Summary of Fall Classis meeting 2019

On October 18 and 19, Classis Alberta North (all the Christian Reformed Churches north of Red Deer) met at the St. Albert CRC.

As always, this was an opportunity to celebrate who we are as a Christian Reformed denomination and how God is blessing the work that we do together. Pastor Tony Maan opened the meeting with a time of worship and communion. Then the delegates shared with each other how God is working in our churches and spent time in prayer for each other.

Jesse Edgington, who serves as our Northern Alberta Diaconate Conference (NADC) consultant, shared about NADC’s work in encouraging churches and their deacons in the ministry of service. He described the numerous projects in which NADC is engaged and shared some of his dreams for the future of diaconal activity.

Chris Orme spoke to us about the work of World Renew. He celebrated with us the faithfulness of the churches in our Classis in their support of World Renew’s work around the world. Did you know that congregations in our classis together raised nearly $8,000,000 in the last 10 years?
​
We heard from Shannon Perez and Kayla Boone about our denomination’s Indigenous Ministry. They encouraged the churches to engage in ministries of reconciliation and relationships.

Our classis sub-committee on LBTQ2+ conversations provided us with resources to help us engage in redemptive conversations and to help us listen meaningfully to each other as we try to live out our denomination’s challenge to be welcoming and inclusive congregations.

We celebrated the September launch of Bridge Church in Fort Saskatchewan and heard from Pastor Ryan Pedde how the Lord is working miracles in that community.

God continually raises up new leaders, and we were privileged to be able to examine Hilary Smith and Loretta Stadt and to admit them to the Ministry of the Word. They will be serving as part of the ministries of Edmonton Trinity and Avenue CRCs respectively.

A lot more happened, of course. Just ask the delegates from your congregation. It was a time of mutual blessings and an opportunity to see the Spirit at work building the Church.

We thank the St. Albert CRC for their hospitality and great food!