The second issue of Living in Truth, the new online magazine of The Renewal Fellowship has now been published.
A printable version of the current quarterly Prayer Calendar for January - March 2025 can be downloaded here. The Prayer Calendar requests are also sent as a convenient daily reminder or as a weekly or monthly summary with your subscription to Renewal Fellowship e-mailings. You can email us your public prayer requests for inclusion in the Prayer Calendar. We encourage prayers with specific dates for specific congregations and ministries.
Category: Renewal News
Feedback on Proposed Constitution Changes
Some things noteworthy from this year's annual general meeting (AGM) were some housekeeping changes that were adopted to our Constitution in sections 3d, 4c, 10a, 10b, and 10c. Other proposed amendments as indicated in the Constitution document were also presented for discussion, as well as changes to our foundation statements of Vision, Mission and Passion. … Continue reading Feedback on Proposed Constitution Changes
Are we on the right track?
Until it was axed, Plugged In was one of two magazines I would literally read cover to cover. It was filled with reviews of TV shows and films from a Christian family perspective. It was well written and relevant and exactly what this young dad needed. The other was The Presbyterian Record – intelligent, newsy … Continue reading Are we on the right track?
Renewal News Winter 2024
Download the entire Winter 2024 issue of Renewal News in PDF format, or read and comment on the individual articles as follows:
- Renewal renewal – RF proposes a new way forward
- In Joyful Expectation – Rev. Sandy Copland-Dufour, RF Board Chair
- Holy Imagination! – 2023 Pastors' Retreat report
- Introducing Andrew introducing – Rev. Dr. Richard Topping
- Get back to where we once belonged – Rev. Paul D. Johnson
Renewal renewal
RF proposes a new way forward. Faced with ongoing deficits and a declining bank balance, the Renewal Fellowship is proposing significant changes in the way it operates. Starting March 1, the Executive Director’s call will be cut in half as the Fellowship eliminates road trips and focuses mainly on online encouragement, support and advocacy for … Continue reading Renewal renewal
In Joyful Expectation
A song was heard at Christmas To wake the midnight sky A Saviour’s birth and peace on earth And praise to God on high. The Angels sang at Christmas With all the hosts above And still we sing the newborn King His glory and His love. This poem by Timothy Dudley-Smith is a song of … Continue reading In Joyful Expectation
Holy Imagination!
More than 40 pastors gathered for the 2023 PCC Pastors’ Retreat on November 6-8. Here are some comments from a few of the participants: “I was so blessed by the praise team and the prayer time. The praise worship this year exceeded my expectations. It was a time of renewal of my spirit.” “Rev. Dr. Richard Topping provided great lectures to inspire us to slow down and … Read more
Introducing Andrew introducing
A past moderator of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Marg Carpenter, who spent most of her life promoting mission, said this: “I’ll say it one more time: the church is alive and well in the world. I’m tired of hearing anything else. I love mission, I love the church, I love the Lord Jesus Christ, and I love you Presbyterians, well most of you." … Read more
Get back to where we once belonged
What if we spent less time reading reports, more time getting to know one another? Ministry can often feel like a lonely task. Pastors with large undefined workloads feel lonely and stressed. Congregations discouraged by small attendance feel isolated and adrift. Does anyone understand the challenges we face out here? Strong relationships help with these … Continue reading Get back to where we once belonged
Download the entire Fall 2023 issue of Renewal News in PDF format, or read and comment on the individual articles as follows:
- A new front emerges – Opposition to Physician Assisted Suicide/MAID by Rev. Andy Cornell
- Bread in the wilderness by Rev. Sandy Copland-Dufour
- Physician Assisted Suicide: Readers respond
- Retreat needs financial support by Rev. Andy Cornell
- Go to the desert road by Rev. Dr. Joon-ki Kim
- Good news, but challenge remains
- Thanks to our Supporting Congregations!
- Become a Supporting Congregation
- Christianity and Liberalism by Rev. Andy Cornell
A new front emerges
Opposition to Physician Assisted Suicide/MAID. Like a typical town hall meeting, Renewal Cafés provide a glimpse into the mind of Christ within the evangelical wings of The Presbyterian Church in Canada. We send an invitation, accept RSVPs and open the door. The conversation then takes a life of its own. The invitation to the July … Continue reading A new front emerges
Bread in the wilderness
Dear Fellow Followers of Jesus, I recently came across a prayer/poem of Walter Brueggemann. It begins: “On our own, we conclude: there is not enough to go around, we are going to run short of money, of love, of grades, of publications…” (1) We are living in a time of “shrinkflation.” We see packaging change to accommodate … Continue reading Bread in the wilderness
Good news, but challenge remains
Decline slowed after increased financial support from congregations. Thanks to our faithful supporters, the decline in our finances for the first half of 2023 was not as bad as we had expected. Renewal Fellowship lost $17,288 from January to June compared to a budgeted loss of $26,552. Part of the reason for this is the … Continue reading Good news, but challenge remains
Christianity and Liberalism
Classic 1923 text by J. Gresham Machen comes to life again. In this diverse world of ours, we live side-by-side with colleagues, friends, neighbours and even family members who hold sometimes radically different political views, lifestyles and opinions about life. The Presbyterian Church in Canada has never been wholly unified. Progressives and traditionalists have been … Continue reading Christianity and Liberalism
General Assembly 2023
General Assembly 2023 may not have included fireworks and momentous decisions, but it was still an eye opening experience. I was there to convene the Renewal Fellowship Prayer Room and act as an observer. July’s Renewal Café will be devoted to a debriefing of GA. Details and invitation below. Here’s my take on GA. DEFINITION … Continue reading General Assembly 2023
Report on the Special Committee on Racism
One overlooked General Assembly key moment this year was the final report of the Special Committee Re: Listening, Confession and Associations, which was commissioned in 2021 in response to formal petitions by the Han-Ca (Korean speaking) presbyteries which alleged racism in the PCC. It was a rich report, prompting lively discussion which extended for more … Continue reading Report on the Special Committee on Racism
We confess our racial bias
A Confession From the majority or dominant group within The Presbyterian Church in Canada to its minority and marginalized communities, adopted by General Assembly on June 7, 2023. Preamble Reading and responding to this confession cannot be done with an unredeemed heart, still filled with prejudice, judgment, and self-righteousness. To read and understand this document … Continue reading We confess our racial bias
Registration is now open for the Pastor Retreat on Eventbrite.
Download the entire Summer issue of Renewal News in PDF format, or read and comment on the individual articles as follows:
- A Pastoral Presence – RF brings encouragement to GA commissioners
- Let's get on with it! – by Sandy Copland Dufour, RF Board Chairperson
- General Assembly Highlights – Struggle over freedom of conscience
- Renewal Day 2023 – The domesticated church
- Pastor Retreat to Return – "Believing is seeing: Holy imagination"
- Young Adults, the Gospel, and Creativity – by Philip MacFie
- Renewal's Financial Situation – Board may be faced with difficult decisions in November
- You are Peter – by Andy Cornell
A Pastoral Presence
RF brings encouragement to GA commissioners. Renewal’s board of directors made a strategic decision this year to concentrate the Executive Director’s (ED) travel budget on our presence at General Assembly. It’s about getting the best bang for the buck – where we can reach the greatest number of people in the PCC. GA is a … Continue reading A Pastoral Presence
Let’s get on with it!
Hello friends and fellow Jesus followers. In Matthew’s gospel the Eleven have returned to Galilee as Jesus had told them previously. On meeting up with Jesus there is a dual response – worship and doubt. In spite of the uncertainty of some, Jesus gives them, and us, His “Great Commission.” He prefaces the command itself with the statement of His authority … Read more