us in answering them honestly and seeking to become more Jesus-centred and mission-shaped as the year progresses.

January is a busy month for the forty-plus students on the msm course. A regular session on Thursday the 13th plus a residential weekend Friday -Sunday 28th-30th, to take place at St. John’s Convent & Guest House, Toronto.

Presenters and organisers will be pouring over the evaluations of the participants, and then, informed by those evaluations, the FXCA team will get to work reviewing this six session course. Watch out for news of the results in the new year.

Watch out for new of forthcoming vision days here and also on the FXCA website. Contact vision @freshexpressions.ca to find out more organising a vision day in your area.

Two Vital Church Planting Conferences for 2011

Edmonton, May 26-28; Toronto, May 31-June 2nd,  both conferences will feature  Steven Croft, Bishop of Sheffield and former Archbishops’ Missioner and team Leader of Fresh Expressions, as well as a Canadian speaker.

In April or May we will hold another Messy Fiesta in the Hamilton/Burlington area for both newcomers and for those who have begun their own Messy Church so watch for news in coming months.

Contemplative Fire Canada is for anyone, from the regular Church member to those who have no affiliation with a Church but might be exploring how Jesus can make a difference to their lives. Details of gatherings here.

To learn more about Contemplative Fire Niagara and to learn about future Gatherings, please visit: www.contemplativefireniagara.blogspot.com. The members of the Contemplative Fire Niagara Core Team are Stuart Pike, Jean Archbell, Suzanne Craven, Max Woolaver and Dorothy Hewlitt.  Contact Stuart Pike at pikes123@sympatico.ca for more details.

Please continue to pray for all of us involved in encouraging “the development of fresh expressions of church alongside more traditional expressions, with the aim of seeing a more mission-shaped church take shape throughout the country.” Yes, it’s a huge job, but with God nothing is impossible, even though it is seldom easy!

Thanks so much for your interest and support of Fresh Expressions Canada . If you would like to support the work financially you can do so online by clicking here and filling out the form, selecting “Other,” from the “I would like to direct my gift to:” options, and writing Fresh Expressions in the “Please Specify” box.

Wishing you a Jesus-centred, as well as a very happy, New Year!

the Fresh Expressions Canada team, Ryan, Sue, Thomas, Jenny, John, Connie &…

Nick Brotherwood

Team Leader-Fresh Expressions Canada

nick.brotherwood@freshexpressions.ca

december 2010 update

hi there!

I am awestruck by the natural beauty of the aurora captured by photographer Stan Richards over some fields in Iowa some Decembers ago. I have never seen these “northern lights” in such startling colours, and can only imagine the feelings of those who observed it themselves. God has privileged us to live in this creation of incredible beauty. Sometimes a beauty that can be better seen in the dark of night than in the glare of day. With the lengthening hours of darkness up here in this northern hemisphere, comes the seasonal reminder that, “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Jesus said to his disciples, rather surprisingly if you ask me, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.”

That being the case, the questions become, “How are we shining? Where are we shining?” The light of Jesus needs to be shining in us, through us, in every situation. Through our actions as well as through our words. May the joy of the Lord Jesus fill you so full of his light, that it can’t help spilling out in countless different ways!

Thursday December 2nd is the next mission shaped ministry gathering. The topic this time is a key one for developing fresh expressions of church: Gospel and Culture. Our guest speaker is Joe Manafo, a Free Methodist church planter from Sarnia ON. Joe has been a workshop leader at more than one of our Vital Church Planting Conferences, and is always challenging and refreshing. He is also the creator of a documentary on church planting across Canada entitled One Size Fits All?, now available to watch free here.

Please pray for Joe as he travels (a three hour drive), for Connie as she leads, for Alexander as he masterminds the technology, for the Niagara group as they drive in for the session, and for all our participants, in the classroom and scattered across Canada and (of course!) Barbados.

the mission shaped intro courses that have been going on throughout the fall in Alberta and Ontario are wrapping up, at this time of year. Presenters and organisers will be pouring over the evaluations of the participants, and then, informed by those evaluations, the FXCA team will get to work reviewing this six session course. Watch out for news of the results in the new year.

After the rush of vision days in October, there were no days in November. The evaluations from the three days in October were excellent, showing increased appreciation of the slides, which had been revised and given a new look by ours friends at Fresh Expressions in the UK. The new look slides which we had adapted for Canada were tested at the Halifax, and Mint Brook vision days. Watch out for new of forthcoming vision days here and also on the FXCA website. Contact vision @freshexpressions.ca to find out more organising a vision day in your area.

Two Vital Church Planting Conferences for 2011

Edmonton, May 26-28; Toronto, May 31-June 2nd,  both conferences will feature  Steven Croft, Bishop of Sheffield and former Archbishops’ Missioner and team Leader of Fresh Expressions, as well as a Canadian speaker.

Messy Church News

Another great Messy Fiesta (MF) was held in Southern Ontario at Trinity Anglican Church, Simcoe on November 6^th.  Thanks so much to our hosts for providing a wonderful venue and a great lunch!  Our Messy Church theme for the session was the ‘Beatitudes’ (also known appropriately as the ‘Be Attitudes’) where participants from Simcoe, London, Exeter, Woodstock, Brantford, Paris and Sarnia engaged in activities including making mobiles, sun catchers, beaded hearts, frig magnets, ‘good neighbour’ books and having fun doing the ‘Smarties Challenge’.  Worship centred on the theme as Nancy Rowe (MF co-presenter) engaged participants to be part of the ‘talk’ about blessings. A highlight of the day was hearing from Brian McGuffin (Trivitt Memorial Church, Exeter) who talked about how they started a MC in September with a group of 50 at their first session, followed by 80 at the October MC! This opened up lots more discussion.

The next Messy Fiesta will be on Saturday, January 29^th at the Burgessville United Church (a bit south of Woodstock ON).  Please click here for more information and a registration form. 

In April or May we will hold another Messy Fiesta in the Hamilton/Burlington area for both newcomers and for those who have begun their own Messy Church so watch for news in the new year.

Contemplative Fire Niagara holds its first Gathering

The members of the Contemplative Fire Niagara Core Team have been meeting faithfully for half a year, experiencing its rhythm and what it has to offer. We have found it to be a community of support which helps to connect spirit (being) and action (doing) with understanding (knowing.)

Contemplative Fire Niagara will offer several ways for individuals who are searching for more depth in their lives to connect with a community which supports their holistic growth in the faith. This will include a monthly “Contemplative Fire Gathering” on the third Sunday of the month. These gatherings include an experiential way of connecting with the weekly scripture, some stillness, and a Eucharist. Each gathering will be a unique experience designed to allow a deep recognition of the scripture.

The first gathering was held on November  21^st at St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Burlington with a group of about forty. The Rev. Anne Crosthwait (Contemplative Fire Canada– Community Leader) joined the group to welcome the participants. Our next gathering will be hosted by St. Jude’s Church in Oakville, ON on January 16^th at 7 P.M. We hope to have Churches across the Diocese to host a Contemplative Fire Gathering. Perhaps you would like to speak to your ministry team about it!

Contemplative Fire is for anyone, from the regular Church member to those who have no affiliation with a Church but might be exploring how Jesus can make a difference to their lives.

To learn more about Contemplative Fire Niagara and to learn about future Gatherings, please visit: www.contemplativefireniagara.blogspot.com. The members of the Contemplative Fire Niagara Core Team are Stuart Pike, Jean Archbell, Suzanne Craven, Max Woolaver and Dorothy Hewlitt.  Contact Stuart Pike at pikes123@sympatico.ca for more details.

Please continue to pray for all of us involved in encouraging “the development of fresh expressions of church alongside more traditional expressions, with the aim of seeing a more mission-shaped church take shape throughout the country.” Yes, it’s a huge job, but with God nothing is impossible, even though it is seldom easy!

Thanks so much for your interest and support of Fresh Expressions Canada throughout this year. At this time of the year, if you would like to support the work financially you can do so online by clicking here and filling out the form, selecting “Other,” from the “I would like to direct my gift to:” options, and writing Fresh Expressions in the “Please Specify” box.

Wishing you a watchful Advent and a joyful celebration of Jesus’ birth!

the Fresh Expressions Canada team, Ryan, Sue, Thomas, Jenny, John, Connie &…

Nick Brotherwood

Team Leader-Fresh Expressions Canada

nick.brotherwood@freshexpressions.ca

november 2010 update

hi there!

Well, October proved to be just as busy as I thought it was going to be! Trips to Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland, saw me racking up the Aeroplan miles, and, more importantly, having the opportunity to meet many wonderful people actively  involved in God’s mission where they live. As the days shorten and the dark hours lengthen, the light of Jesus continues to shine brightly in his followers!

In Alberta, over seventy people attended a Vision Day in Calgary. While in Lethbridge, about forty people, some of whom had driven over three hours to be there, took part in a Fresh Expressions Conversation. A day in Edmonton gave me the opportunity to catch up with many of the exciting things happening there, including Standing Stones “a gathering of aboriginal and non-aboriginal people to explore God in an aboriginal context.”

I was in Nova Scotia for a “Great Church-Growing Church” workshop in Debert, where I was able to present a Fresh Expressions Vision Day to sixty plus people who had travelled up to five hours to be there. I am constantly astounded and humbled, by the commitment of people who are willing to travel huge distances often in inclement weather, in order to be part of one of these training events.

100 participants at the Gambo, NL, Vision Day

Four days  in Newfoundland saw me telling the Fresh Expressions story in Queen’s College, St. John’s; to a Clergy Conference, and a Vision Day, in Gambo. Over one hundred people drove up to four plus hours to take part in the latter event. Amazing! It has been a real privilege to meet so many people faithfully serving God in their home communities, and with an increasing appetite for finding new ways to reach out to their changing neighbourhoods with the love of Jesus.

L to R ,Shaun O'Connor, Nick & Bishop Davd Torravillthe love of

Plans are already afoot for more Vision Days, in Alberta and Nova Scotia, so stay tuned for details as they become known!

The mission shaped intro course continues in many locations, including Alberta and Ontario. One hundred and seventy people are involved in seven courses in the Toronto diocese, including one at Trinity College. We will be working on an review of msi, and hope to have updated materials ready early in the new year.

msm continues. On the last Saturday in October, forty-nine students were getting together,  either in person or via web conferencing, for a whole day’s learning.  The three main topics were Discipleship, Team Roles and Behaviour, and Leadership Matters. Course Leader, Connie den Bok, and guest teachers Jenny Andison, (Archbishop’s Officer for Mission in the Diocese of Toronto), Simon Bell, and Beth Fellinger,  handled the teaching. msm coordinator John Bowen asks us to pray, “for seeds that are being sown to begin to bear fruit . . .”

Two Vital Church Planting Conferences for 2011

Edmonton, TBA; Toronto, May 31-June 2nd,  both conferences will feature  Steven Croft, Bishop of Sheffield and former Archbishops’ Missioner and team Leader of Fresh Expressions, as well as a Canadian speaker.

Messy Church Workshops

On Thursday evening, October 27^th, two Messy Church workshops were presented at the Five Oaks Centre in Paris, Ontario. Thirty-five participants enjoyed crafts and activities (making doves was the messiest with feathers everywhere), worship and a snack (water and gold fish crackers) as we followed the Messy Church model with “A New Start” theme (the story of Noah and the ark).  As a result, some participants plan to attend the November 6^th full day Messy Fiesta in Simcoe, Ontario, and others plan to hold their own Messy Fiesta in the new year. A few places are still available for the Messy Fiesta in Simcoe, on November 6, 2010 (cost $20.00, time 10-3). Let Sue know immediately if you are interested in attending.

For more information about Messy Church and/or to find out more about attending or hosting a Messy Fiesta, please contact Sue Kalbfleisch, MC Regional Coordinator (Eastern Canada) at 905-648-0302 or sue.kalbfleisch@freshexpressions.ca.

the challenge of inter-faith dialogue in a pluralistic society Nov. 8th

Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, former Bishop of Rochester in the UK, will speak at Wycliffe College, Toronto, on Monday November 8, 2010 at 7:00 PM in Sheraton Hall. More details here.

Please continue to pray for all of us involved in encouraging “the development of fresh expressions of church alongside more traditional expressions, with the aim of seeing a more mission-shaped church take shape throughout the country.” Yes, it’s a huge job, but with God nothing is impossible, even though it is seldom easy!

Thanks so much for your interest in Fresh Expressions Canada. As we commence our third year of life, if you would like to support the work financially you can do so online by clicking here and filling out the form, selecting “Other,” from the “I would like to direct my gift to:” options, and writing Fresh Expressions in the “Please Specify” box.

Yours in the power of the Holy Spirit!

the Fresh Expressions Canada team, Ryan, Sue, Thomas, Jenny, John, &…

Nick Brotherwood

Team Leader-Fresh Expressions Canada

nick.brotherwood@freshexpressions.ca

october 2010 update

hi there!

Working the edges

Thomas Brauer

Ministry at the edges of Church and culture is a challenge, to say the least.  It is often hard to discern which particular edges should attract our limited mission attention (and budgets).  With challenges in finding both people and money for long-term mission projects, it is often helpful to find “one off” mission opportunities which can still work to build community, offer opportunities for discipleship,  even worship, and to build the skills and capacities of potential mission volunteers.  Many of our communities have just such mission opportunities, ready made and waiting, in the shape of festivals, fairs, and cultural events. Read complete article

the first mission shaped ministry (msm) course in Canada is well under way.

From the hub in Toronto, the course is reaching throughout the country and beyond, with an eight-month experience that will help individuals and teams  plan and implement fresh expressions of church. Toronto School of Thelogy students are making contact with their placements and (in some cases) beginning work, which is exciting, while other students are invloved where they live. At the time of writing there are 49 students taking the course. 22 of those are present in the classroom at Wycliffe, 17  spread between local groups in Edmonton, Lethbridge, Winnipeg, Niagara and Saint John, NB, and beyond! Please pray for Connie den Boek as she leads the course, and for all those involved.

Jenny Andison reports that around 175 people are registered in mission shaped intro (msi) courses  in the Diocese of Toronto in 7 different courses around the diocese which is very exciting. Click here for details of these locations. msi is also being run in the Edmonton Diocese, and in St. Catharines, ON, at First Grantham United Church, click here for details.

Nick Brotherwood will be in Alberta for a vision day, Saturday October 16th, Calgary, Alberta, a day for the whole Christian community to discover more about mission-shaped thinking and fresh expressions of church. the first Vision Day of the Fall season takes place at St. James, Ranchlands. More details on this poster Calgary Vision Day poster.

On Sunday October 17th Nick will be in Lethbridge, AB,  for a mission-shaped conversation.

Monday October 18th sees Nick speaking at the Companions of the Bishop dinner in Calgary.

Tuesday October 20th he will be in Edmonton.

Nick will be in Halifax, NS, for a “Great Church-Growing Church” workshop, October 22-23rd.

He then travels to St. John’s, NL, to meet with student’s at Queen’s College, on October 27th, then to Mint Brook Camp, for the Diocese of Central Newfoundland Clergy Conference on the 28 &29th, plus a vision day on Saturday the 30th.

Messy Fiesta – Simcoe, ON – Nov. 6, 2010

On Saturday, November 6th Trinity Anglican Church in Simcoe will host a Messy Fiesta from 10am to 3pm.

Messy Church (MC) aims to create the opportunity for adults and children to enjoy expressing their creativity, sit down together to eat a meal, experience worship and have fun within a church context. Click here for more.

We need your stories of what’s going on in your area, to put on the FXCA website. Stories of attempts to start something new, something which may stand a chance of developing into a fresh expression of church. Here is an example of what we are looking for, from Peterborough, ON, something that started as a result of a casual remark.  Is it a fresh expression of church? I guess we’ll have to just wait and see! Please send your story with photos to web@freshexpressions.ca

I am going to be in Halifax, NS, October 22th-23rd, and would love to meet any of you who can get to the event at which I am speaking.  It would be great to see you!

Please continue to pray for all of us involved in encouraging “the development of fresh expressions of church alongside more traditional expressions, with the aim of seeing a more mission-shaped church take shape throughout the country.” Yes, it’s a huge job, but with God nothing is impossible, even though it is seldom easy!

Thanks so much for your interest in Fresh Expressions Canada. As we commence our third year of life, if you would like to support the work financially you can do so online by clicking here and filling out the form, selecting “Other,” from the “I would like to direct my gift to:” options, and writing Fresh Expressions in the “Please Specify” box.

Yours in the power of the Holy Spirit!

the Fresh Expressions Canada team, Ryan, Sue, Thomas, Jenny, John, &…

Nick Brotherwood

Team Leader-Fresh Expressions Canada

nick.brotherwood@freshexpressions.ca

september 2010 update

Hi there!

It seems a really long time since I last sat down to key in the last Fresh Expressions Canada  FXCA update back in  early June. Lots of interesting things have happened since then, and there are lots more coming up for the Fall. We are really excited about the launch of the first mission shaped ministry course to be run outside of the UK! (details below). As well, there are opportunities to connect with us in person this Fall in Alberta, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland.  So, without more ado…

1. The content The course is a ministry-based, practical orientation to church planting and fresh expressions of church. It is adapted (with permission) from the materials developed by Fresh Expressions UK.

2. Who is it for?msm is primarily for teams (ordained or not) who are thinking and praying about the possibility of pioneering a fresh expression of church, as well as for those who are already involved in one. The hope is that over the course of eight months the course will enable you to take practical steps forward towards the realization and growth of that vision.  Complete details.

Lucy Moore, (inventor of Messy Church,) touched down in B.C. and Alberta in June, for ten days of Canadian messiness! Shortly after arriving home in Cowplain, Hampshire, she wrote this in her blog.

“The flight home was in the company of a young Canadian figure skater come to train for the summer months at Nottingham ice rink. She was full of drive, ambition, vision, confidence and though it was hard to assess her degree of talent whilst jammed into Economy Class, she obviously felt that the future was packed with opportunity. Her mum had loved her enough to let her leave home for two months and spread her wings. Without wanting to get too sentimental about it, I feel the same for Messy Church, the young fresh expression I’ve helped drop off in Canada. It’s all in such good hands:…” more

Join us for a Messy Fiesta on Saturday, November 6 at Trinity Anglican Church, Simcoe, ON, from 10 am to 3 pm. Cost is $20.00. For more information and a registration form click here

Andy Kalbfleisch, of Ancaster, ON, (who with his wife Sue Kalbfleisch, have made many “mission-shaped” videos) tells part of his transition from jump rope entrepreneur to filmaker, in a recent blog posting on the Share website.

“Before all this started I wondered if I would be bored when I finally retired. Now I know that the joys of volunteering to share the Gospel story in new and different ways has become the most rewarding time of my life.” Read the full story here.

The most recent of Andy & Sue’s videos can be seen by clicking on the following link

A fresh expression of church at Cameron House, a women’s shelter in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada in partnership with the Rural Outreach Committee and Faithworks, Anglican Diocese of Toronto.

Saturday October 16th, Calgary, Alberta, click here for poster.

Saturday, October 30th, Mint Brook Camp, Gambo Pond, Newfoundland.

Check the website for more details or contact vision@freshexpressions.ca

Fresh Expressions of Church: What are they and why should our church have anything to do with them? If you and your church are asking these questions the Mission-shaped Intro (MSI) Course is for you.

With MSI you will:

• Discover what has changed in our culture around us and how the church is called to respond.
• Examine what Fresh Expressions of church are and why they are important to the future of the church.

• Discover where God is working in your neighbourhood and how you might join in.

For more information on msi in Edmonton contact Thomas Brauer at thomas.brauer@freshexpressions.ca

for msi in the Toronto diocese click here, or email Jenny Andison at jenny.andison@freshexpressions.ca

for msi in St. Catharines, ON, please contact: Rev. Paul Miller at 905-935-5369 or paul@firstgrantham.org

Each month the Share website in England sends out  Share Thoughts, a free monthly email with a thought-provoking article, containing material of great interest to the church. In the August edition the article below appeared, which we reproduce in full with the kind permission of Fresh Expressions and Share.

We thought it would be of great interest to many Canadians and could even start an online discussion of the issues it raises. At the end of the article we have asked a question to which we would like you to respond! (Read more)

We need your stories of what’s going on in your area, to put on the FXCA website. Stories of attempts to start something new, something which may stand a chance of developing into a fresh expression of church. Here is an example of what we are looking for, from Peterborough, ON, something that started as a result of a casual remark.  Is it a fresh expression of church? I guess we’ll have to just wait and see! Please send your story with photos to web@freshexpressions.ca

I am going to be in Halifax, NS, October 22th-23rd, and would love to meet any of you who can get to the event at which I am speaking.  It would be great to see you!

Please continue to pray for all of us involved in encouraging “the development of fresh expressions of church alongside more traditional expressions, with the aim of seeing a more mission-shaped church take shape throughout the country.” Yes, it’s a huge job, but with God nothing is impossible, even though it is seldom easy!

Thanks so much for your interest in Fresh Expressions Canada. As we commence our third year of life, if you would like to support the work financially you can do so online by clicking here and filling out the form, selecting “Other,” from the “I would like to direct my gift to:” options, and writing Fresh Expressions in the “Please Specify” box.

Yours in the power of the Holy Spirit!

the Fresh Expressions Canada team, Ryan, Sue, Thomas, Jenny, John, &…

Nick Brotherwood

Team Leader-Fresh Expressions Canada

nick.brotherwood@freshexpressions.ca

June 2010 update

Hi there!

Courtesy of General Synod

The past six weeks  have been pretty busy, with members of the Fresh Expressions Canada team touching down in Kemptville, ON, the Huron Diocesan Synod, the first Vital Church Planting West conference in Edmonton, the MSM National Teams consultation in Northampton, England, and General Synod in Halifax, NS! Thank you so much for your prayers, we have really appreciated knowing you were praying for us. You can read an article on the Fresh Expressions presentation to General Synod here, and watch a short interview here.

“I found the Messy Fiesta event to be exciting and inspiring. With remarkable joy andcreativity, Christian worship/education was offered in an inviting, open-minded atmosphere, with wonderful intergenerational appeal. It has huge potential as a means for inviting and welcoming those who are spiritually hungry, but not attracted to a traditional way of doing church. We are delighted at the prospect of beginning Messy Church ministry at St. John’s, Thorold this Fall.” These words, from Rev. Cathie Crawford Browning following the Messy Fiesta (Messy Church workshop) on May 15^th, capture the essence of Messy Church and the two Messy Fiestas held in April and May this Spring in Ontario. read the complete report here.

Mission Shaped Ministry (MSM) team training begins

United Church Minister and Church Planter Rev. Dr. Connie denBok MSM Canada course leader will join with other members of the msm team, to be trained by Kath & Pete Atkins Fresh Expressions msm course coordinators from Lincolnshire, England, in Tornonto, June 13-15th. This is in preparation for the course taking place in Canada this Fall. mission shaped ministry- 8 months to be equipped in planting and sustaining fresh expressions of church, will  run from Sept. 2010 -April 2011, comprising 6 weekday evenings, 3 Saturdays, and a residential weekend away.  Based in Toronto, we hope to have clusters in other cities which will meet at the same time and be conferenced together! Click here to watch a short video.

For more information email our msm coordinator, John Bowen at msm@freshexpressions.ca

The first Vital Church Planting West Conference took place May 18-20 in  Edmonton, AB, with Canon Phil Potter, Director of Pioneer Ministry for the Diocese of Liverpool, and Harold Roscher the Director/Chaplain of the Edmonton Native Healing Centre.

The conference was  a tremendous success with over 140 people  in attendance, including  4 bishops and one archbishop.   In his closing remarks, Archbishop David Ashdown  announced that the Rupert’s Land Provincial House  of Bishops have decided to make Fresh Expressions a priority for the coming years, and it is going to be the theme of their Provincial Synod in 2012.

Many congratulations to the sponsors, the Diocese of Edmonton and the Wycliffe College Institute of Evangelism, on making a great start!

We need your stories of what’s going on in your area, to put on the FXCA website. Stories of attempts to start something new, something which may stand a chance of developing into a fresh expression of church. Here is an example of what we are looking for, from Peterborough, ON, something that started as a result of a casual remark.  Is it a fresh expression of church? I guess we’ll have to just wait and see! Please send your story with photos to web@freshexpressions.ca

Please pray for all of us involved in encouraging “the development of fresh expressions of church alongside more traditional expressions, with the aim of seeing a more mission-shaped church take shape throughout the country.” Yes, it’s a huge job, but with God nothing is impossible, even though it is seldom easy!

Thanks so much for your interest in Fresh Expressions Canada. If you would like to support the work financially you can do so by clicking here and filling out the form, selecting “Other,” from the “I would like to direct my gift to:” options, and writing Fresh Expressions in the “Please Specify” box.

Have a great summer. I’ll be writing to you again in early September.

Yours in the power of the Holy Spirit!

the Fresh Expressions Canada team, Ryan, Sue, Thomas, Jenny, John, &…

Nick Brotherwood

Team Leader-Fresh Expressions Canada

nick.brotherwood@freshexpressions.ca

may 2010 update

Hi there!

Back in December we told you about the church in Perth, ON, that had welcomed skateboarders into their hall, after initially chasing them away. Well, Andy & Sue Kalbfleisch took their video camera down to Perth recently and shot an excellent video called “Skater Church.” It’s a wonderful story about the exciting things that can happen when we start thinking missionally. Watch Skater Church here!

Fresh Expressions Canada on the road! The next four weeks is a busy time. Nick  is presenting two workshops at the Stewardship in Perspective conference in Kemptville, ON, May 8.  Jenny Andison & Nick are plenary speakers at the Huron Diocesan Synod May 17 & 18, while Nick has been asked to address General Synod, in Halifax, NS, on June 7th. Please pray for these important opportunities . If you are going to be at any of those events, please make sure to come and say “Hi!” to us!

FXCA gets favourable mention in the Anglican Journal.

“… there are pockets of innovation where we can find committed Anglicans living out their faith in new ways. We need to connect with them and learn from them. Organizations such as Fresh Expressions Canada are already working on the frontlines of the evolving church in Canada. Why are we not looking more closely at adopting and adapting the concept of Fresh Expressions for broader application? If it’s good enough for Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, it must have something going for it.” Read the complete editorial by Kristin Jenkins here.

Mission Shaped Intro course to run in four locations in the Toronto diocese

“Have you ever thought about starting a fresh expression of church? Do you wonder what all the talk about “being missional” means or have concerns about it? The diocese has a course for you. It’s called Mission Shaped Intro and it will be held in each episcopal area this fall so that wherever you are in the diocese, you will have the chance to attend.” Read the complete article by Stuart Mann here.

Mission Shaped Intro (MSI)-six weeks to rediscover mission and re-imagine church This excellent six-session course can be freely    downloaded and presented in your neighbourhood. To find out more email msi@freshexpressions.ca

Getting Messy in Georgetown!

If you haven’t heard about Messy Church, go to www.messychurch.org.uk to see a great promo video!

Mission Shaped Ministry (MSM) course leader announced

United Church Minister and Church Planter Rev. Dr. Connie denBok will lead the first MSM course to take place in Canada this Fall.-8 months to be equipped in planting and sustaining fresh expressions of church, MSM will  run from Sept. 2010 -April 2011, comprising 6 weekday evenings, 3 Saturdays, and a residential weekend away.  Based in Toronto, we hope to have clusters in other cities which will meet at the same time and be conferenced together! Click here to watch a short video.

For more information email our msm coordinator, John Bowen at msm@freshexpressions.ca

Your last chance to register for the first Vital Church Planting West Conference taking place May 18-20 in  Edmonton, AB, with Canon Phil Potter, Director of Pioneer Ministry for the Diocese of Liverpool, and Harold Roscher the Director/Chaplain of the Edmonton Native Healing Centre. Click here to register or find out more. If you were at VCP-East, tell your friends in Alberta how good it was!

We are at just over 70 registrants. This is very exciting, and there is a good mix of people from both inside and outside the Edmonton area.

We need your stories of what’s going on in your area, to put on the FXCA website. Stories of attempts to start something new, something which may stand a chance of developing into a fresh expression of church. Here is an example of what we are looking for, from Peterborough, ON, something that started as a result of a casual remark.  Is it a fresh expression of church? I guess we’ll have to just wait and see! Please send your story with photos to web@freshexpressions.ca

Please pray for all of us involved in encouraging “the development of fresh expressions of church alongside more traditional expressions, with the aim of seeing a more mission-shaped church take shape throughout the country.” Yes, it’s a huge job, but with God nothing is impossible, even though it is seldom easy!

Thanks so much for your interest in Fresh Expressions Canada. If you would like to support the work financially you can do so by clicking here and filling out the form, selecting “Other,” from the “I would like to direct my gift to:” options, and writing Fresh Expressions in the “Please Specify” box.

It’s going to be a busy month, and we look forward to seeing some of you at the many upcoming events!

Yours in the risen Christ,

the Fresh Expressions Canada team, Ryan, Sue, Thomas, Jenny, John, &…

Nick Brotherwood

Team Leader-Fresh Expressions Canada

nick.brotherwood@freshexpressions.ca

april 2010 update

Hi there!

Hope you had a good Holy Week and a joyful Easter celebration. I had the privilege of being with all fourteen of our family in Cuba, the first time in 27 years I’d been away from home for Easter! It was a very different experience, celebrating Jesus resurrection in Spanish, in a socalist country a long way from home.

There is an excellent article about the mission-shaped Parish of the Resurrection, South River, Newfoundland, in the current edition of the Anglican, (scroll to page 7 to read it.)

The flying geese and other welcome signs of an early spring, signal the start of a busy period for Fresh Expressions Canada (FXCA). There is much to tell you about.

vision days are a great way for all Christians in a city, town or group of villages to discover       more about fresh expressions of church.

The first vision day of 2010 takes place on Saturday, April 10, at First United Church in Waterloo, ON from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm.  Space is limited so bookmark this date and register soon!… more

Saturday, April 17, 2010 from 9:30am –  3:00pm. Hosted by: St. Mark’s Anglican Church, 5 First Avenue,
 Orangeville, ON, L9W 2Z5. Cost: $15.00...more

If you are interested in holding a Vision Day in your area contact our Vision Day Coordinator, Sue Kalbfleisch. Contact her at vision@freshexpressions.ca

Jenny Andison

FXCA’s Toronto Contact Person, Jenny Andison, will be the keynote speaker at the York-Credit Valley Area Ministry Day,  “Fresh Expressions:Every Parish Mission Shaped,” on Saturday April 17th.  The day  runs from 8:30-3:00 at the Franklin Horner Community Centre in Etobicoke.  To register, email Elizabeth McCaffrey, emccaffrey@toronto.anglican.ca

On the same day FXCA’s msm coordinator, John Bowen, speaks to the York-Simcoe Area Ministry Day on, “The future of the church.” The day runs from 8.30 am-3.00 pm at Holy Trinity School, 11300 Bayview Ave., Richmond Hill, ON. To register and for more details, click here.

Are you looking for a way to reach families who are not in our churches on Sundays?
Messy Church (MC) aims to create the opportunity for adults and children to enjoy
expressing their creativity, sit down together to eat a meal, experience worship and have
fun within a church context.

Morraine Lake, AB

march 2010 update

Hi there!

Hope you had a Happy St. David’s Day, or were you like me still recovering from Canada’s nerve-tingling oh-so-close -victory over our southern neighbours in the hockey?

The Vital Church Planting East Conference and the  Fresh Expressions  Initiative, are mentioned in the excellent editorial “Don’t touch that dial!” in the current edition of the Anglican Journal.

Are you looking for a way to reach families who are not in our churches on Sundays?
Messy Church (MC) aims to create the opportunity for adults and children to enjoy
expressing their creativity, sit down together to eat a meal, experience worship and have
fun within a church context.

Messy Church books now available in Canada! Scripture Union Canada is distributing Lucy Moore’s books, “Messy Church,” and “Messy Church 2″.

fresh expressions canada update

february 15 2010

This is a little late this month partly because I wanted to include reports of the fourth annual Vital Church Planting  East Conference in Toronto, and partly because it’s a little late! Thank you to those who signed up to receive this update at the conference, we hope you find this month’s update both interesting and informative. You can read reports on the excellent conference with plenary speakers Dr. Rachel Jordan and Pernell Goodyear, (pictured above: photos by Michael Hudson)  here and here and see how they compare with your own recollections! The annual Vital Church Planting conferences are becoming venues where some of the most creative and entrepreneurial leaders of our church—bishops, clergy and lay leaders from across the country—are gathering to network, learn, pray, and strategise together. They are also a lot of fun!

It’s always good to keep up to date with the Fresh Expressions Iniative in the UK. Last week the Church of England General Synod debated Mission-Shaped Church five years on and Fresh Expressions Team Leader, Graham Cray reported on the story so far. Graham’s report makes very interesting reading, and gives us plenty to reflect on in our own context.The General Synod then voted to continue to encourage fresh expressions of church, alongside more traditional forms of church as  the most promising mission strategy in a fast changing culture.

Mission Shaped Ministry (MSM) course -a year to be equipped in planting and sustaining fresh expressions of church, is expected to run from Sept. 2010 -April 2011, comprising 6 weekday evenings, 3 Saturdays, and a residential weekend away. Based in Toronto, we hope to have clusters in other cities which will meet at the same time and be conferenced together! For more information email msm@freshexpressions.ca

The newest addition to the FXCA team John Bowen is our MSM Coordinator, please contact him with any questions at john.bowen@freshexpressions.ca!

The first Vital Church Planting West Conference takes place May 18-20 in    Edmonton, with Canon Phil Potter, Director of Pioneer Ministry for the Diocese of Liverpool, and Harold Roscher the Director/Chaplain of the Edmonton Native Healing Centre. Click here to register or find out more.

Messy Church books now available in Canada! Scripture Union Canada is distributing Lucy Moore’s books, “Messy Church,” and “Messy Church 2″.

Click here to order your copies.

Two Messy Fiestas! – days of fun and learning about Messy Church
Saturday, April 24, 2010 from 10am – 3:00pm.
Hosted by: St. George’s Anglican Church, 60 Guelph St.,
 Georgetown, ON, 
L7G 3Z5. Cost: $15.00

Saturday, May 15 , 2010 from 10am – 3:00pm
Hosted by: St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, 12 Carleton St. S., Thorold, ON, 
L2V 5C2. .Cost: $15.00
Please contact Sue Kalbfleisch at vision@freshexpressions.ca to join the advance mailing list or with questions about Messy Fiestas! If you haven’t heard about Messy Church, go to www.messychurch.org.uk to see a great promo video!

Mission Shaped Intro (MSI)-six weeks to rediscover mission and re-imagine church
This excellent six-session course can be freely downloaded and presented in your neighbourhood. To find out more email info@freshexpressions.ca

MSI Edmonton starts soon! email thomas.brauer@freshexpressions.ca for more details

vision days are a great way for all Christians in a city, town or group of villages to discover       more about fresh expressions of church.The first Vision Dayof 2010 takes place on Saturday, April 10, at First United Church in Waterloo, ON from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm.  Space is limited so bookmark this date and register soon!… more

Saturday, April 17, 2010 from 9:30am –  3:00pm. Hosted by: St. Mark’s Anglican Church, 5 First Avenue,
 Orangeville, ON, L9W 2Z5. Cost: $15.00...more
If you are interested in holding a Vision Day in your area contact our Vision Day Coordinator, Sue Kalbfleisch. Contact her at vision@freshexpressions.ca

“Mission Possible“.   A 5 week course  by Jenny Andison and Stephen Drakeford to help people re-discover and re-discover mission in your context.  It’s purpose is to provide an interactive tool to assist people in beginning a conversation about what it would mean for their parishes to be shaped by the mission of God and for the mission of God. The course will be fun and easy to use and is designed to be run over a one hour period for 5 evenings. The course would be perfect to use in Lent in your parish. It can be downloaded from the Diocese of Toronto website .  If you want more information then please contact Jenny Andison, Archbishop’s Officer for Mission, at  jandison@toronto.anglican.ca

We need your stories of what’s going on in your area, to put on the FXCA website. Stories of attempts to start something new, something which may stand a chance of developing into a fresh expression of church. Here’s an example of what we are looking for, something that started partly as a result of someone attending a Fresh Expressions related event. Could it turn into a fresh expression of church? I guess we’ll have to just wait and see! Please send your story with photos to web@freshexpressions.ca

Please pray for all of us involved in encouraging “the development of fresh expressions of church alongside more traditional expressions, with the aim of seeing a more mission-shaped church take shape throughout the country.” Yes, it’s a huge job, but with God nothing is impossible, even though it is seldom easy!

Thanks so much for praying for our FXCA consultation with team members and other partners, including Pernell from the Salvation Army, Jared from the Free Methodists and Rachel from the Church of England. We benefitted greatly from their participation in the day and a half we spent together earlier this month.

Thanks so much for your interest in Fresh Expressions Canada. If you would like to support the work financially you can do so by clicking here and filling out the form, selecting “Other,” from the “I would like to direct my gift to:” options, and writing Fresh Expressions in the “Please Specify” box.

Hebrews 11 & 12 featured repeatedly in the Toronto VCP conference. After the writer’s roll callof heroes & heroines of the faith in chapter 11, he adds^“… Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!“ Hebrews 12.1-3 (The Message)

Wishing you a holy, blessed and missional Lent!

from the Fresh Expressions Canada team, Ryan, Sue, Thomas, Jenny, John, &…

Nick Brotherwood

Team Leader-Fresh Expressions Canada

nick.brotherwood@freshexpressions.ca

photo courtesy City of Ottawa

fresh expressions canada update

january 12 2010

A very Happy New Year to all of you, and especially to those in the Diocese of Ottawa who have recently joined this list following various Fresh Expressions-related events in your diocese.

It is already shaping up to be a busy year for Fresh Expressions Canada (FXCA), what with two Vital Church Planting Conferences (East & West), as well as the launch of the one year, part time,  Mission Shaped Ministry (MSM) course -a year to be equipped in planting and sustaining fresh expressions of church

MSM is expected to run from Sept. 2010 -April 2011, comprising 6 weekday evenings, 3 Saturdays, and a residential weekend away. Based in Toronto, we hope to have clusters in other cities which will meet at the same time and be conferenced together! For more information email msm@freshexpressions.ca

The newest addition to the FXCA team John Bowen will be our MSM Coordinator, contact him with any questions!

Mission Shaped Intro (MSI)-six weeks to rediscover mission and re-imagine church
This excellent six-session course can be freely downloaded and presented in your neighbourhood. To find out more email info@freshexpressions.ca

MSI Edmonton starts soon! email thomas.brauer @freshexpressions.ca for more details

Peter McCracken, Rev. Christine Piper and Thor Stewart have joined together to start up a Tuesday-night youth ministry based on skateboarding. Melissa Di Costanzo

skateboarding spirituality?

Where signs warding off skateboarders once hung, a new movement to blend skating culture with Christianity is taking root.

Tonight, Christian rock music will blare from the speakers as kids take advantage of the only place in town they can skateboard indoors. When their boards hit the ramps, they will be taking part in a new iteration of a global Christian movement called Fresh Expressions that is making the teachings of the Anglican church accessible to people who haven’t felt a connection to the traditional church… more

The first Vision Dayof 2010 takes place on Saturday, April 17, 2010 from 9:30am –               3:00pm. Hosted by: St. Mark’s Anglican Church, 5 First Avenue,
 Orangeville, ON, L9W 2Z5. Cost: $15.00
If you are interested in holding one in your area contact our Vision Day Coordinator, Sue Kalbfleisch. Contact her at vision@freshexpressions.ca

some more things to watch out for in 2010!

a Fresh Expressions Canada consultation will he held in Toronto, Feb.1-2,  prior to the Vital Church Planting-East conference. Members of the FXCA team will be meeting with Dr. Rachel Jordan and Pernell Goodyer, as well as other ecumenical partners, who are working together to see a more mission-shaped church take shape throughout Canada. Please pray for all those at this important consultation.

Two Vital Church Planting Conferences
“The annual Vital Church Planting conferences are becoming venues where some of the most creative and entrepreneurial leaders of our church—bishops, clergy and lay leaders from across the country—are gathering to network, learn, pray, and strategise together.” more

Toronto Feb. 2-4, places are limited register now!
Edmonton May 18-20, new!

Two Messy Fiestas! – days of fun and learning about Messy Church
Saturday, April 24, 2010 from 10am – 3:00pm.
Hosted by: St. George’s Anglican Church, 60 Guelph St.,
 Georgetown, ON, 
L7G 3Z5. Cost: $15.00

Saturday, May 15 , 2010 from 10am – 3:00pm
Hosted by: St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, 12 Carleton St. S., Thorold, ON, 
L2V 5C2. .Cost: $15.00
Please contact Sue Kalbfleisch at vision@freshexpressions.ca to join the advance mailing list or with questions about Messy Fiestas! If you haven’t heard about Messy Church, go to www.messychurch.org.uk to see a great promo video!

Watch out for “Mission (im)Possible“.   A 5 week course being prepared by Jenny Andison and Stephen Drakeford to help people re-discover and re-discover mission in your context.  It’s purpose is to provide an interactive tool to assist people in beginning a conversation about what it would mean for their parishes to be shaped by the mission of God and for the mission of God. The course will be fun and easy to use and is being designed to be run over a one hour period for 5 evenings. The course would be perfect to use in Lent in your parish. It can be downloaded from the Diocese of Toronto website beginning  mid-January 2010.  If you want more information then please contact Jenny Andison, Archbishop’s Officer for Mission, at  jandison@toronto.anglican.ca

We need your stories of what’s going on in your area, to put on the FXCA website. Stories of attempts to start something new, something which may stand a chance of developing into a fresh expression of church. Here’s an example of what we are looking for, something that started partly as a result of someone attending a Fresh Expressions related event. Could it turn into a fresh expression of church? I guess we’ll have to just wait and see! Please send your story with photos to web@freshexpressions.ca

Please pray for all of us involved in encouraging “the development of fresh expressions of church alongside more traditional expressions, with the aim of seeing a more mission-shaped church take shape throughout the country.” Yes, it’s a huge job, but with God nothing is impossible, even though it is seldom easy!

Thanks so much for your interest in Fresh Expressions Canada. If you would like to support the work financially you can do so by clicking here and filling out the form, selecting “Other,” from the “I would like to direct my gift to:” options, and writing Fresh Expressions in the “Please Specify” box.

^“… let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.” Paul writing in Galatians 6:9 (The Message)

With best wishes for a mission shaped 2010, from the Fresh Expressions Canada team, Ryan, Sue, Thomas, Jenny, John, &…

Nick Brotherwood

Team Leader-Fresh Expressions Canada

nick.brotherwood@freshexpressions.ca

fresh expressions canada december update

december 2 2009

After being blessed with some beautiful weather throughout November, (did you realise not a single flake of snow fell in Toronto for the first time in 160 years?) the arrival of December has been accompanied by more seasonable weather at least here in Montreal. My major travels have been completed for the year, my winter tires are on, and I almost feel ready for another winter!

The fourth and last Vision Day of the year took place on November 21st in Ottawa where over ninety people spent an energising and interactive five hours lead by Michelle Hauser and Matt Kydd. Read more here.

I had a great time in Calgary, (not for the Grey Cup you understand) but to represent FXCA at the Renov8 Church Planting Congress, Nov. 19-20, where I presented a workshop on Fresh Expressions to over seventy-five people, most of whom did not fall asleep! It was good to be among so many people (700!) from a host of denominations, who are passionate about seeing a more missional church take shape here in Canada.

Stuck for a Christmas gift? Why not give an MSI course in your area?

Mission Shaped Intro (MSI)-six weeks to rediscover mission and re-imagine church
This excellent six-session course can be freely downloaded and presented in your neighbourhood. To find out more email info@freshexpressions.ca

The next Vision Day will take place on Saturday, April 17, 2010 from 9:30am – 3:00pm
Hosted by: St. Mark’s Anglican Church, 5 First Avenue,
 Orangeville, ON, L9W 2Z5. Cost: $15.00
If you are interested in holding one in your area contact our Vision Day Coordinator, Sue Kalbfleisch. Contact her at vision@freshexpressions.ca

some things to watch out for in 2010!

Two Vital Church Planting Conferences
“The annual Vital Church Planting conferences are becoming venues where some of the most creative and entrepreneurial leaders of our church—bishops, clergy and lay leaders from across the country—are gathering to network, learn, pray, and strategise together.” more

Toronto Feb. 2-4, places are limited register now!
Edmonton May 18-20, new!

Two Messy Fiestas! – days of fun and learning about Messy Church
Saturday, April 24, 2010 from 10am – 3:00pm.
Hosted by: St. George’s Anglican Church, 60 Guelph St.,
 Georgetown, ON, 
L7G 3Z5. Cost: $15.00

Saturday, May 15 , 2010 from 10am – 3:00pm
Hosted by: St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church, 12 Carleton St. S., Thorold, ON, 
L2V 5C2. .Cost: $15.00
Please contact Sue Kalbfleisch at vision@freshexpressions.ca to join the advance mailing list or with questions about Messy Fiestas! If you haven’t heard about Messy Church, go to www.messychurch.org.uk to see a great promo video!

Watch out for “Mission Possible“.   A 5 week course being prepared by Jenny Andison and Stephen Drakeford to help people re-discover and re-discover mission in your context.  It’s purpose is to provide an interactive tool to assist people in beginning a conversation about what it would mean for their parishes to be shaped by the mission of God and for the mission of God. The course will be fun and easy to use and is being designed to be run over a one hour period for 5 evenings. The course would be perfect to use in Lent in your parish. It can be downloaded from the Diocese of Toronto website beginning  mid-January 2010.  If you want more information then please contact Jenny Andison, Archbishop’s Officer for Mission, at  jandison@toronto.anglican.ca

We need your stories of what’s going on in your area, to put on the FXCA website. Stories of attempts to start something new, something which may stand a chance of developing into a fresh expression of church. Here’s an example of what we are looking for, something that happened in Ontario earlier this year. Could it turn into a fresh expression of church? I guess we’ll have to just wait and see! Please send your story with photos to web@freshexpressions.ca

Please pray for all of us involved in encouraging “the development of fresh expressions of church alongside more traditional expressions, with the aim of seeing a more mission-shaped church take shape throughout the country.” Yes, it’s a huge job, but with God nothing is impossible, even though it is seldom easy!

Thanks so much for your interest in Fresh Expressions Canada. If you would like to support the work financially you can do so by clicking here and filling out the form, selecting “Other,” from the “I would like to direct my gift to:” options, and writing Fresh Expressions in the “Please Specify” box.

“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighbourhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, generous inside and out, true from start to finish.” John 1.14 The Message

With best wishes for a blessed Advent and a joyful Christmas, from the Fresh Expressions Canada team, Ryan, Sue, Thomas, Jenny, &…

Nick Brotherwood

Team Leader-Fresh Expressions Canada

nick.brotherwood@freshexpressions.ca

fresh expressions canada november update

November 2 2009

The leaves are coming off the trees pretty quickly where I live, and soon we will be into the long, leafless season that persists in many parts of Canada far into May! We trust in the eventual appearance of another spring, but for now we must go through a period of dormancy. Nature continues to be at work, but the processes usually proceed unseen. Bulbs planted in October, take root in November, but will not produce a shoot far less a flower, until late winter. We are very much in the ‘bulb-planting’ stage when it comes to fresh expressions of church in Canada. It will be a while until we see a thousands flowers bloom. So, “we live by faith, not by what we see,” (2 Cor. 5.7 CEV) trusting that, by God’s grace, the work we do now will have an effect for years to come.

Mission Shaped Intro (MSI)-six weeks to rediscover mission and re-imagine church has wrapped up at Wycliffe College, Toronto.   Jenny Andison and  John Bowen presented the course to twenty something enthusiastic participants, were challenged, nicely of course, to think about presenting the course themselves in their own neighbourhoods.  Could be exciting!

This excellent six-session course can be freely downloaded and presented in your neighbourhood. To find out more email info@freshexpressions.ca

The next Vision Day will take place on Saturday November 21st, 9.00 am-3.00pm, at St. Thomas the Apostle, 2345 Alta Vista Drive, Ottawa. For more details and to download the registration form click here. If you are interested in holding one in your area contact our Vision Day Coordinator, Sue Kalbfleisch. Contact her at vision@freshexpressions.ca

Thomas Brauer, our Western Contact, writes, “There is a mistaken understanding that fresh expressions of Church are mostly linked to Evangelical churches and traditions.  However, this is simply not true, as can be seen at the website, Fresh Expressions of the Sacramental Tradition.  This website is intended more to be an online community, than a blog, or e-zine.  It is an online place where folks interested in the sacramental and catholic traditions of the faith can come together to discuss and learn of Fresh Expressions, and mission in the post-modern era.” read more

In October I  headed out  to Sault Ste. Marie, ON,  for the Diocese of Algoma’s Synod to present Fresh Expressions Canada I had a great time giving an Information Session, and speaking to a Plenary Session of their synod. I met some wonderful people, many of whom were eager to learn more about being a more mission-shaped church. Over fifty people asked to be put on the list to receive this update, so welcome all you new FXCA friends in Algoma! Thanks to those who prayed for this trip.

This month I am heading further west, this time to Calgary, to represent FXCA at the Renov8 Church Planting Congress,  Nov. 19-20, where I will be presenting a workshop on Fresh Expressions. I’d love to meet any of you who are in the area, so please email me!

We need your stories of what’s going on in your area, to put on the FXCA website. Stories of attempts to start something new, something which may stand a chance of developing into a fresh expression of church. Here’s an example of what we are looking for, something that happened in Edmonton earlier this year. Could it turn into a fresh expression of church? I guess we’ll have to just wait and see! Please send your story with photos to web@freshexpressions.ca

Please pray for all of us involved in encouraging “the development of fresh expressions of church alongside more traditional expressions, with the aim of seeing a more mission-shaped church take shape throughout the country.” Yes, it’s a huge job, but with God nothing is impossible, even though it is seldom easy!

Thanks so much for your interest in Fresh Expressions Canada. If you would like to support the work financially you can do so by clicking here and filling out the form, selecting “Other,” from the “I would like to direct my gift to:” options, and writing Fresh Expressions in the “Please Specify” box.

Yours sincerely in Christ Jesus,

Nick Brotherwood

Team Leader-Fresh Expressions Canada

nick.brotherwood@freshexpressions.ca