African Children's Choir

The African Children’s Choir has shared the stage with Nelson Mandela, Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama, recorded music with Michael W. Smith, among others, and performed at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, spreading a message of hope and joy on behalf of Africa’s most vulnerable children. 

Polson Park Free Methodist Church will present these goodwill ambassadors at 6:30pm November 25th

Come and experience a performance that shows the beauty, dignity and potential of each African child! Admission will be free for all ages; a free-will offering will follow the Choir’s concert.

The African Children’s Choir melts the hearts of audiences with their charming smiles, beautiful voices and lively African songs and dances. The program features well-loved children’s songs, traditional Spirituals and rhythmic Gospel favorites. Nearly every performance is concluded with a thunderous standing ovation! In spite of the tragedy that has marred their young lives, the children are radiant with hope, musically gifted and always wonderfully entertaining.

The free-will offering will help support the Music for Life Institute. The African Children’s Choir has been Music for Life’s major international program during its 28-year history. Music for Life Institute (MFLI) has relief and development programs in seven African countries. MFL has currently educated over 52,000 children and hundreds of thousands of lives have been impacted by Music for Life Institute’s international relief and development programs.


We’re looking forward to seeing you at this inspirational performance!

Can't make the 6:30pm concert? Then be sure to head to Kingston West Free Methodist Church, where the African Children's Choir will be performing that same Sunday morning, November 25th @ 10:30am

Fact not Fiction

We believe and know that Jesus is the Christ (John 6:68)

There have been many media frenzies surrounding Jesus over the years, the latest being whether or not He was married.  I have and continue to give little attention to these matters, because for ME it does not matter.  Jesus is still Christ the King who lived, died, rose to life and is coming again. To that end, I share a snippet from Dr. W.B. Hinson's sermon regarding the fact of Jesus in History.

"I seem to stand on the top of a hill up which I have been climbing all my life; and I seem to be about to tell you  that which I have been all my life learning.  He is a fact and not a fiction on the pages of history.  Tacitus, a Roman historian in the first century, spoke of Jesus in this fashion: 'There appeared one Jesus.' He incidentally alluded to the Christ.  But nineteen centuries have emphasized the adjective there, and they have spoken of one Jesus.  In the second century, Lucius, a Greek satirist, gave his brief mention of Jesus when he satirically said - 'Jesus the Great.'  But those same nineteen centuries have underscored again and again the adjective in that phrase, and they call Jesus the Great.  And in century one, four men - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - wrote the story of Jesus, an altogether wonderful story.  They tell of His birth, babyhood, boyhood, young manhood.  They tell how He talked, indeed how He looked.  They tell how He acted, walked and gestured, sat down, stood up.  They tell all about Him.  It is the most intimate story of a life. They tell how He dies, how He was buried and where, how He rose again and how He ascended to heaven.  And the wonderful record of that life that occupies only one-fourth of my New Testament has done more in the world than all the other books that were ever written.

The historian Lecky, certainly an unprejudiced man, has told how there has been more good come from this story than from all the words ever spoken by all the others who have talked.  Those gospels are history.

John Stuart Mill, of England, said,  'It is no use denying the historical Christ.'  Not it is little use; but it is no use denying it.  And the greatest of all French skeptics sad, 'It would take a Jesus to forge a Jesus.'  The apostle Paul has written some history about Jesus.  We call them his Epistles.  And he stands at the head of an army so large I cannot stop even to mention the names of its officers, who eulogize the Christ.  For if you go to Shakespeare, who they say is the greatest uninspired man who ever lived, Shakespeare talks about 'the acres over which walked the blessed feet of Him who for our advantage was nailed to the bitter cross.'  And if you listen to Gladstone he tells you how in the New Testament the soft note swells to a mighty paen affirming that Jesus is God's Son and the world's Saviour.  And if you listen to the great  Jean Paul Richter you will find him saying, 'Christ is the holiest among the mighty, and the mightiest among the holy.'

But most of all I think I love to remember Charles Lamb, the gentle and much afflicted soul.  He said, 'Yes, if Shakespeare came in, we should all stand up, but if Jesus Christ came in we should all kneel.'

Ah, yes, He is a fact.  It does not matter what some little professor in some little school says to the contrary.  He is a fact and not a fiction, on the pages of history!"

More than all this, Christ is not only a fact of history but a fact in my life's story. For as John said, so can I say, that I have heard, seen, and been touched by the life saving, life transforming power of Christ.  So I add my testimony to all those who have gone before me, and I stand and proclaim to you the Good News of Jesus Christ, not only historical fact but a reality of my renewed life and conceiver of my eternal life.

BAPTISM, MEMBERSHIP & DISCIPLESHIP

At Polson Park we love opportunities for fellowship, fun and community building and what a great month we had. 

The Fall Fun Fair, was a success with many young people from the church, day care and community joining us for games, bouncy castles, food and fun. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped make the day a great success!  It was great to see all the College/University students really take a lead in seeing this event come to fruition.  The Yard Sale raised enough monies for the bible study group who participated and helped coordinate it, to buy a goat, hen, rooster and more, for a needy family in a developing country! Holy Rollers Bowling League has begun, but welcomes newcomers any Monday evening at 7pm.  Drop-In is going strong with lots of volunteers (we always welcome more) as we have more and more children attending every week - This past week 31 children from our community, from J.K. - Gr. 7 got help with their homework, participated in sports and crafts and were fed a delicious supper.  Please continue to pray for all our outreach endeavours, that each child and person who we come into contact with, will experience the love of God, through us.

This past weekend a group from the church represented by 3 generations, returned from a fabulous time in Lancaster Pennsylvania, where we got to see Jonah at Sight & Sound Theater and attend a wonderful authentic Mennonite/Amish Sunday service complete with bonnetted women on the right, men on the left and the most beautiful a capella harmonies. 

More than just fun & fellowship, we at Polson Park are focused on seeing hearts and lives redeemed, restored and transformed.  In fact the greatest thrill I have as a pastor is seeing lives transformed in Christ. So we are excited for those who have chosen to be Baptized on November 4th.   If you would like to be Baptized on November 4th, or would like a better understanding of the significance of Baptism, Pastor Rick or Pastor Cathleen would be pleased to meet with you.

Membership Class will be held Sunday October 21st at 2pm for all those considering becoming a member of Polson Park FMC and/or interested in understanding more about the Free Methodist Church in Canada. 

Discipleship is imperative, and a focus here at Polson Park.  Through preaching/teaching, discipleship groups, bible studies, relationships and one-on-one mentoring, we seek to help each interested individual grow in knowledge, wisdom and love for God and others and to understand and walk in His will and ways.

Polson Park will be facilitating a "Going Deeper" series of discipleship studies beginning Sunday October 28th at 2pm.  To begin the series, we will be studying God's word alongside Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book "Life Together"  as we explore the nature and practice of Christian life and discipleship.  If you are interested in joining us, and I recommend you do, please contact Pastor Cathleen so she can order you a copy of "Life Together" 

Bonhoeffeur - Bowling - BBQ & More

A WONDERFUL SEASON OF MINISTRY CONTINUES...

In October we will begin a church-wide discipleship group using Dietrich Bonhoeffer's book "Life Together" and God's word as we explore Faith in Community.  This study will begin Sunday afternoons at 2pm beginning October 28th.  For more information or to sign-up please contact Pastor Cathleen

Monday September 24th we are hosting a BOWLING SOCIAL at Cloverleaf Lanes (3 games for $11.50)  This is for anyone who may be interested in playing in the Holy Rollers Bowling League that starts in October and plays on Monday nights.  Anyone, regardless of faith, denomination, skill level or age (14+)  are welcome.

 

  

Sunday September 30th, Polson Park is hosting an old fashioned CHURCH PICNIC & COMMUNITY FUN FAIR to kick-off another season of Drop-In.  There will be a BBQ (Any donations will be graciously accepted towards the Drop-In), cotton candy, sno-cones and a fun and exciting afternoon of games and activities.   

 

 

DROP-IN Officially begins again Wednesday, October 3rd from 4-6pm, for children from JK - GR.8.  If you are able to volunteer Please contact Pastor Cathleen

 

Thanksgiving Weekend, Saturday, October 6th, Polson Park will be hosting a YARD-SALE. 

October 12-14 a number of people from Polson Park will be taking a road trip to Pennsylvania to see the SIGHT & SOUND PRODUCTION OF JONAH

Let it Rain

It is pouring outside my office window. I remember the devotional piece I read this morning selected from McConkey's "Chastening" and it seems a fitting encouragement to share.

"Perchance some one of God's chastened children is even now saying: 'O God, it is raining hard for me tonight.  Testings are raining upon me which seem beyond my power to endure.  Disappointments are raining fast, to the utter defeat of all my chosen plans.  Bereavements are raining into my life which are making my shrinking heart quiver in its intensity of suffering.  The rain of affliction is surely beating down upon my soul these days'  Withal, friend, you are mistaken.  It isn't raining rain for you.  It's raining blessing.  For if you will but believe your Father's word, under that beating rain are springing up spiritual flowers of such fragrance and beauty as never before grew in that stormless, unchastened life of yours. You indeed see the rain.  But, do you see, also, the flowers? It isn't raining afflictions for you.  It is raining tenderness, love, compassion, patience and a thousand other flowers and fruits of the blessed Spirit which are bringing into your life such a spiritual enrichment as all the fullness of worldly prosperity and ease was never able to beget in your innermost soul."