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CHILDREN'S SUNDAY SCHOOL

We are excited again to be using the Shine Children’s curriculum with a focus on God's Blessing and Care.  This curriculum is of high quality and we are grateful that we could purchase it for each student to benefit their learning and faith development.  We are delighted that we have a full team of excellent teachers along with several new and returning teachers this year- thank you!

Pre-school (Noah’s Ark Room): Jen Wallace, Lara Sas, Maria and Gerhard Wiens
Kindergarten – Grade 2 (Room #6): Ruth Sawatzky, Sonja Leis
Grades 3-5 (Room #1): Sonya McNeil, Lauryssa Toews, Vanj Thiessen, Gina Wiebe
Grades 6-8 (Room #5): Jeff Nickel, Janice Redekop, Barb Nickel, Bevan Voth

In addition to our regular classes, we also have a number of learning experiences with the following teachers:

  • Puppet shows once a month - Barb Nickel, Bevan Voth
  • Kids Sing once a month – Irmgard Thiessen
  • Gym time once a month – with Chris and the youth
  • New this year: Bible verse memory and games once a month – Jen Wallace
  • An Intergenerational Sunday School Experience on long-weekends

If you would like to help out in Sunday school in the fall please contact Jen Wallace.

 

WORSHIP CONNECT

Worship Connect is growing! Due to the size of WC, we have split it in two parts this year, Gr. 2-5 and Gr. 6-8. When Gr. 6-8 meets, it will be with the Speaker/Pastor for the following Sunday. The Speaker/Pastor will be "prepping" the kids for the following weeks sermon, so they can feel better connected and part of what's happening in "Big Church". (Another new component to WC is its extension to Gr. 8 - previously it has only gone to Gr. 7).

Take it Home Events are continuing this year. They will run from March-June 2019. These are once a month Parent/Child Workshops taking place during SS time where families work on a specific faith skill and celebrate faith based milestones. This is also a "Worship" program, but it fits best in Education. This year the curriculum being used is "Wrapped in God's Love: A Milestone Ministry Resource" developed by the Canadian Interchurch Stewardship Committee.

 

MENTORING

The Emmanuel Mentoring Program is a great way for any interested youth to connect with another member of the congregation, beyond family members, to enjoy doing monthly activities together. This gives the mentor and mentee a great opportunity to recognize, get to know, and care about someone else in the church, especially as the young person grows through his/her years in middle and secondary school. Mentoring gives the youth another opportunity to learn from another member of the congregation how to grow into a committed, Christian adult.

 

LIBRARY

The library at Emmanuel has resources for persons of all ages - be sure to use this special gift to nurture and develop your faith.

You can access it online by using the following link: Emmanuel Library (19222.rmwebopac.com) Password is Squeah2018. When you first log in you can see the latest books we have added.  If you look on the right hand side you can also search by SERIES by various authors. We have an impressive collection of both fiction and non-fiction books, CD’s and DVD’s. We have study guides, historical and theological works, biographies, children’s books and many popular series. Come check us out.

 

YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL & BIBLE STUDY

Our emphasis on biblical literacy in our youth programming continues for this coming year. Our youth Sunday School will continue our overview of every single book of the Bible. This year we are moving into the Minor Prophets and a good portion of the New Testament. Our Wednesday evening program will be working through the lived experience of each of the biblical covenants, and how we experience the promises of God today. With that, our Wednesday evening programming will have the usual service activities, fun community building events and retreats.

Classes take place in room #7 at 9:30 on Sundays. For more information about our Youth and Young Adults Program, please contact Chris Lenshyn. Our Youth Sponsors this year are Noel Dueckman, Steph Dueckman, and Sam Olinoski.

 

ADULT EDUCATION

Classes take place in the banquet room at 9:30 on Sundays and we have an exciting program into the new year – come and get involved:

  • 9 – Four Part Series with Pastor April Yamasaki – Stories and Reflections from 25 Years of Pastoral Ministry –
  • Part 1: Called to Faith, Called to Ministry, or How and Why a new Mennonite, third-generation Chinese-Canadian, writer, woman like me came to pastor a church like this.
  • 16 - Part 2: Seasons in the Sun and Shade, or God's grace and what I've learned from the highs, lows, and in between times of pastoral ministry.
  • 23 - Pastoral transitions update – come, learn and discuss more from the leadership team and Council representatives undertaking the search for a transitional Pastor (to be confirmed).
  • 30: OUR CHURCH RETREAT at Camp Squeah - NO SUNDAY SCHOOL
  • 7: Stories and Reflections from Pastoral Ministry continued, Part 3: A Long Commitment in the Same Direction, or Surviving and thriving in pastoral ministry and beyond.
  • October 14: Stories and Reflections from Pastoral Ministry continued, Part 4: Panel discussion, because any journey in pastoral ministry is a journey in community. Panel members to be confirmed.
  • October 21: Music and Faith with Gerald Neufeld, Music Coordinator at EMC. Gerald will be announcing this year’s selection of Christmas music that will be performed by our choir.  Learn interesting insights about these selections’ history, faith connections and sign up for this season’s choir!
  • 28: Class facilitated by Missions, Peace, and Justice Committee.
  • 4: Four Part Series on Good Grief with Myra Lightheart. Myra is a former Pastor and the Director of Adult Bereavement programs at the Abbotsford Hospice Society. This series will focus on understanding grief and how we can support each other and as a community of faith.  A curriculum will be provided for participants.
  • November 11: Part II – Good Grief with Myra Lightheart.
  • November 18: Part III – Good Grief with Myra Lightheart.
  • November 25: Part IV – Good Grief with Myra Lightheart.
  • December 2: Around the campfire with Rob Tiessen, Executive Director – come and catch up on the current issues and challenges at Camp Squeah for this important Christian Ministry.
  • December 9: Seven on the Sabbath - using the study guide Upside Down Living on the Sabbath by Anita Amstatz- this seven-part series will be taught by David Leis – we will engage biblically and practically on why this commandment is so profound more than ever today in Christian life.
  • December 16 – Seven on the Sabbath
  • December 23 – Seven on the Sabbath
  • January 6 – Seven on the Sabbath
  • January 13 – Seven on the Sabbath
  • January 20 – Seven on the Sabbath
  • January 27 – Seven on the Sabbath – Panel Discussion: Reflections and what the Sabbath means to me – panel to be confirmed.
  • February 3- An introduction to Romans - Come for this four-part introduction on arguably Paul’s most profound epistle in preparation for our weekend with Professor Gordon Zerbe. Our overview will briefly introduce the key themes of righteousness, identify, unity and timeless insight on living out the faith.
  • February 10 – An introduction to Romans
  • February 17 – An introduction to Romans
  • February 24 – An introduction to Romans
  • 1: CMU Portable Weekend with Professor Gordon Zerbe of Canadian Mennonite University – New Testament Scholar, engaging teacher and author. Gordon will dive deep into this book over the entire weekend (details to follow). This seminar will share profound lessons on Christian life including the challenge of unity during times of disagreement.
  • May 5, 12: The topic will be Jesus, Shalom and the Gospel with Columbia Bible College faculty member Ken Esau. This two part series will renew our understanding of peacemaking and include an invitation for each particular to undertake a personal Shalom project.

For more information regarding our Adult Program, please contact David Leis.