Category Archives: WMS Archive

Thank you!

By Blog, Christian Education Archive, Congregational Development Archive, WMS Archive

I thank my God for every remembrance of you, always in every one of my prayers for all of you, praying with joy for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1: 3-6 NRSV)

A Merry Christmas and a blessed and joyful New Year to you all. We are grateful for your ministry and your ongoing commitment to the gospel and to the church wherever you are. 

This is the last message that we will be writing for the synod website. At the end of December, 2023, we will be retiring from our ministry positions with the synod and transitioning into the next chapter of our lives together. This is the culmination of over 40 years of Tori’s ministry and almost 40 for John-Peter.

As we consider the trajectory of our ministry over the last decades we could never have imagined how far ranging our work would become. Nor could we have comprehended how our lives would be touched by so many people in so many ways. We are grateful for the care and love of friends and colleagues throughout the synod, the denomination and indeed the world. It is a true privilege to be partners in ministry.

As we retire, please be assured of our ongoing prayers for your ministry and situation. Also, please remember that even as the world changes, God is faithful. Paul writes to the Philippians from prison, not to complain but to rejoice and to offer hope. He speaks of his confidence that God’s good work would continue in the hearts and lives of the people of God’s church. And further he prays that their love will continue to overflow as they determine their future. Our prayer for you is the same; that the work of love and discernment will continue in you until the glorious day of Christ.

A Happy New Year and every blessing in your work for the kingdom

And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what really matters, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1: 9-11 NRSV)

In Christ

Tori and John-Peter Smit

Please know that the synod is in the process of making decisions about future staffing and this website will be a place to stay up to date on these decisions. They will be continuing to maintain the website for those who wish to use the resources posted here.

An Announcement from the Synod of CNOB

By Blog, Christian Education Archive, Congregational Development Archive, WMS Archive, ,
Dr. Tori Smit and Rev. Dr. John-Peter Smit

March 29, 2023

Greetings!

I am writing to tell you about upcoming changes to the regional staffing for the Synod. After serving as the Regional Minister for Congregational Health for 17 years, The Reverend Dr. John-Peter Smit has given notice of his intention to retire December 31, 2023. Dr. Tori Smit has also let us know that she will be retiring as the Regional Minister for Faith Formation at the same time having served in this role for 11 years.

John-Peter and Tori have had distinguished ministry careers, and in their roles with the Synod of Central, Northeastern Ontario and Bermuda they have assisted countless congregations and people. They will each continue to be very active in their roles until they retire at the end of December. They continue to welcome people being in contact with them.

While we will greatly miss them, and the expertise that they bring to their respective roles, we wish them health and happiness in this next stage of their lives.

The Regional Consultative Committee will be seeking input as we plan for the future. Watch the synod website for more information.

In Christ’s Service,

The Rev. Gale Macdonald Convenor
Regional Consultative Committee

We Are Many Members, But One Body

By Blog, WMS Archive, , , ,

This past Saturday the Synodical of Central, Northeastern Ontario and Bermuda hosted a talk with Ms. Nora Carmi, a woman who has spent the last forty years working with the YWCA, Sabeel, and Kairosto bring about peace and justice in Palestine and Israel. Nora shared stories of the courageous leadership of women from each of the three monotheistic religions during her time with us, and in particular challenged the news we hear through the media with her alternative experiences of hope.

If you were unable to attend this wonderful and informative gathering, or if you’d like to view it once again, click HERE to view this presentation by Nora Carmi

Many Members – One Body: A Zoom Event With Nora Carmi

By Blog, WMS Archive, , , ,

For many Palestinians, efforts to fight off COVID-19 have presented unprecedented challenges, as closed shops have robbed them of their livelihoods, adding to the already long-standing, deep injustices of illegal Israeli occupation. 

 “The situation in Palestine is alarming. On the economic side, people are desperate, many without work and having difficulties feeding their children.”

Nora Carmi is a Christian Palestinian who has worked for peace and justice her whole life.

She was born in 1947 in Jerusalem into a family of Armenian survivors from the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire. She experienced becoming a refugee, and since then she has faced the worsened situation for the Palestinians since the illegal occupation of the territories in 1967.  

Everyone is invited to register for this Zoom event where Carmi where talk about the role of Palestinian women and their efforts to shape healthier and more just communities.

To register please email Katherine Allen by April 14 at kathanne5219@gmail.com

You’re Invited to a Zoom Gathering of the Barrie Presbyterial

By Blog, WMS Archive, , , , , ,

Please join

Barrie Presbyterial Women’s Missionary Society

by Zoom on

Saturday, March 5th, 2022

at

10:30 a.m. (ET)

The Presbyterian Church in Canada

and Mission

including Taiwan and India

with

Rev. Dr. Glynis Williams, Associate Secretary 

for International Ministries

of the Life and Mission Agency

and

Lily Ko, Program Coordinator

International Ministries

Presentation will be followed by a Q & A

To register please email

janiceterry322@yahoo.com

705-322-3038

I Will Give You Rest

By Blog, Christian Education Archive, Congregational Development Archive, WMS Archive, ,

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28 NRSV)

In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” (Mark 1:36, 37 NRSV)

Traditionally summer has been the minister’s ‘down time’. Meetings stop, people are away, and things are quieter all around. For many years, ministers typically took all of their holidays in one large chunk. This meant that real rest could happen.

Then things changed:

  • Cell phones meant ministers (and almost everyone else) could be accessed 24/7
  • Email meant that you were never truly away
  • People came to expect that their concerns would be addressed immediately
  • Even if we could get away from work physically, emotional distance was much harder to achieve

And then came Covid.

Over the past month or so I have had repeated conversations with church leaders who have not had time off since the pandemic began. They are literally at the end of their ropes.

Tori and I are similarly exhausted. While we have tried to be good stewards of our time and energy, we are aware of just how tired we really are. In June we took a week’s holidays and it actually took us two weeks to fit it in around emergent phone calls and meetings. 

For many, physical tiredness is just the tip of the iceberg. Many are feeling burnt out with no place to turn to deal with it. This has affected relationships, ministry effectiveness and satisfaction, as well as general health and wellbeing.

I cannot say when this will all end, nor can I resolve all of the issues this article raises. However, I would like to address just one, the need for physical rest.

As I read the above passages of scripture, three things pop out at me:

  1. Jesus needed to get away. He needed to get away to pray and he needed to get away to rest. The words of Peter, ‘everyone is looking for you’ speaks to our condition as well as his.
  2. Jesus promises rest. We are weary and heavy laden. Jesus promises rest.
  3. You can’t have spiritual rest without physical rest.

I remember talking with a friend who was connected to a retreat centre. For years this establishment had offered week long retreats for clergy. More recently they have discovered that these same clergy needed to sleep for the first five days in order to even be able to consider any spiritual work.

This is all a way of recognizing that we are tired – very tired – and that the summer should hopefully be a chance to recharge our batteries. 

I am aware that the summer is half way over but, I pray that you might recognize your own need for physical rest and might assert yourself to take it. No one knows what the fall will bring but, if there is a time to re-charge your batteries, now is it.

Tori and I will be taking the next three weeks off. During that time, we will only be available for emergencies. We will be doing our very best to also take an email sabbatical for this time.

Your ministry is a blessing. Please make sure that you are well rested and able to lead your flock. Please remember the adage; “put on your oxygen mask first.”

May God bless you in this season of rest.

John-Peter & Tori.

PS – Elders, please consider giving your minister some additional time off this year. They need it!